Evil Ways (29 page)

"Why those particular positions?" Fenton asked.

"They give the lines of power the best angles to intersect," Ellie said. "This kind of magic, where you have a number of practitioners working toward the same goal, takes advantage of what management theorists call 'the assembly effect'
—a group of people working together will produce something greater than the total of their individual efforts."

"I didn't think magic used the language of management theory," Fenton said, smiling a little.

"It doesn't, but I do," Ellie told him. "Just for explanatory purposes. And keep in mind that those…
others…
inside the compound are attempting the same thing. The Sisters must work together if we're to have any hope of offsetting their magic."

"It only stands to reason that someone inside the compound, probably Pardee, will realize what's going on outside and try to stop it," Morris said. "Ellie says he won't be able to spare any magical resources to do that
—"

"Yes, she's right about that," Colleen said. "They can't afford to break their circle, once it's been formed."

"I hear you," Morris said. "So what Pardee's got left are Grobius's security people. We don't know how many for sure will be on shift tonight. Maybe all of them, and the three shifts total thirty-six people. And they're armed."

"What with?" Fenton asked. "Handguns?"

"Rifles and shotguns, too, for certain," Morris told him. "And I wouldn't be surprised if Grobius has circumvented the federal firearms laws and bought those fellas some automatic weapons to play with, as well."

"Yeah, rich fucks like that always figure the law doesn't apply to them," Fenton said, then looked up. "Pardon my language, ladies."

Ellie smiled at him. "I've been known to use the work
fuck
myself once in a while, Agent Fenton," she said.

"Yeah, don't fuckin' worry about it," Hannah said. She didn't smile, but there was a touch of levity in her voice.

"Fuckin' A," Colleen said.

"Of course, what applies to those inside the compound is also true for us," Ellie said. "Once the Sisters are engaged in their rituals, they won't be able to use their magic to protect themselves against any attack
—whether by people with guns, or anything else."

"That leaves it up to us," Hannah said. "Excuse me a moment."

She stood up and went to Morris's closet. Pushing aside the sliding door, she removed, one at a time, four long, heavy boxes made of some shiny, dimpled metal. Each had a carrying handle and several locks.

Hannah laid the boxes out on the floor, and produced a set of keys. Ellie Robb watched in obvious fascination. The others appeared interested, but not especially curious. They had all seen rifle cases before.

Fenton shook his head once and muttered, "Knew it was going to come down to something like this."

"You wouldn't believe what it cost me to have these shipped as cargo in each plane that Quincey and I took to get here," she said, while unlocking the cases. "We had to change planes twice, and my biggest worry was that some baggage handler would get careless and send them to Pittsburgh, or someplace, by mistake." She opened the cases, one by one. "I could have bought replacements locally, but nothing nearly as good, and no time at all to zero them in."

The weapons that Hannah had revealed were not identical, but they had several features in common. Each had a telescopic sight attached, a light coating of oil, and the appearance of uncompromising lethality. These all looked exactly like what they were: extremely well-made killing machines.

Hannah rested her hand on one of the cases and looked at Fenton. "You should recognize this one, Agent Fenton. You went through the USMC Scout Sniper School, didn't you?"

Fenton nodded glumly. "I won't even ask how you know that," he said. "And you may as well call me Dale. I'm sure as shit not here in any official capacity."

"Okay, Dale," she said. "Well, this one's yours, for obvious reasons. It's zeroed in for five hundred meters, but I'm pretty sure we'll be closer than that, so you'll have to adjust your point of aim accordingly."

Hannah looked at Morris. "I remember you telling me, years ago, that you once did the Austin SWAT team's sniper course, Quincey."

Morris nodded. "Yeah, a cop buddy of mine cleared it with his boss, so I could take the course. I never thought I'd be using it to save the world, though. Just shows you."

"All right, then," Hannah said. "That just leaves you, Colleen. You ever work with a long gun before?"

"My family's full of hunters, me included," Colleen said. "Sometimes we'd go up to Montana, after Bighorn Sheep. We used rifles something like these here. It's been a while, but…"

"You ever hit any of those wild sheep?" Hannah asked.

"Stop down to the family home sometime," Colleen said. "All our trophy heads are still mounted on the wall. Eight of them have my name underneath."

Hannah looked at her for a few seconds, then nodded. "I guess you'll do."

"At the risk of seeming stupid, I need to ask just what you plan to do with these guns," Ellie said.

"Each of us will set up in range of one of the four gates to Grobius's compound," Morris said. "If the guards come out, and they probably will, they've gotta come through there. So when they do
—"…

"We kill them," Hannah said.

"Hold up a second there, lady," Fenton said.

"I'm not a lady, Dale," Hannah said, matter-of-factly. "I haven't been for quite some time."

"Whatever," Fenton said. "My point is, we can try to wound them. It'll serve the same purpose, protecting the women."

Hannah looked at him. "Dale, have you ever tried to 'shoot to wound' with a weapon like this, at three hundred meters or more, and at night, besides?"

Fenton looked at her, but said nothing.

"You know as well as I do, there's only one thing you can do," Hannah said. "You put the crosshairs on the center of body mass, and you service the target."

"You sound very professional, Hannah," Ellie said.

"That's because I am," Hannah said. "And so is Dale, I bet, once he gets past all that FBI 'Come out with your hands up' bullshit. They didn't teach you to 'shoot to wound' in the Corps, Dale."

"That was in a war," Fenton said. His face had gone tight.

"And what do you think it is we've got here
—a game of lawn tennis?"

"There's something else we can do," Morris said, and all their eyes turned toward him.

"Dale's got a point," Morris said. "The goal is to keep the Sisters safe, not necessarily to kill Grobius's security people."

"I don't see
—" Hannah began.

Morris held up a hand, palm out in a 'Stop' gesture. "Just listen, Hannah. Please?"

After receiving her reluctant nod, Morris went on, "Let's say you're one of Grobius's guards, and you get orders to go outside the walls and do something about those pesky white witches. But when you approach the gate, doesn't matter which one, somebody you can't even see puts a round into it, about two feet from your head. What do you do?"

"You take cover," Fenton said, looking happier than he had since entering the room.

"Exactly," Morris said. "And if you stick your head up, another round hits close by, so you duck back down again. I figure any of us can keep those fellas pinned down long enough for the Sisters to do their work, and we won't have to kill anybody. Probably."

"I like the way you think, Morris," Fenton said.

"Well, I don't!" Hannah said. "Pussyfooting around with half-measures is a good way for people to get killed. Our people."

Morris shrugged. "I guess each of us is going to have do decide where we're going to aim. You do what you think best, Hannah."

"Oh, I will, believe me. And by the way, what happens if these penned-up guards get smart and try coming out inside a vehicle?"

"Then," Morris said, "I guess we'll have to kill people."

"Oh, yes," Walter Grobius said. "Very much so. I've been living under a death sentence far too long. If it weren't for you, I imagine I'd be dead already."

"Well, there is that possibility," Pardee said modestly. "But everything will be different tomorrow."

"So, the ceremony starts at nine? My memory, these days…"

"That's something else you won't have to put up with after tonight, sir. In any event, it's the revels that start at nine."

"That's right, I'd forgotten. The big black magic sex orgy."

Pardee smiled. "As good a description as any, I suppose."

"It just occurred to me. These are all women, right?"

"Yes. That's traditional."

"So, who are they going to… orgy with? Each other?"

"To a large extent, yes. Witches of the Left-Hand Path are not known for their sexual inhibitions."

"Bunch of dykes, are they?"

"Not exactly. I'd describe them more as ravenously pansexual."

"You said something about 'to a large extent.' If they don't fuck each other, who's left?"

"Their familiars, of course. Each will arrive with one."

"They're going to have sex with fucking
black cats?"

Pardee permitted himself some polite laughter. "That's just a cultural stereotype, sir. All kinds of animals can be used as familiars. Cats, dogs, baboons…"

"Bestiality? Now
that
should be interesting."

"I have no doubt. But a familiar is just a minor demon in animal form. On an occasion such as tonight, some of their mistresses will permit them to return to their natural states."

"They'll become demons again, you mean."

"For a few hours. Others will remain in the animal shape, but may be made to become, um, somewhat
larger.
"

"Sounds like quite a party," Grobius said. "Pity I'm in no condition to partake. Still, next year will be a different matter."

"Indeed. For now, would you like to be present as an observer?"

"Being that close to the banquet without being able to dine? No, the frustration would be maddening. I'll watch from up here, through the binoculars. What about you? Planning to join in?"

"With regret, no. Once I get things going, I'll retreat to my workroom for final preparations and a spell of meditation, to clear my mind and spirit for what's to come."

"Probably wise. Will you need help getting what's-her-name…"

"Chastain. Elizabeth Chastain."

"Yes, of course. Do you need anyone to help you get her to the sacrificial altar?"

"No, but thank you. She is completely under my control, and I will give her no opportunity for mischief, you may count on that."

"So, when will it… happen?"

"The ceremony will start at eleven. It should reach its peak about eleven forty-five, at which point Miss Chastain's day will take a sudden turn for the worse."

Grobius gave a snort of laughter. "And that's when he will appear."

"Very shortly afterwards. I'll be rather busy, but there are people ready to take you down when it's time, and bring you to the place of honor."

"Will I be able to… speak to him?"

"Oh, by all means. I expect he will find that very interesting. As will you, of course."

"If you can make this work, Pardee, you can have anything you want, anything."

"I have no doubt that my reward will come. None at all."