The Night Beat, From the Necropolis Enforcement Files (52 page)

“You have my harness on, right?” Ralph asked Helen.

“Yes. We have a big dog and this keeps him nice and safe.” She patted his head, then yanked her hand back. “Sorry.”

“I’ll let it slide.” Ralph looked at Johnson. “Seriously, buckle up. You’ll be happy for it in about thirty seconds. You might want to close your eyes, too.”

“How are the…angels protecting Mister Bennett if they aren’t in the car with us?” Johnson asked as he put his seat belt on.

“They fly overhead, and we’re all being watched over. Routine.”

“I think that means they can save us before the car crash,” Benny said.

“Ha ha, I am
so
not amused.” I checked to make sure everyone else was ready to roll. “Which car are Freddy and Sexy Cindy in?”

“They went with Bobby’s wife and kids. Since they know them. I think most of the alleyway relations are in that car. She’s got a huge, extra-long Suburban, so they all fit as near as I could tell.”

“Always nice to be with folks you’re comfortable with during a high-speed chase. I hope someone’s kicked Cindy’s ex in the balls, though.” I revved up the S-Class and ensured we squealed out of the parking lot. Hearing Johnson’s gasp of horror was worth it. Not that he seemed a bad guy, even without Benny’s endorsement. He was just a little on the stuffed shirt side for me.

We barreled down and out of the Estates, the other cars keeping up nicely. Hit the street and were joined by our police escort. There were a lot of cars on Night Beat. Night shifts were always more active in any city, and in Prosaic City it paid to have a car every half-mile. And they were all here.

They’d taken the wise precaution of clearing the fastest path to what was fast becoming my least favorite block in the entire city. Lights were flashing, but no sirens were going, which was a relief. Police sirens are hard on werewolf ears, and a whole fleet of them blaring creates the kind of pain that makes you dust yourself to get away from it.

“Do you have a plan, beyond running the major minions over with our mighty cars?” Ralph asked.

“I seriously liked you better all mopey and mooning. Yes, I have a plan.” Sort of.

“Would you like to share said plan?” Johnson asked as we hit a bump and sailed through the air.

“Nice shocks on this baby. And, Johnson, you I’ve never liked, so really, button it unless you have something helpful to add.”

“This is just like those movies with the chase scenes,” Benny offered as we skidded around some corners. “Only we’re inside the car. I think it’s better if you’re in the movie theater.”

“You know, I could have left you huddling in your house, surrounded by the Servants of Evil. But no, I rescued you.” Another bump, another flight, another reasonably comfortable landing.

“True. I didn’t really have time to think it through, of course.”

“You and the rest of us, Benny.”

Helen cleared her throat. “Um, are you going to share your plan, Detective Wolfe?”

“Victoria. Or whatever nickname, and so forth. We’re about to face the Big Evil Ones, you can feel free to be informal.” I felt the rest of the car’s occupants waiting. “I want to keep this car for future Necropolis Enforcement and Prosaic City P.D. undercover work.”

“That’s your plan?” Ralph barked.

“If you’d let me and Helen out here, and Mister Bennett as well, without crashing the car or killing us, I’ll happily sign it over to you.”

“Johnson, I heard you were Mister Personality from the pulpit. Why so negative now?” Did a fast rearview check -- all cars flying along behind us still. So, clearly, I wasn’t driving so dangerously that the others, including Bobby’s wife, in a Suburban loaded up with at least a dozen beings, couldn’t keep up.

“Shutting up back here,” Johnson said. “Carry on not telling us what you’re planning.”

We rounded another corner and once both right wheels were back on the ground I got a clear look ahead of us. Maurice hadn’t been kidding. The convergence chasm was out of control. It was at least four times bigger than when we’d been here last and it glowed.

“That looks pretty,” Helen said cheerfully.

“That’s how Hell gets here.”

“Oh. Then, that looks pretty evil.” Helen seemed reasonably unfazed.

I did another fast rearview check. She seemed relaxed. “You seem to be handling this rather better than anyone else, other than myself.”

She shrugged. “It’s so nice to be able to say, ‘see that?’ and have someone else honestly say ‘yes’.”

Johnson reached across Ralph and took her hand. “You could have told me, you know. You didn’t have to bear the burden alone.”

“You had more than you needed already. And once Jerry went…bad, there didn’t seem to be a point to mention your wife was sort of crazy only not really.”

“I honestly hate to interrupt this, and I hope you two get to continue in a little while, but we’re pretty much at the Evil Zone. Ready for my plan?”

“Yes!” Chorused by all four of them. Cool. I truly wished I had one, they were so eager for it.

I saw our troops. Interestingly, they were spread out on the side of the block that The Pleasure Palace, Killjoy’s, and the Sanctuary Center were on. The Three A’s were opposite them. Jack was there, separate from the Adversary. I didn’t see any other major minions, but there were more fallen angels than I thought good for our health. They were all in the big parking lot.

I considered my meager options. Well, why not? We had a lot of cars to park, after all.

Chapter 70

“Vic, what are you doing?” Ralph asked as I aimed the S-Class at Jack. Pointedly at Jack.

“Parking. It’s the good driver thing to do.”

“That’s your plan? Parking?” Ralph was barking. I was pretty sure sighing and the non-sexy growling weren’t too far behind.

“Only part of it. Once we park, we’re going to cut off their escape and attack from the rear.”

“Their escape is into the chasm.”

“We’ll see.”

Jack smirked and waved in that “come and get me” way and I pushed the pedal down hard. Yep, there was a little more the S-Class could give me. It leaped forward, a little faster than Jack had been expecting. We slammed into him and he went flying over the car.

I didn’t pause. I knew he wasn’t dead. Probably wasn’t even hurt. However, I’d still enjoyed it.

The Adversary jumped in front of us. Ploughed through Dear Old Dad, too. He chose to cling to the car and bellow. “Hellion child! Have you come to join us?”

“Meet my father, one of the big baddies. We’re estranged.”

“Good for you,” Johnson said.

I put the car into a spin which took a variety of fallen angels by surprise. Some jumped or flew out of the way, but there were a few satisfying bumps before we finally came to a halt.

The rest of our entourage followed our lead. I was particularly impressed with Bobby’s wife. She aimed right for Apollyon and did a spin at the same time. I was pretty sure she wiped out at least one fallen from the weight of the loaded Suburban alone.

We waited until all our cars were parked, or at least close enough for government work. “Johnson, you’re going to need to pray, but in a specific manner. No naming bad guy names, including the Devil or Satan or Lucifer. Especially not Lucifer. You need to pray for the Gods and Monsters to save us, do you understand?”

“No, not at all. However, I’m clear that, per Martin Luther, Father of the Reformation and Angel Superior, I’m to do what you say, period. What do I say, other than that?”

“Nothing. I want you and all the other religious types to say that phrase, and that phrase only. ‘May the Gods and Monsters save us.’ Got it?”

“Yes. Anything else?”

I turned and looked right at him. “Yes. Remember this -- when it comes down to it, it’s just your soul against the Prince. You can’t save anyone else if you aren’t saved yourself. You, more than many others, know this. You need to remember it now. You’ve been used, so you’ve been tainted. They’ll try to take you again. And no one can save you but you. Yahweh helps those who help themselves.”

He nodded. “Got it.” Johnson leaned over Ralph and kissed Helen. “You’ll help with the others?”

“Of course.” Helen released Ralph’s harness. “We’ll be fine, Gerald.”

“Ralph, guard Benny. Benny, guard Ralph. You’re both going to be targets, big time.”

Ralph put his head next to mine. “You be careful. You’re more of a target than I am now.”

I nuzzled my face into his fur. “No worries. Just look at it as my side of the family being a bunch of back mountain wacko polygamists with scary religious views. I escaped the compound, they’re unhappy about my career and romance choices, the arranged shotgun wedding didn’t work out, and now I’m trying to run off with a long-haired militant.”

He barked a laugh. “It’s scary how accurate that assessment is.”

“Any other suggestions?” Benny asked.

“No. But I do need one thing out of the bag of wonder.” I took the bag and rummaged through it. “If I touch the totem, will that harm me or anyone else?”

“No, at least as far as I know.” Benny sounded worried. “Let me stress that I don’t know for sure.”

I wrapped my hand around Adlet’s image. It felt as icky as it looked. “Well, what’s unlife without a little risk? Everyone ready?” Nods all around. “Great. Then let’s go rock the baddest guys in the baddest part of town.” I couldn’t help it, I started humming “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown”.

We all got out of the car. The rest of the civilian humans did the same. The Night Beat cops were already in typical standoff positions.

I stepped away from the car. Ralph and Benny, holding tight to the bag, flanked me, with Sexy Cindy and Freddy flanking them. “You guys aren’t supposed to go to the front lines with me.”

Sexy Cindy snorted. “Girl, as if. We came in with you, we go out with you.” She put her hand on Ralph’s head. “Like your dude says, a pack together can never be defeated.”

“What she said.” Benny smiled. “We survived the car ride. Clearly the Gods and Monsters are on our side.”

“Hilarious. Freddy, Ralph, any comments?”

“Once more unto the breach, dear friends,” Freddy said.

“Watch each other’s backs, fight for right, and bite your enemy where it counts.” Ralph looked up at me with the doggy grin on. “That was Black Wolf’s favorite.”

“Then it’s good enough for me.”

The Three A’s were back in formation. I checked out their minion support aside from Jack again. It was still light. A little too light, all things considered. But that confirmed which being I was pretty sure was waiting to make an impressive entrance now that we were here to see it.

I thanked the Gods and Monsters I’d had Jude put the block in my mind. I also hoped Jude was monitoring my thoughts. The glow from the convergence chasm was so bright I could barely see the other side of the street, but after a little squinting and scanning I could just see him, in front of the Sanctuary Center.

But Jude wasn’t who I was here to see. The Three A’s and Jack weren’t either. I took a deep breath and we sauntered over. “Yo, boys, how goes it in Evil Land?” I asked as we walked past them.

“You dare,” Abaddon hissed.

“Yeah, I do. Because, when it comes down to it, it’s me against the Prince.” The glow from the chasm got brighter. I grinned. “Or, in this case, it’s me against the Morning Star.”

On cue, he rose up, like he was on a rotating platform, though I knew he wasn’t standing on anything but air. The light radiated from him like he truly was a star fallen to Earth. Then he faced me and I saw Lucifer for the first time.

Unlike the other fallen angels, Lucifer was still beautiful to look at. I wondered how he both maintained that and wasn’t an object of massive suspicion because of it in the Depths. He was, I had to admit, the most beautiful angel I’d ever seen.

He nodded to me. “Victoria.” Nice voice. Seductive.

“Lucifer. Nice of you to join the party.”

“My presence was…required.” His eyes narrowed as he looked at the Three A’s.

“Yeah, well, I’d like to suggest you take your flunkies and go back to the Depths. We’ve dusted Hitler and his cronies, so you’re down a few, but you’re a go-getter, and I know you’ll find more. Just not here, and not now.”