Unholy Ghosts

Chapter Thirty-eight

Terrible lit two cigarettes and handed her one, keeping his eyes on the road. She didn’t think she’d ever had one that tasted better.

It was over, the whole thing was over. No more Ereshdiran, no more Mortons, no more danger. She could go home, once she’d bought a new mattress. She could go back to working on her own job and not Bump’s.

“So,” she said, grabbing the baby wipes out of her bag and scrubbing her exposed skin with it. “So that was fun.”

“Ain’t a usual kind of night, leastaways.”

“What’s going to happen to them? The ones Bump caught, I mean.”

He glanced at her. Right. She probably didn’t want to know the answer to that one. She could probably guess anyway.

“I guess Bump’s not going to be able to use the airport after all, huh.”

“Look like not.” He shrugged. “Bump always got other plans. You ain’t need to worry. You did what he asked, aye?”

There was that damn twinge of guilt again. No, it hadn’t been her fault that the airport collapsed on itself. But she’d called the ghosts. She’d done it to save her life, to defeat Ereshdiran, but she’d called them, and she’d done it without caring what happened to the airport.

It wasn’t the thought of Bump making her feel guilty. He’d used her, jacked up her debt with some bullshit about interest and used it to force her into an investigation she didn’t want to be part of. Hell, if she hadn’t been out to Chester and found that amulet, chances were none of this would have happened. She could have asked the Elders for help to Banish the Dreamthief from the Mortons’ place. Brain would be alive. Randy might be alive.

Randy had slit his own throat, that was true. Getting involved with the Lamaru, calling or allowing them to call such an entity…She shook her head. Foolishness, but foolishness she could almost understand. That need to belong was so strong in people, it seemed. So strong she fought against it every day. So strong that even when she thought she’d beaten it for good it popped back up.

Randy had never been strong like that, and he’d been taken. Even then it might have been okay if it weren’t for her blood, for Ereshdiran hooking into her soul like a poisonous barb and using her power combined with Slipknot’s to overcome his captors. So she had been a contributing cause in that one…at Bump’s order.

Just like Bump’s orders had led Brain to her, had allowed Randy to hear from blabbermouth Doyle about Brain showing up at her place, so Randy and the Lamaru could make that connection and know they’d been seen. At least she assumed that was how it happened; it wasn’t like anyone was around she could ask except Doyle, and she had a feeling he wouldn’t be too eager to talk to her.

No, she didn’t feel guilty about Bump not being able to use Chester Airport. She felt guilty because she’d lied. To Terrible. He trusted her, and she’d betrayed that trust. Several times.

It wasn’t anything she could apologize for or explain. It just was.

“Hey, how’d you make that happen, anyroad? You bring them ghosts? How’d you make em go after him like that?”

Her spirits lifted a bit. At least somebody cared about what she’d done. “He was part of them. Made from them, after they went crazy and burned down the airport—sleep deprivation, remember? They splintered, or something. So I set them free to take him back, and they did, and since I used his energy and earth energy to call them, once he was gone and I gave the energy back they had to go.”

He nodded. “Awful smart, aye.”

For a second irritation pricked the back of her neck. Wasn’t he going to express some sort of amazement? Was “awful smart” really all she was going to get?

But then she realized, with an odd, blushing sort of warmth, that it had never occurred to him that she wouldn’t be able to solve the problem. That while she’d been flailing around in the dirt, scared shitless that she was about to kill them all, he’d had complete faith in her ability to save them. Just as she’d never really doubted he could protect her from the Lamaru.

Wasn’t that an uncomfortable thought.

“What you gonna tell them up the Church? About what’s-his-name back there, the one got himself dead?”

She thought about it for a second, glad to have something to distract her, even for a moment. “The truth, or as much of it as I can. The Mortons were my case. He was involved in it. I’ll have to say I only found out about the connection tonight, and that’s why I didn’t call them, but…they don’t really need to know about the rest of it.”

“So you all roses with them, aye? Done a good job and all.”

“Yeah. Yeah, I guess so.” It didn’t feel much like it, though. It felt like she’d done something wrong, like there was a brand-new stain on her soul. She turned toward the window and caught her own reflection, her eyes wide and dark under her bangs.

“You cool? Ain’t talking much.”

“Yeah, I’m just…I’m sorry. I know you were looking forward to using the airport again.”

He tilted his head, glancing at her with an amused look. “You joke, aye? Saw something way better than some single-engine puddlejumper in that sky this night, Chess. Ain’t trade that for nothing. Worth it all the way up. Like I said, there’s other places. Bump always got some plans. Like you, aye? Got some plans for now? I mean, now?”

“N—yeah, actually. I do. I’m supposed to meet someone. I mean, I said I would, after I was done. He—they’re waiting for me.”

Pause. Barely a pause, but she noticed it. “See? Already on to the next move. Chess. Where I drop you?”

The tunnel where Lex waited wasn’t far, down the street from a con ve nience store. She told Terrible to leave her there, and they pulled up outside much more quickly than she’d thought.

What was she supposed to say? She looked over at him, his face filthy, swollen and bruised from the fighting and stained with neon red from the lights outside. It had been…good, to work with him. To spend time with him. Like having a real friend for the first time in her life. But how was she supposed to say something like that without sounding like an idiot? What did you say to people, when you actually wanted them around?

“Here.” She tugged out a fresh baby wipe. “You’re all covered in yuck.”

He didn’t move a muscle while she ran the damp cloth over his face. She had to use her left hand to do it, while her right braced his chin. His skin warmed her fingers.

“Close your eyes.”

He did. She used a new wipe for them, sliding it over his skin until she realized she’d been doing it for too long and stopped.

The wipe crumpled in her fist. “Okay, well, I’ll see you, right?”

“Aye, you know, I’m always around.”

“No, I mean…” Shit! What did people say? “I mean, you could call me, if you want. Just to hang out or something, you know?”

His gaze flicked over her face, searching for something. Whether or not he found it she didn’t know, but he nodded. “Aye. Sure, Chess. I give you a ring up.”

There had to be more to say, but whatever it was she couldn’t think of it. And Lex was waiting. So she held out her hand. He shook it, careful not to touch her burned palm.

She got out of the car, and watched him drive away until the throaty rumble of the Chevelle blended into the sounds of the city.

“So you lived after all, tulip. Getting worried, me. Heard all hell broke loose up there.”

“You didn’t stay to watch?”

The smile spread across his face, slow and smooth as he took her hand, lifted her bag off her shoulder, and slung it over his own. Damn. She did like him, didn’t she. How did that happen? “I watched some.”

“Good show?”

“Not bad, not bad at all. You looking like a straight warrior with all them markings and shit on you.”

“You watched for a while, if you saw that.”

“Some watch TV, aye. Some go for live entertainment.”

“So you like to watch, Lex. I never would have guessed.”

He laughed. “Just keeping an eye on my investments, me. No more airport, aye?”

“No. But…that wasn’t why I did it.”

He shrugged. “Ain’t the intent, it’s the outcome that matters. And I’m thinking this outcome ain’t a bad one, aye? Even if you looking banged up?”

“Yeah, but—”

“Aw, nay. All done, tulip. Let’s not us bother with it anymore. Let’s us get back to my place, you show me where it hurts. Sound good?”

Her grin was genuine in spite of herself. “Yeah. Yeah, that sounds pretty good.”

She let him take her hand and lead her through the tunnel.

Elder Griffin placed his hand on her arm, watching the other Debunkers file out of the room. To call that morning’s meeting “subdued” would be like calling Downside “dirty.”

“Cesaria,” he said, his blue eyes dark. “I needs must speak to you for a moment.”

Shit. Her heart sank. They’d caught her out, she didn’t know how, maybe Doyle had said something or—had she slipped up somewhere? She’d studied her notes so hard, she thought she’d kept her story straight, but maybe…

“Sit down.” He pulled a chair out for her. She sank into it, half expecting steel clasps to come out from beneath the arms and lock her in.

He sat beside her. “Are you certain you feel all right? Watching your friend die like that, even though ’twas his doing…” He shook his head. “I am here if you would like to talk about it, my dear.”

“Thanks, but I’m okay. Really.” Relief flooded through her, almost as sweet as the cozy warmth of her pills. She was safe. They hadn’t caught her, she was safe.

“I’m very proud of you. You know, the Grand Elder never considered the Lamaru to be much of a threat. The idea that they actually managed to turn one of our own, to infiltrate us, is quite disturbing.”

She didn’t really know what to say. Should she agree? Disagree? What? So she simply nodded.

“We have of course sent the Enforcers out to look for them. Searching through some of Randy’s effects…” He shook his head, touched her arm again lightly.

“I apologize. I know ’tisn’t a pleasant subject. But we believe we may have found some things that will help lead us to the Lamaru, perhaps even eradicate them—we’ve already found their agent at the Bankhead Spa, and she is being questioned. And we’d like you to do a report specifically giving us everything you learned about their organization. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you to be on your guard until we’ve eliminated them. Far more dangerous than we imagined, Cesaria. I would hate to see you endangered.”

She shook her head. As if she ever let her guard down.

“Perhaps you would be interested in moving back? There are several available cottages on grounds. You would be safer.”

The very thought made her skin crawl. “No, thanks. I’m fine, really. I’m sure the Black Squad will be able to catch them.” Actually, she wasn’t at all sure, but this was her home they were talking about. “I’d like to stay where I am.”

His bright head dipped. “As you wish.”

“Thanks.”

Silence fell between them. Chess wondered if she should get up, if they were done. But Elder Griffin didn’t seem done. He watched her, smiling.

“In truth, I’m not the only one who’s proud. The Elders had a discussion this morn, about what you did. We are very pleased.”

“Thanks.” She was starting to feel like a broken record. The story she’d told them had been a simple one: The Lamaru recruited Randy and in return for his help they’d put Ereshdiran into the Morton home. No mention of the airport, or Slipknot, or the blood connection between herself and the thief. She would have left the Lamaru out of it entirely had she not asked Doyle about them the day before. The Mortons surely wouldn’t have mentioned them, if they even knew the full scope of the plot; Chess hadn’t heard any of their testimonies yet. She only knew they were alive and awake and somewhere in a detention cell.

Elder Griffin reached into the file on the long, shiny glass table and pulled out an envelope and two sheets of paper, which he handed to her.

The paper was official Church stationery. The first sheet was a letter of commendation. The second…She had to read it twice before the words meant something.

“Technically it’s not a promotion,” Elder Griffin said. “You will still be a Debunker. You’ll just occasionally be helping other departments with their investigations. For a bonus each time, of course.”

The irony made her want to laugh, in a sick, cynical way. She’d lied to everyone, and she was being rewarded for it. Seemed to be the way her life was working these days, though, what with the free pills in her bag from Lex and the erased debt from Bump. For however long that lasted.

She set the letter on the table and opened the envelope, then looked up. “You gave me my bonus already, remember? Before the meeting?”

“This is in addition to that. We felt something was called for, for defeating the Lamaru plot.”

It wasn’t much. But it would cover the new bed she’d bought, and a week or two’s worth of food. Or a nice long weekend in the pipe room…

Her head still spinning, she thanked Elder Griffin again and headed out of the building, into the soft autumn sunshine.

Doyle waited for her by her car. His face was full of colorful bruises, like he’d been painting and made a mess. “Hey, Chessie, you got a minute?”

“Not really.”

“Please.” He reached for her, caught himself and shoved his hand into his pocket. His left one dangled by his side, the pinky splinted and wrapped. She almost wished she could feel guilty about it. “I just wanted to say sorry. For…what I did. I honestly didn’t mean to. I just…you know, you treated me pretty shitty.”

“Uh-huh. Well, thanks for the apology. I have to go now.”

“Can’t we just talk about it?”

“Nope.” She needed new tires. Hell, she needed a new car. Maybe now she’d get one, if she found one she liked. The bonus for Banishing Ereshdiran hadn’t been as much as she’d hoped, but it was enough, especially since she could cut down on her purchases from Bump—at least for a little while, until Slobag and Lex decided she’d been paid enough and cut her off.

And really, she should spend the money now, while she had it, before she got too itchy and blew it on beer or the pipes or whatever else she could get her hands on.

“I’m not a bad person, you know,” Doyle said.

“Hey there, tulip. Who’s your friend?”

Chess turned around and swallowed her surprise. Lex. She hadn’t seen him or heard from him in three days, since the morning after the airport showdown, and she wasn’t sure if she was relieved or sad about that. A bit of both, really, but it was nice to see him just the same.

Lex stared at Doyle, his eyes narrowing.

Shit. Even she couldn’t be that mean, could she? Terrible had already more than taken care of whatever residual anger she felt toward Doyle.

“Just a guy I work with,” she said.

“I have a name, you know.” He glared at her. “I’m Doyle.”

Lex grinned. “You Doyle, aye? Guessing you just the guy I been lookin for, then.”

Chess lit a cigarette and turned her back on them as Doyle started to run. She didn’t need to watch, any more than she needed to think of the future. Instead she looked at the Church, rising from the earth like a plume of pure white smoke, gazing at her with benevolent detachment. She thought of the City, of the dead, empty souls milling around, waiting for their week of freedom, separated from her by hundreds of feet of solid earth. Where they belonged.

And for the first time she believed there might be a place where she belonged, too, outside of the Church and her position there. And maybe one day she’d have the strength or the courage to accept it. For now…

She ground out her smoke with her toe, and went to find Lex. She had a whole empty afternoon in front of her, and a tattoo that was desperate for some air.