Another special agent. Following me. And not very sly about it.
Maxine caught my evaluation of the man and made one of her own. She must’ve noted the gun under his jacket as well; she moved herself directly between us.
Hoping he would leave, I studied the discounted Hallowe’en items. Just as I picked up a blond wig, Maxine said in a clipped voice, “We’re going to be late.” She pointed down the aisle, away from the man. Maxine kept herself expertly between us as I carried the wig and lighter to the register. Remembering my thought about calling myself Mae West and Maxine lighting my hair on fire, I smiled to myself.
While Maxine and I were in line, Mr. Alligator Shoes left the store.
After paying, I exited and hurried to the Audi. Maxine practically pushed me into the backseat, but remained outside scanning the other parked cars.
Johnny twisted in his seat. “This thing has a built-in massage-and-ventilation mechanism!” His glee faded. “What’s wrong?”
“Did you see the guy in the fancy suit leave?” I asked.
Johnny said, “No. Why?”
“I think a special agent may be following us.”
Johnny’s bright mood darkened. “Are you certain?”
“Yeah. He was fairly obvious.”
“What makes you think he was a G-man?”
“Gun bulge under his coat.”
Maxine opened the door and got into the passenger seat. “Nothing,” she said, “but let’s get out of here.”
Johnny had us on the road in seconds. I kept watch out the back. He took an alternate route, cutting down side streets before returning to the main roads. “See anything?”
“No, but he may be more adept at road surveillance.”
“Or,” Maxine added, “he may have done everything he wanted to do.”
“What do you mean?” I asked. “He didn’t touch me or anything.”
“Yeah, but he smelled wolfy to me, and he got close enough to scent you.”
I met Johnny’s eyes in the rearview mirror. The last thing either of us wanted was to think that SSTIX had nonsters on the payroll.
Fifteen minutes later, we headed east on Abbey Avenue and turned onto West Fourteenth. When Johnny turned again, I had to admit, I was surprised by where this forced-change spell was going to take place. “The Cleveland Cold Storage building?”
“Yup.”
Long abandoned, or so I thought, and subject to disputes—the Ohio Department of Transportation wanted it demolished to make way for their new I-90 projects—it was legally still in limbo.
The twelve-story building had windows on the second and third levels only. In its heyday the upper floors were basically a series of big refrigerators and freezers. Now, the windowless upper levels served as a canvas for huge billboards seen from I-90’s current route. Theo had said they wanted to do this at the den, but it hadn’t hit me until now that this was the den. No wonder the disputes had been going on for years. The wæres were trying to work out a deal.
I checked the sky. The moon was still visible, and I was sure I would be able to see it from the west-side windows. “You’ll herd the wolves to the kennels after they change?” I asked as Johnny drove up a newer ramp and into the open lower level. We passed through the loading dock access and into what looked like another parking garage.
“I will.”
He parked. We all got out. As I retrieved my things from the trunk he told Maxine, “This is as far as you go. We have our own security.” His decision didn’t surprise me; she worked for Menessos, after all.
“Where she goes,” Maxine pointed at me, “I go. By order of the Regional Vampire Lord.”
“His orders mean nothing here.”
“You don’t want to cross him,” she said.
“And you don’t want to be a lone Offerling in my den.”
Her eyebrows lowered and her lips tensed: conflict turning to anger.
“Maxine, as your Erus Veneficus, I’ll take responsibility if Menessos is displeased.”
“I’m just supposed to wait here in the car?”
“Actually,” Johnny said, “I suggest you drive over there.” He gestured. “Just on the other side of I-90 is a place called University Inn. The best eastern European food anywhere. I recommend the Salisbury steak and pierogies. Eat slow. Have some dessert and strike up a conversation with someone. I guarantee you’ll learn something interesting.” He opened the Audi’s door. “Whenever you’re ready.”
Seconds later, she drove down the ramp.
Johnny said, “This way.” We entered the building.
There were twenty or so cars in this lower level. A stairwell sat next to a wide, open elevator. The lift was big enough for a car and had rickety wooden gates. The elevator in the vampire haven had struck me as unsafe and I’d been concerned about riding on it, but it wasn’t nearly as ramshackle as this one.
As Johnny led me onto the elevator, I said, “Now would be a good time to offer me a few words of reassurance.”
He laughed and replied, “It’s safe.” When he shut the time-and termite-damaged gate, pieces of wood splintered to the floor.
“How … romantic,” I muttered.
He entered some code on the keypad and jabbed his thumb on a red button that made the gears shudder. The elevator rose with a rhythmic jerkiness that was not at all comforting. His charming lopsided smile beamed at me until we stopped at the second floor.
An open expanse sprawled before us, and the men were grouped to the far western side. Todd was approaching, having heard the elevator’s gears kick in. Blond and built like a pro wrestler, he was two full inches shorter than me. The meanness in his features was constant. He didn’t bother with a greeting. He said simply, “They’re ready.”
The men stood silently watching. It would have made me feel more at ease if they had been chattering among themselves. Instead, they shifted their weight and locked keen eyes on me. They were likely as uncertain about their safety in this spell as I had been about mine on that elevator. I’d make sure to reassure them with more than “It’s safe,” and a smile as I’d gotten from Johnny.
All eighteen of them were here, Kirk included. They bowed their heads and murmured respectfully, “Domn Lup.”
This spell was going to be their reward for volunteering to stand with Johnny against the fairies. It would give these wæres the ability to retain their man-minds whenever they transformed naturally with the moon cycles. They had done as he asked and they deserved this gift. But I was also doing this for Johnny.
Theo was doing her best searching for answers, but we had little to go on, and the wærewolf head honcho would be here tomorrow. Not much time to find this Arcanum, let alone undo the magic, but Menessos had indicated the spell should somewhat weaken the bonds restraining Johnny and enable him to transform more easily. The Rege would see only the fully ascended Domn Lup.
Johnny introduced me, and said, “While she checks the windows and decides what spot will suit the needs of the spell, let me just say once more how grateful I am that you volunteered …”
While he continued addressing the men, I walked to the western wall, set down my bag and broom, and gauged the view from the various windows. The glass was clouded with years of weather and grime, so I resorted to checking those that were broken out, trying to find a spot where the moon was in the best position. Once located, I could mark my spot on the floor and arrange the wæres accordingly.
My ears detected a regular tap-tapping sound and I searched for the source. The men heard it, too, and Johnny’s words trailed off. It seemed to be echoing from a stairwell beside the elevator. The shadows darkened with movement beyond. The men were all actively sniffing the air.