A Christmas Hex by Jordan L. Hawk

Author:Jordan L. Hawk
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: holiday, historical, detective, witches, victorian, 19th century, wolf shifter

VIII.

The bells of a distant church chimed five o’clock just as Roland and Gus arrived at the pier.

This was the dead time of night, when most of the saloons had closed and the factories and cafés not yet opened. Even the normally busy wharf was silent and deserted, save for the creak of ropes as ships rocked in their berths. A few lights showed here and there from Bellevue Hospital, and a police cart drew up to the city morgue next door, but otherwise it felt as though they were the only ones left in the city.

The light of a lantern appeared, not far from the berth where the Blackwell’s Island Ferry awaited its next shipment of unfortunates.

“There they are,” Gus murmured. “Stay close to me.” He put a hand to his pocket, where he’d concealed a revolver. They’d made a brief stop at the office of his detective agency, where he’d removed the weapon from a safe. He’d offered another to Roland, but Roland had refused. Having never handled a gun in his life, he feared he’d be more a danger to himself than to the men they hunted.

In the warm glow of the lantern, Roland could just make out the features of Shawn and his witch—Jonathan, that was the name Shawn had used. The third man must be Novik. Shawn gestured toward a warehouse on a nearby pier, and Roland wished he could make out what they were saying.

Novik shook his head. Shawn shrugged and started to turn away. Novik grabbed his arm; for a moment, they glared at one another. Then Novik nodded, and they made their way toward the warehouse.

“Where are they going?” Roland whispered.

“At a guess? Out of the open, to someplace they’re certain they won’t be seen,” Gus replied in a low, tense voice. “Novik is a fool to go with them.”

A cold deeper than the pre-dawn air made its way into Roland’s veins. “You think they mean to kill him?”

“Unless they have some other reason for luring him into the warehouse.” Gus started forward. “Come on. There’s no time to lose.”

The East River lapped against the pilings, and the air reeked of fish and tar. Gus moved cautiously, his footsteps nearly silent. Roland followed, feeling clumsy when his boot scraped the wood of the pier.

When they reached the door Novik and the others had disappeared through, Gus drew his revolver and turned to Roland. “It might be best if you stay out here,” he said. In the dimness, Roland could just make out his grim expression. “We already know they won’t hesitate to do murder.”

Roland shook his head. “I’m coming with you. What if they’ve hexed another advertisement? You’re vulnerable to the hex, and I’m not.”

Gus visibly hesitated…then nodded. “All right.” He put a hand to Roland’s shoulder. “Thank you. You didn’t have to do any of this, you know. You’ve shown an uncommon bravery. When this is over…” He caught himself. “Well, now isn’t the time. Later, though, I’d like to talk.”

Before Roland could react, Gus cracked open the door and slipped inside.

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