Deceived: An Urban Fantasy Novel (Unturned Book 3) by Cornell Rob

Author:Cornell, Rob [Cornell, Rob]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Tags: urban fantasy
Publisher: Paradox Publications
Published: 2017-04-03T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty

We had to take a cab. (I was already missing my Reliant.) It took everything in me not to keep nagging the driver to go faster. When we got there, I had the cab drop us off across the street. The cab drove away, and Mom and I stared at the Black Rose.

From the outside, the club looked like it always did during the day. Toft had already had the shattered window replaced. The afternoon sun reflected off the blacked-out glass, making the windows look as though they were made of onyx.

After a minute, Mom turned to me. “I find it difficult to believe the Ministry is behind this. If they were, Toft and his spawn would be dust by now.”

I didn’t correct her mistake about Odi’s relation to Toft. Toft had picked up Odi after Odi’s maker had abandoned him, much like his mortal parents had when the kid was first born. Odi had a history of people leaving him right when he was most vulnerable. It was another reason why I treated him like I did. I felt sorry for him.

“For all we know,” I said, “they are. We’re going to have to go in to find out.”

Mom pressed her lips together for a moment, gaze focused on the club. “If they are Ministry, you can’t stop them. You’ve already got the death of one officer hanging over you. Interfering in whatever this is?” She shook her head. “I know you like these demons, and you have your reasons, but they aren’t worth pitting yourself against the Ministry.”

Another mistake on her part. I didn’t like Toft at all. I tolerated him—not only because I had to with my Odi situation, but because he had helped save me from becoming a demon myself.

What difference did it make? She was right. I could not openly defy the Ministry. But could I live with myself if I let something happen to Odi?

“It can’t be Ministry, though. You said so yourself.”

She sighed, didn’t say anything.

I checked both ways for traffic then crossed the street. I wasn’t sure when I did if Mom would follow. She didn’t need to. But she did.

I half expected Mortimer to greet us at the door like he so often did when I showed up during off hours. But Odi had said their attackers had killed the poor troll. I tried to imagine what Toft would do without his valet/puppet.

Nothing, if Toft were dead, too.

I tried the door, found it open. I heard a metallic clink when I pulled. A piece of the latch had fallen loose. The lock had been broken.

I exchanged looks with Mom then led the way inside.

We found Mortimer on the floor next to an overturned table close to the stage. Well, most of him.

In death, his human glamour had fallen away, leaving him in all his trolly glory. His bulky torso strained the buttons on his tux, spreading his shirt open between them. His dull, solid black eyes stared up at the ceiling from under a protruding brow that could have doubled as a small shelf.

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