Forces From Beyond by Simon R. Green

Author:Simon R. Green
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9780425259955
Publisher: Ace
Published: 2015-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

SEVEN

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WHO’S THAT KNOCKING AT MY DOOR?

JC followed Catherine Latimer through the new Door she’d made into what used to be her old office; and it didn’t feel like going home at all. Everyone else hurried after him, almost treading on his heels. None of them wanted to be left behind, in the Headquarters of Evil Inc. Latimer waited till they were all safely gathered in, then turned and shut the Door firmly in the face of Vivienne MacAbre.

“Sorry, Grand-daughter. There are limits.”

JC couldn’t help but notice the obvious delight Natasha Chang took in the outrage on MacAbre’s face before the Door closed on it. Perhaps because if there were useful secrets and special advantages to be found in the Boss’s office, Chang wanted them all to herself. Latimer sank her hand into the Door, and ripped it right off the wall. It quickly shrank back into a shapeless black blob that barely filled her hand, and Latimer tucked it safely away in her jacket pocket. JC was quietly very impressed. No-one knows how the Droods do the things they do or make the things they make; and it isn’t considered wise to ask. Because the answers would only upset you. Latimer looked carefully at the wall where the Door had been, then nodded briefly, satisfied.

“Just making sure we won’t be followed. Drood biotech is supposed to be unbreakable, but . . .”

“Biotech?” said Melody. “That stuff is alive?”

“Never ask Droods personal questions,” said Latimer. She looked steadily at Chang. “No doubt you’ll make a full report on everything that happens here when you see MacAbre again. But I would strongly suggest you be . . . circumspect when it comes to Drood things.”

“Of course,” said Chang. “The Project doesn’t want a war with that family. Not yet, anyway.”

Rather than think about the implications of that, JC looked around the Boss’s office. After so much had happened, he expected it to look somehow different; but nothing had changed. The same Hepplewhite desk and chair, the same books and files on the shelves, the same air of long-established authority. Latimer’s old souvenirs were still set out on display, no doubt soon to be replaced by Allbright’s. Assuming she had any. It took JC a moment to realise one particular item was missing.

“Boss?” he said. “What’s happened to the Haunted Glove?”

“I found a use for it,” said Latimer, in a tone that strongly discouraged further questions on the subject. “At least the new order hasn’t got around to ransacking my things, just yet. All my records are still in place, undisturbed . . . I really should destroy them rather than risk such dangerous knowledge falling into the cabal’s hands; but I don’t think I will.”

“Why not?” said Melody.

“Because I have every intention of making this my office again, someday,” said Latimer.

“It would be a brave man who bet against you,” JC said solemnly. And then he stopped and looked at her thoughtfully.

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