Not of this World by Simon R. Green

Author:Simon R. Green [Green, Simon R]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781448305803
Published: 2022-12-05T16:00:00+00:00

FIVE

Council of War

The street outside the club was perfectly empty. No traffic, no pedestrians, nothing moving anywhere in the long sullen silence of the night. I stopped my crew outside the door and looked carefully up and down the deserted street.

‘Does anyone else feel like they have a bullseye painted on them?’ said Melody.

Polly looked quickly around, her fur bristling. ‘You think Hogge had the street cleared so his people could do something nasty to us without any witnesses?’

‘That does sound like him,’ I said.

‘But there’s no one here!’ said Melody.

‘She’s not wrong,’ said Polly. ‘I can smell a whole bunch of things on the night air, including a few that are scouring out the insides of my nostrils, but there’s not a trace of people anywhere. There are craters on the Moon that have more nightlife than this.’

‘We can’t stay here, Gideon,’ Sally said urgently. ‘Lex needs help.’

‘I think I might know where we can find him some,’ I said.

I set off down the empty street at a good pace, and Melody immediately moved in beside me. The others stuck close behind. Our footsteps echoed loudly in the quiet, as though trying to attract someone’s attention. The shadows remained still and unoccupied, and no one emerged from a side street with bad intent. It was as though we had the whole night to ourselves. But even with the overwhelming sense of unease, it wasn’t long before Melody started up again.

‘You didn’t have to tell Hogge everything about the Box Tunnel heist,’ she said sharply. ‘Why make it easy for him?’

‘I didn’t,’ I said. ‘I only gave Hogge the what and the where – enough to tempt him and keep his thoughts occupied. We’re still in the best position to get to the Preserve first.’

‘Even if we do get there before Hogge,’ said Melody, ‘you honestly think you can steal a ghost?’

I glanced back at Sally and Polly. They were clearly listening but choosing not to get involved. I kept my voice carefully calm and assured.

‘I’ve stolen far more difficult things than ghosts. And while Hogge might be the head of a criminal organization, he doesn’t do the hands-on thing. He’ll have to put a crew together to do the job for him, and that will take time.’

‘He already has Digby and Chang,’ said Melody, not giving an inch.

‘They’d be out of their depth the moment they entered the complex,’ I said patiently. ‘Hogge is going to need specialized operatives – like us – and they’re never easy to come by at short notice. We can get in, do the job and get out again long before Hogge’s people turn up. Now, may I suggest we concentrate on putting this whole area behind us? Hogge has never prided himself on being a good loser.’

Polly cleared her throat, an odd sound from a large and hairy werewolf. ‘Can I just remind everyone that I have an unconscious body slumped over my shoulder that isn’t getting any lighter?’

‘But you’re a werewolf!’ said Melody.

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