Preternatural Affairs Omnibus by S M Reine

Author:S M Reine [Reine, S M]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Red Iris Books
Published: 2014-09-01T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

WHEN THE OPA DECIDED to get something done, it didn’t mess around.

Our organization’s ruthless efficiency was one of my favorite things about it. You wanted to investigate the scene of a crime in an hour before the mundane police showed up? No problem. We could be in and out in forty-five minutes. Want to arrest someone before they have enough time to leave the country? We’ll meet them at the airport.

And if you wanted to excavate a mine, the OPA would rip the earth apart.

It was strangely satisfying to see the crater that used to be Silverton Mine. No more tiny cramped holes. No more aging mine cart tracks. No more crumbling walls. Just a few Caterpillars and a giant pit.

Tents had been erected around the mine, forming a small city occupied by engineers in coveralls and a handful of black-suited witches. We had about two dozen personnel on-site—impressive, considering that my team had been the only personnel locally available until the night before.

We even had a construction crew at work. Until that moment, I hadn’t known that the OPA employed construction workers, but all of the large machinery was painted matte black with white government seals on the side, so I was completely sure that the equipment belonged specifically to our agency. Because, you know, the OPA and the Union couldn’t have a single piece of equipment that was a normal color. Or any non-black color at all, really.

“This is pretty cool,” I admitted to Suzy.

It didn’t look like she agreed. She frowned as she watched the proceedings. I wondered if she was thinking about the Union detention facility again.

A pair of familiar figures climbed out of the hole wearing combat gear and splattered in shiny demon blood. Malcolm pulled off his helmet as he ambled over. His hair was a sweaty mess.

“Hello, gorgeous,” he said to Suzy, giving me a conspiratorial wink. At least, I think it was meant to be a wink. With his eye patch, it could have just as easily been an unusually lascivious blink. “You are a sight for my sore eye. Even if you have, you know, sore eyes. But the bruises are a fetching look on you, trust me!”

It was hard to tell if Suzy was smiling or scowling through the puffy face.

“What is this?” I asked, gesturing at the dig site.

“An excavation!” Malcolm said. “What else do you think it could be?”

“Looks like we got those nuclear bombs we ordered,” I said. “I take it the daimarachnid nest has been emptied.”

“Thoroughly squashed. Make sure to let me know if you want any souvenirs before we send everything to the incinerator!”

Souvenirs? Yikes. “I think I’m good. I do need access to the human bodies that were in the nest, though.”

“We haven’t pulled those out yet. Go down, help yourself. Look for a husky lad named Gary Zettel. He’s commander of the unit handling the more delicate digging down there.”

As soon as Malcolm headed for the tents, Suzy rounded on me. “Are

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