Dead Lucky by M.R. Forbes

Author:M.R. Forbes
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: magic, wizard, necromancer, gunfight, zombie, thriller, undead, guns, voodoo, urban fantasy, contemporary fantasy, new orleans, gambling, action, adventure, alternate earth
Publisher: Quirky Algorithms

CHAPTER TEN

One is the loneliest number.

It was a quick ride up. The doors opened into a huge atrium, with twenty foot walls, a glass ceiling, and all kinds of tropical plants and water flows running along the space.

Dannie was already waiting for me.

"It's about time. You look like shit."

She was back in her maroon gown, the makeup gone and her hair still slightly damp.

"Where's Despre?"

"Still in bed. I gave him a pretty strong dose."

I smiled. "Let's get the dice and get the hell out of here. I'm feeling the burn."

"This way."

She led me out of the jungle, through a heavy door into a large, open living space. We were surrounded by full-length glass windows, and I could see all of the city, and out past the wall to the darkness beyond. Looking west, I could see a bit of light out in the middle of the black, and I knew it had to be Marie's estate.

She pointed at a winding staircase. "That leads up to the bedrooms and showers. The entire roof is glass. It's pretty, and romantic as hell."

"Falling for Mr. Despre?"

"Admiring his money, that's all."

I followed her across the open space to a heavy door. The dark glass of a retina scanner was mounted near eye level.

"His office. He went in there for a minute, and when I searched his coat the dice were gone."

"We didn't bring anything to get around this. We need his eyeball."

She pushed the door open. "I took care of entry already. He didn't try to hide the room from me, he just asked me to wait outside."

I looked over at the latch and saw she had gotten a splint on it while Despre wasn't looking. It had kept it from closing all the way and enabling the lock.

We went inside. It was your standard rich guy's office. Dark wood, fancy paintings, lots of books, immaculate.

"Why did you need me to come down again?" I asked.

"Just give me a second." She walked over to one of the bookshelves. "I was waiting outside, so I didn't see exactly what he did to open the hidden space."

"He has a secret evil lair?"

"Kind of."

She pulled on each of the books. She put her hands behind them, looking for a button or something. The minutes passed.

"I thought you were a professional," I said.

"Shut up."

She took a step away and considered the shelf. Then she kicked the base. The whole thing swung inward.

"I spoke too soon."

"What else is new? Take a peek, Conor. This is why I needed you."

I looked into the room and had to cover my mouth so I could half-cough, half-laugh in relative silence.

The room contained an art collection of sorts. It was climate and humidity controlled, keeping everything nice and fresh. Paintings rested on the floor and the walls, some of which I recognized as somewhat famous. Swords and other assorted ancient weapons were mounted on racks on the wall. There was a case filled with antique computers, and another with all kinds of small figurines.

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