The Long Chain by Dan Willis

Author:Dan Willis [Willis, Dan]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Tags: Alternate History, Urban Fantasy, Detective
Published: 2019-09-16T17:00:00+00:00

17

Genesis Water

Alex had no intention of spending his days scanning the city block by block. Someone had attacked Jessica and tried to kidnap the doc, and there was no way he was letting that stand, sorceress or no sorceress. Still, he would have to do something about the fog, or risk having Sorsha follow him everywhere personally. He could try stopping off at the Blue Room and asking about Jimmy the Weasel, but if Detective Hawkins knew Jimmy used to bounce there, it was a cinch Callahan did, too. He had probably already been there. He’d call the lieutenant in the morning and find out what he’d learned.

It was only six when Alex mounted the steps to the brownstone. It had been over a day since he’d been there, but it felt longer. A lot longer.

He pulled out his pocket watch and flipped it open, then took hold of the door handle — and walked straight into the unyielding door.

At first, he thought he’d gotten lost in the fog and got the wrong house, but the oval stained-glass window in the center of the door was the right one.

“Damn it,” he swore.

He’d forgotten to call Iggy after the attack on Jessica. That meant that Iggy had worried about him all night and now the old man wanted his pound of flesh for such a breach of decorum. He’d enabled the bars that wouldn’t let the door open until Alex knocked.

Alex really hated the Brits and their elaborate social rules.

Putting his pocket watch away, he knocked on the door. Almost three minutes passed before he heard the door to the vestibule open, then saw Iggy’s silhouette through the stained-glass panel.

“The face is familiar,” the old man smirked as he opened the door. “But I can’t remember the name.”

Alex had expected Iggy to be relieved to see him. On the rare occasions when he’d forgotten to call that he’d be late or out, it seemed to weigh on his mentor. When Alex searched his face this time, there was no sign of that.

“Callahan called you,” Alex said.

Iggy grinned.

“It sounds like you had an interesting evening last night,” he said, stepping back to let Alex in out of the foggy night air. “I assume Jessica is okay.”

“She was this morning,” Alex said, heading for the kitchen. “I need to give her a call, though.”

“Meet me in the library when you’re done,” Iggy called after him as he closed the outer door.

Alex tossed his hat on the kitchen table, then moved to the phone on the wall.

“Hello,” Dr. Kellin answered.

“Doc,” he said, relief flooding through him. “It’s good to hear your voice.”

“Yours too,” she said. “I’m very grateful to you for saving Jessica and...and my life’s work.”

Alex’s smile evaporated at that. He’d forgotten about Jessica using her own body to finish their polio cure.

“Can I talk to Jessica?”

There was an uncomfortable silence on the line, then Dr. Kellin answered.

“I gave her something to help her sleep,” she said. “Her decision to save our cure by injecting herself was…”

She struggled for the right word.

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