Industrial Magic
Page 127
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The problem was that Cassandra knew nothing about portals and Cabal curses, and didnt even know for certain that wed found Edward. She knew only that we were missing and he might be to blame. So she did the obvious: demanded to know where we were, whereupon Edward realized everyone knew wed disappeared, which meant any hope of negotiating with the Cabals had also disappeared, which meant he didnt need Cassandra to mediate for him. So hed hung up.
Not surprisingly, no one had heard from Edward since. My first thought was that it was still over. Edward would go into hiding, no more Cabal kids would die, and the problem would be resolved, however unsatisfying that resolution might be. Again, Jaime knew differently. When Edward had been trying to persuade Cassandra to negotiate for him, his terms were that he would stop the killings if the Cabal reopened a portal for him. Of course that made no sense to Cassandra, and Edward hung up before she could demand an explanation. Once I told Jaime what happened, though, she knew exactly what hed meant.
Once a portal to the ghost world had been ripped open, it remained hot for about forty-eight hours. That meant, with the right materials, it could be reactivated. As for what material such a reopening required, Jaime knew only that it involved a sacrificea human sacrifice. Yet she also knew it wasnt as easy as selecting a random victim from the street. She had an idea where she could find details on the ritual, and promised to do so immediately. While Id explained the situation to Elena and Clay, Lucas had called his father. We talked for another couple of minutes, then set out for our respective rental cars, which were parked in a lot near Edwards hotel. We got less than a block before a familiar black SUV squealed a U-turn in front of us.
How the hell? I said.
Cell phone tracking, I would presume, Lucas murmured.
As the SUV pulled to the curbside, I turned to say something else to Lucas, then saw the bloodstained bullet hole on his shirt.
Shit! I said. Your shirt. A jacket, does anyone have
No one did, but it didnt matter. Before the SUV even stopped rolling, the rear door opened and Benicio flew out. And, of course, the first thing he saw was that bullet hole.
Benicio stopped in mid-stride, gaze glued to that bloodied hole in Lucass shirt. All color drained from his face. He took one unsteady step toward his son. Lucas hesitated only a split second, then met Benicio in an embrace.
As the two hugged, Elena slipped off to the side, then returned, grabbed Clays arm, and tugged him away, motioning to me that theyd wait around the corner to give us privacy.
Lucas tried to explain away the hole, but it was too late. Benicio had already been to see Faye and shed told him that Lucas was Edwards next target. She hadntknown Lucas had been shot, but the moment Benicio saw that shirt, he knew, and there was no sense fudging the facts. We did, however, gloss over our afterlife visit, saying only that wed fallen through the portal and reawakened here. Later, Benicio would undoubtedly press for details, but for now he didnt care. Lucas was safe. That was all that mattered.
So now we still need to find Edward, Lucas said. Hell probably lie low
Benicio shook his head. Hell want to reopen the portal.
We didentertain that possibility, Lucas said. We have Jaime looking into it now.
And Ill get our researchers on it right away. For now, though, my first priority is you. Ive made arrangements for you and Paige to be flown to the safe house, where youll
No, Pap, Lucas said quietly.
Benicio met his sons gaze. Dont argue with me on this, Lucas. You are going
I am going to continue what I started. As long as Edward is free, I still have a job to do.
Your job is done. It ends here, Lucas. I have never interfered before
Lucas gave him a look.
Benicios mouth set. Not with this, I havent. I have never tried to stop these crusades of yours or dissuade you from them. He stepped back. Do you think I dont know how often your life is in danger, Lucas? Do you know how many nights Ive spent worrying? Wondering what kind of trouble youll get into next? But I have never said a word. You jaunt off to Boston to take on Kristof Nast over a witch, and I say nothing. You fly to California to confront a potential serial killer, and I say nothing. But now I am saying something. This time, my name isnt enough to protect you, so Im damned well going to do it myself. You are going to that
No, Pap.
They locked gazes and for a minute, just stood there, staring at one another. Then Lucas gave a slow shake of his head.
No, Pap. This is my fight, just as much as anything else Ive ever done. Youre right. All the risks Ive ever taken havent been risks at all, because of you and who I am. That has always kept me safe. So now, when I ampossibly for the first timein real danger, do you honestly expect me to hide behind you? What kind of man would that make me?
A safe one.
Lucas met his fathers glare with an unblinking stare. After a moment, Benicio turned away. From his profile, I could see his jaw working, struggling to rein in his anger. Finally, he turned back to Lucas.
Youre taking Troy, he said.
Not surprisingly, no one had heard from Edward since. My first thought was that it was still over. Edward would go into hiding, no more Cabal kids would die, and the problem would be resolved, however unsatisfying that resolution might be. Again, Jaime knew differently. When Edward had been trying to persuade Cassandra to negotiate for him, his terms were that he would stop the killings if the Cabal reopened a portal for him. Of course that made no sense to Cassandra, and Edward hung up before she could demand an explanation. Once I told Jaime what happened, though, she knew exactly what hed meant.
Once a portal to the ghost world had been ripped open, it remained hot for about forty-eight hours. That meant, with the right materials, it could be reactivated. As for what material such a reopening required, Jaime knew only that it involved a sacrificea human sacrifice. Yet she also knew it wasnt as easy as selecting a random victim from the street. She had an idea where she could find details on the ritual, and promised to do so immediately. While Id explained the situation to Elena and Clay, Lucas had called his father. We talked for another couple of minutes, then set out for our respective rental cars, which were parked in a lot near Edwards hotel. We got less than a block before a familiar black SUV squealed a U-turn in front of us.
How the hell? I said.
Cell phone tracking, I would presume, Lucas murmured.
As the SUV pulled to the curbside, I turned to say something else to Lucas, then saw the bloodstained bullet hole on his shirt.
Shit! I said. Your shirt. A jacket, does anyone have
No one did, but it didnt matter. Before the SUV even stopped rolling, the rear door opened and Benicio flew out. And, of course, the first thing he saw was that bullet hole.
Benicio stopped in mid-stride, gaze glued to that bloodied hole in Lucass shirt. All color drained from his face. He took one unsteady step toward his son. Lucas hesitated only a split second, then met Benicio in an embrace.
As the two hugged, Elena slipped off to the side, then returned, grabbed Clays arm, and tugged him away, motioning to me that theyd wait around the corner to give us privacy.
Lucas tried to explain away the hole, but it was too late. Benicio had already been to see Faye and shed told him that Lucas was Edwards next target. She hadntknown Lucas had been shot, but the moment Benicio saw that shirt, he knew, and there was no sense fudging the facts. We did, however, gloss over our afterlife visit, saying only that wed fallen through the portal and reawakened here. Later, Benicio would undoubtedly press for details, but for now he didnt care. Lucas was safe. That was all that mattered.
So now we still need to find Edward, Lucas said. Hell probably lie low
Benicio shook his head. Hell want to reopen the portal.
We didentertain that possibility, Lucas said. We have Jaime looking into it now.
And Ill get our researchers on it right away. For now, though, my first priority is you. Ive made arrangements for you and Paige to be flown to the safe house, where youll
No, Pap, Lucas said quietly.
Benicio met his sons gaze. Dont argue with me on this, Lucas. You are going
I am going to continue what I started. As long as Edward is free, I still have a job to do.
Your job is done. It ends here, Lucas. I have never interfered before
Lucas gave him a look.
Benicios mouth set. Not with this, I havent. I have never tried to stop these crusades of yours or dissuade you from them. He stepped back. Do you think I dont know how often your life is in danger, Lucas? Do you know how many nights Ive spent worrying? Wondering what kind of trouble youll get into next? But I have never said a word. You jaunt off to Boston to take on Kristof Nast over a witch, and I say nothing. You fly to California to confront a potential serial killer, and I say nothing. But now I am saying something. This time, my name isnt enough to protect you, so Im damned well going to do it myself. You are going to that
No, Pap.
They locked gazes and for a minute, just stood there, staring at one another. Then Lucas gave a slow shake of his head.
No, Pap. This is my fight, just as much as anything else Ive ever done. Youre right. All the risks Ive ever taken havent been risks at all, because of you and who I am. That has always kept me safe. So now, when I ampossibly for the first timein real danger, do you honestly expect me to hide behind you? What kind of man would that make me?
A safe one.
Lucas met his fathers glare with an unblinking stare. After a moment, Benicio turned away. From his profile, I could see his jaw working, struggling to rein in his anger. Finally, he turned back to Lucas.
Youre taking Troy, he said.
