Brittle Midnight Page 20

  Carter straightened his back. ‘You can’t keep doing this. You can’t keep coming in here and threatening me and my punters whenever you like. I won’t stand for it.’

  ‘I’m trying to solve a series of murders,’ Monroe said. ‘I think that supersedes a couple of shitty drunks.’

  ‘Because you’re trying to pretend that you care? You don’t give a flying fuck about who’s died, Monroe. You like to pretend that you’re the big man. You got us all here months ago after your big speech about creating a community where people would be safe and protected as long as they toed the line. You suggested that your ways were better than her ways.’ He jerked his head towards me. ‘Then you ignored the lot of us. Don’t start acting like you’re surprised and you give a shit that people are getting killed. There are easier ways to get into a woman’s knickers. Have you thought about flowers?’ he sneered. ‘I mean, how hard can it be to fuck a blue-haired—’

  It happened so quickly that I couldn’t even react. Monroe snapped his head forward, headbutting Carter. The vampire barman staggered, blood streaming from his nose. ‘Fuck you,’ he snarled.

  Monroe’s body shook. He was a wolf’s whisker away from shifting completely. I doubted that would help matters so I stepped forward hastily. ‘Please, Carter. I understand that you’re upset. You have reason to be. When all this is over Monroe will listen to your complaints, but right now we’re on a clock. The last thing we need is for more people to die, whether they’re human or wolves.’ I paused. ‘Or vampires.’

  Carter wiped away the worst of the blood with his sleeve. ‘All you had to do was ask nicely,’ he spat. He looked at me. ‘You got any room in the south for a vampire bar?’ he asked.

  ‘Please, Carter,’ I said. ‘Help us out.’

  He looked away, his mouth twisting. ‘The two you’re looking for are called Ben and Jerry.’ He winked at me but there was little humour in his expression. ‘Not their real names, darling, that’s what they’re known as. They’re always together. They live smack-bang in the middle of the enclave. Terraced house. Blue door. It’s next to an old Chinese restaurant.’

  Monroe was heading for the exit.

  ‘You probably won’t find them there,’ Carter called. He raised his eyes to mine. ‘You’ll remember that I helped you.’

  I nodded. ‘I will.’

  He stared at me for a long moment, trying to ascertain whether I was telling the truth, then he grunted. ‘They have a hideout near the River Irwell,’ he said. ‘North east. They’ve been setting it up for weeks. They want somewhere to hole up when all this community business goes to hell. Smart move, if you ask me.’

  ‘Where?’ Monroe asked, more softly. That was something at least. ‘Where exactly near the river?’

  ‘Beside some old cemetery. Kinda creepy if you ask me, but they’ve always been like that.’

  Monroe gave him a long look, filled with mixed emotion. ‘Thank you,’ he said finally, inclining his head.

  Carter glared. ‘You’re welcome.’

  For no other reason than that it seemed fitting, I nipped over and pecked him on the cheek. ‘I really appreciate it,’ I whispered. ‘Monroe does too.’

  The vampire grunted. ‘Get the fuck out of here.’

  I smiled at him before Monroe and I vamoosed.

  ‘I don’t know what’s going on here, or what these two vamps have to do with anything,’ I said as I struggled to keep with him. ‘But I don’t think headbutting a vampire is the way to win friends and influence people.’

  ‘Maybe I should have kissed him instead, like you did.’ Monroe’s voice vibrated with barely checked anger. ‘Besides, he shouldn’t have insulted me. He should show more respect.’

  ‘Should he?’ I asked. ‘He’s disappointed, Monroe. It’s written all over his face.’

  We veered round a corner and out towards the edge of the community. ‘Disappointed with what? He’s got nothing to be disappointed about.’

  I wasn’t sure whether I should answer or not but concealing the truth didn’t seem like it would do anyone any good. ‘He’s disappointed in you. He was expecting more from you. It’s not your fault that you’ve not lived up to his expectations but…’ I grimaced. ‘It’s obvious that’s how he feels. I know it because I see the same look on the faces of the people in the south every time they come to talk to me.’

  Monroe slowed his steps and turned to look at me.

  ‘You see?’ I said. ‘We’re all fuck-ups.’ I paused. ‘But let’s not fuck up this investigation. What are you onto? Who are these two guys?’

  I could see him wrestling with himself, torn between what was going on with Julie and what had happened with Carter. In the end, the investigation won out. It had to. ‘When Julie came to me to talk about you, before I saw you at the reservoir, she only stayed until two other vampires showed up.’

  ‘Ben and Jerry?’ I guessed.

  Monroe nodded. ‘Indeed. As far as I could tell, they were looking for her and she wasn’t happy about it.’

  ‘So if they’ve been keeping on tabs on her, they might know where she is.’

  ‘Searching for them when we have their address makes more sense than trailing aimlessly through the city searching for Julie.’

  ‘Agreed.’ Whether it proved fruitful or not, having a destination was the best thing we could hope for right now. ‘I think I know where this cemetery is,’ I told him.

  He pointed ahead. ‘Lead the way.’

  ***

  There were quite a few buildings dotted around the cemetery, any one of which could have been chosen by a pair of vampires as a back-up hidey-hole. Most of them looked desolate and dark, and most had blacked-out windows, but only one of the buildings had voices raised in dispute coming from it. It was an old industrial warehouse that had seen better days. Hadn’t we all?

  Monroe and I looked at each other. ‘Definitely vampires,’ he told me, his nostrils twitching.

  I smiled in grim acknowledgment. ‘So how will we play this? We seem to keep switching roles. One minute you’re the calm one and I’m the crazy, the next minute it’s the other way around.’

  His gaze was steady. ‘I suppose it’s like that,’ he said quietly, ‘because we actually work well together.’

  ‘Mmm. It’s a shame that will stop after all this.’

  Monroe shifted his eyes away. ‘From the brief impression I got of this pair, they’ll respond better to brute force and intimidation than the nicey-nicey approach.’

  I brightened slightly. ‘So we both go in with guns blazing?’ I was more pleased about that than I should have been; recent events were getting me down more than I’d realised. ‘Fabulous. On a count of three.’

  ‘Don’t get hurt,’ he said, his eyes flashing.

  ‘I might say the same to you.’ I smiled. ‘Three. Two.’

  ‘One,’ Monroe finished. In the next beat we were both running towards the warehouse.

  Whatever Ben and Jerry were arguing about, their emotions were running high. Although their words were inaudible, their tone was not. Even with the warehouse doors and windows firmly shut, it was obvious that they were yelling at each other with gusto. When Monroe and I reached the front door and their shouts continued unabated, neither of us wasted time speaking in whispers.

  ‘The sun is still high,’ I said. ‘Once we open that door, they’ll know we’re here. Unless we find another way in and opt for a stealthy approach to take them by surprise.’

  ‘Honestly,’ Monroe said. ‘I can’t be arsed.’ He raised his foot and kicked in the door. It crashed open and Ben and Jerry’s argument stopped. ‘Vampires! Ready or not, here I come!’

  I smiled, raised my hands and sent a bolt of magic towards the centre of the warehouse. It sizzled when it hit the ceiling, causing a cascade of dust and wooden splinters to rain down onto the cement floor. ‘Me too!’ I shouted. And with that, both Monroe and I loped in.

  There was a row of shelves laden with tinned goods against one of the far wa
lls. Ben and Jerry were certainly preparing themselves for every eventuality. I wondered whether there should be a word for a person who, after an apocalypse, continued to prep for the possibility of a second one. Re-preppers? Post-preppers? Selfish idiots who stockpiled goods that other people needed and who deserved a sharp kick in the nuts?

  Something came flying out of the gloom. Monroe shoved me slightly so I stumbled out of its path and the missile didn’t smack directly into my skull. I already had it covered, though, and flicked out an explosive magical shot to pulverise the object – whatever it was – into a cloud of dust.

  ‘Nice move,’ he murmured.

  I grinned at him. ‘I know.’

  Part of me wished I’d dressed up for the occasion. I liked the idea of stalking through the building with a long leather coat flaring out behind me. Despite the darkness, I’d be wearing stylish sunglasses and I’d have skin-tight clothes to show that I meant business. More to the point, so would Monroe. I guessed I’d have settle for jeans and a shabby jumper. It didn’t really matter: winners come in all forms.

  There was a loud bang somewhere to my left. Even with my inexperience in stalking, I wasn’t stupid enough to fall for such a diversion. Instead of leaping to investigate, I twisted in the opposite direction and smiled grimly as I spotted something. Monroe caught the same flicker of movement and smirked, displaying his white, even teeth. Then he transformed, his clothes ripping off as he changed into his wolf form. Honestly. He would have to do something about that; there were only so many boiler suits and changes of clothes in the city.

  He leapt forward, his fur bristling in the stale air. A second later there was a strangled shout, whether from Ben or Jerry it was impossible to say. Either way, one down, one to go.

  I swivelled the other way. If they had any nous, they’d have split up; that meant the other one had to be somewhere over there. I was right; unfortunately I hadn’t factored in that they might have a hostage.

  ‘Come any closer,’ shouted a shaky voice, ‘and I’ll slit her throat! It won’t be easy for her but she’ll die all the same. Regardless of the magic around us, we’re still not immortal.’

  Before I could see who either Ben or Jerry was talking about, I knew.

  ‘Darlings,’ Julie’s strained voice said, ‘I’m really rather parched. I don’t suppose there’s any chance of a drink?’

  I walked forward, keeping my pace even and slow and counting on the fact that Monroe had the other one covered. ‘Are you Ben?’ I called. ‘Or Jerry?’

  His face contorted. ‘I fucking hate those names.’

  ‘So what would you like me to call you?’ I asked. I kept my palms raised, to avoid any erratic movements that might trigger his anger even more. ‘Abductor? Criminal?’

  ‘How about hero?’ he snarled.

  I felt something chill inside me. Was that because Julie had dared to become a television actress? Or was it because he knew something else about her? Like the crimes she might have committed recently?

  ‘I’ll just run with Jerry,’ I said. I moved forward out of the patch of shadows and my gaze snagged on Julie. She was suspended upside down from the ceiling on a chain which was coiled round her ankles. It didn’t look a particularly comfortable position. Neither did it look easy to get out of. There would be no snatching her and making a run for it.

  Jerry, if that’s who he was, gave an irritated snort. ‘I don’t know why you’re even here. This bitch doesn’t deserve a rescue mission.’

  ‘But she does deserve to be hung upside down like a piece of meat?’

  He took a step backwards and nudged Julie in the ribs. She started swaying from side to side, her arms dangling uselessly and her fingertips trailing on the floor. ‘If it hadn’t been for the apocalypse, every vampire in the country would have ended up like this. Her actions would have seen to that.’

  ‘How?’ Julie demanded. ‘The only person I was putting in danger of discovery was myself, and I was prepared to retire before anyone got suspicious.’

  Jerry bent down until his face was in hers. ‘Once the world knew what you were, they’d have come for all of us.’ He angled his head towards me. ‘Have you killed Billy?’

  Eh?

  He tutted and straightened up. ‘Ben,’ he hissed. ‘His real name is Billy.’

  Oh. ‘We’re not actually in the business of killing people,’ I said. Although given Monroe’s temper these days, I wondered if I was telling the truth. Fortunately, a moment later, Monroe himself padded up, dragging Jerry’s unconscious partner by the arm.

  ‘Two against one, Jerry,’ I said. ‘You should give this up. Besides, it’s all moot now. With what’s happened to Manchester, no one has to hide their true nature any more. You can be a vampire and tell the world and it doesn’t matter. Not in this city. You’re upset over something that happened in the past and can’t be changed.’

  ‘Exactly,’ Julie said. ‘Let me down, darling, and this will all be in the past too.’

  Jerry kicked her, clearly more for effect than to cause pain. ‘Shut up.’ He put his hands on his hips and faced me again. ‘The past defines us. The past colours everything we do. No, it can’t be changed but that doesn’t mean we should forget it.’ He nodded at me. ‘Doesn’t your past follow you?’

  If I closed my eyes for a moment, I knew I’d find myself back in my parents’ house, scrabbling to get up the smoke-filled staircase to rescue my little brother Joshua, who never had a chance. Because of me. ‘Yes,’ I said quietly. ‘Yes, it does.’

  ‘And what about what might have been? If things had been different and the apocalypse hadn’t occurred, I could be the one being tortured right now. She can’t get away with that.’

  I drew in a deep breath. ‘But you weren’t tortured. You weren’t exposed.’

  Jerry sniffed. ‘That’s not the point.’

  ‘Of course it is.’ I walked forward until we were almost toe to toe. Monroe growled in warning but I ignored him and put my hand on Jerry’s shoulder. He flinched but he didn’t move away. ‘You can’t live your life focusing on what might have been. We can’t forget the past, and we shouldn’t – it’s there for us to learn from. Memories help us avoid making the same mistakes again. But just because there are things in those memories that might be sour doesn’t mean they should sour our whole life. You won’t feel better if you hurt Julie.’

  ‘Yes, I will.’ There was a stubborn set to his jaw.

  ‘Okay,’ I conceded, ‘maybe you’ll feel better for a while, but it won’t last. Guilt will set in sooner or later. After all, Julie didn’t actually hurt you – and she’s carrying around her own guilt. I bet she has those snarky thoughts herself. You know, the ones that keep you awake at night, that your mind keeps churning over and over again.’

  ‘It’s not enough,’ Jerry spat.

  ‘Don’t mess yourself up over this,’ I advised. ‘You’re fine. We’re all fine. This life we live now is not the life we lived before. There’s nothing Julie can do now that will hurt you. Hurting her will hurt you in the long run. Give this up. Move on.’

  ‘I’m not fine,’ he told me.

  ‘But you will be,’ I answered simply. ‘You’ve been fixating on Julie as someone to blame for all your woes. Sometimes blaming others is helpful, but sometimes it’s not. Now it’s not. Nothing about this new life is easy to deal with. Don’t make it harder, Jerry.’

  Indecision warred within him and his eyes shifted back and forth. I was aware of the coiled tension in Monroe. I could only pray that Jerry would make the right choice; I didn’t need more spilled blood to deal with.

  In the end he turned to Julie, reached into his pocket, pulled out a small blade and held it up to her face. ‘Remember,’ he said, ‘I could have done this. I could have killed you.’ He pulled back. ‘But I have chosen not to.’ He heaved in a shaky breath. ‘We all pay for our crimes in the end.’

  He put the knife away and glanced at Monroe and me. When neither of us moved, he strode over and t
ook his partner’s body, hauling him into a fireman’s lift. He walked towards the exit.

  Despite what Jerry may or may not have been about to do, I was glad we were letting him go. He’d stopped himself before things got too bad; he’d listened and reflected and altered his course. Sometimes that was the best any of us could ask for.

  The sound of cracking bone filled the space. When I glanced back, Monroe was straightening up. He was human again – as well as naked and surprisingly vulnerable. ‘Wait,’ he called out.

  Jerry froze in his tracks.

  ‘I’ll give you a lift home,’ Monroe said gruffly. ‘Your friend is in no state to be carried through the streets, not with all the beasties around. We’ll clear this place out later. You don’t need a back-up hiding place. We’re all going to look after each other in the north. We’re a community, when all is said and done.’

  I blinked, surprised. Then I smiled.

  Jerry slowly turned. ‘I’m shocked you care,’ he said.

  ‘Well, I do,’ Monroe muttered. He gave me a fleeting glance. ‘I’ve not been doing a very good job lately. It’s time that changed.’ He took a shaky breath. ‘We all need to put the past behind us if we’re to move on.’

  We stayed where we were, none of us speaking but all of us appreciating a shared moment of total understanding.

  ‘He would never actually have hurt me,’ Julie said, breaking the spell. ‘They were arguing before you got here. The other one thought they’d scared me enough and that they should let me go.’ She scoffed. ‘As if they could scare me!’

  She’d looked pretty scared from where I was standing. My insides churned. This wasn’t over. Not yet.

  ‘Let me down, darlings,’ Julie drawled. ‘This position is doing nothing for my dignity.’

  I shook my head. ‘No.’

  ‘Charley, dear…’

  I balled my hands up into fists. ‘Was it you?’ I asked quietly. ‘Did you manipulate Philip into killing Valerie?’