“That’s a lie.”
“She’s in a limo by the curb. Take a look if you don’t believe me.”
The temptation was too great. Wolfe moved away from the fans, and glanced over the side of the building. Peter seized the opportunity and ripped the bomblet from his grasp. He tossed the deadly device through the air to Snoop.
“Catch!” Peter said.
“You’re not funny,” Snoop said.
Wolfe spun around, and they began to fight. The images of Madame Marie and Reggie flashed through Peter’s mind, and the demon inside of him reared its ugly head. He grabbed Wolfe by the throat, and lifted him clean off the ground. He shook the dead man, and broke every bone in Wolfe’s body that wasn’t already broken. The dead man’s teeth flew out of his mouth, and his shoes fell off his feet. His head spun from side to side like a rag doll.
Peter gazed into the dead man’s eyes. The elders of the Order had been jostled out of their chairs. Their masks had come off, exposing their faces. The elder in the middle had a twisted nose and crooked teeth. He’d finally found his parents’ killers.
“I have a score to settle with you,” Peter said.
He gave another violent shake, causing the walls around the elders to collapse. They screamed for mercy, something they’d never given to their victims. By the time the dust had settled, they were lying motionless in a heap.
It was over. Peter let Wolfe slip from his fingers. Then, he summoned all his strength, and forced the demon back into its hiding place. He could deal with this, he told himself. It was just going to take some getting used to.
He crossed the roof to where Liza and Snoop stood. His girlfriend had buried her face in her hands, unable to watch. Snoop shook his head in disbelief.
“I’m sorry you had to see that,” Peter said.
Liza lowered her hands. “Are we safe? Is the city safe?”
“Yes, we’re safe.”
Tears ran down her face. She’d witnessed a side of him that no one was supposed to see. Without a word, she turned her back, and slipped into the stairwell.
“Liza, wait.”
“No, Peter. No,” he heard her say.
Snoop edged up beside him, clutching the bomblet to his chest.
“Remind me to never piss you off,” his assistant said.
59
“Hey, superman. You okay?”
Peter sat on the edge of the ventilator system, getting soaked by the rain. An hour had passed since he’d shaken the evil spirit out of Wolfe, enough time for the FBI to take away the nerve agent and the dead man’s body. The numbness had still not worn off.
Garrison sat down beside him, and handed him a Coke. The tension was gone from the FBI agent’s face, and he looked like a new man. “You look like you could use this.”
Peter took a long swallow. “Thanks.”
“You should come inside. It’s cold and damp up here.”
Peter did not reply. There were events in a person’s life that changed everything. This was one of them, and he needed to be alone for a while to sort things out in his head.
“You saved a lot of lives today. You need to go out and celebrate. Life is good.”
“I had nothing to do with this, remember? You promised me that,” Peter said.
“What am I going to tell my bosses?”
“Make up a story. That’s what they do in the government.”
Garrison laughed under his breath. “Whatever you say.”
Peter gazed out at the gloomy Hudson. A barge was making its way up the river so slowly that it didn’t appear to be moving. He felt Garrison’s hand on his shoulder.
“Listen. I know something bad happened up here, and you’re hurting inside, but life goes on. Tomorrow you’ll feel a little better, and the next day, you’ll feel even better. That’s how it works. Eventually you’ll heal, and whatever happened will be nothing more than a bad memory.”
Peter drained his soda. Garrison meant well, but he was wrong. He’d lost Liza, and there was no getting her back. She’d seen the demon inside of him, and nothing could change that. Their relationship was already on shaky ground. Now, it was finished.
“Thanks for the pep talk,” Peter said.
“Something tells me you don’t believe me.” Garrison slapped him on the back. “I’m sorry, man. You don’t deserve this. Whatever it is.”
The barge blew its horn. It was loud enough to raise the dead, and Peter laughed silently to himself. That was the last thing he needed right now.
“Time to head out,” Garrison said. “Let me walk you down.”
If this had been a movie, he and Garrison would have gotten drunk in a smokey bar right about now. Instead, he followed the FBI agent downstairs and walked outside the theater. The city was showing signs of life, with taxis racing past, honking their horns as they fought for fares. Across the street, his limo was parked at the curb. He’d called Herbie, and asked him to take Liza and Snoop home. He wondered why his driver was still here.
“It’s been a pleasure, my friend,” Garrison said.
“Glad to help,” Peter replied.
A Lincoln Town Car came down the street and braked in front of them. Garrison hopped into the passenger seat. He started to close his door, then caught Peter’s eye.
“Things will get better,” the FBI agent said. “They always do.”
“How can you be so sure?” Peter asked.
“You’re not the only person who can see into the future. You take care of yourself.”
Peter managed a smile. He’d always tried to find the bright side to every situation. Garrison was a good guy, and someone he could trust. He’d found a friend.
“You too,” he said.
It was time to go home.
Peter crossed the street to where his limo was parked. The engine was running, and he saw Herbie slouched behind the wheel as if taking a nap. That wasn’t like him, and Peter jerked open the passenger door.
“Herbie, are you okay?”
The breath caught in his throat. Herbie was out like a light. In the backseats, Liza and Snoop lay on their sides with their eyes firmly shut. He shook them, and got no response. Was this the Order of Astrum’s payback for what he’d done? Hadn’t he killed those bastards?
“They’re not hurt, if that’s what you’re thinking,” a voice said.
Peter pulled himself out of the limo. Holly stood beneath an umbrella on the sidewalk with a mischievous grin on her face. This was her doing.
“You didn’t hurt them…”
“Your friends are fine. By the way, Max and I watched you dismantle Wolfe at the apartment. You were amazing.”
Holly had a devious side to her; all witches did. He put his hands on her shoulders, and looked her squarely in the eye.
“Please tell me what you did to them,” he said.
“I cast a spell on your friends. The potion once belonged to Mary Glover. It never fails.”
“What kind of spell?”
