He didn’t feel confident about his new powers. They seemed to work when he wanted them to work, but it all felt a little like getting a new electronic and finding the user manual is missing.
What if I try to use them against this Luther character and they don’t work? What powers might he have?
He remembered Luther now. The big man had been there when Sean took his arm. He’d been easily dispatched, but there’d been something about him.
Luther was one of them. Rune was sure of it now. A good place to start.
He’d already cased Luther’s house. He knew where he lived. He’d walked by him once or twice, and both times Luther had turned to look in his direction, as if he could sense him.
What if he knows, even now that I’m on my way? What if he isn’t the weak link?
Rune didn’t like direct confrontation, but he had to get rid of the people radiating that energy. It was as if they were magnets with opposite polarization and having them in town pushed him out.
He didn’t want to go. He’d already worked out Hollywood was the perfect place to settle down, if he could just find a way to influence the messages being broadcast to people all over the world…
The thought made him giddy.
But first, Luther.
Headlights headed in his direction and Rune squinted at them. The car began to slow, rolling to a stop in front of him. The window lowered and a man hung his arm out.
“Hey.”
Rune cocked an eyebrow.
What’s this?
He took a step forward, feeling drawn to the man. The driver had tan skin and straight brown hair, cut as if someone had placed a bowl on his head. It was clipped around the edges, and the sides above his ears were shaved.
Even with his limited knowledge of fashions, Rune couldn’t help but think the cut was ugly to the point of being grotesque. At the very least, it was not in fashion.
“We passed the other day.”
“Passed?”
“On the street. We passed each other.”
“And now you think that means I want to talk to you?’
“Oh you want to talk to me alright. I can help.”
“Help with what?”
“I know what you are. It’s what I am too.”
Rune chuckled. “I doubt it.”
“You used to care about the people around you. You made them better and they didn’t appreciate it.”
Rune’s eyes widened. “Yes?”
“And then you were released. You stopped caring. You started giving them what they wanted instead of what they needed. It was crazy for a while during the transition, but now you’re feeling better. Stronger.”
“Who are you?”
“I’m the reason you’re here.”
“Here, where?”
“In L.A. I think you were drawn to me the way I found you.”
“I came here for my daughter.”
“Fiona.”
Rune tucked back his chin, surprised to hear his daughter’s name fall from the lips of a stranger.
“Look, you need help. I need help. We both want the same thing and we can work together. I know weapons.”
“Really?” For the first time Rune noticed how large the arm hanging from the car was. The driver wasn’t a tall man, but he was powerfully built. The very opposite of him.
Maybe he could be helpful.
“Do you know Luther?”
The man grunted. “You want to take him out first? That’s a good idea, man. The right thing to do. The others will be easier.”
“There’s Catriona,” said Rune. The name sounded funny on his tongue.
“Whatever, dude. Let’s do this. Get in.”
Rune eyed the car. The style was one he’d heard referred to as a muscle car. He walked around the back of it, thinking it would be harder for his new friend to run him over backwards.
Always thinking.
When he reached the other side he pulled at the handle but it didn’t budge.
“I’ve got the doors welded shut. You gotta crawl in through the window.”
Rune frowned. “Why would you do such a thing?”
“So they don’t fly open.”
“Isn’t that what the latch is for?”
“I do some crazy drivin’ sometimes.”
Rune sighed and lifted one skinny leg as high as he could, swinging it up and dropping his heel on the edge of the window. Grabbing the roof with both hands he slid himself forward, clinging there as he carefully raised the second leg and slipped it inside. After a few wobbles and a fair amount of grunting, he found himself sitting in the car next to the driver.
“If you’re going to be chauffeuring me, we’re going to have to find another car.”
“I don’t know, man.”
“That was ungraceful and unacceptable.”
“I make it look cool.”
“Hm.” Rune sucked his tooth with his tongue. “What’s your name?”
“Joseph.”
“You know where Luther lives?”
“I do.”
“Okay, Joseph. Let’s go.”
Chapter Twelve
Catriona illuminated her phone’s flashlight so they could continue to mull their next steps around the body of the pretend commando. The glow in the darkened hallway made her feel as if they were a coven of witches gathered over a human sacrifice.
I’ll be happy when this freaky night is over.
Broch’s expression remained grim as he stared into the darkness. Somewhere in the maze-like warehouse a killer was on the loose, and they needed to find him before he claimed another victim. There was no real way to keep track of everyone at the party without throwing them all into a panic.
Mason had closed the door but remained inside with them, his haunted eyes still trained on the hand of the fallen fake intruder.
Catriona turned her attention to Konrad, whose fake invasion stunt she felt sure had added ten years of therapy to poor Mason’s future. “Tell me everything you know.”
Konrad sighed, looking glum. “Like I said, this guy
