Page 21 of Heart and Soul
“There’s got to be something I can do,” I blurt. “Pay you back somehow. I can get things. It’s what I do.”
“Fine. Get my darling back.”
Wheels spinning in my brain. Impossible. “Okay, yeah…I mean, if you give me a parts list, I can probably—”
“A parts list?” He snarls. “Sure, honey. Once I’ve made a parts list of Detective Brenner, we’ll trade. Fair?”
“We took down the East Side horde. Arael Moaz was your biggest rival, and now he’s gone for good because of us. That’s got to be worth something.”
“It is,” Ruby agrees. “That’s why I’m only taking one of you.”
“Me, then!” I blurt. “Take me.”
“No, Shayne,” Brenner says.
“Let Brenner go—”
“Shayne, stop.”
Overcome with hysterical rage, I kick at Ruby, but Brenner pins me to the seat, wrangling my feet to keep them from making contact. Ruby giggles, amused by my tantrum. “Oh, but Miss Davies, you have to understand, greed demons aren’t known for being patient, and if I wanted you dead, I’d have to take a number. Listen, I feel that I should say you need to be worried. How did I know exactly where you would be tonight? Think about that. People you know—people who are close to you, Shayne—are willing to give that info up to dangerous third parties like myself. You see, that’s what happens totraitors. Hell, with your standing in the underworld at the moment, being under my roof might be the safest place in Detroit.” He bulges his eyes at me again. “Which is why I’m cutting you loose.”
“Who was it?” Brenner asks. “Who told you where to find us?”
Ruby smirks. “You’re asking me? You two are the super detectives.”
“Russo,” I offer.
Brenner shakes his head. “Not a chance.”
“Who, then, Jay? Your contact? You said you pulled strings to get us those seats.”
Brenner’s shoulders drop. He knows I’m right.
“Who was it? Who got us those seats? Jay?” He won’t answer. His eyes swim with both confusion and anger. “Jay, who was it?”
Behind me, the driver curses loudly. “What the hell’s with people tonight?” He stomps the brakes. In the alley ahead, another black sedan races straight for us. The alley’s not wide enough for two cars to pass. The driver shifts into reverse and backs up, only to stomp the brakes again. Behind us, the alley is blocked by yet another black sedan. Its doors fly open. FBI agents leap out, guns drawn. Brenner throws himself over me just as bullets start pounding Ruby’s car, flattening all four tires at once. The back door is flung open. The henchman with the gun yelps as a tattooed arm jerks him out of the car. Special Agent Hillerman takes his vacated spot next to Ruby. Even though it’s night, her eyes are hidden behind black sunglasses.
“I don’t know who the hell you are,” Ruby blusters, “but I’ll give you exactly three seconds to get out.” Ruby elbows his henchman, who goes for his gun.
Hillerman, cool as ice, raises one hand, as if to saystop. Screaming in pain, the henchman seems to split in two. A dark figure—like a shadow—is ripped from his body. Terrified, the demon spirit clutches at its mortal body, desperate to stay. Hillerman doesn’t hesitate. With a flick of her wrist, she makes a swoosh motion with her hand, as if swiping on her phone, and the demon spirit is flung out of the car with a terrifying shriek. The henchman’s body, now vacant, slumps against the door.
Ruby stares at her with wide eyes. He jams the hookah pipe into his mouth and sucks furiously. Hillerman swats the tube away, kicks the crystal hookah over, and slams her fist into Ruby’s chest, ejecting vapor from his nostrils with anoof!
“Exorcist!” he wheezes, eyes watering.
“Who’s running the necromancer ring?” she asks calmly.
“I…I know you.”
“Who’s running the necromancy ring?”
“Demon hunter. Banisher. Judge, jury, executioner.”
“Who’s running the necromancy ring?”
“The girl who fought back!That’s what they called you.”
So far, Hillerman hasn’t spared a single glance our way. She seems not at all surprised to find Brenner and me here. And I know why. “She’s your contact?” I ask Brenner. “Of all people,her?”
