Chapter Eighty-Nine

B O AND BRITTANY stood on Fifth Avenue, waiting for their car to take them to Brooklyn. Blocks over, the neighborhood was still lit by the multitude of flashing police lights.

Brittany's phone rang.

"Stagg," she answered.

"Brittany, Joseph."

"What now?"

"You've got until sunrise to solve this," Joseph said.

"What do you mean?" Brittany asked, suddenly awake.

"As soon as the sun is on the horizon, the president will order a nuclear launch on the city of New York."

"Are you fucking kidding me? Because if you are, his is the most fucked up means of inspiration I've ever fucking heard."

"I'm sorry, but it's the truth."

"How the fuck are we supposed to do that?"

"I don't know yet."

"Okay, well, now would be a pretty fucking good time to figure out how the fuck you can help us find this fucking asshole and not let him, you know, fuck up the fucking world."

"Jesus, language," Bo said, a slight smile.

"Not fucking now," Brittany replied, hoping her face was serious enough to shut her partner up.

"You've got to find the Profane Consortium before the last ritual, and you have to stop them," Joseph said. "Or the city will be nuked."

"And us with it."

"Consider it added motivation."

"I hate you."

"That's fine. I truly hope you're still hating me tomorrow. I'll get Robert here, and we'll see what we can glean from the ritual books. But it's definitely game time, Brittany."

She took a deep breath, and let it slow. "Call me as soon as you know something," she said, and hung up the phone.

"I take it we got new marching orders?"

"How do you feel about Bright Lights, Big City?" she asked.