EPILOGUE

ON TOP OF EVERYTHING else, dwarves make good medics. I had a decent cast on my arm as I dove Sarah back to our hotel. She started apologizing profusely when we passed the remains of my Volkswagen. I told her, honestly, that all that mattered to me was the fact I got her back.

I called Margaret and had the pleasure of handing my cell phone over to Sarah. I didn’t even wince when Sarah started going on about how her dad was friends with a dragon.

I called St. Vincent Charity Hospital, and was relieved to find out that Nina had come out of her coma. I had hoped that with Old Scratch’s influence gone from the local ether, she might wake up, but I hadn’t been sure.

The snow had stopped, and the roads were clear, so we got back to the hotel by 8:40. I wasn’t that surprised when I opened up the door, and saw Blackstone and Special Agents Levi and Francis.

“Well,” Blackstone said, “if it isn’t the prodigal fucking journalist.”

“You’re early,” I said.

“Yeah, and I’m having some doubts,” Blackstone said. “I see you found your daughter.”

“Who the hell are you?” Sarah snapped at him. “What are you doing in our hotel room?”

“Mr. Blackstone here,” I said to her, “is our local federal pain in the ass.” I nodded at the two others. “His friends are Special Agents Levi and Francis. FBI.ʺ

“Assigned to your kidnapping, Miss Maxwell,” said Agent Levi. From his expression, I think he took my little walk out of the hospital personally.

“Oh,” Sarah said.

“Francis?” Blackstone said. “Will you and Levi take her in the other room and get a statement. And for God’s sake, keep an eye on her.”

“Dad?” Sarah looked at me.

“It’s okay, they’re cops. And I need to talk to Mr. Blackstone.”

“Damn right you do,” Blackstone said.

I watched Francis and Levi lead Sarah out of the room. When the door closed, Blackstone looked at me. “Okay, I’m not heartless. I know you scammed me so you could get your daughter. If it was me, I’d probably pay anything to get her back. But now she’s back, and you better come clean with me. What did you pay, and to whom, to ransom her?”

I limped over to one of the chairs and eased myself down into it. I sighed.

“Christ, what happened to you?”

“Blackstone? I told you, you’re early.”

“Don’t start playing games now, I could—”

There was a knock on the door. Blackstone stared at me.

“You gave me until nine AM.ʺ

The door knock sounded again.

I smiled at Blackstone, “Maybe you should get that. It’s nine o’clock.”

Blackstone looked at me, shaking his head. “I don’t believe this,” he muttered as he walked over to the door.

He opened it, and a line of solemn-looking dwarves walked into the room. “What?” Blackstone said.

The first dwarf stepped forward and nodded his head in a short bow. “I am Gwentarian of the clan Parthalán. I bring the board of directors of Magetech, Inc. We wish to offer the federal government a deal.”

Blackstone turned toward me and said, “You bastard, how long have you been sitting on this?”

“You better get negotiating,” I told him. “These guys are used to making deals with the Devil.”