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It wasn’t safe to land outside the pub, so I took us to the nearest underground station. The men followed me as we strolled out through the crowd, blending in with mostly humans as they went about their day. A couple of paranormal creatures looked in our direction, but we kept our heads down.
“What’s the plan?” Jake asked.
Dodging a woman with a pram, I smiled at her when she apologised. It was nice for someone to be polite for a change. Often, British people in London were less than friendly.
Checking that no one was watching, I took out my phone. The map showed the pub, just down the street.
“There’s an alleyway behind the pub. If we scope out the place, check the environment, we’ll be able to determine whether we need backup. If Xvair is there, you can ring it in and get my mother’s team to help.”
Shaking his head, Jake mumbled under his breath. His eyebrows were pulled low over his bright blue eyes. The clench of his jaw added to his look of agitation.
“What was that?”
Smiling quickly, he licked his lips. “I was just saying that your mother is a pain in the arse. She should’ve let you stay on the case. It’s crazy to separate you from the people who will protect you from getting killed. Well...”
His cheeks burned red as we passed a coffee shop, the strong smell of the hot drink filtering out to us. My head bent round when I spotted a dark haired man holding a copy of Pride and Prejudice in front of his face. It looked suspiciously like-
“There’s a witch up front,” Dave interrupted us. “We need to get off the street. It’s too dangerous for you to be out here. Especially as we’re so close to the equinox.”
The PFF was next on my hit list. Brianna had to be saved. I trusted the others to take Xvair down without me, if needed. Although I was going against my mother’s wishes having Dave and Jake with me. However, if Xvair was at the pub, they would be following a legitimate lead.
Ducking into a side alley, Dave gestured towards a fence. “That’s the back of the pub.”
It was strange having Dave on a mission with us. He had always been my desk friend and his favourite saying was that an agent never went in blind. In a way, I missed Dave’s insistent chatter in my ear, even though I could see him as I approached the fence. Wait, he was starting to talk in my ear anyway...
“Why did you bring us here?” he asked, almost jumping out of his skin when something moved by our feet. “We’re literally in a run-down ally behind a crap hole of a pub. Is that a rat?”
“Shut up!” I hissed as footsteps sounded behind us.
Jake spun first, a low growl coming up his chest. When a homeless man sauntered past with a sleeping bag attached to his back, barely giving us a look, I allowed my shoulders to relax.
There was a high fence closing off the tiny pub garden. No one was inside, it was too early in the day. The lunch rush would begin in an hour. My nerves were on edge, my teeth biting my lips in an attempt to calm them.
“Those witches were after you,” Jake said, taking out a pair of binoculars.
“I guessed that.” My reply was short and sharp. “Bastard bounty on my head.”
Dave shushed us, his finger firmly over his lips as he frowned. He was right, we had to keep quiet.
Jake searched the top windows with his binoculars as I searched for a hole in the fence. The alley was small, barely room for three people to stand close together.
“What’s going on?” A female voice interrupted us, making us all jump back.
My mother stood with her hands on her hips, her hair uncharacteristically tied in a harsh bun. As I tried to think of an excuse as to why the others were with me, they both stepped forward.
“We got a lead that Brianna might be here,” Dave said. “We thought it might lead us to Xvair, considering he’s the one-”
“You’re not following protocol. You have to ring this in and ask permission to search.”
Gently moving Dave out of the way, I faced my mother.
Jake backed off too, both of them a few steps behind me.
My throat tried to close as I looked into the eyes of the woman who was supposed to protect me. When she had helped me visit the ancestors, she had shown some regret. Why was she trying to stand in my way now?
“Are you telling me,” I started, unable to help the sarcastic tone that laced my words, “that you have a new set of rules for my team because I’m not there? Since when did we stop following leads to ask permission?”
Pressing her lips into a thin line, my mother blinked slowly. “You’re no longer their team leader. It’s not safe for any of you. I forbid you to go into that place.”
“You what?” I snapped. “I’m on sabbatical, I can do whatever I like.”
I had to tell myself that I would’ve behaved in the same way even if my boss wasn’t my mother, but the uncomfortable expressions on the men’s faces when I glanced at them told me otherwise.
Clearing my throat, I turned back to my mum. “I was wrong to bring them with me. Please, take them back to MI5.”
Inclining her head, she waved them over to her.
Jake went willingly, but Dave held back. Pulling him away, I looked up into his eyes. My heart skipped when he ran a finger down my cheek. The soft look in his eyes made me lick my lips.
Yes, I was in danger, but the longer we hung around outside a pub, the harder it would be to get inside. Any witch could have cast a spell on Brianna or she could’ve been moved. Either way, arguing with my mother wasn’t helping.
“You have to go,” I said, cupping his hand against my cheek. “I’ll be fine.”
His hesitation made my mother click her fingers. She was one of the top dogs of Paranormal MI5, no one defied her. Except her daughter, which was kind of allowed.
Glancing at my mother, Dave stared for a second before he looked back at me. “You need backup.”
“I’m going to call Archie.”
Narrowing his eyes, Dave frowned. “Archie? The vampire book nerd?”
Did I detect a little hint of jealousy in his voice? A smile came to my face as I nodded. The vampire might not even want to help me, but it was worth asking. If I couldn’t have the people I trusted by my side, I needed the next best thing. Someone that Brianna trusted.
Dave stared at me, his lips pressed together but moving slightly as if he was contemplating what to do. His hands clenched into fists as he turned towards my mother.
Taking out my phone, I sent Archie a text asking if he could help me to rescue Brianna.
Dave walked over to our boss, his back straight and his hair loose around his shoulders. Glancing towards the pub, I hoped the others would leave soon. If anyone was keeping watch, our cover would be blown already.
My phone vibrated, the reply from Archie instantaneous. He would come immediately, I just had to let him know where I was. He wasn't exactly the most trustworthy vampire in the world, but he had helped by telling me about the CCTV. I could always detect when someone was lying, but he had been genuinely concerned about Brianna.
“This is ridiculous,” my mother snorted. “You can't do that.”
Raising my gaze when I'd replied to the vampire with the address, I frowned.
Dave was handing over his gun and badge. Rushing over, I clasped his arm in mine, relieved that my mother had refused to take them. I couldn't let him leave MI5. They needed him.
“What are you doing?” I hissed.
Turning to me, he pulled me to the side, away from Jake and my mother, who looked awkwardly at one another. Dave's grip was light on my wrist, the touch soft as he brushed his fingertips across my skin.
“Don't push me away now,” he started, putting a finger over my lips when I went to protest. “Gemma Abbott, your friend might be in there. I'm not going to leave you to find her on your own... or with any vampire.”
Chewing the inside of my cheek, I gazed at him. No one had ever looked at me with such fierce determination. He wanted to be by my side, regardless of whether or not he lost his job.
“I will replace my daughter if I have to,” my mother warned. “This isn't just about one person, this is about the whole ley line.”
Looking over his shoulder, Dave shook his head slowly. “Mrs Abbott, I know you think you're protecting your daughter, but by taking her off the case, she's even more in danger than she was with us. I'm staying with her.”
Marching over, my mother held out her hand and accepted the gun and badge when Dave placed it in her palm. Her eyes were wide, her jaw clenched. Her movements were jerky as she turned to me.
“Do you really think I want you to be in danger?” she almost spat in my face. “You're my daughter. If I had my way, I would lock you up until that bastard witch was found and killed. Oh, and the leaders of the PFF.”
Holding still, I waited for her to go on. Her cheeks were red, her eyes almost bulging as she squeezed the gun and badge between her hands. “You mean everything to me, Gemma, everything. There are people higher up that have overridden me. I'm not going to tell them that you brought your team here, against my commands, but I cannot have you all defy me without consequences.”
Dave took my hand as my mother faced him, her sigh loud as she spoke. “I accept your resignation.”
Without looking at me, she turned to Jake, gripped his arm and flashed them away. She would probably write up a job termination letter for me as soon as she returned to the building. My mother had always done exactly what she was told. Those higher up in the agency never deigned to lower themselves to talk to us, always ordering my mother to do that. If they were pulling the strings, there wasn't much she could do.
“Are you alright?” Dave interrupted my thoughts.
My palms were sweating, my stomach tight. It wasn't very often my mother got emotional, but it was nice, in a weird sort of way, to see how much she cared.
“Let's make your rash decision worthwhile... we'll talk about how to get your job back later.”
He was about to reply when footsteps sounded, running extremely fast down the alley towards us. Archie swung around the corner, his legs slowing when he saw us standing there.
“That was quick!” Dave stepped forward and offered his hand. “Thanks for coming to help.”
As he switched back into work mode, Dave nudged me gently. Clearing my head, I followed his lead. It was time to check out the pub and see if Finlay had been telling the truth.
Archie shook Dave’s hand before turning to me. About to speak, I paused when my phone vibrated against my leg. Taking it out of my jeans pocket, I held it up for Dave to see. It was a number I didn't recognise. He took a picture of the number, ran it through his smart device thingy that he kept on him, then nodded. I could answer it safely.
“Hello?”
“Gemma!” Brianna shouted down the phone, her cries loud and desperate. “Please help me! I've managed to find a phone, but they'll be back any moment now!”
“Where are you?” I asked urgently as I tried to keep my voice down.
If she could give us a location, we would know whether or not she had been left where Finlay dropped her off. If she had been moved, we would have a harder time finding her. Would Xvair Harvey risk that?
“I'm in a flat underneath some pub, I can hear them at night. I don't know where it is, I just remember Finlay... Please, I've been here for days... I don't know what's happening!”
My heart pounded in my chest as I told the others to be quiet. If she had heard the noise of a pub above her, she must still be inside. Hopefully, she was literally only a few feet away. Her frightened call sent chills up my spine. The poor girl sounded petrified. Had Xvair hurt her?
“Brianna, listen to me,” I said as she sobbed down the phone. “I'm outside, I'm coming in to get you. Is Xvair there?”
“Who?” Brianna's voice was tight, the shock in her voice evident. “No one is here right now. A couple of men have checked on me occasionally. They drug me with vervain so I can't escape!”
Dave listened closely as Archie searched for a peephole in the fence. He found one, sending me a thumbs up when I raised my eyebrows. He had a clear view of the back of the pub... that was a bonus.
“Brianna,” I said in a hushed voice. “I'm so sorry, this is all my fault.”
Her hitched crying eased a little. “It's not,” she said quietly. “Please... just come and get me before it's too late.”
