CHAPTER 23
“Safely” was apparently a relative term to a fairy for some time later I woke up on the hard concrete from a molar-induced nap. The sky was dark as I gazed up, blinking. It took me a long minute to get my bearings. I was lying on the ground for the third time in twenty-four hours. A sign above me flashed JESUS SAVES in pink neon light. I recognized the sign and the irony quickly enough. I was on a street a few blocks from my office but a world away from saving anyone, least of all Izzy.
Slowly, I gained my feet, at a loss as to what my next move should be. I’d gone to the fairies in hopes of raising a toothy army to attack the Shadows headquarters and save their Tooth Fairy. But I was on my own.
Just the way I liked it.
I knew in my heart that going up against the Shadows was a suicide run, all but guaranteed to end with mass bloodshed.
But I’d made a promise, and Blue Reynolds kept his word.
Occasionally.
Before my suicidal attack on the Shadows headquarters, I decided to stop off at my apartment for an arsenal of weaponry, not to mention a few nips of liquid courage in the form of a bottle of twenty-year-old whiskey I’d been saving for a special occasion. Certain death felt special enough.
Climbing the stairs, I considered my plan of attack. To find Izzy I would have to gain entrance into a world where no solid form lived, at least not for long. The Shadows were known for their knife skills, and not the sort used in culinary pursuits. To even up the odds I’d go with my really big gun and full-on Blue Reynolds, human lightning bolt.
I unlocked my door and stood on my surge protector for a few seconds before pushing my way inside, careful not to disrupt my Peter Piper Pickle can alarm system. I flipped on the light next to my couch. The apartment looked much like it had early today: empty but with the window still open from Izzy’s flight.
Why the hell had she left the apartment? If she had done as I’d ordered, none of this would be happening now. She’d be safe. On the other hand, I’d probably be shadowy Swiss cheese.
Focusing on the matter at hand, I strapped my really big gun into the holster on my side. I added a bowie knife for good measure. As I was pulling on a fresh pair of gloves, a clatter of falling tin cans rose from behind me. I spun to face the intruder. “Clayton? What the hell are you doing here?”
“Shh . . .” He held a finger to his lips. “No one can know I’m here.”
How did he find out where I lived? I guess my secret hideout wasn’t so secret after all. As soon as this was over I’d fix that problem, but for now I had bigger Shadows to fry. I picked up a bottle of brown liquor from the table, downing half of it in a single gulp. “Why are you here?” I asked when the burning liquid hit my stomach.
He ducked his wrinkled head. “I can’t let you go after Izzy.”
“Why the hell not?” I took a menacing step toward him. “I thought you cared what happened to her. Why else would you hire me to find her?” I paused, the suspicion I’d been carrying in the back of my mind surging forward. “Unless you were behind the attempt on her life. You couldn’t find her on your own, so you hired me, and when I located her, you tried to gun her down.”
“What?” His face grew red. “How dare you? Peyton and I would die for her.... I mean, we would’ve died for her. . . .”
I frowned. “Would’ve?”
“I’m sorry, Blue. That’s why I’m here. I came to tell you. . . .” A tear welled in his beady eye. “Izzy . . . she’s . . . dead. . . .”