Chapter Thirty-Two

The Greyman was difficult to see against a concrete wall in the semi gloom. With his mist of a grey cloak swirling about he was there but not there.

He watched and waited. Patience was his game. Murder was his intention. Nina was his target.

Nina was sitting on a bench in a playground watching the remains of what used to be Hugo’s gang playing basketball in the square of tar-macadam beside Nina’s apartment block.

The Greyman cursed under his breath. He was pleased to have found Nina but he needed her to be alone.

His eyes narrowed as he took in Nina throwing a tennis ball to a young poodle that ran yapping and retrieved the ball. The cat in Nina’s lap watched the proceedings with a disdainful look on her face.

Nina was tense. The cat had explained the plan. We must find Oengus and we must find the sword,” he’d croaked.

“The sword?” she’d asked.

“The Great Fury, that’s the name of the sword. Oengus came for the sword and now his enemies have it. Maybe it’s the solution to our problems.”

Puca came back and dropped the tennis ball.

“Do another sniff around the perimeter,” Venus growled.

Puca cocked his head. He was having fun chasing the ball. But he knew who was boss.

“I hope this is not a waste of time,” Nina said as she stroked Venus. Venus purred contentedly. It was nice and cozy on Nina’s lap and Venus had angled herself for optimum view towards the main approach to the playground.

Venus just purred in reply. Nina should know she did not talk in public and anyway talking was over they were in action mode.

One of the strong young men broke off and came over to Nina.

“Hi Greg,” she said.

“I brought my motor bike,” he said with a smile, while leaning in to kiss Nina’s cheek.

Nina smiled up at him. They knew each other from childhood through high school.

“Tell the boys to keep going and when I stand I want them to see me home,” Nina said. “Unless of course I need you and the bike.”

“What are you afraid of?” Greg asked.

“My cat here tells me the people who killed Hugo may come after me and I need to be careful.”

“Your cat? Nina are you serious?”

“Just joking.”

“I thought some Irish woman was arrested?” Greg said.

“She may have friends. I’m just taking precautions for a while.”

“Cool, Nina,” Greg said and went to join the group throwing the basketball.

The Greyman rummaged in the folds of his cloak and came out with his cell phone. He speed dialed and waited for Morag to pick up.

Morag saw the Greyman’s number come up on her screen and picked up.

“Yes?” she said.

“Problem.”

“What? Surely not.”

“Am lying in wait, but do you know she has a cat and a poodle.”

“Are you serious?”

“Thought I’d better give you a ring in case it was important.”

“It has to be the Puca and the witches cat. I thought they’d drowned.”

“Well it has to be them. Do I still proceed?”

Morag gave it some thought.

“I think not,” she decided. “There have been some developments here and I need you back.”

“Oh, ok,” the Greyman said.

“Do you think you could capture them?”

“I’d need a plan.”

“Come back, we need to talk.”

Puca came back with a wagging tail.

“Nothing to report,” he said.

“Don’t look now but check out the rear. Bark at Nina to throw you the ball.”

As prearranged Nina threw the ball in the direction Puca was barking from. Puca skidded after the ball.

Venus watched carefully. She sensed something and wondered if she could see something.

The Greyman peeled away from the wall and walked quickly away in the direction of the subway.

“I think something moved,” Puca reported back while dropping the ball at Nina’s feet.

“Pigeon,” Venus hissed.

Puca shape shifted and followed the Greyman.

Nina watched in wonder.

“You said they’d come for me,” she conceded, stroking Venus, adding, “Aren’t you a clever cat.”

Nina moved off the bench and Joey’s brother Greg broke away from the basketball and joined her.

“Did you see him?” Nina asked.

“Who, no,” Greg replied.

“He went down the street and around to the avenue,” Nina said.

“Sounds like he’s heading towards the subway. What did he look like?” Greg asked.

“Tall with a cloak. Seems whispery almost a fog. Moves very quickly.” As she spoke Nina climbed onto the rear of Greg’s motorcycle.

“Move,” she said.

Greg took off the security chain and kicked the bike into life. They glided up the street

As they turned the corner a pigeon alighted on Nina’s shoulder.

“What?” she said to the cat, noting that the pigeon’s coo had been acknowledged by Venus.

“He took a cab,” Venus whispered self-consciously into Nina’s ear. Although she had an aversion to talking to humans she knew needs must even though it was straining her throat to talk human.

“Who you talking to? You on your cell?” Greg asked from in front.

“Straight up the avenue,” Nina instructed.

Puca took off to catch up the cab.

Greg picked his way through the heavy New York traffic weaving the bike in and out of the slower cars.

Puca fluttered in from time to time and Nina used him to guide Greg every time it was necessary to take a left or a right.

“We’re on route for Manhattan,” Greg said over his shoulder.

They had the cab in sight now and this made following easier.

The cab came to a halt outside a prestigious apartment block on Central Park West and West 90th street.

They watched as the Greyman climbed out of the taxi, paid and with a nod to the doorman entered the building.

“You can leave me here,” Nina said dismounting from Greg’s bike. She kissed his cheek. “Thanks for your help. I’ll be in touch,” she said.

“Stay cool,” Greg said and pulled away.

Nina inspected the Eldorado apartment building. If Venus’s prediction was correct this should be where she would find Oengus and Maedbh.

Puca landed on her shoulder and awaited further instruction.

The Greyman took the escalator to the top floor and gave a ‘rat-tat-tat’ in their normal signal on the door. He listened as Morag pulled back the locks.

“Hi,” he said and slipped into the apartment.

“Help me roll Leanan up in a carpet. I’m expecting a glazier to fix the window.”

The Greyman said nothing, taking in the corpse of Leanan and the shattered window.

“Dearg Due?” he asked.

“Gone and Leanan is sucked dry,” Morag said.

“No! But Dearg Due would not do that. Vamping magic creatures gives her terrible gas.”

“Unless she lost it,” Morag countered.

“Have you called her cell?” the Greyman asked.

“She doesn’t carry one. You know, so she can go bat without losing everything. All she wears is the dress, it’s integral.”

“I know, I know,” the Greyman said. “But if she is at home?”

He took out his cell and speed dialed the number.

It rang to voice mail. “Urgent, call me,” he said.

“Anything else?” he asked.

“Sit,” Morag said.

“Just be on alert,” the Greyman cautioned. “The girl Nina followed me on a motor bike, assisted by a pigeon. I spotted them as we came over into Manhattan.”

“Save us having to look for them,” Morag said with a relaxed grin.

“What happened?” the Greyman asked.

Morag related the tale of her confrontation with Oengus.

“Clever you,” the Greyman said. “How did you secure him?”

“Silver chain and a spell.” Morag said.

Puca pigeon pooped on the doorman’s hat and while he was distracted Nina and Venus slipped into the building. They walked through as if they owned the place but Nina worried that if they dallied in the lobby they might be challenged.

“Problem is how to find Morag’s apartment,” Nina said.

“Let me find the post boxes,” Venus growled and slipped out of her arms .

Venus inspected the mailboxes in the Lobby, sniffing as she went. Then she gave a satisfied meow. The word Morag was there under one of the post boxes. So now she knew the apartment number.

Nina was waiting at the escalator in the company of an older woman who was pulling a small shopping basket with wheels.

When Venus arrived, Nina scooped her up.

“Nice pussy,” the older woman said. “But I don’t think they allow cats.”

“Just visiting my friend Morag.”

Nina held Venus near the escalator buttons and Venus pressed Morag’s floor.

“Clever cat, she even knows Morag’s floor,” the older woman said.

“You know her?” Nina asked.

“Occasionally we cross paths in the Lobby, but no I don’t know her. Handsome woman though. She’s one of the long term residents.”

Nina smiled her agreement.

No one else joined the escalator and the old woman got off on the third floor. Nina let the escalator ride on upwards.

When they arrived Nina let Venus on to the floor.

Using her nose to locate old smells Venus led her to Morag’s door.

Nina paused and wondered what to do next.

***

“Aren’t they sweet?” Morag suggested as they looked into the video screens covering the panic rooms.

“Good idea having complete separation in the Panic rooms. I presume Maedbh knows nothing of Oengus’s whereabouts and Oengus knows nothing of the location of Maedbh and Peter.”

“We need to keep it that way,” Morag said.

“She does look happy and so does Peter,” the Greyman offered.

“It’s ideal. When I cut out her heart she will be rested and happy. It makes such a difference and you can see it later in skin tones.”

“You know your witches,” the Greyman said approvingly. “And I presume Peter will be dinner for Dearg Due?”

“Greyman I want you to go find Dearg Due. Tell her if she did suck Leanan dry it is forgivable. But she might be somewhere suffering from major depression if she drank Leanan’s blood,” Morag said.

“I can go look if you wish. I know most of her hangouts,” the Greyman agreed.

“We need to know exactly what happened here,” Morag said.

“Agreed.”

“These prisoners can keep until after I get the windows fixed. Tell her to come back and let us work it out,” Morag said.

As she spoke the house phone sounded. Morag picked it up and listened.

“Send him up,” she said.

Turning to the Greyman she smiled.

“The glaziers have arrived. You find Dearg Due and bring her back here as soon as possible,” she said.

“What about the girl Nina and her pets?” the Greyman asked.

“Later, one step at a time. This is complicated.”

Nina ran back to the stairwell when she heard the door of Morag’s apartment opening. Venus ducked and hid behind a potted plant near the escalator.

Venus was surprised to see the Greyman emerge and then call the escalator. The hairs rose on her back in reaction to his proximity but she was pleased he appeared to be going somewhere else. That should leave Morag and Dearg Due, she thought. She stayed perfectly still waiting until he was gone.

When the escalator arrived a young man in overalls emerged.

“Hi!” he said, addressing the Greyman, “I’m looking for apartment 6691. A window needs fixing.”

“Just down on the left,” the Greyman said and stepped into the escalator after the young man stepped out.

The young man went to the door and knocked. Morag welcomed him in and brought him to the shattered double glazed window.

“My name is Fergal,” the young man said. “I’ll measure and give you an estimate.”

“Just fix it. It’s urgent. It might rain and the wind up here is unpleasant. Just get it done.”

“How did it happen?” Feral asked.

“Don’t ask.”

“OK,” Fergal said with a shrug.

He set to and cleared the window frame and surrounds of broken glass and surveyed the situation. Then Fergal pulled out his cell phone and rang in to his boss.

When he was finished speaking he turned to the waiting Morag.

“They’ll send over a van with the window. You’re lucky it’s a fairly standard size. The glass will arrive in fifteen minutes.”

“Please wait for it in Lobby,” Morag instructed.

“Sure,” Fergal said agreeably, disappointed that the good-looking woman had not offered him a cup of coffee.

“What do we do now?” Nina asked, coming back from the stairwell.

“It looks like some sort of a repairman has arrived. A civilian from the looks of him,” Venus explained in her tortured voice.

“If it’s complicated, he’ll probably do an estimate of what needs doing and then come back another time,” Nina said speaking from experience.

“We need Puca. He might get us in,” Venus said.

“Right,” Nina said and called the escalator. “You go get Puca. I’ll hang loose here. If the young man emerges I’ll join him in the escalator. I can ask him what he is doing and tease it out.”

When Venus stepped into the escalator Nina pressed the button for the ground floor and stepped out. The doors closed and Venus descended.

“Hi,” Nina said with her best smile as the Fergal pressed for the down escalator minutes later.