Page 41 of Equalizer
Owen sighed. “I suspect you’re right. Of course, even if we shut down what’s happening here, someone else, somewhereelse, will pick up and start over, and only the wealthy and the mobsters will benefit.”
“That’s above our pay grade,” Calvin reminded him. “Let’s bust these bastards and get the hell out of town.”
The carriage jolted, and Winston rapped on the compartment, three quick, three slow—the signal that they were being followed.
“Shit,” Owen muttered. “Looks like they found us again.”
“Or someone else was looking for us.” Calvin drew his gun. “But this time, stay in the damn carriage. I don’t want to scrape you off the pavement.”
At this hour, the streets were mostly empty. Owen had spotted a few hired carriages, but even the police vehicles had been few and far between. Too late for most people to be out, too early even for the garbage collectors and delivery drivers, no one but robbers and revelers had cause to be about.
The horse picked up its pace. Calvin and Owen reached for the straps that hung from the ceiling and held on tight to keep from being thrown from their seats.
They had their guns ready, although Owen sincerely hoped they could avoid more gunfire. He and Calvin peered from their windows, trying to glimpse their pursuers.
A featureless black carriage followed them, whose driver had a scarf pulled up and his hat pulled down to shield his face.
“At least they’re not on horseback this time,” Calvin observed. “We got lucky that we stayed ahead of the last two—they could have tried to crash us.”
“But with a carriage, we’ve got no idea how many are inside,” Owen pointed out. “More than two, less than eight?”
“One bright side—if they had magic, they wouldn’t be chasing us,” Calvin remarked, nearly flying off the bench as Winston took a sharp turn.
“Unless they’re herding us.” That ominous possibility had occurred to him as they careened through the streets.
The men in the carriage didn’t open fire, which made Owen wonder what their pursuers wanted.
Are they in league with the two men who chased us or working separately?
“Maybe,” Calvin allowed. “But Winstonhasmagic. I’m betting he’s already figured something out and is letting them chase us right into his trap.”
City streets weren’t made for high speeds. Owen didn’t lose his seat, but he swore that his hips and ass would never be the same again as he bounced roughly, barely avoiding hitting the ceiling on the worst jolts. One particular lurch sent him hard against the side of the carriage.
That’s gonna bruise.
“I think that’s St. Michael’s Church ahead,” Calvin said. “It’s one of the most haunted places in Chicago. Owen—summon the spirits. Winston brought us here for you to call in the cavalry.”
Even before Calvin spoke, Owen sensed ghostly energy. He opened himself to his abilities, reaching out to ask for help.
“We’re being chased by bad men. They want to hurt us. They’ve killed a lot of people. We’re trying to stop the body thieves. Please—help us get away.”
The temperature in the carriage dropped. Owen had closed his eyes to concentrate, and in his mind’s eye, ghosts gathered around them, moving and twisting like fog.
“Stop the other carriage so we can get away,”Owen sent to their spectral protectors.
They saw a flash of light and heard a loud crack and the terrified shrieks of horses. The ghosts swept in like the tide, surrounding the pursuers until Owen couldn’t make out the outlines of the carriage behind them, only the shapes of the panicked horses as they broke free from their traces.
The ghosts are angry. They might not have been able to get revenge on whoever killed them, but they’ll take it out on the ruffians for good measure.
Winston didn’t waste time, urging their team on to full speed. A glance out the back assured Owen that no one followed.
“Tell the ghosts thank you.” Calvin still held on for dear life as the carriage hurtled through the night.
Owen sent his thanks and let his connection fade. His heart pounded, and his hands clenched into fists as he held onto his seat. A sheen of sweat covered his back as if he had been part of the ghostly attack.
“Owen? Are you okay?”
Calvin’s worry helped to pull Owen from his thoughts. He realized he was shaking with the raw energy of the ghosts’ emotions.
