Page 46 of Equalizer
For a second, Humphries looked enraged before he regained control. “You don’t deserve an answer, but I’ll give you one. Donors. Once word of successful surgeries spreads, I have no doubt that many willing donors can be recruited.” His icy tone made it clear that he did not care to pursue the topic.
“What if they can’t be?” Owen put in. “Are you willing to see the technique fail to gain widespread use over a lack of donors?”
This time, Humphries didn’t rein in his anger. “You impudent fool! Can’t you see the value? The world can’t afford to allow outdated notions to hold back progress. A way forward will be found. Now stop following me before I call security. And leave me alone—if you know what’s good for you.”
Humphries strode off. The mage, who had been up ahead, conferred quietly with him and shot an assessing look at Calvin, Owen, and Arabella before walking away with Humphries.
“Let’s get out of here.” Owen plucked at the sleeve of Calvin’s jacket. “I think we’ve gotten all the information we’re going to get.”
They didn’t speak until they were in the coach, heading away from the university.
“What did you make of that?” Owen broke the silence.
“I think Humphries is walking a fine line between his need for people to regard him as a genius and the Mob not wanting him to blab their secrets,” Calvin replied in a wry tone.
“I’m not pleased that we attracted the notice of his witch.” Arabella frowned. “I’ll strengthen the wardings, and I recommend treading carefully until we have more information about the necromancer’s ability and how far Humphries’s Mob support goes.”
“Could you read anything else about the witch?” Calvin asked.
Arabella chewed on her lip. “I’m sure he was shielding just like I was. There were some others in the audience that I also think tamped down on their powers in public as well. I’m sure the witch is a necromancer, but I can’t gauge how powerful.”
“I’d like to know whether Humphries hired the necromancer, in which case he’s in charge, or whether his Mob supporter supplied the witch. In that case, the necromancer isn’t automatically his ally. Maybe more of his keeper, with loyalty to the Mob boss.”
Calvin hadn’t considered the possibility that Humphries and his witch might not fully trust one another. “Do you think Humphries is being coerced or blackmailed into the work?”
Owen shook his head. “He didn’t have to do the presentation today—and the Mob would probably prefer he hadn’t. I think he wants to be famous and respected for pioneering a great medical wonder, and he doesn’t care who gets hurt.”
“Quite the physician,” Calvin muttered.
“He isn’t treating patients—he teaches biology,” Arabella pointed out. “That either means he’s an M.D. and doesn’t like dealing with sick people, or he lost his license for infractions. Or he’s a Ph.D. and not a hands-on medical doctor. Either way, the work he’s doing for the Mob is his ticket to fame and reclaiming his reputation.”
Their route took them past one of Chicago’s many slaughterhouses. Owen shuddered and traded a worried look with Arabella as they approached the large facility.
“Did you feel that?” he asked, and she nodded, looking worried.
“What?” Calvin had a creeping sense of dread but had chalked it up to the gruesome topic.
“Dark magic,” Arabella said.
“The necromancer?” Calvin glanced out the window but didn’t see the man they had spotted at the event.
“Look!” Owen pointed in horror at a pile of dead cows awaiting butchering that trembled and shuddered. The corpses staggered to their hooves, and their sightless eyes fixed on the carriage.
“What the hell?” the hired driver screeched as the undead creatures lumbered toward them. He brought the carriage to a rough stop, with the horses restless in their traces.
“We can’t just sit here.” Calvin reached for the handle of the carriage door. “I’m going to drive. You two—stop the cows.”
Calvin crawled out of the cabin and climbed to the driver’s seat, pushing the terrified man aside.
“Do you see those…those…things?” the driver stuttered.
“Better hang on,” Calvin told the man as he seized the reins and snapped them.
“Git up!” The horses took off at a gallop.
As they lurched forward, Owen opened fire from the carriage window, dropping two of the dead cows with shots to the hips, which made them incapable of following.
Arabella’s magic exploded the remaining carcasses, messy but effective.
