Page 15 of Quiver of Cobras
‘Can you do karate? Or kung fu?’
‘No.’ I could pull a nasty face though, so I did just that. Unfortunately, the security guard wasn’t in the slightest bit impressed.
The other guard in the office popped his head out of the door. ‘Someone here says that Ms Chivers’ bodyguard is already with her.’
Finn. It had to be Finn. I breathed out a sigh of relief. That was something; he was so vicious he’d guard her with his life. But it didn’t particularly help me.
‘Just tell her that Madrona is here!’ I called back.
‘What kind of name is Madrona? You Spanish or something?’
‘Or something,’ I muttered.
The guard picked up the receiver again, his lips moving as he spoke. There was a momentary pause then a flicker of surprise crossed his face. ‘She’s on her way out to meet you,’ he said. He gave me a closer look. ‘Does it pay well? Being a bodyguard, I mean?’
His buddy snorted. ‘No way is she a bodyguard. She’s not even wearing an earpiece. And even I could bring her down within seconds.’ He patted his rotund belly for effect.
I was tempted to provide a demonstration; it would be easy enough to warp time just enough to get in front of this arsebadger and knee him in the groin before he realised what had happened. But given what Morgan had told me about the dangerous effects of using that kind of magic – such as bringing about the end of the world – it probably wasn’t worth it. Probably.
Fortunately I didn’t have to wait very long. Automatic doors swished open in the building opposite the guardhouse and both Finn and Julie walked out. She was in full make-up and, as a result, looked rather different to normal. Finn caught sight of me and looked psychotic. That was pretty normal for him.
Without paying the guards any attention, Finn strode ahead and walked up to me. His fists clenched and his jaw was tight. ‘You,’ he spat.
From behind him, Julie smiled her relief. ‘Darling! How are you?’
‘Alive,’ I grunted, looking her over. Despite the overdone make-up, which I assumed was part of her soap character Stacey, she seemed alright. ‘You?’
Before Julie could answer, Finn butted in. ‘Alive is more than can be said for my brother.’
I swallowed. ‘I’m truly sorry about Jinn. I tried to stop Rubus from killing him but…’ My voice trailed off.
‘You didn’t try hard enough.’
I couldn’t argue. ‘No,’ I said softly. ‘I didn’t.’
Finn wasn’t mollified and I didn’t blame him. ‘Morgan said he forced you to go with him. Have you escaped or did he let you leave?’ he demanded.
‘Neither, really. I’m working for him again.’
His mouth twisted into a snarl. ‘You’re what?’
‘I’m doing what you did. I’m undercover.’
‘It didn’t work for us. What makes you think it’ll work for you?’
I sighed and pushed back my hair. ‘It did work for you. You, Jinn and Winn helped stop him getting his hands on the sphere.’
‘They’re dead.’
‘And Rubus is sphere-less. Would your brothers have thought it was worth it?’
Finn muttered to himself and looked away. Julie patted his arm. ‘I’m assuming you’re here for a reason, Mads.’
I supposed I might as well get to the point. ‘He wants to meet you.’
Finn’s head snapped back. ‘You told Rubus about her?’ His voice dripped with derision.
‘Not in so many words. He knows I’m friends with an actor fromSt Thomas Close. It turns out he’s a fan. He doesn’t know which actor, nor does he know about…’ I shuffled ‘…your, er, ethnicity.’
