Page 78 of Fortune's Ashes
‘Do you know any gremlins?’ I asked.
‘What? No.’
‘Did you know a gremlin called Quincy Carmichael?’
‘I just told you I don’t know any gremlins. What kind of stupid name is Quincy, anyway?’
‘What about Adele Cunningham? Or Simon Carr?’
Stubman stared at me blankly. I tried again. ‘Have you ever been to Borehamwood? Or a cottage nearby?’
He wrinkled his nose. ‘Where?’
‘Have you ever thought about joining a supe dating agency?’
‘You’re fucking nuts. You know that, right?’ He shook his head. ‘Let’s just get this over and done with. Do it already.’
‘Mr Stubman—’
He yanked his hand out from underneath the cushion. I froze, gazing at the black gun he’d pulled out. It was identical to the one in my Cassandra vision. ‘Do it,’ he snarled. ‘Kill me.’
I kept my voice as calm and even as I could. ‘Put the gun down, Mr Stubman.’
‘Why? You’re not afraid of it. I could shoot you in the head a hundred times over and you wouldn’t die.’ His lip curled. ‘I know all about you and what you’re capable of.’
Uh-huh. He didn’t know everything. ‘I’m not here to hurt you.’
‘Bullshit. I know why you’re here. I’ve been told.’
I didn’t move a muscle. ‘Told by whom?’
‘He warned me,’ Stubman said, his eyes flicking from side to side. ‘He told me I should run while I could. But I’m not afraid of you. I’m not afraid of any of you. I ain’t running.’
From the way his hands were trembling, he was very fucking afraid. I fought back every instinct and leaned back against the wooden chair, crossing my legs and leaving my hands loosely clasped in my lap. ‘Who told you to run?’ I asked. ‘Who told you that you were in danger?’
Stubman scoffed and brandished the gun towards me. ‘Name, rank and serial number. That’s all you’re getting. I don’t care what you do to me.’
I watched him for another moment or two. It wasn’t paranoia if they were really out to get you. I ran my tongue over my teeth. ‘I’m going to take my phone out of my pocket,’ I said. ‘I need to make a call.’
‘Got a case of the willies, have you? Going to get your fanged boyfriend to finish the deed?’
‘No,’ I said simply. I moved slowly, doing everything I could to demonstrate to Stubman that I wasn’t threatening him and I wasn’t about to pull out a weapon. I slid out my phone, taking my eyes off the shaking bellman only long enough to find the number I needed, then I pressed the button to call.
Buffy answered instantly. ‘What is it? What’s wrong? Have you got him? Has he confessed?’ Then, ‘Is the fucker dead?’
Stubman flinched and I cursed inwardly at Buffy’s choice of words. ‘I have one question for you,’ I said. ‘And I need you to answer honestly. It’s important.’
‘What?’
‘The truth, Buffy. I mean it.’
‘For fuck’s sake. Yes, I’ll tell you the truth. What do you want to know?’
I drew in a breath. ‘Did you tell Lady Sullivan that Stubman was here?’
‘No.’
‘Did you tellanyonethat Stubman was here?’
