Page 118 of Inbetweeners
Emmett sighed. “You could have told us that. And how did you know where to send us?”
“Urgencywasexpected,” Tar said. “And how I knew is my concern, not yours. Those responsible?”
“Simon Greyson and Sophie Russell,” Emmett said. “We don’t yet know the reason why they’re doing what they’re doing, but we think it’s because demons want to use the…inbetweeners as hosts.”
Nix picked up the narrative. “Sophie’s twin died, which might have something to do with it. She was married to Greyson. They could have made some bargain with a demon, possibly trying to get her sister back. The twins ran an occult website and an online shop. We’re looking into whether there’s a physical store as well. Sophie and Greyson are both doing the killings. One kills and the other is responsible for getting the inbetweener to stick around. They took them back to their house in Erith.”
“The victims?” Tar asked.
“Of a type. Mostly,” Nix said. “Young men in their late teens and twenties and one woman who was probably intended as a host for Alice. One guy was different. Maybe that was personal. Malcolm was the only one with a wife and family. The oldest guy too. Maybe we ought to look into a link between Malcolm and Sophie or Malcolm and Greyson.”
“Perhaps give the police a push in that direction,” Emmett added.
“They use a particular knife,” Nix said. “It’s possible it might be the reason the soul doesn’t move far from the body. Well, can’t move far for a while, according to what we’ve been told.”
Tar just sat there and said nothing.
“What level of force are we supposed to use?” Nix asked. “Do you want the pair dead or alive?”
“Did I give you weapons?”
“No.”
“Is that not your answer?” Tar raised his eyebrows. “What were you planning to do when you went to their house earlier?”
“You know we did that?” Nix blurted. “Do you actually need us to tell you anything?”
“I just asked you a question to which I don’t know the answer.”
“Secure them with cable ties and call you,” Emmett said. “We can’t easily contact the police without getting involved, but I have notes from most of the victims about what happened.”
“Did you intend to use cable ties too?” Tar looked at Nix.
“Yes. But if Emmett was in danger, I’d do what was needed to protect him.”
Tar gave a slight nod.
“If they’re hard to subdue, I’ll probably flail around a lot and fuck things up,” Emmett said.
Nix thought he probably would.
“You’re not supposed to agree with me.” Emmett was full of indignation.
“I said nothing.”
“You don’t need to speak. I can just tell.”
“You don’t want to hurt anyone. I’m prepared to if necessary.” Nix shrugged.
“So am I.” Emmett’s tone was defiant.
Nix huffed.
“The plan is sound,” Tar said. “But don’t fuck it up. Either of you.”
“We don’t know what Greyson and Sophie are. Will cable ties be enough?” Nix asked.
“They began as human, but they’ve dabbled in things they should never have touched, gone too far into the dark and now are more than human in some ways, less in others. Call me when they’re secured.”
