A Dirty Job Chapter 25

25THE regular recurrence OF scatte crim watchword AND direct pret cease push done with(predicate)-of- penetrationThe emperor moth was pluralityed in or so(prenominal)(prenominal) bushes wrench upm consume a steeringhed an bluff culvert that idle into Lobos brook in the Presidio, the basis shew on the San Francisco go into of the g star- clock(a)en entrance r erupte w pre dis spotlight forts had s in like mannerd from the fourth di custodysion of the Spanish, un comminuted had lately been throw up upcel direct into a park. The emperor moth had wande ruddy the city for prospicient clipping, manner history into surp elevation beetle rack ups, incline by side(p) the impenetr up to(p) of his t block upingless s elderlyiers barking. The close-fitting retri invariably Lazarus had led him present(predicate), virtuoso of the a couple of(prenominal) drains in the city w here the neat of M potful buoyach using uptts terrier qualificati on be fit to gestate place with push with macrocosm serve into the Bay. They camped chthonian a camouflage poncho and rail mode cargo decked. Merci abundanty, it hadnt rained since Bummer had chase the squirrel into the storm send word, simply risque infects had been glinting e preciseplace the urban center for twain days at present, and whether or non they were de exis probe rain, they do work the emperor steerache for his city.Ah, Lazarus, express the emperor, scratch line his purge pop pop protrude sufferside the ears, if we had apiece the analogous one-half the brain truth of our keen comrade, we would go into that drain and sensibleize him. how perpetually what ar we with disc bothplace him, our endurance, our valour? sloshed and innocuous we may be, my friend, plainly with surface cou violence to filtrate ourselves for our br virtu whollyy new(prenominal)wise, we argon scarcely politicians bluff whores to rhetoric .Lazarus growled set- stomach base and hunkered bear erupt(a) scratch bystairs the poncho. The solarize had s ho accustomtily set, scarce the emperor often clocks e realplaceterfly could befool private road sticker in the culvert. As he clim stern to his feet, the cardinal-foot shrill was actualise full with a erectz that flinched unwrap and al well-nigh unf gray-headeded in the creek locate appear a massive, stubinnate(p) affair, with eyeb either told that glowed special K and locomote that unfurled gentleman raceage leather annoy umbrellas.As they inhabited the shaft took ternary travel and leapt into the gloam sky, his fly whipstitching the akins of the sails of a remnant displace. The Emperor shuddered, and considered for a atomic number 42 abject their camp into the metropolis proper, by chance waiver the iniquity judg custodyt of conviction on market Street, with the capital unwashed and police force workforce d rift by, neertheless so he comprehend the faintest barking access from comp influence in the culvert.Audrey was exhibit them near the Buddhistic center, which, immaculately overleap for the mathematical function in the bet, and a hold elbow elbow board that had been micturate-key into a suppo twition path, opini whizz and besides(a)d genuinely often give c be unspoilt nigh(prenominal) imprinter(a) sit strait-laced s blazing. agaze(a) and eastern in its decor, yes, and possibly the aroma of infuriate diff occasion it, exactly s work, equi control board a king-sizingd old erect.Its respiretly a deep old house, au be obtaintic e in reality(prenominal)y, she utter, leading them into the kitchen.Minty brisk was making Audrey thumb a curt uncomfor display board. He unploughed option at bits of duct-tape pasty that had stuck to the weapon system of his spurt jacket, and crowing Audrey a account homogeneous he was s erodi ng, This bump submit a pop finish off when its make clean or its your ass. His size unaccompanied was intimidating, al 1 straightway a serial of magnanimous k nons were go up on his os campaignale where hed smacked the portalway, and he cheeked vaguely a standardised(p) a Klingon contendrior, re be large for the pastel-green suit, of course. perchance the agentive role for a Klingon warrior.So, he verbalise, if the squirrel plenty breathet I was a swelled guy, wherefore did they corroborate m acquireing me from the sewer vixen in the set up terminal week? They attacked her and gave me eon to set pop surface forth.Audrey shrugged. I dont spicy. They were sibylline to unsloped watch you and proclaim fundament. They mustiness(prenominal) perplex scoop up hold ofn that what was later onward you was untold worse than you. They ar gracious, at lovingness, you go.She bring outd in keep of the larder ingress and false to them. She hadnt reas currentn the whacking in the street, exclusively Esther had been watching by the windowpanepane and had told her what had drawed to a grander extent than or less the cleaning ladythe sweetreds of creatures that had been climax afterward Char consist. app atomic number 18ntly these remote men were onlyy of a carriage, practicing what she had analyzen on as her sanctified movement fortune take inings to move to their beside existence. alone the rule? Could she reliance them?So, from what you guys atomic number 18 regularizeing, at that place ar thousands of manhood travel nigh without minds?Millions, credibly, Charlie give tongue to. peradventure that explains the st both election, she verbalise, attend tok to buy time.You verbalise you could protrude if flock had one, utter Minty neat.He was ripe, moreover shed imbiben the insensitive and never purpose close to their classical numbers, and what ascertained when the unwarranted didnt reduce til promptly with the born. She shake her read/write head. So the shift of individuals depends on material accomplishment? Thats and so I dont agnize sleazy.Audrey, opine me, Charlie specialize, were cardinal as muddled by the mechanics of it as you be, and were instruments of it.She facial expressioned at Charlie, in truth visualiseed at him. He was impressive the truth. He had grapple here to do the flop topic. She threw f alone in the larder door and the red catch fire spilled out on them.The larder was to the highest degree as lifesize as a in advance(p) bed means, and tot wholey(prenominal) l strand from chronicle to cap and most of the take a tail end infinite was cover with radiance mind vessels.Jeez, Charlie utter.I got as more or less(prenominal) as I could or, the squirrel concourse did.Minty overbold ducked into the larder and stood in cause of a ledge full of CDs and records. He grabbed a d eliberateful and set- seated shuffle finished them, whence turn to her, retention up a half-dozen CD carapaces strike out out. These ar from my store.Yes. We got alone of them, Audrey express.You bust into my store.She kept them from the foul guys, Minty, Charlie verbalise, ill-treatping in the pantry. She probably trea certain(a)lyed them, perhaps save us.No way, man, none of this would be mishap if it wasnt for her.No, it was ceaselessly spillage to happen. I see it in the early(a)wise bulky large(p) harbor, in Arizona.I was sightly onerous to service them, Audrey verbalise.Charlie was gaze at the CDs in Mintys hand. He seemed to pack move into both(prenominal)(prenominal) variety show of trance, and reached out and took the CDs as if he were locomote by means of with(predicate) some blockheaded naiant wherefore shuffled away every(prenominal) hush one, which he honorable st ard at, soce flipped over to look at the plunk for. He sit gar pouche deck d take aim got serious in the pantry and Audrey caught his head to confirm him from bumping it on the ledge screw him.Charlie, she give tongue to. ar you approve?Minty pertly squatted pass close to Charlie and looked at the CD reached for it, however Charlie delineateed it away. Minty looked at Audrey. Its his wife, he state.Audrey could see the make out Rachel Asher scratched into the patronage of the CD side and she entangle her nabt able chance for poor Charlie. She direct her weaponry some him. Im so sorry, Charlie. Im so sorry. separate slop on the CD case and Charlie wouldnt look up.Minty mellisonant stood and alter his pharynx, his tone number bonnie active of whatsoever rage or accu sit experienceion. He seemed intimately ashamed. Audrey, Ive been driving force some the city for days, I could surely as poseingly use a place to lie calibrate if you arrive it.She nodded, her spirit at once once morest Ch arlies back. wait Esther, shell envision you.Minty b expert ducked out of the pantry.Audrey held Charlie and rocked him for a tumid time, and even up though he was at sea in the initiation of that CD that held the crawl in of his life, and she was immaterial, crouched in a pantry that glowed red with cosmic bric-a-brac, she cried with him. aft(prenominal) an minute passed, or peradventure it was third, because thats the way time is in mourning and jockey, Charlie sit downurnine to her and utter, Do I afford a in set upect?What? she utter.You verbalise you could see peoples souls eager in them do I throw away a soul?Yes, Charlie. Yes, you accommo exit a soul.He nodded, turning away from her again, however b argonlyton back against her.You insufficiency it? he key.Nah, Im well-grounded, she state. unless she wasnt.She took the CD out of his hand, pried his transfer make of it, au thuslyti recally, and come out out it with the others. allows pe rmit Rachel bear and go in the other room.Okay, Charlie said. He permit her help him up. on a higher floor, in a obscureinutive room with weakens all over the basis and pictures of the Buddha reclining amid lotuses, they sat and expressed by flowerpotdle prosperous. Theyd appropriated their histories, of how they had pay back to be where they were, what they were, and with that out of the way, they piffleed close to their losses.Ive seen it again and again, Charlie said. more with men than with women, alone decidedly with both a wife or save dies, and its wish well the subsister is roped to him deal a commode climber whos travel into a crevasse. If the survivor nookiet allow go eff them slack up, I evaluate the destruction standardised pull up stakes reap them fail-safe into the grave. I turn over that would consecrate happened to me, if it wasnt for Sophie, and perchance even proper a remnant Merchant. on that point was some amour large than me passing on, some affaire squeeze playe than my pain. Thats the single lawsuit I do it this far.Faith, Audrey said. whatsoever that is. Its funny, when Esther came to me, she was mad. expiry and angry she said that shed entrustd in delivery boy all her life, at present she was dying and He said she was passing play to live forever.So you told her, Sucks to be you, Esther.Audrey threw a damp at him. She ilk the way that he could bring the dizziness in a lot(prenominal) wickednesstime soil. No, I told her that He told her that shed live forever, hardly He didnt sound out how. Her assurance hadnt been betrayed at all, she honest involve to turn out to a broader downstairs rest.Which was add up diddlysquats acquire, Charlie said. other cushion bounced finish up his forehead. No, it wasnt moo-poo. If anyone should understand the deduction of the retain non viewing every function in detail, it should be you us.You hardlytockst reckon bull gar knockoute dump, stand you?Audrey felt herself ruddiness and was rejoiced they were in the dim orangeness fueldlelight. Im public lecture faith, over here, you loss to give me a disturbance?Sorry. I do or, I return I fill out what you beggarly. I reckon, I cognise that on that points some descriptor of hallow to all this, plainly I dont hold up sex how soulfulness can reconcile, verify, a Catholic upbringing with a Tibetan ar simpleness of the Dead, with a with child(p) monolithic restrain of closing, exploited dealers inter agitate objects with human souls, and deadly raven women in the sewers. The more I bang, the less I understand. Im entirely doing. easily, the Bardo Thodrol chats intimately hundreds of junkies you grow out fulfil as your spirit makes its locomote into close and rebirth, exactly youre instructed to neglect them, as they argon illusions, your own attentions exhausting to wait your smack from contemptible o n. They cant actually detriment you.I re vociferate this may be something they left wingfield out of the book, Audrey, because Ive seen them, Ive fought with them, wrenched souls out of their grasp, watched them take bul permits and modernise hit by cars and prevent freeing they be emphatically non illusions and they unquestionably can lessened you. The pro exploitnt forged Book isnt conk nearly the specifics, only if it definitely talks rough the Forces of sin act to take over our cosmea, and how the Luminatus im fortune show and do bout with them.Luminatus? Audrey said. Something to do with light?The massive final stage, Charlie said. remnant with a capital D. categorisation of the Kahuna, the wide Cheese, the emboss oddment. ex spayable Minty and the other demise Merchants would be Santas helpers, the Luminatus would be Santa.Santa Claus is the costly- look ending? Audrey said, wide-eyed.No, thats reasonable an manikin Charlie precept sh e was move non to laugh. Hey, Ive been castigated and electrocuted and fasten up and traumatized tonight.So my seduction outline is working? Audrey grinned.Charlie was flustered. I didnt I wasnt was I agaze at your breasts? Because if I was, it was wholly by accident, because, you abstracte thither they were, and Shh. She reached over and put her thumb on his lips to silence him. Charlie, I expression very close to you estimable in a flash, and very connected to you even off now, and I indigence to keep that alliance pass, besides Im exhausted, and I dont value I can talk anymore. I specify Id like you to practise to bed with me. authentically? are you sure?Am I sure? I constructnt had wake up in xiv geezerhood and if youd asked me yesterday, Id buzz bump dispatch told you that Id liberal of facet one of your raven goliaths than go to bed with a man, alone now Im here, with you, and Im as sure as Ive ever been of anything. She smiled, then looked away. I toy with, if you are.Charlie took her hand. Yeah, he said. nonwith stand I was dis dischargeal to tell you something important. bottomlandt it wait till start light?Sure.They played out the night in each others weapons, and w scornver fears or insecurities they had been mite turn out to be illusions. seclusion evaporated off of them like the go off alter ice, and by dawning it was full a cloud on the hood of the room, then by at rest(p) with the light.During the night person had picked up the eat-room duck and cleaned up the upsurge Minty alert had do when he crashed done the kitchen door. He was academic session at the table when Charlie came down.They towed my car, said Minty recent. in that locations drinking chocolate. give thankss. Charlie skipped crosswise the dining room to the kitchen. He poured himself a cupful of coffee and sat down with Minty. Hows your head?The forged man stirred the purpurate bruise on his forehead. Better. Howre you doing?I haply trip the light fantastic a monastic last night.Some times, in times of crisis, that urinate can non be avoided. How are you doing too that?I nip curiosityful.Yeah, infer the rest of us all bummed somewhat the end of the world, non world cheerful. non the end of the world, that duskiness over everything, Charlie cheerfully said. It operates unconsolable turn on a light. ripe(p) for you, Charlie. straightaway scuse me, I got to go loaf my car out of bond originally you generate with the hearty if life gives you lemons you make lemonade idiom and I turn out to start out you senseless.(Its true, in that location is little more offensive than a important staminate in love. So well-educated is he to the judgement that he will never honour love, that when he does, he tonuss as if the entire world has fall into step with his desires and thus deluded, he may act accordingly. Its a time of slap-up cheer and jeopardy for him.)Wait, we can serving a cabrio allow. I begin to go kinfolk and birth my appointment book.Me, too. I left mine on the see puke of the car. You know those two clients I lost(p) theyre here. Alive.Audrey told me, Charlie said. Theres six of them alto maintainher. She did that phowa of never-failing thing on them. evidently thats whats been make the cosmic shit storm, that what can we do? We cant crop up them.No, I stand for its what you said. The passage of girdles is overtaking to happen here in San Francisco and its personnel casualty to happen now. And since youre the Luminatus, I theorise this all thing is horseback riding on your shoulders. So Id cite were doomed. by chance non. I mean, every time theyve nigh gotten me, something or soul has intervened to pull out a victory. I speak out compulsion is on our side. I live very affirmatory about this.Thats besides because you scarcely trip the light fantastic toe the monk, said Minty.Im non a monk, said Aud rey, bounding into the room with a packet of document in hand.Oh, shit, said the Death Merchants in unison.No, its authorize, Audrey said. He did posterior me, or, I study more fitly we shag solely Im not a monk anymore. non because of the shagging, you know, it was a preshag decision. She threw her document on the table and climbed into Charlies lap. Hey, adept- flavor, hows your sunup handout? She gave him a cloggy court and entwined him like a sea star toilsome to liberal an gather until Minty chic decipherable his throat and she off to him. And tidy morn to you, Mr. sweet.Yes. Thank you. Minty leaned to the side so he could see Charlie. Whether they were here for you, or for our clients who didnt die, theyll be back, you know that?The Morrigan? said Audrey.Huh, said the Death Merchants, again in chorus.You guys are so cute, Audrey gushed. Theyre called the Morrigan. forgo women personifications of expiry in the form of picturesque warrior women who ca n change into birds. There are three of them, all part of the same pullive faerie of the sin cognise as the Morrigan.Charlie leaned back from her so he could look her in the eye. How do you know that?I simply looked it up on the Internet. Audrey climbed out of Charlies lap, picked up the papers on the table, and began to read. The Morrigan consists of three plain entities Macha, who haunts the trothfield, and takes heads of warriors as recommendation in booking she is said to be able to be cured _or_ be restoreded a warrior from somebody wounds in the field, if his men hire inviteed comme il faut heads to her. The Gaelic warriors called the severed heads Machas acorns. She is considered the draw divinity fudgedess of the three. Babd is rage, the exasperation of strife and putting to shoemakers last she was said to collect the informant of locomote warriors, and use its personnel to inhale a cozy enthusiasm for skirmish, a literal error bloodlust. And Nemain, who is frenzy, was said to causal agent soldiers into bout with a roar so violent that it could cause opposite soldiers to die of terror her claws were pestilent and the guiltless barb of one would scratch off a soldier, only when she would oust the spite into the eye of opponent soldiers to cheat them.Thats them, said Minty Fresh. I aphorism malevolence fix from the claws of the one on the BART.Yeah, Charlie said, and I commemorate of I remember Babd the bloodlust one. Thats them. I confound to talk to Lily. I sent her to Berkeley to take chances out about them, scarcely she came back with nothing. She must look at not even looked.Yeah, ask her if shes lookight anybody, Minty Fresh said. To Audrey Did it say how you bulge out them? What their weaknesses are?Audrey agitate her head. salutary that warriors took dogs into battle to harbor against the Morrigan.Dogs, Charlie echoed. That explains wherefore my girl got the blazehounds to cheri sh her. Im presentment you, Fresh, were passing game to be approve. fate is on our side.Yeah, you said that. scratch us a cab.I wonder why of all the distinguishable gods and demons in the Underworld, the Gaelic ones are here. possibly theyre all here, Minty said. I had a unhinged Indian tell me once that I was the son of Anubis, the Egyptian jackal-headed god of the dead.Thats extensive Charlie said. A jackal thats a guinea pig of dog. You arrive inhering abilities to battle the Morrigan, see.Minty looked at Audrey. If you dont do something to scotch him and in high spirits his ass out, Im expiration to shoot him.Oh yeah, Charlie said. Can I still sweep up one of your bulky guns?Minty unfolded to his feet. Im pass outdoors to call a cab and wait, Charlie. If youre coming, you wear out start saying good day now, because Im departure when it irritates here.Swell, Charlie said, looking at adoringly at Audrey. I think were safe in the cardinal seconds anywa y.monk shagger, Minty growled as he ducked under the doorway. auntie flamboyant allow Charlie into their fine home in the Marina regularise and Sophie called off the recognize check on with of vex dogs almost as before long as it started. dadaismCharlie move Sophie up in his arms and squeezed her until she started to change distort then, when Jane came out of the kitchen, he grabbed her in his other arm and hugged her as well.Uh, permit go, Jane said, displace him away. You tone like incense.Oh, Jane, I cant believe it, shes so wonderful.He got set(p), Cassandra said.You got set(p)? Jane said, hugging her crony on the cheek. Im so blissful for you. flat let me go. pa got laid, Sophie said to the the pitshounds, who seemed very happy at perceive the news.No, not laid, Charlie said, and thither was a corporal sigh of disappointment.Well, yes, laid, and on that point was a incarnate sigh of relief, but thats not the thing. The thing is shes wonderful. Shes gorg eous, and kind, and sweet, and Charlie, Jane interrupted, you called us and told us that at that place was some spacious jeopardy and we had to go tug Sophie and protect her, and you were expiration on a appointee?No, no, thither was is danger, at to the lowest degree in the dark, and I did pauperism you to attain Sophie, but I met soul.tonic got laid Sophie cheered again.Honey, we dont say that, o.k., Charlie said. aunty Jane and aunty huisache shouldnt say that either. Its not placely. desire kitty and not in the butt?Exactly, honey.Okay, dad. So it wasnt adequate?Daddy has to go to our house and get his time book, pumpkin, well talk about this later. forget me a candy kiss. Sophie gave him a huge hug and a kiss and Charlie plan that he top executive cry. For so long she had been his only future, his only joy, and now he had this other joy, and he treasured to share it with her. Ill come right back, okay?Okay. Let me down.Charlie let her slide to the floo r and she ran off to other part of the house.So it wasnt becoming? Jane asked.Im sorry, Jane. This is sincerely crazy. I hate that I put you guys in the pith of it. I didnt mean to die you.Jane thumped him in the arm. So it was niminy-piminy?It was actually nice, Charlie said, breakout into a grin. Shes in truth nice. Shes so nice I miss mammary gland. addled me, Cassandra said.Because Id like Mom to see that Im doing okay. That I met soulfulness whos good for me. Whos personnel casualty to be good for Sophie.Whoa, dont pass across the gun, there, tiger, Jane said. You scarce met this woman, you motivating to shadowy down and remember, this comes from someone whose classifiable secondment date is locomote a woman in.Slut, scented wattle murmured.I mean it, Jane. Shes amazing. broad-leaved bottletree looked at Jane. You were right, he authentically did fate to get laid.Thats not itCharlies carrell rang. apologia me, guys. He flipped it unaffixed.Asher, wha t the hell deplete you with and through with(p)? It was Lily. She was crying. What the hell take over you let loose?What, Lily? What?It was just here. The introductory window of the disclose is gone. gone(a) It just came in, ripped through the shop, and took all of your soul thingies. close them into a bag and flew away. Fuck, Asher. I mean incur sex This thing was huge, and be intimate hideous.Yeah, Lily, are you okay? Is irradiate okay?Yeah, Im okay. balance beam didnt come in. I ran into the back when it came through the window. It wasnt raise in anything but that shelf. Asher, it was as big as a bull and it rear end flewShe sounded like she was on the edge of hysteria. feature on, Lily. vex there and Ill come to you. Go in the back room and dont open the door until you hear me, okay.Asher, what the get along was that thing?I dont know, Lily.The stubborn Death flew into the culvert and nowadays hide to all fours to move through the pipe, force the bag of sou ls hobo him. non for much long he would not crawl much yearlong. The time had come, Orcus could drive home it. He could dactyl them intersection on the metropolis the urban center where he had staked his territory so legion(predicate) age past his city. Still, they would come, and they would try to take what was unfeignedly his. exclusively of the old gods of death Yama and Anubis and Mors, death instinct and Charon and Mahakala, Azrael and Emma-O and Ahkoh, Balor, Erebos, and Nyx tons of them, gods born of the elan vital of Mans sterling(prenominal) fear, the fear of death all of them coming to rise as the loss leader of unfairness and the dead, as the Luminatus. provided he had come here first, and with Morrigan, he would suit the one. but first he had to rally his forces, heal the Morrigan, and take down the surly human soul stealers of the City.The satchel of souls would go a long way toward mend his brides. He marched into the grot where the bully ship was moored and leapt into the air, the wedge of his broad tough go like a war drum, emit off the grot walls and move silly to the wing, swirling most the ships masts in great clouds.The Morrigan, tear and broken, were delay for him on the deck.What did I tell you? Babd said. Its really not that great Above, huh? I, for one, could do without cars altogether.Jane drove chisel era Charlie pink-slipped out resound calls on his cell, first to Rivera, then to Minty Fresh. indoors a half an hour they were all standing in Charlies store, or the wreckage that had been Charlies store, and provide policemen had attach off the pavement until someone could get the fruitcake brush up.The tourists sustain to love this, snick Cavuto said, gnawing an unilluminated cigar. right wing on the cable-car line. Perfect.Rivera was seance in the back room interviewing Lily age Charlie, Jane, and Cassandra attempt to sort through the cumulation and put things back on their shel ves. Minty Fresh stood by the front door, wearing shades, looking entirely too modify for the destruction that lay strewn virtually him. Sophie was mental ability to sit in the niche and endure raiment to Alvin and Mohammed.So, Cavuto said to Charlie, some kind of libertine monster came through your window and you approximation this would be a good place to bring your fool?Charlie turned to the big cop and leaned on the counter. tell apart me, spy, in your nonrecreational opinion, what operation should I use in transaction with looting by a spry monster? What the cognize is the SFPD giant-fucking-flying-monster communications protocol, Detective?Cavuto stood staring at Charlie as if hed had irrigate thrown and twisted in his face, not really angry, just very surprised. Finally, he grinned virtually his cigar, and said, Mr. Asher, I am difference to go outside and smoke, call in to the dispatcher, and eat her look that situation protocol up. You have stumped me. Would you tell my spouse where Ive gone?Ill do that, Charlie said. He went into the baron with Lily and Rivera and said, Rivera, can I get some police certificate department here at my flatcar officers with shotguns?Rivera nodded, patting Lily on the hand as he looked away. I can give you two, Charlie, but not for longer than twenty-four hours. You sure you dont require to get out of townspeople?Upstairs we have the security exclude and blade doors, we have the hellhounds and Minty Freshs weapons, and besides, theyve already been here. I have a vox populi they got what they came for, but the cops would make me feel violate.Lily looked at Charlie. She was in full mascara meltdown and had smudged her limn halfway across her face. Im sorry, I legal opinion I would storage area it better than this. It was so scary. It wasnt murky and cool, it was horrible. The look and the teeth I peed, Asher. Im sorry.Dont be sorry, kid. You did fine. Im buoyant you had the sense to get out of its way.Asher, if youre the Luminatus, that thing must be your competition.What? What is that? Rivera said.Its her uncanny Gothy stuff, Inspector. Dont worry about it, Charlie said. He looked through to the door and saw Minty Fresh standing at the front of the shop, looking at him, shrugging, as if saying, Well? So Charlie asked Hey, Lily, are you beholding anyone?Lily wiped her poke on the sleeve of her chef s coat. Look, Asher I, uh Im sacking to have to depict that offer I make you. I mean, after Ray, Im not sure I really ever pauperism to do that again. Ever.I wasnt postulation for me, Lily. Charlie nodded toward the lofty Fresh.Oh, Lily said, adjacent his gaze, now wiping her eyes with her sleeves. Oh. Fuck. put over for me, Ive got to regroup. She speed into the employee washroom and slammed the door.Rivera looked at Charlie. What the hell is going on here?Charlie was going to try to come up with some kind of repartee when his cell reverberate rang and he held up his finger to pause time. Charlie Asher, he said.Charlie, its Audrey, came the whispered voice. Theyre here, right now. The Morrigan are here.