Fang Shway in LA (9 page)

Chapter 16

“I suggest we try a little glasnost. Collaborating with them might not get us anywhere, but we might unearth something. If the spear is at their home I’ll sense its presents.”

“Right, the only certainty is that we need to find Azif before he gets his hands on the spear
and then Vicor dies, I guarantee it.” Traygen growled.

We gathered our weapons and headed for the car. Traygen started to open the door for me, but a jolt of adrenaline hit me first, sending all my alarm bells into high alert. We had company and I hated people that just dropped in uninvited. Although technically these weren’t people, I slammed my staff into the throat of the vampire as it lunged at me from across the hood of the car. Traygen whirled around so we were standing with our backs together. Circling in a tight crouch, we scanned the area.

“It looks like Vicor left us a parting gift,” Traygen snarled.

“How many do you think there are? I see four or five.”

“That’s about right, now will you fry these creeps, so we can be on our way.”

“Luminaire.” I yelled. Sparks exploding from the end of my staff, spinning around, I sent a burst of flames into the nearest vampire, it burst into flames. I turned it into an incandescent, shrieking pile of sinewy gore. Clearly, his friends weren’t impressed. I caught a blur of motion in my peripheral vision, just in time to alert Traygen. Ducking out-of-the-way, Traygen let the vampire sail over his head. It landed in a bone jarring heap. Opening up with his automatic weapon, he killed it where it landed.

Distracted momentarily, I nearly bought the farm when a charging vampire grabbed for my throat and held on. It was too close to shoot, so, I elbowed it hard in the throat. Its grip eased enough for me to turn, so I was facing it. Talk about bad breath. Yuck. I held my bracelet against it and shouted, “Illuminair.” I was on a roll now, and I began to hum. Slow learners these vamps. Another vampire flew at me and I blocked it with my staff. Traygen finished it with a burst of gunfire.

“One got away, but we got the rest. Come on we need to catch up with Vicor,” Traygen ordered. When we got in the car he had a quizzical expression on his face.

“What?” I asked.

“What was that you were humming?”

“If you must know, ‘another one bites the dust’, get it? Another one bites…”

“You’re a sick woman, Lauren. That’s one of the things I like most about you.”

It took us about a half hour to get to San Marino, and we rode the rest of the way in silence. Glib as I’d been with Traygen, I’m never comfortable killing, even vampires. It felt like I needed to purify myself so, I prayed silently. Unfortunately, that was all I could do for now. I couldn’t afford the time to reflect.

“It looks like they’ve got company or their expecting us. I wonder where Tokem is.”

“I’m sure he’ll flit by soon because he knows we were coming. Look, I think I see him. Over there,” I said.

“What took you two so long? Vicor has been inside for about an hour. No one else has come or gone.”

“I don’t think I can risk eavesdropping again. I’m sure Vicor will be on guard. Tokem, why don’t you see what you can find out from the help and Tokem be careful, Vicor’s already nabbed you once. Just so I’m being clear, you going inside isn’t an option. Fortunately, the men guarding the place won’t know you are there or recognize your scent. See if they know anything.”

Traygen turned and gazed at the home. “I’m going to pull the car around the corner. We’ll still be able to see but I hope not be seen.”

“Good luck, Tokem,” I said as he sped off.

We drove around and parked on the street behind the alley. It was harder to see
yet, I was confident Tokem would warn us in time if the situation changed. Sliding across the seat, I put my head on Traygen’s shoulder, the time passing in a comfortable silence. I think we were both too tired to fight. A small rap on the window roused me, I must have dozed off. Tokem was back and he had overheard enough gossip to give us a fair idea on the state of things.

“Tokem, don’t keep us waiting. What did you find out?”

“It must be nice sleeping while the little guy does all the work.”

Traygen sat up straighter in his seat and looked menacingly at Tokem. “You’re going to be even shorter if you don’t get on with your story. Now. We don’t have time for your foolishness.”

Tokem glided over closer to me. “Someone is grumpy. Did you wake up on the wrong side of the steering wheel? All right, the wizard did not show. However, he sent a message. He’s seeking a meeting for tomorrow night. Everyone is jumpy, they suspect a double cross. Oh and they need to get the spear from wherever it’s hidden before the meeting.”

Puffing out a long breath, Traygen relaxed into his seat. I mulled over what Tokem reported. If it where me, I know where I’d have put the spear for safekeeping. There was only one-way to tell and that was to check out my hunch.

“The way I see it we have two choices. Try to grab the spear at the exchange site or take the spear before the exchange and in my opinion it would be safer to get it first.”

“Lauren, I agree if we can find the spear first and that’s a big if. We’d have significantly less firepower to face. However, the spear could be anywhere. What do suggest?” Traygen asked.

Swiveling around in my seat to face Traygen, I debated how much to say. “I suggest you two take turns watching the Russians in case the hired help is wrong. I’ll take a taxi home. There are a few things I need to check on.”

“Can I come with you? I need my beauty sleep.” Tokem begged.

“Nice try, you just want to watch the Price is Right but you need to spell Traygen. You can curl up in his pocket and take a nap. I’ll make sure it gets recorded.”

Turning to Traygen, I noted his silent, stubborn stare. I reached for his hand and he begrudgingly took mine. He started to speak and I pressed my fingers to his lips, effectively silencing him.

“Traygen, I know you don’t want us to split up. But, you also know that we have too. It’s the only way to follow-up on all these leads. I promise to be careful and to call you if I find anything.”

Squeezing my hand he said, “I know you’re right but, I still worry even though I know you can take care of yourself.”

I leaned in and kissed him tenderly, reluctant to let go of him. I finally released him and called a taxi. The ride home was lonely. Traygen, my love, how long are we going to continue like this? Spending months and sometimes as much as a year apart, when will it be our time?

“That will be twenty dollars.”

That was fast. I handed the man twenty five
and headed toward my door. I scanned the area as I approached the house. No one or nothing was around. I let myself in and Xena greeted me with a tail wagging hello. “Hi girl. Are you hungry? Let me get you something.” I fed her and went to my office. I had a few hours before anything would be open. I pulled out my dog-eared copy of the Thomas Guide.

I wanted to see what the area around the restaurant looked like. Circling an area within a five-mile radius of the restaurant, I searched the grid. One quadrant was strictly residential and I removed it. Writing down the major streets, I went to the computer. I requested a list of hotels in the area. It was a good place to start because there was always someone at the front desk, no matter what the hour.

I found what I was looking for on my twenty-second call. The manager had a block of rooms registered to Russian exporters. Yes, the address was only four blocks from the restaurant. Donning dark clothes, soft sole shoes and my gun, I headed downtown. I was grateful that we had decided to keep my old car instead of trade it in. Traygen thought he could just fly wherever he needed to go. All we needed were dragon sightings in L.A. I threw my staff and pouch into the backseat. There was virtually no traffic at this early hour.

Reaching the hotel, I pulled up to the front of the building, rummaged through the contents of my glove compartment
 and found my LAPD shield. Yes, I’m not at liberty to discuss how I acquired the badge. I got out of the car and went to the front desk. I showed my shield to the manger and then pulled the ID from the dead Russian out to show him. I told him the man had been killed and I needed to check his room.

Once I got inside the room, I pulled the curtains and turned on the lights. The manger mentioned the Russians had two connecting rooms. I was on a roll. I carefully opened the door between the rooms to make sure everyone was in San Marino. The adjoining room was empty. So, I started methodically searching every inch of the two rooms. These guys were slobs. The rooms were littered with pizza boxes, beer cans and used condoms. Oh, my god, I needed to find another job. Still trembling, I went through all the dresser drawers, closets, looking under mattresses, tables
 and seat cushions.
You name it and I still found nothing.

I was about to give up when I decided to check out the wet bar. I considered having a drink on these clowns. Instead I emptied the scotch, vodka, and beer down the drain.
That would cost them. Smiling, I emptied the ice trays. Bingo, I found it, dancing a little jig I ran back to the car. Now all I need to do was identify the key’s location. Remembering to keep my speed in check, I headed home. There was at least three hours before businesses opened. That didn’t give me much time. As I pulled into my driveway my cell rang and it was Traygen, telling me the Russians were heading out. Shit.

Unfortunately, I’m not psychic. I had to use good old fashion sleuthing skills. Grabbing a cup of coffee on my way to my office, I sat down in front of my computer. Restoring my earlier map of the area around the restaurant, I began again. This time I was looking for banks, railroad terminals, airports anything with lockers. This was going to be like finding a needle in a haystack.

An hour and a half later, I still hadn’t found anything. I decided to check in with Traygen and Tokem. The Russians went
to IHOP and then headed to their hotel. They hadn’t been there long when they sped off again. Traygen had no idea where they were headed. All he could tell me was they were headed south on Commonwealth. Bingo. I jumped up and ran toward my car. I had to beat them to the locker.

My cell rang again as I backed out of my driveway. “They split up. I sent Tokem after the group headed south, and I’m tailing the ones headed west. My guess is they’re going to the docks in search of the wizard.”

“I’ll try to catch up with Tokem. I believe they’re headed to Union Station. I’ll call you when I know something. Be careful.” I hung up sped toward Union Station. I just had to beat them. I left my car parked in a no parking zone and ran inside. I went to the desk and asked the man where their lockers were. He circled three spots on a map, before he handed it to me; because the key could fit any number nine
locker, in any of the three locations.

Now what? I looked hard at the diagram and decide to try the lockers closest to the trains. Maybe they took a train over from the docks. It was worth a try, running through the terminal I tried to look like another late commuter.

I nearly missed the room, tucked off to the side near the ground floor entrance. Fumbling in my pocket, I produced the key as I moved quickly along the lockers until I found number nine. I tried my key, no dice. I ran back outside and hurtled up a flight of steps. There were more lockers on this floor, right above the ones I’d tried first. In my haste, I nearly slipped on the wet floor, the woman apologized in Spanish and I moved on at a more sedate pace.

I spotted the second set of lockers and knew I’d hit pay dirt. These were the big, tall lockers, just right for hiding the spear. It only took me a second to find locker number nine. This time my key opened it. I flung the door open, and a wave of abhorrently evil energy hit me.
A chill that seemed to pulse outward, washing over me, threatening to overwhelm me, as I struggled to breathe. The spear was pure evil and it made my skin crawl, at this rate I’d need to bathe in holy water.

Wrapping it in my trench coat that I’d worn expressly for the purpose, I headed out of the room. Oh boy, a group of suits was moving briskly in my direction. They hadn’t seen me and I did the only thing I could. I ducked into the ladies room and headed toward the nearest stall and locking the door behind me. I frantically looked around. Staying here very long wasn’t an option. These guys wouldn’t let a little thing like gender deter them. Then I noticed a stained tile over my head. Thank God for leaky pipes. I stood on the toilet and reached up to push the tile up and out-of-the-way. Gleaming copper pipes sparkled above me. They’d fixed the problem and left the damaged tiles. Lifting the trench coat and its contents up, I slid the package up above the pipes and slid it out of view, pulling the tile back down, I flushed the toilet and left.

I lingered long enough to wash my hands, comb my hair and apply fresh lipstick. You never knew when you might meet someone important. Then I left the bathroom and headed for the stairs. I hadn’t seen the Russians, but that didn’t mean they weren’t around. I made it back to my car and got in. This was my lucky day, no ticket. On second thought a ticket would have been better.  When I looked over my shoulder to pull into traffic I saw a 9mm pointed at my head. I pretended to roll down the window and when the man started to reach in I quickly rolled it back up. He screamed as the window pinned his arm, while I opened my door and slammed it into him. I released his arm and hit the gas.