Witch Hunt(40)

At another time, that would have been a fun distraction. But not now. “Sorry, baby,” I muttered, shoving her out of the chair. She didn’t even fight me as she spilled to the floor.
The other incubi were approaching the windshield now. In about five seconds, I was going to be surrounded by so many demons that I’d be helpless to the desire, just like Isobel.
So I didn’t give them five seconds.
I slammed my foot on the gas.
The RV didn’t have much juice behind it, especially in Helltown, but it lurched forward. I knocked into two of the incubi, who hadn’t backed up fast enough. One of them fell under my wheels. The bump was way too satisfying.
The guy at the door ran along our side, slamming his hands into the door. I couldn’t hear what he was shouting over the engine noises.
Every fiber of my being wanted to stop the RV—every fiber except that narrow sliver of self-preservation that was screaming. Stopping would mean death. So I kept my foot flat on the pedal.
The last incubus fell away. He couldn’t keep up.
I swung the wheel around, turning a tight corner. The iron arch leading back to civilization appeared at the end of the street.
We passed through the barrier. My heart contracted and my sinuses itched.
The instant that we were out of Helltown’s wards, Domingo’s cell phone rang.
I didn’t answer it. I drove faster.
The more distance I put between Helltown and me, the faster the thrall faded. It took three blocks before I could think of anything but turning back and letting our attackers have their way with me.
I dared a look over my shoulder at Isobel as I careened down the streets. “Izzy? You okay?”
She was pulling her shorts up and buttoning them, cheeks flushed bright red. “I’m fine. I think.” She sat in the passenger’s seat, twisted around to watch Helltown disappear through the back window.
“Are we being followed?”
“I don’t see anyone,” she said. She let her head drop into her hands. “I’m so sorry about that, Cèsar. That was my fault. I never should have gone back to vedae som matis duvak—they were probably watching for my RV.”
“Wait, what? Why would the incubi be after you? I thought they were after me.”
She frowned. “Huh?”
Interesting. It seemed we had a mutual enemy. “Not a friend of the Silver Needles?”#p#分页标题#e#
Isobel stuffed her breasts back into her corset.
“No,” she said flatly.
Domingo’s phone rang again, interrupting us. This time, I answered it. “Domingo here.”
It was Suzy. “You still in LA, Cèsar?”
I had never been happier to hear her voice before. I didn’t bother asking how she knew that I had my brother’s cell phone. Suzy knew everything. “I thought you were done with me.”
“I’ve come to terms with the fact that you’re not leaving town until you’ve got your answers. So you want to talk to Erin Karwell or not?”
“You found her.”
“I’m breaking about fifty laws that most Americans don’t even know exist to tell you this. I could lose my job. I could be imprisoned. I could be killed. I hope you’re grateful.”
“Oh, I’m grateful. I could just about kiss you,” I said.
Isobel gave me a side eye. I ignored her and kept driving.
“Don’t go all sappy on me.” But Suzy’s voice had softened. “Her body wasn’t taken to the usual morgue. She was sent to Bittman Labs, out in Torrance.”
Torrance? That wasn’t anywhere near the scene of the crime. But I knew where it was, so I got into the turn lane. “I owe you, Suze.”
“Hell yeah, you do.” A pause, and then, “Do you still have the necrocog?”
“She’s with me right now.”
Isobel gave me another look, this one more warning. The same kind of look Aunt Raina used to give me before beating sense into my ass with a chancla.
“I guess that’s good,” Suzy said. “I’m going to meet you at Bittman Labs. I’m on my way now.”
“Don’t. You’ve gotten yourself in enough danger.”
“Did it sound like I was asking for your opinion? I’ll meet you around back in, what, half an hour? Maybe forty-five. Don’t go in without me.”
Suzy hung up the phone.
“Who was that?” Isobel asked, a hard edge to her voice.
“Suzume Takeuchi. Suzy. The woman we visited.”
“Your coworker at the Office of Preternatural Affairs? The place that’s sending guys out to execute us?”
“That has nothing to do with Suzy.”
“Are you so sure about that?” When I stopped at the intersection, Isobel grabbed my arm, forcing me to look at her. “If someone in the OPA is out to get you, how do you know that you can trust anyone that works there?”