Naming Day (Jake Underwood Book 1) (14 page)

“Mr. Underwood. Against my better judgment, I am going to accept what you have told me at face value. If, subsequently, I discover that you have not been truthful with me, you will live just long enough to regret it. It will not be a long life but it will be incredibly painful. Do you understand what I am saying?” His voice was calm and smooth, making his threat all the more chilling.

“Yeah. I got it. Much as I have enjoyed our little conversation I do have other things that need doing. I would make haste to get over to McNeely’s office, you won’t have long.”

“I appreciate the advice and the call. Do call again if you find anymore bodies that you think I should see.” The sarcasm was thick and heavy.

“Absolutely. I’ll call again later when I’m in a better position to talk.” I lied and clicked off the phone and sped down the freeway towards Clear Lake.

By the time I pulled into the driveway of the safe house I realized that I was horribly short on leads. Chris McNeely’s murder was a clear indication that things were getting more desperate and I still didn’t have a good way to approach the problem. Worse, I was accumulating a large number of people who were unpleasant and upset with me. There was a squad of rouge Black Watch who might be interested in me. Dalia certainly had agents of the Twilight Order looking for her. They were the kind of guys who killed first and ‘oopsed’ later. On top of the crap mountain that was rapidly becoming my life, I also had to be at the Court of Dawn in two days for a Naming ceremony.  I was beginning to think that Clear Lake might not be far enough to ground to hide Dalia. My current plan had been to stash her here until I got the ceremony out of the way, assuming that I wasn’t detained at the ceremony by Sergeant Bermuda. He might lack the resources to track me down here, but he would suffer no such impediment at the Court.

I gave Marty a call and told him that it was me coming in and that I would prefer not to be shot and he agreed that it would indeed be unfortunate. Once inside, I found Marty using a laptop. I came over and looked over his shoulder and saw that he had placed the wireless cameras at various access points and had the screen split into four sections, with cameras rotating through each square. I figured he had about fifteen of them set up like this.

“Where’s Dalia?” I asked as I took off my jacket and dropped it on the table. Normally when I come back to my apartment, I take off my gun, but with death rate rising around me I decided I might wear it for a while.

“She’s in her room. How’d it go with McNeely?” he kept typing in activation codes as he glanced up at me.

“Bad. He’s dead.” I tossed the empty, blood splattered folder that bore my name down on the table. “I found this on his desk. He’d been tortured to death. Very nasty. His secretary was dead too.”

“Patricia? That’s a damn shame. She was nice.” Marty always kept a tight rein on what he showed the world, and tonight was no exception. He picked up the folder and raised his eyebrows. “Empty. I wonder what McNeely had in here?”

“I don’t know for certain. I suspect it was probably contact information or maybe surveillance reports. Whatever it was, I wish they didn’t have it.” That was an understatement. Up until I saw that folder on the desk, I hadn’t realized how vulnerable my life here was. Plenty of ways to come at me and I wouldn’t even know who was doing it.

“You call the cops?” Marty was watching me while he pretended to be watching the monitor.

“Kind of.” I temporized trying to think of the best way to answer this. The truth was out. There was barely a chance that I could keep Marty from finding out about my double life, but as long as there was any chance at all I would play it out. I hated lying to friend, so a half truth might do it. “I phoned in anonymous tip to the relevant authorities.”

“Uh huh.” He looked at me for a moment and then returned his gaze to the laptop. “Is there any chance that this could be something else he was working on, something that doesn’t have anything to do with you?”

“A fair question. I wish the answer was yes, but I don’t see how it could be. I don’t believe in coincidences“. He nodded. Marty didn’t believe in them either.

“This changes things. It’s a murder now, multiple murders. You are going to have tell me what’s really going on, sooner rather than later.” He looked at me expectedly.

“Just give me a little more time. Just tonight. I need to talk to Dalia and a few other contacts and I’ll tell you everything I can tomorrow morning. As a favor?” I needed to think about this. Marty needed, no, he had a right to know. I was risking his life and Compact or no Compact, I would have to tell him something that was damn close to the truth.

“Okay. Over breakfast.” He turned back to the monitor and then stopped. “Why do you think McNeely was killed?”

“That’s a good question. I wish I knew the answer.” I shrugged. “The secretary had looked like a pretty clean hit, but why torture McNeely? His killers had to be the rest of the hard hitters who had been watching me. They must have known what he knew.”

“Yeah. That tracks.” He stood up and headed for the kitchen. “Why don’t you look in on Dalia and I’ll start dinner. I’m feeling hot doggish tonight.”

I knocked on Dalia’s door and heard a muttered ‘Come in.”. I opened the door and found Dalia carefully putting away her purchases. She was wearing a glamour sand while she was still attractive, it was in a much more muted way. Her beauty was like damped fire where before it had been a bonfire. I saw a few imperfections here and there that only enhanced the illusion that she was a mortal woman.

“Perfect. You look perfect. What did Marty say when he saw you?” I waved towards a chair and with her nod took a seat.

“When I came out, he looked at me for a moment and shook his head. I do not know what that meant, but he didn’t say anything, so I did not bring it up. What do you think of these jeans?” She pointed to her jeans and with a flourish twirled around displaying her clothing. They weren’t tight, but they fit well neither detracting nor emphasizing her figure.

“I don’t follow fashion much but those look fine. The top goes with it well. I don’t think you will draw undue attention in that outfit.”

“It is odd to wear pants like a man. I can not recall an occasion on which I have ever worn them. It is an odd feeling. It feels exposed and enclosing at the same time. I doubt it would ever become a popular fashion at court. I saw many mortal women wearing pants that seemed better tailored to their form, but Marty suggested these.”

“How did it go today?”

“It went well. We went into many shops and I tried on many outfits. Marty rejected many of them saying that I would only draw more attention wearing them. Almost all the clothes that we finally agreed on were very conservative by the standards of the Court.”

I nodded. “How was Marty? Did he ask you any questions?”

“He was a gentleman in all aspects. He talked to me very little and only offered advice when I specifically requested it. I think he wanted to ask me many things but I was quite glad that he refrained. He seemed nervous every time that we were not in the car or in a store. I was amazed by this market that sold food. Marty took it for granted, but there was so much variety! I can not think of any open air Market that offers so much variety. Are all of your markets like this?“ She was genuinely curious.

“I would guess that most of the markets that you have been to at court are much smaller affairs because everything that is offered is grown locally or nearby. The life of Court does not prepare an aristocrat for being exposed to food unless it has been prepared. I suspect that the variety that you saw here is available there but in more distributed form and only seen by those servants actually doing the cooking.”

“I suppose. I never considered that food must be so laboriously prepared. Our cook is a genius, I assumed that it was some kind of magic that prepared the dishes that he serves.” She paused and considered what next to say. “While I can not fault Marty’s demeanor or manner it is clear to that he suspects that there is something odd about me. He never said anything, but on occasion I would observe him studying me when I was not looking directly in his direction. It was not in the way that a man watches a woman he desires, it was more in the manner in which a cat watches a mouse that it expects to catch. I fear he is not deceived by either your story or my appearance. It is only a matter of time before he will challenge our versions of events with questions we can not answer with out revealing more than we would like.” It was interesting to see her discussing something so calmly. It occurred to me that this is the first time I had seen her in a calm state. She had a good brain hidden under all that court protocol and fey breeding. With a little training she would be a formidable opponent at the game of Court.

“You’re right. I already had to put him off when I came back tonight. The best I could do is hold him off until the morning. Tomorrow, I’ll have to tell him something.”

“Will you violate the Compact?” She raised an eyebrow inquiringly.

“I’m afraid I will. It’s a shame, because it will probably mean that he will have to have his memories erased by somebody at the court. I hate it, but as long as I report it and take steps to make sure that violation is covered, I should be okay. I hate to do that to Marty. He is a good friend and deserves better treatment from a so called friend.”

“Excuse me, but there might be a way that you can avoid such a step. It involves some risk to both of you, but if there was such a way, would you take it?“ She ventured to offer me advice. It was good to see a little of her confidence coming back.

“It would depend on how risky it was, but if it was manageable, I would.” I had no idea what she was talking about, but I was certain that I probably wouldn’t like it. Still, if it let me protect Marty without betraying him to the court, then I was definitely interested.

“You are considered a Noble, are you not?” She began.

“Yeah. Well technically, I suppose I am. I’ve never formally been invested, I don’t have a formal name, at least not for a few more days anyway, but I have never been disinherited nor have I abdicated any privileges of birth. I don’t call on them because such things have little meaning in the mortal world.”

“Just so.”  She smiled. “One of the privileges of being noble is that you can call to your service any freeborn man or any retainer that lives on your estates. If you swore Marty to your service, it would not be a violation of the Compact. In fact, you would have to tell him. He would need to know so he could properly serve you.”

“Are you sure about this?” I asked. She frowned “Of course you’re sure about this. You know this protocol stuff much better than I do. I never expected to need it. But he’s a mortal, how can I call him to service?”

“I agree that is a little more complicated, but it is not unheard of. There have been many cases of Mortals sworn to service. It was much more common to find them in pre-Compact times, when travel between the realms was less restrictive and mortals were easier to…ah…acquire, but it is still done on rare occasions when a mortal is distinguished among the Fey. Really, it is not much different than when a Fey lord or lady takes a mortal mate in marriage. For as long as the marriage lasts, the mortal is protected under the Compact. As long as it is voluntary on the part of both parties it is acceptable, at least at the Court of Twilight it is. Things may be different at the Court of Dawn, but they can’t be too different. Both are bound by the Compact.” She finished and smiled at me.

“Hunh.” I rubbed my chin and considered what she had said. It could be risky. It meant that I would have to tell him enough to know what he was getting into but skirt the issue as much as possible until he agreed. Dalia agreed when I mentioned this.

“That is true. It must be voluntary on his part and must be free of deceit. No one could accept it as his oath if it was based on a lie. You will have to tell him nearly everything before he could freely make oath before you.” She frowned. “He is your friend and you owe him not only the truth but your trust as well. While I do not know him as well you do, I do not think he will disappoint you.”

“When did you get so wise?”

“I may not be wise in the all the ways of the realms or the intrigues of the court, but I am well studied in Court protocol. How could I not be and still be of used to my father and my Lord?”

I squeezed the bridge of my nose and thought about what she had said. She made a good point and it occurred to me that I had been remiss in not learning more about my Fey heritage. There were definitely some advantages to be had under Court custom, I just didn’t know them.

“I see your point. If it comes to that, then that is what I’ll do. But if it comes to that, then let me handle it.” I paused, “Marty’s a good guy, but you never know how exactly a mortal is going to react. I was in a similar situation a few years ago and it was very costly, both personally and professionally.”

“Absolutely.” She nodded eagerly. “I would not interfere. If you need clarification or a witness to the oath taking, I would be happy to offer whatever assistance I can.”

She seemed happy that a decision had been reached and that she had helped.  I wish that I could have ended the conversation on a happy note like that, but reality had its say as well.

“Dalia, there is something you need to know. However things go tomorrow with Marty, we are done here. I don’t think its safe here in Clear Lake. Actually, that’s an understatement. I don’t think its safe here in Houston. We are going to have to go to ground somewhere else. I need someone who has the resources to deal with the ill wind blowing from the Courts.”

“Who?” Her look had darkened and her level of agitation had increased. “Where?”

“The ‘Who’ is a little difficult; the ‘Where’ is easier. I have to be at the Court of Dawn for my Naming Day ceremony the day after tomorrow. I had planned to go there the morning of the ceremony and return the same day. I now think that the best place to hide you is there.” I could see warring emotions on her face.

“Could we not go to the Court of Twilight? My father must surely have returned by now and he has a powerful influence.” Hoped sparked on her face and I hated to dash it, but there was little choice.

“No. Until I figure out what Jeryn Callisandra is up to, it’s just not safe. The Twilight Order is probably still looking for you and they tend to be a little precipitous at times. You might not survive the initial overreaction.” I paused and the plunged ahead.