“Yeoooowww!”
“That’s enough, that’s enough!” I heard the words and felt Lucy being pulled off of me; I flopped flat onto my stomach, gasping.
“Are you okay, Sophie?”
I lifted my head barely an inch and stared down at the spit-shined shoes of Police Chief Oliver.
“Chief Oliver!” My cheeks hurt from the size of my grin.
The chief crouched down next to me. “It’s okay, Sophie. Everything is going to be okay. Are you hurt?”
I wagged my head and struggled to get up on hands and knees. “No, I’m not hurt. But Sampson—” I started.
“It’s all right. Mr. Sampson is just fine. I’m going to take you to him so that you can see for yourself. He’s doing just fine.”
“And Lucy?” I asked slowly. I looked over my shoulder to where Lucy was standing in the corner, just off the chief’s shoulder. Her arms were crossed, her lips pressed into a colorless, fierce line, and she was glowering at me, eyes fixed. I pried my eyes from her and looked up at the chief, relaxing as he slid his meat hook of a hand underneath my arm and helped me up. It took me a few seconds to steady myself on my jellied, quivering legs.
And then I was looking down the greasy-black barrel of a gun.
“Shouldn’t you be pointing that at her?” I whispered, my eyes going to Lucy, whose lips were now curved up in a satisfied snarl.
“Oh. Wait. It’s okay,” I said, looking back at the chief, my voice suddenly even. “You know about Parker. Don’t worry; I’m not with him. Parker’s not here.” I angled my head around the barrel of the gun, shielded my mouth with my hand. “I think Lucy might be working with him. We have to find him. We have to find him and get to Sampson. You know where he is. You know where Mr. Sampson is, right?”
Chief Oliver grinned broadly at me and cocked the hammer.
The breath left my body.
“Chief Oliver?”
“Don’t worry, Sophie. I know exactly where Sampson is. I can take you right to him. Would you like that?”
My eyes widened, held by the black gun barrel. “Lucy?” I whispered, my dry lips trembling, my eyes starting to water. I chanced a look over at her, and her eyes were fixated on the gun, her expression a freaky mix of terror and pleasure. At this point, I would really rather take my chances with the impish fake-vamp than with the chief and his exceptionally real gun.
“Don’t you worry about Lucy,” the chief told me. “Lucy is doing exactly what she was supposed to do.”
I gulped. “And that would be?” My voice was little more than a hoarse whisper.
“That would be to bring you here, bring you to the chief. Didn’t I do well?” Lucy asked.
I just nodded dumbly, falling against Chief Oliver as his fingers dug into my shoulder.
“And you, Sophie, did everything you were supposed to do, too. You led Sampson right to me.”
I felt my eyebrows rise, and I shook my head. “No.”
The chief grinned. “Yes. That night by your car? I was just out looking for some half-breed blood. Didn’t even count on getting the dog, but lo and behold—you hurt the owner and the dog comes running.”
I felt my lower lip start to quiver, felt the ache in my head. “Mr. Sampson rescued me … from you?” I whispered.
“Oh, yes. Beautiful moment, really. Would have been nicer, too, if I hadn’t had to Tase the son of a bitch. He did put up quite a fight.” He clucked his tongue, shaking his head. “Tough to see a dog whimper like that.”
I heard Lucy simper in the corner, her hands pressed up against her mouth, her small shoulders trembling under the weight of her laughter.
“She’s with you?” I murmured, fitting the whole scene together.
“Anyway,” the chief continued, ignoring me, “I guess I should thank you. Really, I couldn’t have done it without your help. Sampson was going to be a tough one.”
My stomach lurched, and I swallowed a miserable wail.
“Oh, but enough revelry. Come on now.” Chief Oliver pushed me in front of him. “Lucy?” he said, and I stiffened, feeling the gun angled between my shoulder blades. He tapped it harshly against me. “Step lively, demon girl, I don’t have all night.”
“Oh, Chief Oliver, I’m not a demon.” I wagged my head, feeling a hysterical giggle escaping my lips. “Is that what you thought? No, I’m human. All human. I’m just an administrative assistant at the Underground. I file papers. I can prove it.” I took a chance, craning my neck to look over my shoulder and smiling hopefully into the chief’s stiff grimace. “Do you have any papers you’d like me to file? Alphabetically, chronologically? I’m really very good.”
He nudged me with the gun again, and I stumbled into the hallway.
“Just keep moving. I know exactly what you are, Miss Lawson. I know who you are, and I knew who your grandmother was.”