The Good, The Bad and the UndeadKim Harrison
Copyright
HarperVoyager An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd. 1 London Bridge Street London SE1 9GF
www.harpercollins.co.uk
Published by Voyager 2006
Copyright © Kim Harrison 2005
Kim Harrison asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
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Source ISBN: 9780007236114
Ebook Edition © JUNE 2010 ISBN: 9780007301874
Version: 2017-06-02
To the man who knows caffeine comes first,
chocolate comes second, romance comes third
and when they ought to be reversed
Contents
One
I hitched the canvas strap holding the watering canister higher up on my shoulder and stretched to get the nozzle into the hanging plant. Sunlight streamed in, warm through my blue institutional jumpsuit. Past the narrow plate-glass windows was a small courtyard surrounded by VIP offices. Squinting from the sun, I squeezed the handle of the watering hose, and the barest hint of water hissed through.
There was a burst of clattering computer keys, and I moved to the next plant down. Phone conversation filtered in from the office past the reception desk, accompanied by a belly laugh that sounded like the bark of a dog. Weres. The higher up in the pack they were, the more human looking they managed, but you could always tell when they laughed.
I glanced down the row of hanging plants before the windows to the freestanding fish tank behind the receptionists desk. Yup. Cream-colored fins. Black spot on right side. This was the one. Mr. Ray raised koi, showing them in Cincinnatis annual fish show. Last years winner was always displayed in his outer office, but now there were two fish, and the Howlers mascot was missing. Mr. Ray was a Den boy, a rival of Cincinnatis all Inderland baseball team. It didnt take much to put two and two together and get stolen fish.
So, the cheerful woman behind the desk said as she stood to drop a ream of paper into the printers hopper. Mark is on vacation? He didnt tell me.
I nodded, not looking at the secretary dressed in her snappy cream-colored business suit as I dragged my watering equipment down another three feet. Mark was taking a short vacation in the stairwell of the building he had been servicing before this one. Knocked out with a short-term sleepy-time potion. Yes, maam, I added, raising my voice and adding a slight lisp. He told me what plants to water, though. I curled my red manicured nails under my palms before she spotted them. They didnt go with the working plant-girl image. I should have thought of that earlier. All the ones on this floor, and then the arboretum on the roof.
The woman smiled to show me her slightly larger teeth. She was a Were, and fairly high up in the office pack by her amount of polish. And Mr. Ray wouldnt have a dog for a secretary when he could pay a high enough salary for a bitch. A faint scent of musk came from her, not unpleasant. Did Mark tell you about the service elevator at the back of the building? she said helpfully. Its easier than lugging that cart up all those stairs.
No, maam, I said, pulling the ugly cap with the plantman logo on it tighter to my head. I think hes making everything just hard enough that I dont try to take his territory. Pulse quickening, I pushed Marks cart with its pruning shears, fertilizer pellets, and watering system farther down the line. I had known of the elevator, along with the placement of the six emergency exits, the pulls for the fire alarm, and where they kept the doughnuts.
Men, she said, rolling her eyes as she sat before her screen again. Dont they realize that if we wanted to rule the world, we could?
I gave her a noncommittal nod and squirted a tiny amount of water into the next plant. I kinda thought we already did.
A tight hum rose over the whirl of the printer and the faint office chatter. It was Jenks, my partner, and he was clearly in a bad mood as he flew out of the bosss back office and to me. His dragonfly wings were bright red in agitation, and pixy dust sifted from him to make temporary sunbeams. Im done with the plants in there, he said loudly as he landed on the rim of the hanging pot in front of me. He put his hands on his hips to look like a middle-age Peter Pan grown up to be a trashman in his little blue jumpsuit. His wife had even sewn him a matching cap. All they need is water. Can I help you out here with anything, or can I go back and sleep in the truck? he added acerbically.
I took the watering canister off me, setting it down to unscrew the top. I could use a fertilizer pellet, I prompted, wondering what his problem was.
Grumbling, he flew to the cart and started rummaging. Green twist ties, stakes, and used pH test strips flew everywhere. Got one, he said, coming up with a white pellet as large as his head. He dropped it in the canister and it fizzed. It wasnt a fertilizer pellet but an oxygenator and slime-coat promoter. Whats the point of stealing a fish if it dies in transport?
Oh my God, Rachel, Jenks whispered as he landed on my shoulder Its polyester. Im wearing polyester!
My tension eased as I realized where his bad mood came from. Itll be okay.
Im breaking out! he said, scratching vigorously under his collar. I cant wear polyester. Pixies are allergic to polyester. Look. See? He tilted his head so his blond hair shifted from his neck, but he was too close to focus on. Welts. And it stinks. I can smell the oil. Im wearing dead dinosaur. I cant wear a dead animal. Its barbaric, Rache, he pleaded.
Jenks? I screwed the cap lightly back onto the canister and hung it over my shoulder, pushing Jenks from me in the process. Im wearing the same thing. Suck it up.
But it stinks!
I eyed him hovering before me. Prune something, I said through gritted teeth.
He flipped me off with both hands, hovering backward as he went. Whatever. Patting my back pocket of the vile blue jumpsuit, I found my snippers. While Miss Office Professional typed a letter, I snapped open a step stool and began to clip leaves off the hanging plant beside her desk. Jenks started to help, and after a few moments I breathed, Are we set in there?
He nodded, his eyes on the open door to Mr. Rays office. The next time he checks his mail, the entire Internet security system is gonna trip. It will take five minutes to fix if she knows what shes doing, four hours if she doesnt.
I only need five minutes, I said, starting to sweat in the sun coming in the window. It smelled like a garden in there, a garden with a wet dog panting on the cool tile.
My pulse increased, and I moved down another plant. I was behind the desk, and the woman stiffened. I had invaded her territory, but she had to put up with it. I was the water girl. Hoping she attributed my rising tension to being so close to her, I kept working. My one hand rested on the lid of the watering canister. One twist and it would be off.
Vanessa! came an irate shout from the back office.
Here we go, Jenks said, flying up to the ceiling and the security cameras.
I turned to see an irate man, clearly a Were by his slight size and build, hanging halfway out of the back office. It did it again, he said, his face red and his thick hands gripping the archway. I hate these things. What was wrong with paper? I like paper.
A professional smile wreathed the secretarys face. Mr. Ray, you yelled at it again, didnt you? I told you, computers are like women. If you shout at them or ask them to do too many things at once, they shut down and you wont even get a sniff.
He growled an answer and disappeared into his office, unaware or ignoring that she had just threatened him. My pulse leapt, and I moved the stool right beside the tank.
Vanessa sighed. God save him, she muttered as she got up. That man could break his balls with his tongue. Giving me an exasperated look, she went into the back office, her heels thumping. Dont touch anything, she said loudly. Im coming.
I took a quick breath. Cameras? I breathed.
Jenks dropped down to me. Ten minute loop. Youre clear.
He flew to the main door, perching himself on the molding above the lintel, to hang over and watch the exterior hallway. His wings blurred to nothing and he gave me a tiny thumbs-up.
My skin tightened in anticipation. I took off the fish tank lid, then pulled the green fishnet from an inner pocket of the jumpsuit. Standing atop the step stool, I pushed my sleeve to my elbow and plunged the net into the water. Immediately both fish darted to the back.
Rachel! Jenks hissed, suddenly at my ear. Shes good. Shes halfway there.
Just watch the door, Jenks, I said, lip between my teeth. How long could it take to catch a fish? I pushed a rock over to get to the fish hiding behind it. They darted to the front.
The phone started ringing, a soft hum. Jenks, will you get that? I said calmly as I angled the net, trapping them in the corner. Got you now
Jenks zipped back from the door, landing feet first on the glowing button. Mr. Rays office. Hold please, he said in a high falsetto.
Crap, I swore as the fish wiggled, slipping past the green net. Come on, Im just trying to get you home, you slimy finned thing, I coaxed through gritted teeth. Almostalmost It was between the net and the glass. If it would just hold still