erupted from end to end in the wood.
Murph slammed Felicia’s head down with near-equal violence two more times. Then she turned and dragged Felicia over to the front door of her house by the hair. Murphy let her go with a contemptuous shove, stood over her, and pointed a gun at the vampire’s head.
“This is what happens,” Murphy said in a very quiet, hard voice. “You leave here alive. You keep your fucking mouth shut. And we never mention tonight ever again. If the White Court even blinks in the Swords’ direction, I am going to come find you, Felicia. Whatever happens to me in the end, before I am taken, I will find you.”
Felicia stared up at her, wobbling and shaking, clearly dazed. Murphy had broken the vampire’s nose and knocked out at least two teeth. One of Felicia’s high cheekbones was already swelling. The broken teapot had left multiple cuts on her face, and her skin had been scalded by the hot liquid still inside.
Murphy leaned a little closer and put the barrel of the gun against Felicia’s forehead. Then she whispered, very quietly, “Bang.”
The vampire shuddered.
“Do what you think best, Felicia,” Murph whispered. Then she straightened again slowly, and spoke in a clear, calm voice as she walked back to her chair. “Now. Get out of my house.”
Felicia managed to stagger to her feet, open the front door, and limp haltingly to the white limousine idling on the snowy street outside the house. Murphy went to the window to watch Felicia get into the limo and depart.
“Yeah,” I said, deadpan. “The little blond woman has two of them.”
“Oh, my,” Sir Stuart said, his voice muted with respect. “I can see why you’d come to her for assistance.”
“Damn skippy,” I agreed. “Better go get Morty while she’s still in a good mood.”
Chapter Ten
I met Morty and Sir Stuart on Murphy’s front porch. I guess it was a cold night. Morty stood with his entire body hunched against the wind, his hands stuffed into his coat pockets. His eyes darted around nervously. He was shivering.
“Hit the bell,” I said. “And this is just my opinion, but if I were you, I’d keep my hands in plain sight.”
“Thanks,” Mort said sourly, jabbing the doorbell. “Have I told you how much brightness you bring to my world whenever you show up in it, Dresden?”
“All in a day’s work when you’re created from the cosmic legends of the universe,” I replied.
“Be advised,” Sir Stuart said, “that there are wolves to the left and right.”
I looked. He was right. One was huge and dark-furred; the other smaller and lighter brown. They were sitting in the shadows, perfectly still, where a casual glance would simply pass over them. Their wary stares were intense. “Will and Marci,” I said. “They’re cool.”
“They’re violent vigilantes,” Mort replied through clenched teeth.
“Buck up, little camper. They’re not going to hurt you, and you know it.”
Mort gave me a narrow-eyed glare, and then Murphy opened the door.
“Ms. Murphy,” Morty said, nodding to her.
“Lindquist, isn’t it?” Murph asked. “The medium?”
“Yes.”
“What do you want?”
“Behind us,” Sir Stuart murmured.
I checked. A slender male figure in heavy winter clothing was crossing the street toward us. A third wolf, this one’s fur edged with auburn, walked beside him.
“I’m here to speak to you on behalf of someone you knew,” Mort told Murphy.
Murphy’s blue eyes became chips of glacial ice. “Who?”
“Harry Dresden,” Mort said.
Murphy clenched her right hand into a fist. Her knuckles made small popping sounds.
Mort swallowed and took half a step back. “Look, I don’t want to be here,” he said, raising his hands and displaying his palms. “But you know how he was. His shade is no less stubborn or annoying than Dresden was in life.”
“You’re a goddamned liar,” Murphy snarled. “You’re a known con artist. And you are playing with fire.”
Mort stared at her for a long moment. Then he winced and said, “You . . . you believed he was still alive?”
“He is alive,” Murphy replied, clenching her jaw. “They never found a body.”
Mort looked down, pressing his lips together, and ran his palm over his bald pate, smearing away a few clinging snowflakes. He blew out a long breath and said, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry that this is difficult.”
“It isn’t difficult,” Murphy replied. “Just annoying. Because he’s still alive.”
Mort looked at me and spread his hands. “She’s still in denial. There’s not much I can do here. Look, I’ve done this a lot. She needs more time.”
“No,” I said. “We’ve