Agents Of Light And Darkness Read Online Free PDF Page B

thing, Mr. Taylor, whom can you trust?”
    “Good question,” I said. I wasn’t convinced, and he could tell. He thought for a moment.
    “We only want to preserve the status quo, Mr. Taylor. Because Humanity isn’t ready yet for any of the alternatives. I have been authorized to offer you a quarter of a million pounds. In cash. Fifty thousand in advance.”
    He placed a stuffed envelope on the table between us. I didn’t touch it, though my fingers were itching to. A quarter of a bloody million?
    “Danger money?”
    “Quite,” said Jude. “You’ll get the rest when you place the Unholy Grail in my hands.”
    “Sounds good to me,” I said. I picked up the envelope and tucked it away, giving Jude my best confident smile. “You’ve got yourself a deal, Jude.”
    And then we both looked up as three large gentlemen loomed over us. They took up positions standing as close as they could get without actually joining us in the booth. I’d heard them coming, but hadn’t said anything because I didn’t want Jude distracted while he was talking about money. The three gentlemen glared at us both impartially. They were the best-dressed thugs I’d seen in some time, but the attitude gave them away. They might as well have been wearing I am a mafioso hit man T-shirts. They looked slick and heavy and dangerous, and each of them had a gun. All three were professionally calm, forming a semicircle to cover both me and Jude, while efficiently blocking us off from the rest of the bar. No-one could see what was happening, and we wouldn’t be allowed to shout for help. Not that I had any intention of doing so. The largest of the three gunmen flashed me a humorless smile.
    “Forget the pew-polisher, Taylor. From now on, you’re working for us.”
    I considered the matter. “And if I prefer not to?”
    The gunman shrugged. “You can find the Unholy Grail for us, or you can die. Right here, right now. Your choice.”
    I smiled nastily at him, and to his credit he didn’t flinch. “Your guns aren’t loaded,” I said.
    The three gunmen looked at each other, confused. I held up my closed hands, opened them, and let a stream of bullets fall out to clatter loudly on the table-top. They pulled the triggers on their guns, and looked very upset when nothing happened.
    “I think you should leave now,” I said. “Before I decide to do something similar with your internal organs.”
    They put away their guns and left, not quite running. I smiled apologetically at Jude. “Boys will be boys. You leave the matter with me, and I’ll see what I can turn up.”
    “Soon, please, Mr. Taylor,” said Jude. He fixed me with his deep brown eyes, positively radiating sincerity and earnestness. On anyone else, it would probably have worked. “We’re all running out of time.”
    He rose to his feet, and I got up too. “How will I find you, when I have something to report?”
    “You won’t,” he said calmly. “I’ll find you.”
    He walked off through the bar, not looking back. Interestingly enough, people moved to get out of his way without even seeming to notice they were doing it. There was more to Jude than met the eye. Mind you, there would have to be. The Vatican wouldn’t send just anybody into the Nightside. I went back to Alex, who was refilling the hand in the top hat’s glass. Frankenstein’s creature was moodily tightening the stitches in his left wrist. Alex nodded to me.
    “Got yourself a new client?”
    “Looks like it.”
    “Interesting case?”
    “Well, different, anyway. I think I’m going to need Suzie’s help for this one.”
    “Ah,” said Alex. “One of those cases.”

    There was a crack of thunder, a flash of lightning, a billowing of dark sulphurous smoke, and a sorcerer appeared at the bar right next to me. He wore dark purple robes and the traditional pointy hat. He was tall, dark, and imposing, with long black fingernails, a neat goatee, and piercing eyes. He gestured dramatically at me, while