Double Alchemy: Climax Read Online Free PDF Page B

by anyone and Quinn hid a small smile of his own as the other man scowled fiercely and tried to regain his composure.
    “That wasn’t what I meant at all. I’m sorry if I said something to offend you. I assure you it was not intentional.” The man’s bluster and attempt at digging himself out of a hole he’d created gave Quinn a sense of distaste.
    He nodded. “Glad to hear it. I’ll let you know the decision about the grant next week when I get back into the office.” He leaned back and sipped his whisky, the ire he’d felt dissipating slowly. Percy winked at him and Quinn grinned.
    But Barton Sinclair wasn’t ready to give up to easily. “I imagine I can ask about the progress of the Witchfinder General hunt without being…misconstrued?” His tone was sarcastic.
    Quinn waved his glass at him. “Go ahead. I’m sure Percy can fill you in on what’s been going on.”
    Percy leaned forward. “Since August until now, we’ve had thousands of people, Fey and humans alike, keeping an eye out for Jeremy Payton. He’s gone to ground so deeply we haven’t been able to find him. We get leads and follow them up but I think I can safely say not one of them has been an actual sighting or magyckal happening to do with the Witchfinder. It’s as if he’s disappeared into the ether. There have also been no specific Warlock murders attributed to him either. At least on that side it’s a positive thing. Based on Quinn’s last assessment of him, when he was on de Vere’s yacht, there was definitely something different about Jeremy Payton and his powers. For a man to simply dissolve like he did, that means very powerful magyck.”
    Barton Sinclair leaned back comfortably in his seat, regarding everyone around the table with mock surprise. “Well, that’s another thing. This so-called increase in his powers, how do we think that could have come about? Has anyone formulated any theory on it?”
    His tone was gloating. The hairs on Quinn’s neck stood up as once again the thick-skinned Barton Sinclair made it sound as if Quinn was exaggerating or worse, lying about his encounter with Jeremy and Andrew de Vere. Percy smoothly forestalled anything Quinn was about to do, something Quinn was fairly glad about as he wasn’t sure just how he would have managed his rising temper.
    “We do actually have a theory, Barton Sinclair,” Percy said bitingly. Quinn was a little nonplussed by Percy’s comment. If there was a theory, he hadn’t heard it from his Marshall himself yet.
    Percy continued as he cast an exasperated look in Barton Sinclair’s direction. “The people doing the research say the only way that a Witchfinder General could gain powers of that nature is by channelling the actual Witchfinder General himself.”
    Barton Sinclair spluttered as his wine spat out of his mouth, spattering the man next to him with red droplets. The unfortunate recipient of the contents of Barton Sinclair’s mouth glared at him fiercely. James Barton Sinclair ignored him.
    “That’s the biggest load of poppycock I’ve ever heard!” His broad West Country voice echoed out across the room, causing people to turn and stare curiously at their table. Quinn sighed in exasperation at the attention they were getting as Barton Sinclair continued his tirade. He was perturbed at Percy’s words too and more than a little irate that this was the first time he was hearing them. Taliesin stirred inside, his faint mutterings making no sense and it was distracting.
    Sorcerer, shut the hell up. I’m trying to bloody concentrate!
    “Have your teams nothing better to do than come up with half-baked ideas like that?” Barton Sinclair expostulated angrily. “I’ve never heard such a load of cock and bull in my life. Channelling the actual Matthew Hopkins who’s been dead close on five centuries? That’s the best anyone can come up with?”
    Quinn sat forward, his eyes glinting, his hands clenched on the white tablecloth in front of him. “I can