Page 68 of Dead Beat

“Women,” he said. “So unpredictable.”

More than you know, Alex thought and forced herself not to glance back at the road that led to campus.

“And what do you want in return for the Feet of Clay?”

“Once the golem has defeated Golgarot, I want you to give him to me.”

“The golem? You want me to give you a powerful automaton to command?”

“During the day, away from my nest, I am vulnerable.”

“You need a bodyguard?”

“One without human frailties or passions.” He glanced contemptuously at Nell sitting in her car, sheltered from the cold, the tinny sound of the radio audible through the steamed-up windows, Alex’s phone still tucked into her pocket. “One I won’t eventually have to drain when it gets restless.”

“That’s it?” She didn’t trust that this was all Reiter wanted and she didn’t like the idea of leaving a golem in his hands. But they could only solve one problem at a time. She swallowed the spider to catch the fly. They could find a cat to swallow this spider later.

“That’s some of it. You could leave here tonight that much closer to a victory. I can offer you that.”

“This doesn’t add up,” she said. “Why not just have your team of spies gather the golem’s armor?”

A petulant look came over Reiter’s face. “I tried. I sent Michelle to retrieve the Hand of God.”

Then that was the artifact left at Lethe. Alex felt a sudden surge of elation that left her dizzy, drunk on hope and the possibility of survival. Maybe she was going to get through this night. Maybe she was going to leave here with another piece of the golem and armed with knowledge of what to look for at Lethe and Scroll and Key.

“You tried and you failed,” she said. “Michelle couldn’t find the Hand of God.” Or that was what she’d told Reiter.

“It should have been the easiest item to retrieve. I nearly took it from you the night you vandalized my home.”

The Knuckles of Shimshon. She had found them in the Lethe Armory, taken them with her when Eitan sent her to shake people down.

“So close,” she said, afraid to show her excitement. “But you can’t get past our wards and Lethe has fewer delegates than the other societies, fewer saps to prey upon. You must have been waiting for someone like Michelle for a long while.” A woman who had tried to end her own life, who had been desperate never to see the other side of the Veil again. But she hadn’t given Reiter what he wanted. Michelle might have been a liar and a snitch, but she hadn’t been stupid.

“Fine,” said Alex. “Give me the boots. Let me take Mercy home and you have a deal.” She was happy to make a promise she didn’t intend to keep.

Reiter raised his hand, gesturing to Nell, who emerged from her fancy car with a large shopping bag.

Goddamn it. Assuming Reiter wasn’t lying, the Feet of Clay had been in the back seat of the SUV the whole time.

“But there’s another condition.”

Alex startled. While her eyes had been on Nell, Reiter had drawn closer. He was blocking her path and he grinned, his sharp teeth long against his lips.

“No,” Alex said and took a step backward.

“Release whatever ghost you’re holding. I want a taste of Wheelwalker blood.”

“Fuck you.”

“Isn’t your friend’s life worth a little sip? I won’t drain you. I need you alive to bring me my golem.”

“No.”

It was fear that answered, the memory of his teeth penetrating her skin, the feeling of violation, the pain, the sensation of her life being pulled from her and drawn into him. The theft.

But there was more than panic screaming through her, even as her heart pounded and her hands shook. Her blood did things she couldn’t anticipate. Golgarot had used it to prop open the door to hell. Reiter might have a use for that blood she couldn’t imagine.

“I want to see Mercy first.” She was stalling and he must know that, but she would take any advantage she could.