Blood Codex

Chapter 17

Their hotel room in the center of Stockholm was a little like something from a fairy tale. White walls and a high, crenellated roof over a dozen stories of tall windows, each with a bright orange awning over a small balcony. The room inside featured opulent twins beds, high-windowed views over the city, but all the modern features anyone could hope for.

“This is a beautiful place,” Rose said wistfully, leaning into the bay window to stare out. “I wish I could be here under less stressful circumstances.”

Crowley watched her for a moment, enjoying the curves of her hips and butt while stifling his feelings of concern. He knew he could walk away from this situation any time if he wanted to, but Rose couldn’t. That must feel pretty terrible. Then again, how deeply embroiled was he now? He had been seen with her by the attackers on at least a couple of occasions. Maybe he was fooling himself and he was as entangled as she was. Probably best to assume that was the case and use the motivation to work harder to get it all figured out.

“Maybe we should come back when this is all over,” he said with a smile. “Have a little holiday to celebrate.”

She glanced back over one shoulder and he was pleased to see she was smiling. “Planning our future?”

He shrugged, raised his hands theatrically. “Just, you know, speculating.”

She said nothing more, turned back to stare out into the night. Lights sparkled across Stockholm, glittered off a river right outside. Stars above seemed to be a strange reflection of the urban landscape below, the sky cloudless.

Crowley sighed. “I’ll see if my old army intel buddy is available.”

“I sent a message to Charles Phelps,” Rose said, without turning back from the window.

“Your boss at the museum, right?”

“Yeah. I asked him for some help, but was deliberately oblique about it.”

“Cool. Best to stay as far under the radar as possible,” Crowley agreed. “But it’ll be good if he does provide a connection. And I can trust Cameron, so let me see what he can do.” He dialed and it rang several times. He was expecting voicemail any second when a groggy voice answered.

“Y’ello?”

Crowley smiled. “Did I catch you napping?”

“Who’s this?”

“You don’t recognize my dulcet tones? It’s Jake Crowley.”

Cameron laughed at the other end. “Crowley pronounced like holy, sir! How are you, man?”

Crowley laughed with him, remembering the drill sergeant yelling in his face about how the man didn’t care for pronunciation and Crowley could drop and give him fifty pushups and think about what was more important than a name. “Old Sergeant Hopkins! Such a ball-breaker.”

“Saved both our lives in Afghanistan, though,” Cameron said. “More than once.”

“He did that. I hope he’s enjoying his retirement.”

Cameron yawned expansively. “I was napping for what it’s worth. I’m working night shift now.”

“Ah, sorry to disturb you then. What are you doing?”

“Security stuff. We’re not all smart enough to get teaching jobs.”

Crowley laughed again. “Bulldust, my friend! I don’t believe a word of it. You’re still hooked up, right.”

The smile was evident in Cameron’s voice. “Of course I am. What do you need?”

Crowley explained what they had learned of the Devil’s Bible, its supposed history and the facts about the possibility of an original somewhere out in the world. “I’m guessing the general public aren’t privy to the kind of history files you might have through military intel,” he said. “Any chance you might be able to find me a lead?”

“Sounds like quite the history lesson you’re planning,” Cameron said, becoming serious. “You okay?”

“I’m in an interesting situation.”

“That why you’re calling from an unregistered phone?”

Crowley smiled crookedly. “Yeah, that’s part of it.”

“And you’re safe there in Stockholm?”

Crowley had to laugh. “You’re good, I’ll give you that. I didn’t tell you I was in Stockholm.”

“No, but you did tell me you’d been to that library. Besides, my trace has got close enough that I know what hotel you’re calling from. Haven’t narrowed it down to which room yet. Or how many hookers you’ve hired.”

“Don’t bother. You’ve got this number now and you can call me back on it. We’ll be leaving here in the morning, so keep it all to yourself, okay?”

“Sure. I’ll see what I can learn.”

“Thanks, mate. I owe you.”

“No, you really don’t,” Cameron said. “I’ve a debt to you I’ll never repay.”

“I was just doing my job, same as Sergeant Hopkins.”

“You came back for me. That’s going above and beyond. I’ll get you whatever I can. And be careful, okay? It sounds like you’re in something deep.”

Crowley nodded, even though Cameron couldn’t see. “Yeah, it’s pretty messy. But we’ll be okay.”

“We?” Cameron said. “I knew you had hookers in there!”

“I’ll talk to you soon, Cam. Thanks again.”

“You got it.”

Crowley hung up and turned to see Rose sitting on the edge of the opposite bed, watching him with serious eyes. “You sure you can trust him?”

Crowley nodded. “There are few people in this world who I trust more. We have a long history, Cameron and I.”

“It’s nice to know there are people you can really lean on in a bind.”

“It is. Really good friends are few and far between, but they matter. Regardless of how much time or distance falls between, they’ll always be there.”

“You’re doing a good job of acting like that for me right now. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.”

“You don’t need to keep thanking me. I’m here for you.”

“And I can lean on you?” Her eyes twinkled, something cheeky in her half-smile. Or was that just wishful thinking?”

“Absolutely. You can lie on me if you like.” Crowley’s cheeks flooded and burned the moment the words were out of his mouth. He’d had no idea he was going to say anything like it and cursed his motormouth. He knew he was a little off-center with how to talk to Rose knowing she liked girls. “Of course, that doesn’t mean I… What I mean to say is…”

Rose laughed, a vibrant, rich sound. “You know, Jake, I do enjoy lying on a good man if the mood is right.”

Crowley opened his mouth once or twice to reply and quickly felt as though he was gasping like a landed fish. “That’s good to know,” he managed at last and his cheeks burned even hotter. For a guy who prided himself on being a fairly accomplished ladies’ man, Rose certainly had him flipped inside out. And she seemed to know that and be enjoying the hell out of it.

“I’m going to get changed and go to bed,” she said. “It’s been a long day and I’m exhausted.”

Crowley nodded and decided against saying anything else in case he sounded like even more of a fool. She slipped into the bathroom and Crowley sighed, more confused than ever.