Chapter 13 #2
His direct gaze bores into me, and I shift uncomfortably. He may be happy to spill his guts, but I have no idea if he knows anything about Harrison, so I keep quiet and just listen, wondering where he’s going with all this.
“By the mid-eighteenth century, Victor Hadley and Thaddeus Mason, the heads of the society at the time, changed course slightly. They founded what is now known as Hadley and Mason, bringing the underground society of their grandfathers into the light and transforming it into a legitimate business that could operate in modern society. They dealt in property brokerage, legal representation, and other things, none of which I’m inclined to speak of right now.
In short, Hadley and Mason was founded and continues to exist to make sure that people of magical or supernatural descent were and are protected.
We deal in legacies, Mr Stone. We represent some of the oldest and most powerful families in London, and I’m not talking about money or political connections. ”
“You mean supernaturally powerful bloodlines.”
He inclines his head.
“Like the Crawshanks.”
“They are one of them, yes.”
“How many can there be?”
“I’m afraid that is privileged information, Mr Stone.”
“I still don’t get why you’re telling me all this.”
“Because we’d like to requisition your services.”
“My… what?”
“We’d like to hire you. You’re a very gifted individual, Mr Stone. You have a powerful paranormal ability, and despite the unfortunate circumstances preceding your departure from Leeds, you’ve put them to good use.”
“You seem to know an awful lot about me,” I remark suspiciously.
“We make it our business to know who orbits our clients and their families,” he says. “We’ve been watching you since your arrival in London.”
My jaw tightens and my hackles rise. “You do realise how threatening that sounds, right?”
“Mr Stone, please do not make yourself uneasy. We mean you no harm. Quite the opposite.”
“By offering me a job?”
“By contracting your services,” he corrects.
“For?”
“Just like magical warding protects me in this room, we have wards set at the boundaries of the city. We know every time a paranormal takes up residence in London. When that happens, we spend some time evaluating if they are a threat or if they can make a useful contribution.”
“A useful contribution to what?”
“To keeping London and its residents safe.”
“From?”
“Many things of which you are probably unaware even exist. There’s a whole world out there, Mr Stone, that exists right alongside ours, and occasionally their paths intersect,” he says calmly as he pours himself a second cup of tea.
“Like demons and Hell-borns?” I stare at him intently.
He nods. “It really was quite fortuitous, you seeking me out. It saved Mr Mason and me the bother of tracking you down.”
“What is it you want, exactly?” I ask. “I’m a bit busy at the moment helping to search for Vivienne’s son and to figure out who killed her and why.”
Mr Hadley sets his cup in its saucer with a gentle chink. “No, those particular undertakings have been assigned to Mr Hayes and Mr Everett. By all means, help them if you must, but your path lies in a different direction, one that will require someone of your particular skill set.”
“I still don’t understand what it is you’re asking of me, so maybe you could try a little of that directness you claim to be so fond of,” I reply, my tone cool.
“As you wish.” He shrugs. “We have been following your private investigative agency for quite some time now, and although it’s floundered slightly due to your absence for your mother’s health issues, you were on the right track.
” He pauses, and sympathy laces his tone when he adds, “I am sorry for her troubles, by the way. Mr Mason and I would like to convey our heartfelt wishes for her continued recovery.”
I give him a curt nod in acknowledgement.
Although inside I’m bristling at the intrusion into her privacy, my interest is piqued and the need to find answers holds my anger in check.
“Right track? What does that even mean? The paranormal cases that kept coming my way before I left?” My eyes narrow in suspicion.
“Did you have anything to do with that?”
“We’ve been sending clients your way since just after you established your agency,” he admits.
“There has been a surge in people spontaneously manifesting supernatural gifts. In fact, there are far too many of them for us to investigate ourselves, which is why we started filtering them to you once we discovered your specific gifts.”
“Fuck.”
His brows rise slightly. “Quite.”
“What could cause someone to spontaneously manifest an ability, though? Does it have something to do with the demon in the bookshop? Your friend Lucien seemed to think it could not only communicate with people on the outside but also influence them if it’s powerful enough.”
He shakes his head. “As dangerous as that particular demon is, no. I don’t think it’s responsible for the increase in supernatural abilities. This is something else.”
My eyes widen. “Something else? Something worse than a demon?”
“Worse?” He hums thoughtfully. “No. But more powerful? Definitely.”