Free The Detective Inspectors (The Doorknob Society Saga Book 4) by MJ Fletcher Page B

I had stashed in my bag. My hair got towel dried, since I didn’t feel like dealing with it and no makeup, so Uncle Archie was getting the au natural version. I slung my bag over my shoulder and returned to the living area. Val was in pajamas sitting cross-legged talking with Archie.
    “About time.” He was up, in his coat, and opening the door before I could say anything. “Let’s move.”
    I waved to Val and rolled my eyes letting her know this wasn’t exactly what I had planned to do today, and then trudged down the stairs after my uncle. When we hit the foyer area the hairs on my neck rose as Archie activated a doorknob and opened a portal. We stepped through and into an Old Kind area I’d never seen before.
    Old stone buildings stood next to new metal and glass structures. The blending of the two opposite architectural styles was seamless and eye-catching. Along one side of the street a series of doors were cranking open and closed by a series of gears that wound and unwound with clockwork precision.
    “Where are we?”
    “London, the Old Kind section. We’ve had a strong presence in this city since it was founded. The Doors over there are like a form of public transit. Instead of using your own abilities, you’re able to go through prearranged portals. It cuts down on traffic and makes things here less chaotic.”
    “Who controls it?”
    “The portals are controlled by the DS but the equipment is maintained by the Impossible Engineers.”
    “What are we doing here?”
    “This is Old Town, anything that happens with our kind, one way or another comes through here. We have a mission, so to get started we’ve come here. Follow me and don’t speak unless I say so, is that clear?”
    “Yes.”
    “That’s the last time you speak, clear?”
    I nodded my head and really wished I’d gotten more sleep than I had or at least had gotten to have my morning coffee.
    We walked along the street until we reached a side road and turned down it. The cobblestone street curved around and the further we went the closer the buildings got on either side. Uncle Archie stopped and looked up at the sign of one of the establishments and I followed his gaze.
     The Dead Bolt.
    We entered and it took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the darkness of the room. A long bar stretched along the back wall and small tables dotted the small space. A few were occupied and those that were had men hunkered over them talking, not paying a bit of attention to anyone. Archie went straight to the bar and tapped the surface. A jovial, fat man glanced his way and waved his hand toward the back of the establishment.
    I followed Uncle Archie to the end of the bar where a short corridor led to a single door. Archie knocked on it, opened the door, and entered. I followed behind him and as I crossed the threshold portal energy washed over me. I swayed a moment from the intensity. Whatever occupied this space was Old Kind and mighty powerful.
    “Archibald, my boy, it’s been far too long, how have you been?” An older man sat behind a desk, his massive girth barely contained in the chair he was sitting in. He was almost entirely bald except for small patches of hair around his temples.
    “Not well, Hugh. You, of course, heard about my brother.”
    “Yes, a terrible situation. We were all very upset by the news.” His eyes flashed over me for a brief moment, and then back to Archie.
    “I’m sure you were, but that’s not why I’m here.”
    “Of course not, dear boy, how can I help you?”
    “Someone in this establishment has been asking around about purchasing a very rare item.”
    “Is that so, well you know I can’t stop my customers from looking for oddities, Archibald.”
    “I’d never ask you to, Hugh. The problem is that I heard the fellow has been searching the black market for a Gremlin Collar. Would you know anything about that?”
    “Haven’t heard a peep.” He leaned back in his seat with a smug smile, almost as if he