Free Dark Tomorrow (Bo Blackman Book 6) by Helen Harper Page B

tasty.’
    ‘It’s human blood I crave. You know that.’
    ‘I’m only a quarter daemon.’
    I shrug. ‘Doesn’t make a difference.’
    ‘Racist,’ he mutters.
    ‘Come on. Let’s get inside and make our way up. I’ll find someone along the way to snack on.’
    The doors whoosh open and we’re immediately greeted by a blast of cool air. There are a few people milling around inside; the marbled floor shows their blurred reflections as they stare at their phones like zombies. O’Shea lets out a coo of delight.
    ‘We need to be discreet,’ I warn. ‘The slightest disturbance and X might find out we’re here.’
    ‘He can’t see us in here, he doesn’t have X-ray vision.’ O’Shea pauses, his eyes widening. ‘Unless that’s why he’s called X.’
    I scoff, although the truth is that I have very little idea of what X is capable of. I damn myself for not doing more when I had the chance to discover his abilities. I seriously doubt X-ray vision is one of them; all the same, I feel a nervous swirl in the pit of my stomach. I really don’t want him to know I’m here.
    I scan the list of names on the information board, looking for something that will work. I’m thinking that the lawyer on the sixteenth floor could be a good bet until I see who’s right above him. My heart suddenly sings in delight. Well, well, well. ‘There.’ I jab my finger. ‘And we can kill two birds with one stone. It’s about time something went our way.’
    O’Shea leans in. ‘Bruckheimer and Berryhill Insurance.’ He purses his lips. ‘Life insurance? Bo, I hate to say it but I doubt you’ll be able to afford the premiums.’
    I clap him on the shoulder. ‘There’s more method to my madness than you realise.’ Bruckheimer and Berryhill are my old employers; it’s the company I was working for when Alice went missing. ‘This is the perfect cover. We don’t even need to hide any longer because we have a reason for being here that doesn’t involve X.’
    Leaving a confused O’Shea to trail behind me, I approach the reception desk. ‘Good morning!’
    A young man wearing a crisp white shirt, an old school tie and a professional smile glances up. I enjoy watching him go pale. ‘Bo Blackman,’ he bursts out, before he can stop himself.
    I grin and check his name tag. ‘One and the same, David. One and the same.’
    ‘My friends and I were discussing you last night,’ he beams, almost immediately recovering from his shock. ‘What are you planning to do? Are you going to kill all those religious freaks? I said that you wouldn’t do that because you’re the Red Angel and you’re too good, but Barry…’
    I don’t need to hear what Barry thinks. I interrupt him. ‘That’s kind of you to say that about me.’ I hold out my hand. ‘And it’s lovely to meet you.’
    He’s almost overcome. He reaches across and vigorously pumps my hand. ‘The pleasure’s all mine.’
    ‘I’m here to see Bruckheimer and Berryhill,’ I tell him, once I’ve extricated myself.
    He blinks rapidly. ‘Of course, of course. Do you have an appointment? You can’t see them otherwise. The rules are really strict.’ He sounds regretful, as if to emphasise that he’d change things if he could.
    I shake my head sadly. ‘No appointment. I’m trying to keep my movements secret. It’s dangerous out there, you know.’ I point at the street.
    ‘Oh my goodness! It must be awful for you. I can’t let you in but if there’s anything else I can do to help, all you have to do is say the word. I’m a really big fan. It wasn’t right what happened to your friends. I know some people are saying that the blood guz— I mean vampires, deserved it but I don’t think that.’
    I’m not sure I’ve ever met someone who talks this much. ‘You know, David, there is something you could do for me.’
    His expression transforms into that of an eager puppy. ‘Anything,’ he breathes. ‘Anything for you.’
    At least some people are still fans.