Page 67 of Dead Beat

“My master asked something of me before I pursued Lionel out of hell, something I have failed to accomplish.”

Alex stared at him. She couldn’t help it; she started to laugh. “Are you telling me you pissed off your boss?”

“He is not my boss. He is a prince of hell.”

“Liege lord, master, upper management. Potato, po-tah-to.” She studied him. Every minute they were talking was another chance at life, another possible moment for her to find a way out of this. She was standing here chatting, her voice steady, her mind functioning as it was meant to. But her body was slick with sweat. Her fists were clenched in her pockets. He must know. He could probably hear her heart. “You were supposed to make sure the Gauntlet was used again, weren’t you? That a Wheelwalker made the descent so that Golgarot would have the chance to open the gates.”

Reiter looked uneasy. Like an employee caught taking a long lunch.

“But you never brought Daisy through the Gauntlet. And you let her eat the other Wheelwalkers drawn here by it. Why?”

“Let’s just say it would be best if the door to hell was sealed for good.”

“And you want to help me do that?”

“I understand your skepticism.”

“You did murder my friend.”

Reiter’s pale brows rose. “Her death was a gift.”

“And to think I didn’t send a thank-you note.”

“I showed you the traitor in your midst. I returned your friend’s lovely car.”

He actually sounded affronted. Alex felt another nervous laugh burbling up in her chest, or maybe it was a scream. Could he mean it? Did he really expect her to be grateful that he had murdered Michelle? Was he that divorced from his humanity?

“And was she really your friend?” Reiter went on, his voice cajoling. “Someone who spied on you, reported on you?”

“Tough call. But she didn’t bite me or bury me in an unmarked grave. My bar is pretty low and you still missed it.”

“Well. One rarely has one’s choice of allies.”

Alex squared her shoulders. “Tell me your terms and let me take Mercy home.”

“You need me. You cannot win this fight without me.”

“God, I hope that’s not true. If you want to help, then help. Why kidnap my friend? Why drag me out here?”

He looked almost abashed. “A trade is in order, no?”

“Tell me what you want, and I’ll see what we can do about making sure you don’t get it.”

“You really are the gnat of gnats. Very well. You’ve found the Heart of Gold. I can offer you the Feet of Clay.”

“That part of the golem wasn’t hidden with one of the societies?”

“The golem … Yes. A pair of boots. Very finely made. And true, they were originally stored at my old society.”

“You stole them from Skull and Bones.”

Reiter again looked bemused. “Lionel hid the boots safely behind the wards. Once I had devoured him I couldn’t enter, and for many years I had no reason to. But I had one of my servants retrieve the Feet of Clay from the Bonesmen when I began to understand what the future might hold.”

It took a moment for Alex to understand. “When you realized a new Wheelwalker was here in New Haven.”

Reiter dipped his chin in a brief nod. “Marguerite Belbalm had no interest in the activities of the societies. But once I understood what you were…”

“You knew you might need leverage.”