The Peregrine Omnibus Volume One (51 page)

The Domino Lady heard a knocking at the door to her room now and she moved to peer out the peep hole. It was Max and ‘Diego,’ so she allowed them inside.

“Dressing up a little early, aren’t you?” McKenzie asked, his eyes drinking in the lovely woman’s enticing form before settling on the mask she wore.

“The mask’s going to be hidden on my person,” she explained, removing it. “I was just trying it on to get the overall effect.”

“I don’t think there’s any place to hide much of anything in
that
dress,” McKenzie deadpanned. He was rewarded with a flirtatious smile from Ellen and a dramatic rolling of the eyes from Max.

“We need to be sure we’re all on the same page,” Max pointed out. “The man we’re looking for is named Jakob but I have nothing else on him. No idea what he looks like or what his last name might be. I’m also not sure what Horst was talking about in terms of emptying human vessels—or who the ‘masters’ might be. The whole situation is a bag full of question marks.”

“Should we call it off?” McKenzie asked.

“No!” Ellen exclaimed. “My friend’s probably dead because of these sick bastards. I won’t stand aside and let them torture anyone else.”

“That’s not what I was saying,” McKenzie cautioned. “I just meant maybe going in under the pretense of becoming members is the wrong approach. Both you and Max are experts at sneaking into places unnoticed… maybe we should do that instead. Find out what’s going on and then plan an assault of some kind.”

“I’m not sure we have the time for that,” Max countered. “When Horst isn’t there tonight, questions will be raised. I honestly feel that we need to get inside and find out as much as possible, as quickly as possible.”

“And what if Jakob isn’t there?” Ellen wondered aloud.

“Horst said he would be.”

McKenzie shook his head, picturing what horrors lay ahead for them. He’d pressed to come along on this mission, even going so far as to take a leave of absence from the force to do it, but now he wondered if he was in over his head. During his friendship with the Peregrine, he’d faced ghosts, vampires and Oriental masterminds… but a club full of sadists, who paid thousands of dollars for the opportunity to carve up innocent men and women… that was almost too much to bear.

“It’s going to be okay,” the Domino Lady said, resting a hand lightly on his arm. He looked up at her in surprise, embarrassed that she’d read his thoughts so clearly. She soothed him somewhat by saying “I might play the part of an airhead sometimes but I’m really not. I know how bizarre this kind of stuff can seem. You get used to it.”

McKenzie smiled. “I’ve seen lots of strange things… but thanks.”

Max moved to the window, looking out over the city. It was quiet, as it was almost every night with the curfew in place. The Bloodwerks group had gotten all special permits to allow them out on the streets past the usual limits. The Peregrine stared up into the full moon, his psychic powers slowly coming to the fore. He saw a darkened room with a variety of surgical implements lain out on a table. There were dark things, evil things, lurking in the shadows, beyond the range of human vision. “We have to shut this group down,” he said aloud, shaking off the images in his head. “This kind of evil can’t be allowed to continue.”

CHAPTER IV

Down in the Pit

The club was located in the heart of Berlin’s red light district, a seedy area filled with pubs and illicit establishments. Several women were poised here and there, subtly offering their wares to the many men who passed by. Max noticed that several of the gentlemen in the area wore their Nazi uniforms proudly. This was a country that, as Horst had pointed out, was currently basking in its seemingly inevitable victory in Europe.

The U.S. can’t continue to stand on the sidelines
, Max thought to himself, stepping from the back of the trio’s cab. He noticed that McKenzie, still dressed in his Diego disguise, passed the driver the appropriate number of notes.
Sooner or later, we’re going to be drawn into this conflict… and if we wait until after Britain and our other allies are in flames, we might be standing alone against these hordes.

Ellen and McKenzie joined Max in approaching the front entrance of the club, which was barred by a broad-shouldered man in a dark suit. The fellow’s nose looked like it had been broken a dozen or more times.

“May I help you?” the man asked in broken English. Apparently something in Max’s manner had suggested he was an out of towner.

“We have invitations,” Max responded, reaching into his coat pocket and taking out a silver envelope. Within lay a single card with a crudely drawn image of a bloodied heart.

“Ah, there is no need to show it to me,” the man replied with a smile. He revealed a set of crooked teeth, more evidence that he’d seen his share of battles. “I recognize you now. Mr. Davies from America.”

“Yes,” Max answered, surprised. “But how did you—?”

“Horst told me you would be coming. He left descriptions of all three of you. Please,” the man said, opening the door. “He is inside, with Jakob. Look for the large table in the rear of the club. Enjoy yourselves.”

Max stepped in, trying to keep the color from draining from his face. The thing that had fallen dead at his feet on the train hadn’t been quite human—at least, not anymore—but he hadn’t considered the fact that Horst might have still survived in some form. If he was here tonight, that could mean only one thing: they were all in tremendous danger.

“I thought,” McKenzie began but Max cut him off with a warning glance.

Something’s not right
, the Peregrine projected into his friend’s mind, calling upon the mental powers that had been both blessing and curse since his childhood.
The only thing we can do is play along and see what’s going on.

McKenzie nodded but it was obvious that he was unhappy with this turn of events. The lawman looked around the club, his nose wrinkling at the scents that hit it. The smells of alcohol and sweat mixed with cigarette smoke and the acrid taste of chemical disinfectant. Somewhat to his surprise, there were no obvious signs of physical cruelty—everyone who could be seen appeared to be there of their own accord. The crowd was about ninety percent male with most of the women functioning as waitresses. But here and there a pale-skinned woman could be spotted through the crowd, looking ghostly and beautiful in their evening gowns and ruby-red lipstick.

“There he is,” Ellen said, bringing McKenzie back from his people watching activity. The southerner tried to remind himself to play the part of a foppish Spaniard and he adjusted his walk accordingly.

Up ahead sat Horst, looking none the worse for his death a few hours earlier. The German wore the same black suit that he’d been in on the train and he was smiling at some shared joke, his straight white teeth shining. Seated with him was a brunette female who wore a shockingly revealing dress, the curves of her breasts on plain display. A man sat with his arm around her shoulders, nodding at Horst. He was handsome, Ellen noticed, but in that dangerous way that sometimes made women weak in the knees. He was thin but not overly so, with dark eyes and tousled hair. His shirt was white and open at the neck, unbuttoned in a manner of casual indifference.

“I’d say that’s Jakob,” McKenzie said, using Diego’s speech patterns. “Should we try and avoid them or take the bull by the proverbial horns?”

“We’re not hiding from him,” Max answered, moving straight towards the table. He suddenly came to a stop, looking over at Ellen. “I’m sorry… I keep forgetting we’re here for your friend. How do you want to play this? It should be your call, not mine.”

“I think we should approach them,” she answered. “You’re right—putting it off isn’t going to accomplish anything.”

“It’s a moot point anyway,” McKenzie muttered. “Horst just spotted us.”

The German had stood up and was waving in their direction, his smarmy manner not reflecting anything other than a perverse interest in seeing Ellen’s evening attire. “Hello, my friends,” Horst said as they came closer. “My apologies for having left you so quickly at the train station. I have been telling Jakob that I have high hopes for your stay with us.”

He’s acting like he doesn’t remember
, Max projected to his friends.

As Max shook hands with Horst, Ellen answered Max through the telepathic link he’d opened up between the three of them.
Can you read his mind? See what’s going on?

Not without him sensing it. I’m not that skilled in this kind of thing. It’s still new to me.

Horst bent forward and kissed Ellen’s hand, his eyes shining. “You look simply ravishing, my dear.”

“Thank you,” she replied, batting her eyelashes invitingly. Inside, she was sickened by his touch but she had trained herself to avoid such public displays. “And who is your handsome friend?” she added, ignoring the daggers thrown her way by the woman seated in the booth.

“Ah,” Horst said, moving to introduce his friend, who rose to his feet in response. “He is our host. This is Jakob.”

“I’m thrilled to make your acquaintance,” Ellen purred, leaning forward as she took his offered hand. She made sure to press her breasts together subtly, receiving a burst of pleasure when she saw Jakob’s eyes linger on her ample cleavage. She’d always found it easy to manipulate men because of her beauty and playing the part of the not-so-smart but extremely easy to bed socialite almost always worked.

“The pleasure is all mine,” Jakob assured her, bending low to bring his lips close to, but not quite brushing, the top of her hand. “This is my companion, Eva.”

Eva nodded coldly at Ellen, obviously not pleased with the description given to her.

Jakob turned to Max and McKenzie, greeting each in turn. When the introductions had been made, Jakob gestured for everyone to take a seat.

“When does our fun begin?” McKenzie asked, his voice tinged with fake accent.

“Soon,” Jakob assured him. “Victims have been selected according to your individual profiles and you’ll be individually escorted to rooms located beneath the club where you can enjoy yourself at length.”

Max forced himself not to stare at Horst, though he kept wondering what in the world was going on. Max looked debonair in his suit and tie, the very vision of American masculinity. “Do you mind if I ask how you got into this… field of work?”

Jakob smiled, his handsome face looking as calm as if he were about to discuss the weather or some sporting event. “It’s sort of my life’s work, Mr. Davies. I’ve always had an interest in the macabre… and eventually I found myself in the position to satisfy the lusts of others. Lusts such as these are inherent in the human race but they are mostly kept under wraps, so that the more civilized members of our society aren’t offended.”

“I salute you for having the foresight to start this kind of business,” McKenzie said, playing the role of Diego to the hilt now. He was sitting back in his seat, legs crossed, a lit cigarette dangling between two fingers. “I for one have been dreaming of such a thing for years.”

Jakob seemed lost in Ellen’s cleavage as he spoke. “You will enjoy yourself, I am sure.”

“Horst mentioned that we might be able to become repeat customers, like he has.” Max noticed that Jakob flashed Horst a warning stare and the German seemed to whiten in response.

“Did he, now?”

Horst seemed to find his voice again, rising from the booth and saying “Perhaps it’s time to show them to their rooms. I’m sure their toys have been prepared by now.”

Jakob nodded, aware that Horst was desperately seeking to change the subject and allowing him to do so—for now. “You may take Mr. Davies, since the two of you speak so much. I will have Miss Patrick and Mr. Diego escorted to their respective playpens.”

Max caught Ellen’s eyes and flashed her a mental message:
I’ll try to keep us all linked up like this—if you run into trouble, ‘scream’ it out to me and I’ll do my damndest to get to you.

Ellen looked amused by his concern, replying.
And if you need rescuing, I’ll be sure to do the same for you.

Max felt a sudden rush of embarrassment. After having his own life saved by his wife Evelyn on numerous occasions, he should have known better than to let his natural chauvinism creep into play.

The Peregrine stepped out with Horst at his side and the German led him through the back of the club, into a dimly lit hallway lined with heavy wooden doors.

“I wish you hadn’t said that,” Horst said harshly. “I’ll be punished later.”

“Do you remember bringing it up?” Max asked.

Horst’s face twitched slightly. From down the hall, Max thought he heard a muffled scream. He turned his head towards the sound and Horst chuckled. “Someone’s making an awful lot of noise. These walls are specially made to prevent outsiders from hearing those sorts of things. As for remembering… of course I do.”

The way he said it made it quite clear that he did not.

Max allowed himself to be led towards the third room from the left. The scent of cleansing agents was almost overpowering here and Max noticed the ghostly trails of blood on the floor and some of the walls. He’d been in only one place that filled him with the same sensations he was experiencing now: a slaughterhouse.

Horst pushed the door open and Max found his sickening feeling increasing. The room was lit only by a powerful surgical light that was shining directly into the face of a young woman who looked like she was in her late teens. She wore a flower-print skirt and a peasant blouse, her dark hair hanging loosely behind her back. She was beautiful but her attractiveness was marred by the terror in her face and by the blood that ran from a bad cut above her left eye. She let out muffled cries from behind a damp cloth shoved hard into her mouth.

“Do you like her?” Horst asked breathlessly.

Max’s mouth became a thin line. He grabbed hold of the German’s collar and threw him into the room. Horst slammed into the surgical light and knocked it to the floor, casting the room into bizarre half-shadow. Max shut the door behind him, ignoring the terrified sounds coming from the girl. “It’s time for some answers,” the Peregrine whispered.