Jim Butcher - Grave Peril

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Table of Contents

ALSO BY JIM BUTCHER

THE DRESDEN FILES

STORM FRONT
FOOL MOON
SUMMER KNIGHT
DEATH MASKS
BLOOD RITES
DEAD BEAT
PROVEN GUILTY
WHITE NIGHT
SMALL FAVOR

THE CODEX ALERA

FURIES OF CALDERON
ACADEMS FURY
CURSORS FURY
CAPTAINS FURY

Chapter One

There are reasons I hate to drive fast. For one, the Blue Beetle, the mismatched Volkswagen bug that I putter around in, rattles and groans dangerously at anything above sixty miles an hour. For another, I dont get along so well with technology. Anything manufactured after about World War II seems to be susceptible to abrupt malfunction when I get close to it. As a rule, when I drive, I drive malfunction when I get close to it. As a rule, when I drive, I drive very carefully and sensibly.

Tonight was an exception to the rule.

The Beetles tires screeched in protest as we rounded a corner, clearly against the NO LEFT TURN sign posted there. The old car growled gamely, as though it sensed what was at stake, and continued its valiant puttering, moaning, and rattling as we zoomed down the street.

Can we go any faster? Michael drawled. It wasnt a complaint. It was just a question, calmly voiced.

Only if the wind gets behind us or we start going down a hill, I said. How far to the hospital?

The big man shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. He had that kind of salt-and-pepper hair, dark against silver, that some men seem lucky enough to inherit, though his beard was still a solid color of dark brown, almost black. There were worry and laugh lines at the corners of his leathery face. His broad, lined hands rested on his knees, which were scrunched up due to the dashboard. I dont know for certain, he answered me. Two miles?

I squinted out the Beetles window at the fading light. The sun is almost down. I hope were not too late.

Were doing all we can, Michael assured me. If God wills it, well be there in time. Are you sure of your... his mouth twisted with distaste, source?

Bob is annoying, but rarely wrong, I answered, jamming on the brakes and dodging around a garbage truck. If he said the ghost would be there, it will be there.

Lord be with us, Michael said, and crossed himself. I felt a stirring of something; powerful, placid energy around himthe power of faith. Harry, theres something Ive been meaning to talk to you about.

Dont ask me to Mass again, I told him, uncomfortable. You know Im just going to say no. Someone in a red Taurus cut me off, and I had to swerve around him, into the turn lane, and then ahead of him again. A couple of the Beetles wheels lifted off the ground. Jerk! I howled out the drivers window.

That doesnt preclude asking, Michael said. But no. I wanted to know when you were going to marry Miss Rodriguez.

Hells Bells, Michael, I scowled. You and I have been chasing all over town for the past two weeks, going up against every ghost and spirit that has all of a sudden reared its ugly head. We still dont know whats causing the spirit world to go postal.

I know that, Harry, but

At the moment, I interrupted, were going after a nasty old biddy at Cook County, who could kill us if we arent focused. And youre asking me about my love life.

Michael frowned at me. Youre sleeping with her, arent you? he said.

Not often enough, I growled, and shifted lanes, swerving around a passenger bus.

The knight sighed. Do you love her? he asked.

Michael, I said. Give me a break. Where do you get off asking questions like that?

Do you love her? he pressed.

Im trying to drive, here.

Harry, he asked, smiling. Do you love the girl or dont you? It isnt a difficult question.

Speaks the expert, I grumbled. I went past a blue-and-white at about twenty miles an hour over the speed limit, and saw the police officer behind the wheel blink and spill his coffee as he saw me go past. I checked my rearview mirror, and saw the blue bulbs on the police car whirl to life. Dammit, that tears it. The cops are going to be coming in right after us.

Dont worry about them, Michael assured me. Just answer the question.

I flashed Michael a glance. He watched me, his face broad and honest, his jaw strong, and his grey eyes flashing. His hair was cropped close, Marine-length, on top, but he sported a short, warriors beard, which he kept clipped close to his face. I suppose so, I said, after a second. Yeah.

Then you dont mind saying it?

Saying what? I stalled.

Harry, Michael scolded, holding on as we bounced through a dip in the street. Dont be a child about this. If you love the woman, say so.

Why? I demanded.

You havent told her, have you? Youve never said it.

I glared at him. So what if I havent? She knows. Whats the big deal?

Harry Dresden, he said. You, of all people, should know the power of words.

Look, she knows, I said, tapping the brakes and then flattening the accelerator again. I got her a card.

A card? Michael asked.

A Hallmark.

He sighed. Let me hear you say the words.

What?

Say the words, he demanded. If you love the woman, why cant you say so?

I dont just go around saying that to people, Michael. Stars and sky, thats... I just couldnt, all right?

You dont love her, Michael said. I see.

You know thats not

Say it, Harry.

If it will get you off my back, I said, and gave the Beetle every ounce of gas that I could. I could see the police in traffic somewhere behind me. All right. I flashed Michael a ferocious, wizardly scowl and snarled, I love her. There, hows that?

Michael beamed. You see? Thats the only thing that stands between you two. Youre not the kind of person who says what they feel. Or who is very introspective, Harry. Sometimes, you just need to look into the mirror and see whats there.

I dont like mirrors, I grumbled.

Regardless, you needed to realize that you do love the woman. After Elaine, I thought you might isolate yourself too much and never

I felt a sudden flash of anger and vehemence. I dont talk about Elaine, Michael. Ever. If you cant live with that, get the hell out of my car and let me work on my own.

Michael frowned at me, probably more for my choice of words than anything else. Im talking about Susan, Harry. If you love her, you should marry her.

Im a wizard. I dont have time to be married.

Im a knight, Michael responded. And I have the time. Its worth it. Youre alone too much. Its starting to show.

I scowled at him again. What does that mean?

Youre tense. Grumpy. And youre isolating yourself more all the time. You need to keep up human contact, Harry. It would be so easy for you to start down a darker path.

Michael, I snapped, I dont need a lecture. I dont need the conversion speech again. I dont need the cast aside your evil powers before they consume you speech. Again. What I need is for you to back me up while I go take care of this thing.

Cook County Hospital loomed into sight and I made an illegal U-turn to get the Blue Beetle up into the Emergency entrance lane.

Michael unbuckled his seat belt, even before the car had come to a stop, and reached into the backseat to draw an enormous sword, fully five feet long in its black scabbard. He exited the car and buckled on the sword. Then he reached back in for a white cloak with a red cross upon the left breast, which he tossed over his shoulders in a practiced motion. He clasped it with another cross, this one of silver, at his throat. It clashed with his flannel workmans shirt, blue jeans, and steel-toed work boots.

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