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

least six months now. Either she is with them or she is under their control, either way we have a big problem on our hands.”
    “Is Henna okay?” I asked.
    “She’s holing up in the Dying Star Markets since she got too close to some compromised DIs. Once the heat dies down I’ll go collect her.”
    “What can we do?” I asked.
    “If we go to the Council it could make things worse,” Gavin explained. “They would turn against what remains of HVO and it could lead to an open war. We have to contain the damage.”
    “How?”
    “I’m not sure.” Gavin shook his head and let out a low whistle.
    “There is a failsafe in the prison,” Emory offered.
    “How so?” I asked anxiously.
    “If the prison was ever a lost effort, we built in a kill switch. Once activated it closes down all access to the dimension effectively cutting it off from the universe.”
    “That would trap everyone in the prison there,” I said to clarify.
    “That’s right, once activated you only have fifteen minutes to get out before the prison is cut off forever.”
    Gavin looked as surprised as I did, only I voiced it. “That’s pretty extreme.”
    “So is the situation,” Emory reminded. “The HVO has been trying to reach the prison for the last month but without success. Every mission we’ve attempted has failed.”
    “That failsafe is it still active, will it work?” I asked.
    “Yes, it is a very old power, but according to all our best men it would be very effective.”
    “He’s talking about the same thing that was used on the real First Kind a millennium ago. It would work and could end this whole thing if we caught enough First Kind in the trap.” Gavin leaned forward his eyes gleaming. “We can take the fight to them.”
    “I like the sound of that.” I relished the idea of playing offense for once.
     “It’s dangerous,” Emory warned, “if you get caught in the dimension you’ll be cut off and locked in there with them.”
    “I need to get Edgar out of there no matter what, so I have to take the chance. But if we can deal a blow to the First Kind as well, it makes it that much sweeter, which means we have to do it.”
    “Will your team go along with it?” Gavin asked.
    “They’d go to hell with me to save Edgar. The other problem is Nightshade.”
    “Why’s that?” Gavin asked.
    “The Guild doesn’t trust him anymore and they have DS looking into him. He bought some Gremlin Collar that has them all worked up.”
    “A Gremlin Collar, I haven’t seen one of those in years,” Gavin said. “Why would he want it?”
    “No idea, and after the meeting Uncle Archie and I had with him this morning I doubt he’ll be volunteering the information. He was going to help us find a Mapmaker for the team and now I’m not sure if I should even let him be part of the team.”
    “Nightshade has skills that could help you,” Gavin advised. “Let me talk with him and see what I can find out. Just because the Guild doesn’t trust him, doesn’t make it true. I’ve known Nightshade for a long time, let me see what I can do.”
    Gavin had been Nightshade’s friend and I was glad to know that he still was. “Okay, now the question is how do we get into Storm Reach?”
    “I can help you there,” Emory offered.

Chapter 16
    Status: Maybe I’m just unstable?
    “He’s in a prison?” Val’s voice cracked as if she was about to break down.
     I tucked my arms around my chest hugging myself tightly, feeling her pain and worry and wishing I was able to reach out and hug her. Unfortunately, I wasn’t good with physical displays of emotions. But I could reassure her. “Yes, but we know where he is now and that’s what matters.”
    “Can you rescue him?”
    “You bet your ass we can.” I had to believe my own words because there was no way in hell that I was going to leave Edgar there. He was one of my best friends and the First Kind had already taken too much from me to lose someone else I cared