The Devil's Only Friend by Dan Wells

yet.”
    “Yet?”
    “We need more information,” I said. “Give me enough of that and I can kill anybody.”
    The cops looked at me with obvious suspicion, but Diana froze us all with a whispered word.
    “Quiet.”
    I heard footsteps on the other side of the wall and the sound of car doors; they were talking, which was a reassuring sign they hadn’t heard us. I tried to listen to what they were saying but I couldn’t make it out. The car doors closed, the engine revved to life, and we crouched low against the wall as the car pulled out into the road. It drove away in the opposite direction from us, so we never saw it and they didn’t see us.
    “I got the plate when they pulled up,” said the short cop, standing and flashing a small black notebook. “Let’s go run it and see what we get.”
    “You’ll let us know?” asked Diana.
    “Maybe,” said the short cop, and the corner of his lip curled up. “Wouldn’t want to interfere with your investigation.”
    They walked back to their car, and Diana and I stepped back onto the sidewalk, stomping our feet to shake off the snow. “We need Kelly,” she said, watching them go. “She could talk to these guys; I feel like I don’t even speak their language.”
    “At least they listen to you,” I said. “Do I really look fifteen?”
    “Don’t worry about it,” she said. The cops drove off, and we started walking back to our car. “They don’t take me any more seriously than they take you. They didn’t listen to a word until you insulted them.”
    We reached the car, and Diana drummed her fingers on the roof before getting in. Her voice was lower now, more solemn, as the full reality of the situation slowly settled in our minds. “Four Withered.”
    “We don’t know that,” I said, though I suspected it was true. “Maybe he’s hired some human thugs.”
    “That’s only slightly less frightening,” said Diana. “Even three human thugs outnumber us by two thugs. I can’t defend everyone at once.”
    “Then let’s hope the cops turn out to be more helpful than they look.”
    “I thought you didn’t like relying on people.”
    “I hate it,” I said. But I don’t mind using them. I stared at the street for a moment, then opened my door. “I got a dog.”
    “What does that have to do with anything?”
    I got in the car without speaking.
    Diana sighed. “Hurt it and I’ll kill you myself,” she said. She climbed in her side and turned on the car, cranking the heater to full; it blasted us with cold air as the engine slowly warmed up. “Obviously we tell the others about this, but then what?”
    “We talk to the Withered,” I said, looking back at the mortuary.
    Diana paused, one finger poised over her cell phone. “You told the cops that getting involved would get them killed.”
    “Them, yes,” I said. “Tomorrow afternoon, I need to meet Elijah Sexton.”

 
    6
    I had planned to meet Elijah on the street, arranging an “accidental” encounter in a place we knew he’d be, and trying to start up a conversation—I could be the kid down the street, or the paper boy, or any number of innocuous cover stories. As it turned out, I didn’t need any of them.
    “He’s here,” said Trujillo. We were on the phone, and I hated phones; it was impossible to know what anyone was feeling without seeing their face. He sounded … excited? Scared? I could never tell.
    “What do you mean ‘here?’” I asked, walking to the office window and looking out; Whiteflower was just across the street, seeming as peaceful and quiet as ever. Nathan heard my question and stood up, coming closer to hear better. “Is he on your floor? In your room?”
    “He’s downstairs,” said Trujillo. “I told the front desk to call if he ever came in again.”
    “We need more people,” said Nathan. “If we had him under surveillance like we’re supposed to he couldn’t sneak up on us like this.”
    “He’s here to see Merrill,” said Trujillo,