Page 74 of A Shade Too Far
Taking advantage of her momentary lapse in attention, the burly attendant lunged for her, glass crunching underfoot, but the woman swept a hand across the table.
The bottles flew.
Roger spun away so as not to get hit.
Edgar gasped and Sadie yelped, but I’d already shot Delilah out.
She extended over the ground like a net before the vials landed. My shadow softened the impact and they rolled harmlessly off her. All except one that overshot my shadow and shattered.
“What have we here?” A cruel smile flitted over Mrs. Krantz’s lips, and she pushed the chair away from the table, with a scrape like nails on a chalkboard.
“Get Roger out of here,” I said, not taking my focus off the woman. I’d intended my directive for Edgar, but Eli stepped forward, pulling his badge out of his pocket.
“Detective Eli Chu, VPD,” he said, approaching Roger. “Could I get you to come with me and give me a statement?”
Roger looked uncertainly at Edgar, who nodded. “Yes, we’ll both come. It’s okay,” Edgar told the attendant and motioned at me. “She’s from corporate. Trained in these situations.”
Eli ushered the men back inside to question them, which was good. I wouldn’t have to worry about Roger’s Sapien status or Eli jumping into the action.
Just keeping Sadie out of it.
I ordered her to stay out of the way, no matter what. When she gave me a nervous nod, I strode over to Mrs. Krantz, Delilah turning into a wreath of smoke that flowed up my body and down my left arm into a scythe.
Mrs. Krantz grabbed the chair and jabbed it at me like a toreador waving a flag at a bull.
“Mom?” Sadie squeaked, backing up closer to the French doors.
“It’s okay.” I circled the enthralled woman, my weapon raised.
The woman threw the chair at me, winging me in the shoulder.
I grunted and jerked back, and she overturned the table, almost hitting me before fleeing. I raced after her, weaving around the other small tables in the courtyard to catch her before she made it to the door at the far side leading into another section of the building.
“She’s getting away!” Sadie cried.
Yeah, but her shadow was still close enough to hit. I slammed the scythe down into it, severing it from her body.
“Holy fuck!” Sadie said, ducking down behind a table.
I had a second of relief that we were all safe, then Mrs. Krantz collapsed, and I swore under my breath. We hadn’t worked out how to keep that from happening, though I’d really hoped it had been an anomaly when I’d done this to Jude.
My daughter ran toward the woman right as the dybbuk tore loose, pulsing and swirling in a furious crimson mass. “Mom!”
Shoving Sadie behind me with a sharp “Stay!” I rightened my hold on the scythe. “Mut!” The Hebrew letters appeared on the blade. “Batter up!” I drove the scythe into its center and leaching of all color, the spirit imploded and vanished.
I dropped to the ground next to Mrs. Krantz, my weapon disappearing, and began chest compressions. I wasn’t sure if this made a difference, or if her survival was based on some magic criteria, but it couldn’t hurt.
“She’s not breathing,” Sadie said urgently, kneeling beside me. “Should I call 911?”
I shook my head.
“Give her room to work, hon.” Eli had joined us, placing a reassuring hand on our daughter’s shoulder.
Mrs. Krantz came to groggily—recovering much faster than Jude had. I sat back on my calves. Could her recuperation be tied to how fast I’d dispatched this dybbuk versus when I’d saved my best friend?
“Are you all right?” I said gently.
She gripped my hand. “Is it out?” Her voice shook.
