Jekyll & Hyde Inc.

Daniel and Tina reached into the case and took out two hand-tooled doe-skin scabbards. When drawn, the silver knives turned out to be large and blocky, with a serrated edge. More like butcher’s tools than weapons. The blades flashed brightly in the gaslight as Daniel and Tina turned them back and forth, getting a feel for the balance.

“You’d have to get in really close, to stab a werewolf with one of these,” Daniel said dubiously.

“Fun!” said Tina. She elbowed him in the ribs, and flashed him a grin that had a lot of wolf in it.

Daniel looked at her, and then at Edward. “What happens if a Hyde gets bitten by a werewolf? Would the Elixir provide any immunity to the werewolf curse?”

“I have no idea,” said Edward. “It might turn you into something never seen before—and even more dangerous.”

“Cool!” said Tina.

“What are we supposed to do if we do get bitten?” said Daniel.

“Get back here as quick as you can, so I can watch!” said Edward.

Tina looked at Daniel. “Being a wolf does have its appeal. Haven’t you ever dreamed of running wild in the night?”

“You’d have to take orders from an alpha male,” said Daniel.

“Forget I said anything.”

They sheathed the silver knives and holstered the heavy pistols, and then settled the weapons as comfortably as possible about their persons. The silver bullets went into their pockets. Edward rubbed his hands together briskly.

“Find something to keep you busy till tonight, and then it’s off to Elstree Park with you.”

“What time?” said Daniel.

“When the moon is out, they’ll be there,” said Edward.

“Don’t we get a mission file?” said Tina.

“Find them and kill them,” said Edward. “What more do you need? Once the alpha wolves are dead, that will be it for the Clans. No more monsters.”

“Apart from us,” said Daniel.

Edward smiled broadly, and Daniel knew he’d really missed something.

Daniel and Tina left Miss Montague with Edward. Daniel frowned thoughtfully as they headed back up the steps.

“Did you see the way those two were looking at each other? What do you suppose they’re talking about?”

“I don’t think I want to know,” said Tina.

“It’s hard to think of a sweet old thing like her having a fling with the likes of Edward Hyde.”

“We tend to forget just how old Edward really is,” said Tina. “Though it does help to explain how a little old lady ends up running an armory full of staggeringly unpleasant weapons and devices.”

“Edward is a bad influence,” said Daniel.

“We should know,” said Tina.

When they left the building it was barely afternoon, and a long way from night. Daniel watched as people passed by, with no idea of all the terrible things they shared the world with, and couldn’t help seeing them as sheep that didn’t have enough sense to look out for wolves.

“We’ve got hours yet,” said Tina. “Want to go back to my place and help me break what’s left of the bedroom furniture? Or, I know this halfway decent bar not far from here . . . ”

“I’d prefer something a little more restful,” said Daniel. “We’re going to need all our strength tonight.”

Tina shrugged. “There’s a nice little tearoom, just round the corner . . . ”

Daniel looked at her. “Really?”

“I am large, and contain multitudes,” Tina said calmly. “Even if most of them aren’t talking to each other.”

And that was when a familiar voice called Daniel by name, from the depths of a side alley. Daniel and Tina stared into the gloom beyond the alley mouth, but even their Hyde eyes couldn’t make out anything. Daniel started forward, and Tina grabbed him by the arm.

“Not a good idea. We’ve made a lot of enemies in the past few days, and not all the monsters are dead.”

“I thought Hydes weren’t afraid of anything?” said Daniel.

“I’m just being cautious. If someone’s ready to invite a Hyde into a back alley, they must have a good reason. If it looks like a trap and smells like a trap, the odds are someone’s found a weapon they think can really mess up a Hyde’s day.”

“Whoever that is, they know my name,” said Daniel. “You can stay out here, if you want.”

“And miss out on a chance to say I told you so?”

They entered the narrow alley side by side. Daniel’s eyes quickly adapted to the gloom, showing him grimy brickwork and all kinds of rubbish on the ground. An unpleasant smell hung heavily on the air, and Daniel’s hackles stirred. There was something in that smell . . . something rank and foul. Light reflecting off a third-story window dropped down into the alley like a spotlight, and when Daniel and Tina were close enough a single figure stepped forward to take center stage. Daniel’s heart lurched in his chest, and he slammed to a halt as he recognized his old friend Nigel Rutherford.