Page 152 of Dead Beat

“On my way,” Turner replied.

Darlington lifted his hand in greeting. The repulsion spell should have kept them away, but it was possible their orders and curiosity had helped them push past it.

“Are you a student?” one of the windbreakers asked.

“I am. I’m just waiting for a friend. Then that weird sound started.”

“It’s late.”

“She’s going through a rough time.”

Turner strode over, looking all business in his suit. “New Haven PD. Thanks for the assist, gentlemen, but we have uniforms up there already.”

“Who called PD?”

“The dean.”

“Her first call should be to us.”

Turner held up his hands. “I hear you. But it looks like a maintenance issue anyway, no intruders, no vandals.”

“Can I get your badge number? Just to clear paper?”

“Of course.”

But before Turner could even reach for it, a stun gun was crackling against his neck. Turner toppled. Darlington felt the same jolt as the second guard lunged. But a little electricity was nothing to a demon.

The guard’s eyes widened as Darlington’s horns emerged. The guard struck with the stun gun again. Darlington seized it, still buzzing, and crushed it in his hand.

“What the hell?” the guard squeaked, trying to back away.

Darlington grabbed him by his windbreaker and shook him. “Who sent you?”

“No one, you fucking freak! Let go of me! Call for backup!”

But the other guard wasn’t calling anyone. He was running away.

Darlington picked up the first guard’s stun gun. “Tell me what you’re doing here.”

“Investigating a noise complaint.”

He flipped the switch. “Last chance.”

“Our lord will strike you down. He is powerful. He is—”

“Let me guess, eternal?”

Darlington shoved the stun gun against the guard’s neck, unnerved by how satisfying it was to see him shudder and flop.

He cast him down on the ground. Turner was already pushing to his feet, trying to shake off the effects.

“You okay?” Darlington asked.

“Incoming!” shouted Dawes.

“Go,” Turner said, reaching for his handcuffs to subdue the remaining guard.

“Do not leave this door,” Darlington said then bolted for the entrance to the college.