then Modred brought a phone to him and asked him to check with

England’s Scotland Yard.

“Make the call yourself, ” he’d said. “Ask for Chief Inspec-tor

Michael Blood. If they tell you that he is not available, say that it’s

in reference to Operation Runestone. They will reach him wherever

he might be and he will call back within moments.”

“And then what?”

“Tell him who you are and ask him about a series of grisly

murders he investigated that occurred in Whitechapel about two

years ago. Murders in which necromancy figured prominently. Then

tell him that you seem to have a very similar situation here. Tell

him that you’ve met someone named Michael Cornwall, who’s told

you a story that seems completely unbelievable and ask for his

opinion.”

“For all I know, ” Fugisawa had said, “he could be a corrupt cop

on your payroll.”

“I suppose he could be, ” Modred had replied, “except that his

father is a British lord and a prominent investment banker. Chief

Inspector Blood, while hardly a flamboyant man, has access to more

money than he knows how to spend. You could verify that easily.

And when you’re finished speaking with him, feel free to call the

Los Angeles Police Department. Ask for Captain Rebecca Farrell, of

the Hollywood Precinct. Follow the same procedure. Ask her about

the Sunset Strip slasher. And mention us to her, as well. And if you

still have doubts, there is also an inspector of the Paris police I can

refer you to. You can ask him about the deaths in the Rue Morgue.”

Fugisawa had made those calls right there in‘ front of them.

Neither Modred nor any of the others made any move to take the

phone and speak to them. And each call produced the same result.

Each officer first asked him a few questions, to satisfy themselves

he was who he claimed to be and that he had actually spoken to

“Mr. Cornwall” and his companions. Then each of them described

the cases they had worked on and the incredible events surrounding

them, each confirmed the existence of the Dark Ones; and each

vouched that everything that “Mr. Cornwall” and his unique

companions said and claimed, regardless of how incredible it