Rocked by Love (Gargoyles, #4)(60)
“I wish we even knew when they planned to strike,” Wynn said. “Then we’d at least have a frame of reference.”
Kylie frowned. “I’ve been through all of Ott’s notes so many times, I can quote them by heart. He didn’t know when the attack would come, but he knew it was in the works. He left the Order before the meeting where Carver outlines the plan. His notes read to me, though, like he thought it was coming soon. There’s a real sense of urgency in them.”
“But does that mean tomorrow, or six months from now?” Wynn asked. “Remember, we’re dealing with a cult that’s been around thousands of years. Time means something entirely different to these people.”
They all went quiet for a moment, each mulling over the problem for themselves. It was a few minutes before Kylie ventured, “You know, maybe we’re looking at this from the wrong angle. Maybe our approach shouldn’t be to try and pick a date or an event out of thin air. Let’s try a little deduction.”
Wynn laughed. “What did you have in mind, Sherlock?”
Kylie set aside her soda and turned to her computer. Her fingers flew over the keys as she typed and talked at the same time. “We need to start using what we already know about the Order and how they operate. I mean, the Guild has been watching them for, well, ever, right? And you’ve known about them your whole life, plus you’ve come up against them personally a couple of times recently.”
“Yes, but I’m not sure I’m following you.”
“Okay, let’s think about what the Order wants.” Kylie paused in typing and looked at her friend expectantly.
“You mean total global apocalypse.”
“Well, sure, that. But why do they want it? Why enslave yourself to a bunch of Demons who see you as nothing more than a convenient tool or a late-night snack?”
“Power,” Dag growled. “The nocturnis seek power, and they believe that if they remain faithful to the Seven, they will be granted power in the wake of their rising.”
“Exactly,” Kylie said, “but after reading Ott’s notes, I have to say it’s not just power. From what he wrote about, I think they want more. I think they want to be feared, and to watch the havoc they cause. It’s sick, but I honestly believe they get off on it.”
Knox nodded, his face grim. “That would not surprise me. Cruelty and sadism can be methods to raise power, but also to heighten the emotions of the victim. If the soul is in distress, it becomes a tastier treat for the Darkness.”
“Right. So, if we operate on that understanding, it would make sense that whatever big bang the Order has planned, they’re going to want to watch it happen. Especially the ones who planned it.”
“Like the Hierophant.”
“Yup. This is where we have to take a little leap of faith, so if we work for the moment on the assumption that Carver is the Hierophant, we could take a look at his public schedule and see if anything coming up looks like the kind of opportunity the Order would want to take advantage of.”
Wynn looked dubious. “Do you really think he’d be so obvious as to pull that kind of stunt when the date and time are listed on his public schedule?”
“I think everything Carver does is listed on his public schedule. The man can’t take a leak without reporters there,” Kylie drawled. “The guy has made statements in the past that the constant media scrutiny is a burden he tolerates for the sake of the causes he supports. But no one can put up with that kind of twenty-four-seven attention without slipping up now and then, not unless they secretly like the spotlight. And Carver never slips up.”
“It would fit neatly with the theory that the Hierophant will want to see the effects of his plan,” Dag said.
Knox added, “And would point to the utter lack of conscience of the leaders of the Order.”
“I don’t think that was even in doubt.” Wynn grimaced and drained her tea.
“It’s also a great way to hide in plain sight. If the Order knows that the strike will happen at a public and highly publicized event, they can risk coordinating along public channels,” Kylie said, pulling up Richard Foye-Carver’s Web site and downloading his public events schedule. “All they have to do is keep the language neutral and they can skate by without notice as any other interested participants. Just leave out the words ‘demon,’ ‘apocalypse,’ and ‘mass murder,” and they’re golden.”
Wynn frowned. “That sounds … disturbingly practical.”
“It is an avenue we cannot afford to ignore,” Knox acknowledged. “Without any idea of where and when the strike might happen, we are helpless to prepare even the most rudimentary defense.”
Kylie let the others continue the discussion, the words droning on in the background, while she scanned the information on the screen. She couldn’t put her finger on exactly what she was looking for, but she hoped she’d know it when she saw it.
It would have to be a large event, something open to the public. She suspected the Order would want large media coverage to up the fear and hysteria that would be generated, though the presence of reporters was never in question where Carver was concerned. She also had the niggling feeling that it was coming up soon, perhaps not tomorrow or the next day, but certainly within the next few weeks.