The thugs were scanning the room with a secret-police arrogance that set my temper off quick. It didn’t help matters that I was inebriated. Fortunately, the old man spoke before I let my anger show or pulled out my gun and started shooting.

The old man’s voice was just plain creepy; somewhere between Boris Karloff and Mr. Rogers. “Are you Mr. McDonald?”

“That’s what it says on the audit.”

“I am looking for my wife. She said she was coming to see you today.”

I shook my head and shrugged. “Well, I wouldn’t know anything about that. I was out all day,” I lied. “Maybe there’s something else I could help you with?”

The old man hobbled forward, narrowing his eyes. “You are a very bad liar, Mr. McDonald. A child could see through your charade.”

I stood up. “Hey! Fuck you! Who the hell do you—”

The goons began to step toward me. I whipped out my gun and raised it. That didn’t stop the giants so I pulled back the hammer.

“Okay, you old fuck,” I said, “tell your bookends to back off!”

The old guy raised his hand. The goons stopped in their tracks like humungous wind-up toys. “There’s no need for violence,” he said, “yet.”

I waved the gun in their faces. “Fun’s over. I hate you all. I see no future in this relationship.” I pointed the gun right at the old man. I had to close one eye to focus. “Now get the fuck out of my office!”

There was a moment of frozen, tense silence. I was breathing so hard I could smell my own liquor breath. I thought they might actually attack me or something. But instead the old wrinkly guy just sort of shrugged, though it looked more like a hiccup, and waved his hand at the goons. Without a word the trio walked out of the house and slammed the door behind them.

I waited a couple beats, then . . . “They’re gone. You can come out now.”

Mo’Lock lumbered out with the creature at his side. His hand was on its shoulder. “That was weird,” the ghoul said.

I nodded and looked at him. “Yeah, a little too weird.”

I didn’t want to alarm the ghoul, but that little old man and his twin freaks set off every inner alarm I relied on. There was something unnatural about all three of them, but it wasn’t anything I’d ever dealt with before.

It was something new.

I pointed at the ghoul. “You want to stay or run recon?”

Mo’Lock looked at the creature standing against his leg. “I’d better stay here.”

“Right,” I said and went to the front door.