“So why is this Kurst guy so dangerous exactly?” Shackleford asked. She could tell immediately that Franks wasn’t going to answer that one. “All right. I’ll take your word for it. He’s bad news, I get it, but there’s nothing we can do about it. They’re not PUFF applicable. In fact, they’re government property, so they’re way out of our jurisdiction.”

“We’ll tell Earl.” Pitt said. “I’m sure he’s going to love the part where you kicked his girlfriend off a train, but I don’t think we can do anything about Nemesis.”

“Not without breaking the law,” Shackleford added.

“And MHI never breaks the law or violates any MCB regulations,” Pitt said. “MHI is completely law-abiding.”

“Totally.”

Now they were just messing with him.

There was a buzz from the front of the mansion. Shackleford and Pitt exchanged glances. “Motion detector.” Pitt hobbled along on his damaged foot to a monitor in the hall. “It’s Earl’s truck. Looks like you can make your case to the man himself.”

“Wait here,” Shackleford told him.

Franks did. She probably didn’t expect Franks to actually listen, but he didn’t really feel like participating in the Hunters’ internal discussions anyway. Harbinger would probably be angry at him for bringing MHI into this affair. Harbinger was by nature a volatile individual, but he would see reason, which meant he would help against Nemesis. If there was one man who rivaled Myers’ dedication to protecting humanity, it was Earl Harbinger.

“And don’t vandalize any more of my furniture, jerk.”

They went onto the porch to greet Harbinger. Franks remained leaning against the piano. There was some cursing and shouting. Harbinger sounded rather agitated. Franks perked up. He must have heard about the incident with the STFU werewolf on the subway. That might complicate matters.

Harbinger entered the mansion, but before the others could follow, he slammed the heavy door in their faces. Harbinger looked down the hall, saw Franks, and snarled, “You son of a bitch.”

Franks nodded in greeting.

Pitt’s surprised exclamation and banging on the door was muffled as Harbinger threw down the steel security bar, locking the other two out of the mansion. Then he turned and began walking quickly toward Franks. His eyes were glowing gold. That was not a good sign. The walk turned into a run, and then Earl Harbinger was charging straight toward him.

Of the possible receptions Franks had expected, this one had been low on the list.

Harbinger roared, leapt across the distance, and tackled him. The Hunter was half Franks’ mass but the speed of the impact still launched him back. They fell across the antique piano with Harbinger wrapped around his torso. Half of the piano’s legs snapped off, and they crashed to the floor with a discordant jangle of keys.

“What are you doing?” Franks asked right before Harbinger rose up and punched him in the face. The blow was blindingly quick. The bones of Harbinger’s hands were like steel rods. He moved so fast that Franks had absorbed half a dozen blows before the first one really registered. The back of Franks’ head smashed a hole through the wood. The piano vibrated and made terrible noises.