Chapter Twenty-three

In the escalating storm, Harry uses the dissolving ectoplasm coating to slip Murphy’s small hand from the shared cuffs, freeing himself while EMTs tend her scorpion poisoning. Guilt gnaws at Harry, but he leaves before police arrive, trusting EMTs to stabilize Murphy and focusing on stopping Victor Sells.

Assessing the storm’s slow eastward roll, Harry realizes he can reach the Sells lake house before the strongest cells arrive. Though exhausted, injured, and missing his staff, rod, and shield bracelet, he leans on his pentacle, training, and anger, resolving to confront Victor directly.

Harry enters McAnally’s, finding Chicago’s minor practitioners sheltering from the magical fallout. He asks Mac for a car; Mac silently tosses him the keys. Warden Morgan then arrives, accuses Harry of using the storm for murder, and orders him to remain until the Council rules.

Knowing delay means death, Harry feigns compliance, then smashes a heavy chair into Morgan, dropping him. He confirms Morgan is alive, accepts Mac’s warning that the Council will be furious, and chooses the risk. Keys in hand, Harry walks back into the storm, effectively burning bridges with the Council to stop Victor before the storm amplifies more killings.