Chapter Three

After leaving the crime scene, Harry Dresden is collected by John Marcone and his enforcer Cujo Hendricks for a private talk. The ride to Harry’s office is tense, with Harry masking nerves behind humor while Hendricks glowers in silence.

Marcone proposes to retain Harry—paying Harry’s full fee for doing nothing, specifically to stay out of Murphy’s way and avoid investigating the Stanton–Tomm murders. When Harry hesitates, Marcone doubles the offer, indicating he wants the matter handled on his side and kept from police scrutiny.

Harry refuses. Locking eyes with Marcone, Harry inadvertently triggers a soulgaze. He perceives Marcone as a disciplined, efficient predator—ruthless without cruelty, furious over Tommy Tomm’s death, intent on controlling his domain—and senses a hidden, unerasable shame that fuels Marcone’s resolve. Harry realizes Marcone deliberately accepted the gaze to assess Harry in return.

Breaking the gaze, Marcone drops the genial act and advises Harry to catch a convenient flu and let him handle the situation. He denies threatening Harry, expressing respect for Harry’s reputed abilities, but clearly wants no interference. Harry bluffs a hard warning back despite his fear.

Marcone departs with Hendricks, and Harry, rattled by the stark strength he saw, recognizes he made a rough first impression. Still, he keeps his autonomy and heads upstairs, on time for his next appointment.