San Francisco Night by Stephen Leather Page B

But he lived in the city for many years and is very familiar with it.”
    Nightingale frowned. “Now that’s one heck of a coincidence,” he said.
    “What is?”
    “A monk from that monastery went missing about five months ago.”
    “Do you think that is connected to the Satanic group you were talking about?”
    “I hope not,” said Nightingale.
    “You can tell Father Benedict everything,” said Mrs Steadman. “I’ve known him a long time.”
    “Do you know if he reads Latin?”
    “I would be very surprised if he didn’t.”
    “You’re an angel,” said Nightingale.
    Mrs Steadman chuckled. “Now we both know that’s not true,” she said. “But I do appreciate the flattery. And remember what I said, Jack. Be careful.”
    “I will be,” said Nightingale. “Cross my heart.”
    She paused and for a moment Nightingale thought he had lost the connection. He moved the phone to his other ear and was just about to speak when she continued. “Something happened, didn’t it, Jack? You were in danger.” It was a statement, not a question.
    “I crossed paths with something that didn’t appear to have my best interests at heart,” he said.
    “Tell me.”
    Nightingale grimaced. After all her warnings, he was reluctant to tell her what had happened in Mitchell’s house, but he had the feeling that she already knew.  He told her, but kept the details to a minimum.
    “It was a Water Elemental, Jack,” she said. “Do you realize how much danger you were in?”
    “Of course. But all’s well that ends well. Really.”
    “Only the most powerful Satanists are capable of summoning and controlling a Water Elemental. You were lucky. They’re creatures born from filth and putrescence. Pure metals like gold and silver are about the only weakness they have.”
    “Yeah, I was lucky.”
    “I’ll say you were. But if they can summon one, they can summon more. And next time you might not be so lucky.”
    “I’ll keep my eyes open.”
    “I’m serious, Jack. This Elemental was guarding a house, you say?”
    “I’m pretty sure that’s what happened, yes. I went in and then it just sort of materialized.”
    “Then hopefully that will be the end of it,” she said. “But from now on you must be very careful. The people you are dealing with are capable of summoning other Elementals to pursue you.”
    “How exactly?”
    “If they get a lock of your hair, for instance. Or something very personal to you. They can summon an Elemental and send it after you. It will appear wherever you are. There would be no escape. Wherever you are in the world, it would appear.”
    Nightingale flashed back to the hellish cloud and he shuddered. “I’ll be careful, Mrs Steadman.”
    “There are four types. Earth, Fire, Water and Air. All are deadly.”
    “That’s what Joshua said,” began Nightingale, then he screwed up his face. Mrs Steadman didn’t have a high opinion of Joshua Wainwright.
    “I’m not surprised he is aware of Elementals,” she said frostily.
    “He said fire would kill an Earth Elemental, is that right?”
    “I believe so. And Fire Elementals can be killed with water. Pure water. The purer the better. Base metals can kill an Air Elemental. But Jack, you don’t want to go anywhere near an Elemental.”
    “I’ll do my best to avoid them,” said Nightingale.
    “I’m serious, Jack.” She sighed.  “I wish there was something else I could to help,” she said. “But my best advice would be for you to leave town right now. But even as I say that I know it’s not going to happen.”
     

CHAPTER 20 
     
    It took the SatNav just over an hour to guide Nightingale to the Our Lady Of Spring Bank Monastery. He drove up the tree lined main entrance and parked in front of the ‛Welcome Center’. The place looked more like a modern school than any monastery he’d ever seen before, though the chapter house and church looked more like Nightingale’s idea of traditional religious buildings. Everything was