Brooks stepped out of the crowd of nearby soldiers. “Sir?”
“Brooks.”
“I’m familiar with the treatment for the more dangerous spider bites,” he looked at me, “It’s a protein-based venom?”
So the jerk is useful sometimes. I hadn’t liked Brooks since Lisa had introduced me to him, but I could respect someone who knew his job. ”Yeah.”
“Seems I can leave it to you, then,” Coil said. Brooks nodded. Coil added, “Failing everything else, it might serve as incentive to cooperate.”
“Or cause to get desperate,” Tattletale said. “She might do something stupid if she thinks she’ll die or suffer lifelong effects if she doesn’t get back to Bonesaw.”
“Let’s not give her the opportunity. Regent, how fast can you seize control?”
“A few hours.”
“Start now.”
Regent headed off to get changed.
“That leaves our unexpected guest,” Coil said. “Cherish.”
Regent hadn’t yet escaped earshot. He turned back to us. “She’ll have a trap on her. Small explosive looped around her neck with a lock and a deadman’s switch.”
“Thank you,” Coil said. ”Tattletale? See to it at the first opportunity.”
“Not a problem.”
We approached Cherish and Genesis. Cherish knelt in the small pile of glass shards that sat at the very bottom of the bubble. Her hands were pressed against the inside of the stomach, causing it to bulge like a small child in a womb. She was awake, but bleeding severely.
Coil gave the order, “If anyone acts out of character, take them out of action as swiftly as possible and shoot the girl.”
There were nods all around.
Cherish’s mouth moved, but the sound didn’t reach us.
“I did not expect her, and I did not take measures for containing her,” Coil said. “Keeping her on the premises may prove exceptionally dangerous.”
“The alternative being?” Trickster asked. ”Letting her go?”
“In the euphemistic sense. Her value as a captive is minimal and we have no way to secure her until Regent can finish using his ability on her.”
“He’s resistant to her power,” Tattletale said, “But that goes both ways. Don’t know how well he’d be able to control her. She might break free. Benefits of being family, I guess.”
“Then I would suggest, as Trickster said earlier, ‘letting her go’. We execute her and remove her from the equation,” Coil stated.
I looked at Cherish, and her eyes narrowed. She knew exactly what we were saying. Killing someone in cold blood? A little different than killing someone on the battlefield.
“Not giving you the go ahead,” I said. ”But I’m not about to stop you. I’m washing my hands of this.”
“The intent was to remove individuals from the Nine before they could conduct their round of tests, yes? This seems to be the most expedient route.”
“Not disagreeing,” I said. ”But I didn’t sign up to be an executioner. I manage my district and I help defend your city from outsiders, right?”
“Quite right. No, I think your service this morning has been exemplary.”
I only barely managed to avoid bringing up the deal about Dinah. No, it was premature, the wrong people were listening, and I was worried he would point out the fact that my territory had been torched by Burnscar.
Best to keep quiet for now. Rebuild, re-establish myself as leader of my territory, then raise the topic.
Whatever happened, I needed his respect.
We turned our attention to our captive. She had raised her hands above her head in a surrender position, despite the hole in her shoulder.
“Do we risk it?” Trickster asked. ”Letting her out?”
“Nothing she can’t do outside the bubble that she couldn’t do inside,” Tattletale replied. Coil nodded, and that seemed to be signal enough.
Genesis began to dissolve, and in moments, Cherish spilled out, wincing as she cut her hands and knees on the glass that Shatterbird had detached from her costume and weaponized.
Tattletale bent down and looked at the device that hung around Cherish’s neck. ”Small explosive, combination lock. A bit paranoid?”
“No such thing as too paranoid,” Cherish said, glaring. ”Between my brother and the crap that Bonesaw and the rest of the team want to subject me to, knowing I’ll die if I leave that thing alone long enough actually helps me sleep at night.”
“Can’t have that,” Tattletale said. Changing the topic, she asked, “You like computers?”
“Computers?” Cherish startled. She seemed to intuit what Tattletale was doing. ”Not saying.”
“Clever girl, but even that’s enough of a clue. Let’s see… four, five, four five.” Tattletale tugged on the lock. ”Nope. Three, seven, three, seven.”
The lock popped open. Cherish’s eyes opened wide.
“There goes your bargaining chip.”
“I’ve got more,” Cherish said, her chin rising a fraction.
“Do tell,” Coil said, dryly.
“Certain teammate of yours paid me a visit. Imp, I think her name was? So hard to remember.”
“What did you do to Imp?” I asked. Grue is going to freak out.
Cherish smiled, “She decided to help me get back at the Nine. They’re planning on inflicting a fate worse than death on me, you see. There was a reason I pretended not to notice you were all waiting in ambush. Thought maybe the brat passed on word somehow, until you used that sucker-teleport on me and shot me. Suppose you’ll have to give me medical attention and keep me alive if you want the rest of the story.”
“And your other bargaining chip?” Trickster asked.
“Grue. I can sense him with my power. I can also sense my team. They got their hands on darkness boy.”
I swear my heart stuttered mid-beat.
Cherish smiled, but her glare didn’t fade in intensity. ”My teammates and I already talked on the subject of Jean Paul, aka Hijack, aka Alec, aka Regent… You got Shatter, and you got me. We’re compromised. No way they’re going to accept us back with open arms. They’d kill us first. So no, don’t get your hopes up. My teammates aren’t going to agree to a hostage exchange.”
13.07
“Where is he?” I growled.
“As if I’m going to tell you. To think Jack called you the clever worm.”
“Don’t call me that.” I felt a flare of irritation that bordered on anger. Was that me, or was it her power at work?
Tattletale put a hand on my shoulder. I shut my mouth. She asked Cherish, “What do you want in exchange for your help? You want us to let you go?”
Cherish laughed a little, and it reminded me of Alec’s own dry chuckle. ”No. Definitely not. In exchange for the information about what the Imp is up to, you’re going to give me medical treatment, you’re going to keep me here, and you’re going to keep me safe.”
“And for the info on Grue?” Tattletale asked.
“I’m thinking a billion-” Cherish winced as she moved mid-sentence and pulled at the wound.
“A billion dollars so you can scamper off to the other side of the world and live the good life while you hide from those bastards,” Tattletale finished.
“Right. Or are you going to tell me that’s too much? Is your teammate’s life worth a smaller amount? Where do you draw the line, Ms. Frowny-face?”
Tattletale glanced at me. I looked, in turn, to Coil. He gave me a barely perceptible shake of his head. He wouldn’t fork over the amount.
“You’re not really in a position to be making demands,” Trickster said. ”You’re bleeding to death, and we do have the ability to hurry the process along.”
Cherish shrugged. ”Bonesaw gave me the works. Mesh sheaths for every major artery and organ, wire reinforcement for my skeleton. It’s not going to kill me anytime soon.”
I made a mental note of that. Chances were good that Jack, Bonesaw and the other more vulnerable mem
bers of the Nine had some similar protection. How differently would things have played out if Ballistic had used his power and blown them up?
“I could,” Trickster threatened. ”Or we could wait and see which happens first: Either you agree to share the information we want or you slowly bleed out.”
“A game of chicken? I’m down.” Cherish prodded her injury with a fingertip. It was clear it hurt, but she still stuck a finger into the hole and investigated some. ”The auto-injection pump is dosing me with painkillers and antibiotics now. First time feeling this stuff work.”
“Letting that… lunatic perform surgery like that?” Sundancer asked, shivering a little. ”How? Why?”
“Not much choice in the matter, but I was awake for the entire thing, and I read her emotions as she did it. No hint of any traps or dirty tricks.”
Tattletale glanced at the bullet hole in Cherish’s chest. ”I’m suspicious it’s so routine for her that there wouldn’t even be a blip on the radar if she did try something.”
Cherish leaned forward, “Are we going to do this? Test your perceptive abilities against mine? Some intellectual jousting?”
Tattletale shook her head. ”She’s stalling. She knows time’s on her side, because we need to rescue Grue sooner than later. Longer we wait, the worse our position.”
“I admit I’m at something of a loss.” Coil sounded pensive, as he looked at our captive. ”Where do we put her?”
“Jack did research on you assholes,” Cherish cut in, still trying to distract us, “I know your schtick, Tattletale. Pick at people’s weaknesses, tell them stuff they don’t want to know. I can do the same thing. I’m better at it than you are.”
“It’s a bit of a crazy idea,” I said, ignoring her. ”But what if we didn’t stash her in this base? Or any of the others? We put her anywhere in the city, there’s the risk that some unwitting John, Dick or Harry will come by, and she’ll get them to help her somehow. Can’t station guards on her, so… why not the water?”
“A boat?” Ballistic asked.
“I could tell you a story,” Cherish said, “Little girl grows up with money. Daddy pulls in six figures, maybe seven. Massive house, I expect. Maybe horses, a mercedes, indoor and outdoor pools…”
“I was thinking about a buoy,” I replied, speaking over her. ”Could even rig things so she’s out of sight. Cuff her to it, we can be pretty damn sure she won’t be getting free.”
“But what about boats coming by?” Sundancer asked.
“Almost no boats on the water,” I replied. ”Coastline is a mess, thanks to Leviathan. Ships can’t dock here.”
“Good,” Coil said. ”Then as soon as she is given some basic medical care, I’ll have my men take her out there. I’ll need to work out measures to ensure she doesn’t escape.”
“So the little girl who wanted for nothing still found a reason to run away from home. Spent life homeless on the streets. Stealing and dealing for petty cash so she could eat. What would make someone leave home like that, Tattletale?”
Coil turned to the soldier next to him, “Can you go find Pitter and bring him here? I want her sedated sooner than later.”
The soldier nodded and headed off to find the medic. He winked at Tattletale as he jogged by. I’d met him. Not one of Tattletale’s soldiers, but I’d crossed paths with him. Fish? Seemed like he and Tattletale were getting along.
“That’s a mistake,” Cherish smiled. ”Without my cooperation, you won’t find them. You won’t be able to contact Imp or know where to look for her brother.”
“Tattletale?” Coil spoke.
“You already informed us on most of that,” Tattletale told Cherish. She leaned against the wall. ”Your method of communication with Imp. You’re planning on meeting her. Afternoon? Evening?”
“As if I’m-”
“Late afternoon. Thanks.”
“What?” Cherish frowned.
“What time in the afternoon? Four… five… six. Six o’clock. There we go. Where? Upper end of town or downtown?”
“I’m not saying anything!”
“You’re telling me everything.” Tattletale must be reading Cherish’s tells. Her body language, eye movements, her tone and word choice. “Let’s see, you’re meeting Imp downtown around six. You would have made it a place where you could talk with her for a minute while you were out of sight of the others. Bathroom?”
Cherish didn’t move a muscle. Maybe she realized what Tattletale was doing.
“Bathroom, then. Same building as the rest of the Nine? Now we just need to dig up where they are, and you’ve got no cards left. Unless you want to share that information in good faith.”
There was no response from our prisoner.
“Hmmm,” Tattletale said. ”She’s cornered, and she’s probably contemplating something like suicide by cop. Or whatever the term is when the other group aren’t cops. She’d rather die than have us turn her over to her teammates, so she’ll try a gambit like using her powers, knowing we’ll probably gun her down.”
“Got any ideas?” Trickster asked her.
“She liked the dead man’s switch for her suicide collar. Why don’t we set up something similar? Put a soldier on guard somewhere nearby. We schedule it so he receives a note from us every fifteen minutes. If he doesn’t get it, he passes a message to the Nine telling them exactly where to find Cherish?”
I could see Cherish tense.
“How do we get a message to them without them killing the messenger?”
“We can work it out.” Tattletale shrugged. She looked at Trickster, “You think Oliver could handle it?”
Trickster nodded. “I’ll get him on thinking up some way to arrange this.”
“Tattletale.” Coil spoke, “Can you gather the rest of the details from her before we secure her offshore?”
“So long as she doesn’t get stupid and try to do something more than talk.”
Cherish decided to speak up. ”Who’s next? Who should I dish the dirt on? Feeling homesick, Trickster? Scared little boy pretending to be a leader. It’s your fault, you know. She blames you. Everyone does. They’re even starting to hate you.”
“Can we talk without her in earshot?” I asked.
Coil nodded and gestured for us to leave. His soldiers moved to Cherish’s side and gripped her arms.
“No point!” Cherish grinned, “I’ll know what you’re talking about. Can’t keep secrets from me!”
“But you won’t be sidetracking us,” I replied.
“You failed, you know,” Cherish said, changing tacks. ”When someone has an obsession like you do, it’s like a giant neon sign to an empath like me. All it takes is for me to peek into Coil’s head, peek into the hearts of everyone else in this base, and I know you’ll never get what you want. You won’t save her. You can’t. Window of opportunity is long gone.”
I jabbed her where the bullet hole was. The strength went out of her legs and she fell to her hands and knees. I stepped back, drew in a slow breath and then kicked her in the face. She fell to the ground.
“Skitter.” Coil’s word was without inflection. There was no admonishment or warning to it. I took it as a reminder of where I was, which might have been his intent.
“We can talk about that later,” I told him, “My priority right now is Grue.”
Coil nodded.
I glanced down at Cherish. ”Hope Bonesaw reinforced your teeth while she was fixing you up.”
“She did,” Cherish muttered, one hand to her mouth.
I kicked her in the head once more for good measure, and then turned away, my hands raised to assure the others I was done.
“That’s enough,” Coil said. He signaled his men. ”Take the prisoner to the coastline and find a spot to depart.”
Cherish was dragged off to a point further down the catwalk. Her shouts reached us well after she was out of sight, “Your boss is screwing you! All of you! You have no idea how badly! You’re cogs in his machine, and he’s only st
eps away from pulling it all together. Get rid of the Nine, stage the final play with everyone in their proper spots, but then he doesn’t need you anymore!”
“Sowing dissension in the ranks,” Coil said. He sounded remarkably calm given what Cherish had been saying. ”Nothing more.”
“Right. She could be lying,” Trickster ventured.
“She is. Mostly,” Tattletale said.
I doubted anyone believed what the three were saying. At the same time, nobody here was in a position to walk away in response to this unconfirmed information.
“Tattletale, see to the interrogation,” Coil ordered.
“Okay.”
“That leaves the remainder of us to decide on a way of rescuing the others.”
I fidgeted. The idea of Brian in the hands of the Nine was… daunting. Was Siberian eating him alive, literally? Was he at the mercies of Mannequin? Jack could be torturing him for details on us. Or he could be in Bonesaw’s clutches.
Chances were good that they were pissed. Jack excepted, maybe. He’d seemed to like our ambush. In any event, any anger or sadistic tendencies were likely to be taken out on Brian.
Fuck. I kept imagining uglier and uglier possibilities.
“They’re going to be waiting and ready. We’ll need help, I think,” I said.
“Help?” Trickster turned my way. ”You’re forgetting that the rest of the factions in the city have made a pact against us.”
“Not everybody there agreed,” I said. ”There was one group at the meeting that didn’t agree to the pact.”
“Am I remembering wrong?” Trickster asked. ”Coil, Merchants, Chosen, Faultline’s group…”
“That’s right,” I said.
“What are you thinking, then?” Sundancer asked.
“Coil,” I said, “You got some surveillance gear for Tattletale, right? Can I see it?”
■
Trickster accompanied me. We didn’t get the benefit of Bitch’s dogs. She’d wanted to check on her territory and take care of her dogs. I’d grudgingly agreed that she should take care of that, and Trickster and I had set off alone.
I gave him a sidelong glance as we ascended the stairs of the empty apartment building. What had Cherish said? Scared little boy? She blames you. They all do. I could remember Sundancer’s remarks on the drama in the group and how lonely it was to be around them. I recalled Genesis seeming less than thrilled when her team arrived last night. Was Trickster at the center of it? He was more ruthless than his comrades, which was interesting because his power was the least lethal. It might have been a point of contention. But what would he have done that the others would blame him for?
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