by S. C. Stokes
Sanders ground his teeth. "I wouldn't if I were you. Whatever happens, I would be sure to kill you first."
Hades smiled, revealing two rows of perfectly straight teeth. "I don't doubt it at all. I just wanted to be sure. It's been a pleasure to meet you, Director Sanders. Or should I just call you Noah?"
Sanders raised his hand, but Hades pushed it down.
"No need for that here. The ADI's influence holds no sway here. Whatever reward they are offering, we couldn't care less. These are strange times indeed, and I find that the enemy of my enemy is now my friend. So go in peace. We will talk again soon, Sanders."
Chapter Eleven
Kasey's body was on fire. From her head to her feet, everything felt like one enormous bruise. With each beat of her heart, her body throbbed.
The fight with Dozer had been more taxing than she had expected. She had spent most of the first day sleeping it off in the hotel room, but now it was time to get her body moving again. She decided to pick up some much-needed supplies.
Slowly but surely, she made her way down the busy streets of Manhattan. All around her, the city was alive. Pedestrians thronged the street, from tourists taking in the Big Apple to business people making their way around town.
Kasey never got tired of the city. Wearing her illusion as a mask, she wandered through the city. It would not serve her to be identified as Kasey Chase. The ADI’s misinformation campaign continued to run on TV stations and in the newspaper.
So once more, Kasey was Jen Kaswell. Wearing another's identity was beginning to wear on her. It wasn’t just the physical drain of maintaining the illusion, but the emotional drain also. In the last week, she had spent more time as others than she had as herself. There was little choice though—the ADI was relentless.
Reaching the store she sought, Kasey pushed open the glass door and wandered in. The small electronics retailer sat nestled in a series of shops that occupied the first floor of an apartment building. Residential apartments towered overhead, obscuring the afternoon sun that was soon to descend. Behind the desk was a Latino man in his thirties. He was standing behind a display cabinet with a glass top. Along each of the walls rested row upon row of cell phone accessories.
"Can I help you with something?” the clerk asked.
"Sure, I'm looking for a 450 Flip,” Kasey said.
The man raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? We carry the latest smart phones. Why would you want to buy something so ancient? It doesn't even have a camera.”
She had to admire the man's roundabout efforts at an up-sell, but in her current state, it was the last thing on her mind.
She approached the counter and leaned on it. "I don't need anything fancy, but I do need a few of them. I won't be using them for long, if you get my drift.”
The clerk perked up. "A few of them? Well, I'm sure we can do you a deal if you're buying in bulk."
"You read my mind,” Kasey replied. “I'll take six. I need them set up, loaded, and ready to go.”
The man smiled, reached beneath the bench, and drew out a box before placing it on the countertop. “Normally, these go for ninety dollars, one-hundred and ten if we do the set up, but for you, my lovely lady, I’ll do the six for five-fifty. Would you like them prepaid or on a plan?"
“Prepaid will be fine,” Kasey said, reaching into her knapsack, she pulled out several bills and handed them to the clerk. If he had any skepticism about the wad of cash, he kept it to himself.
"I'll just take the phones, too. I have no need for the boxes and one charger should suffice. "
"Very well,” the clerk said, picking up the box. “I'll just be a couple of minutes setting things up. Feel free to browse the store or grab a cup of coffee. I'll be with you shortly."
Coffee. Now there's an idea.
"I'll be back in ten,” she replied, heading for the exit. She pulled open the heavy glass panel door and stepped back onto the street.
She didn't have to go far. Parked on the street corner was a coffee cart. Its barista churned out order after order for the anxious queue that waited for him.
There were a half a dozen people ahead of her in line, not that it mattered. She was in no particular hurry today. She simply needed to get the phones and make her way back to the hotel. With the ADI stepping up their campaign against her, she had calls to make.
Sanders had observed the ADI watching the 9th Precinct; it was safe to say they were keeping tabs on Kasey’s friends and family too. She would need burner phones to keep her communications away from the prying eyes and ears of the ADI.
She’d not spoken to her mother in weeks and knew the ADI's current smear campaign would be taking a toll.
Sanders had mentioned he had a few calls that he wanted to make also. In spite of the ADI’s consistent harrying, Sanders remained determined that there were agents still sympathetic to his cause. Sanders was determined to reach out to them in his search for allies.
Kasey took a step forward as yet another patron received their coffee. Sanders had been gone when she woke up. A note on the table told her he’d gone to Hades to make the payment.
At first, Kasey was irritable that she had been left behind, but as she had hobbled around the suite, she had seen the wisdom in his course of action. There was no need for Kasey to ever see Hades and his malicious little pet again. Sanders had likely gone solo to avoid antagonizing the situation further.
Besides, his choice had given her the opportunity to relax and clear her mind. It was a valuable chance to consider the plan ahead. Now that they had secured the support of the Underworld, they still needed an opportunity to take a run at Arthur Ainslie.
He'd not been seen in public since their attack on the ADI. So, Kasey was wanting any lead she could get on his whereabouts. When it came to information on the Shinigami posing as Arthur Ainslie, she had only one card left to play.
Oh, John. She was reluctant to call him for many reasons. Ever since their dinner date, she hadn't known how to feel. She had thoroughly been enjoying herself until Sanders had interrupted the evening in spectacular style.
The fact that she had any feelings other than frustration was still something she was trying to come to terms with. The thought of calling him now was causing her heart to race.
How would she explain away the fact that she'd been seen helping Sanders break into the ADI? How could she explain that she was working with the man who was trying to kill his father? How could she explain working with a murderer?
Of course, all of the accusations against Sanders were false, but she was one of the few people alive who knew so. To the rest of the world, Sanders was a wanted criminal. How could she explain to John that the man he was reconciling with wasn't his father at all, but a mass murdering psychopath trying to destroy the city and the lives of millions of people?
She had considered calling him many times, wanting to warn him about how much danger he was in. Each time she had picked up the phone though, Kasey had forced herself to reconsider.
For the time being, John was stuck spending every day with the man posing as his father. If she told John and he slipped, if he gave away any indication of Arthur’s true identity, his own life would be in danger. It was better for him if Kasey kept the knowledge to herself.
Now she wondered if she would have any other choice. John would surely demand an answer of her. If she wanted to know where the Shinigami Master posing as his father was, she would need to talk to John.
“I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it,” Kasey told herself as she stepped up to the coffee cart.
One problem at a time.
"What can I get you?” the barista asked with a smile.
"Double shot latte, please,” Kasey said.
"And what name should I put that under?”
"Ka… Jen,” Kasey replied, having to catch herself.
"Lovely to meet you, Jen. I'll just be a moment.” The barrister tinkered away behind his cart. In moments, he was holding a fresh cup of steaming
coffee. "Here you go, Jen. That'll be four-fifty.”
Kasey drew out her wallet and lifted out a fifty dollar note. The barista nodded as he counted out her change. Palming the change, Kasey pushed the notes and coins into her wallet and took a tight-lipped swig of the hot coffee. The warm brew heated her up from the inside out, and she let out a satisfied, albeit involuntary, moan of delight.
She turned to walk away.
“Have a great day, Jen!” the barista called with a wide smile.
Kasey nodded and made her way back to the electronics store. Entering the shop, she found the clerk waiting for her. Six phones were stacked neatly on the countertop with the charger sitting by them.
"Six phones, one charger, all on prepaid plans, waiting and ready to go.” The clerk swept his hand over the phones.
Kasey set down the coffee, then scooped up the phones and dropped them into her knapsack.
"Thank you, that's excellent.” As she picked up the charger, the man held out his hand to stop her.
"If you need any others, simply give us a call and I'll have them ready for you.”
"Will do. Thanks for the phones." She tossed the charger in the sack and drew out the first phone. As she made her way out of the store, she raised the phone and dialed a number she knew by heart.
The phone rang three times before a familiar voice answered, "Hello?"
Kasey choked back tears. “Hey Mom.”
"Kasey?” her mother almost squealed. “Where have you been? I've been worried sick."
Kasey ran one hand through her hair as she clutched the phone in the other. "I have been all over. I’m sorry I haven't called. It wasn't safe. I didn't want to put you or Dad at risk."
"Kasey, what's going on? They are saying the most horrible things about you on the news."
"It's all lies, Mom. Misinformation spread by the council to turn the public against us."
“Us?” her mother asked. “So, you are with him then? Director Sanders? They say he's a killer."
Kasey shook her head. This wasn't going well at all. "That’s what I thought too, at first. But it looks like he was being framed. I saw the body and I had a vision. It definitely wasn't him. He's been set up."
"By who?”
"I can't tell you. Not without putting you in even greater danger. Right now, they are only after us. I don't want to drag you into this too."
"I'm your mother. I'm already in this. Whatever this is."
“No, Mom. I just wanted to let you know I was safe. I'm safe and we have a plan to put things back to normal.”
"So why are the ADI hunting you, Kasey? They came by the house. They asked if I'd seen you."
"Sorry, Mom, just tell them the truth. You don’t know anything, so there’s nothing to tell. The ADI are after us because we broke into the Arcane Council."
Her mother’s tone grew tenser with every sentence. “The Arcane Council? Kasey, are you crazy? There are wizards who have been killed for less."
"I had to do it, Mom. I needed the truth. There was no other way. At least now we know what we're dealing with. We just need the last few pieces to fall into place."
Her mother drew a deep breath. "Kasey, what are you up to? What are you planning?”
Kasey looked up as she crossed the street. "It's better you don't know. It's better that no one knows. Don't worry, I'll be home soon."
Before her mother could reply, Kasey cut the call and snapped the flip phone in half. She threw both halves into a nearby trashcan and continued walking.
It bothered her that her mother had even asked if she were guilty. Surely, by now, she'd earned the benefit of the doubt.
She's just worried about me.
Her mother was amongst the most overprotective women on the planet. She would go to her grave before she let harm come to Kasey. Even grown up, Kasey had never quite been able to slip her mother’s watchful eye.
Either way, at least her mother knew she was safe. Hopefully it would all be over soon. With Hades’ help and the men he had pledged, shortly the reign of the Shinigami would be brought to an end, and the Arcane Council would be free of their influence.
Sanders certainly seemed confident that without the Shinigami in charge, he would win back control of the ADI. More importantly, the Shinigami plot against the city would be brought to an end. The city would be safe, and the vision that Kasey had witnessed all too often since her twelfth birthday would be a distant memory. It was a sight that she hoped never to see again.
She quickened her pace. Even though she was wearing an illusion, she couldn't help but feel that people were watching her. Being hunted by the ADI had made her paranoid.
Knowing they were willing to kill her on sight had her wired and on high alert, but constantly looking over her shoulder was starting to take a toll on her.
She reached the hotel and slid through the revolving door. Crossing the lobby, she made her way straight for the elevators. Pressing the up arrow, she was relieved when one of the sets of gold leaf doors parted. The elevator was waiting for her.
She stepped inside and punched the button for the penthouse.
The penthouse suite had been a rare treat. A far cry from her dingy apartment, it had certainly been a welcome relief after weeks of staying in dilapidated motels across the city.
The elevator arrived and the doors parted.
As she made her way down the corridor a woman pushing a room service cart was leaving the penthouse.
The woman stepped aside and pushed open the door with her hand.
“I’ve just finished. If you need anything else, please don't hesitate to call," the woman said.
"Thanks," Kasey replied, slipping past her into the room. After sliding the door closed behind her, she reached for the chain and locked the door. She turned to face the room. “Sanders, are you here?”
No reply was forthcoming. It seemed he hadn't finished with Hades yet.
Kasey worried that the self-elected ruler of the Underworld might have gone back on their deal.
What would she do if Sanders didn't return?
She shook off the thought. It didn’t bear thinking about. Their current plan may have been bold and direct, but it was just what was needed. The ADI thought they had them on the run.
A direct assault against the Chancellor after days of fleeing would certainly take them by surprise. The additional manpower Hades had promised had really opened up their options.
There was a knock at the door.
Kasey crossed the room and stared through the peephole. The housekeeper stood at the door with her cart.
"Hello?" Kasey called without opening the door.
"Hi, it's me again. I'm sorry, I think I left my mop in the bathroom. Could I grab it?"
Kasey undid the chain and opened the door.
As the door opened, she saw a shadow fall across the cleaner’s face. The shadow was cast by an enormous skinhead in a black leather jacket.
Kasey's mouth began to move, until she spotted the black pistol pointed directly at her chest.
Chapter Twelve
Kasey stared at the jet-black pistol leveled at her chest. Her mind raced a million miles an hour, but she didn't dare move. At this range, there was no way she would be able to raise a shield in time. She would be shot just like Sanders had been in the Underpass.
Her assailant had the drop on her. If she lowered her hands to make a play for the gun, she was just as likely to catch a bullet.
The thug stared at her intently, his cold steely gaze meeting her own. "Don't even think about it. Just one word and you are dead. I saw the footage from the bunker. If you so much as open your mouth without my say so, I'll kill you. Understood?"
Kasey nodded slowly.
"Inside, now. Both of you."
The thug placed one hand on the housekeeper and forced her inside the room. His hand holding the pistol never deviated from Kasey, not even for a moment.
Kasey backed slowly into the room. The thug followed her inside, c
losing the door behind him.
"Over there on the couch, both of you. Sit down, slowly. I'm warning you. If you make a move, she’ll certainly die." The thug nodded at the housekeeper. "Then you will follow shortly thereafter. Who knows, maybe you'll die first. Just try it and we'll see.”
The man was Night Crew. Kasey had no doubt about that. His appearance, the accent, everything pointed toward that certainty.
But how did he find us here?
The illusions they had used to shroud their identity should have been more than enough to throw the Night Crew off their trail for good.
Unless it wasn’t us they were following. It must be the money.
With the volume of cash they had witnessed in the stash house, it made sense that the Night Crew would have some way of tracking their ill-gotten gains. Perhaps some sort of device concealed with the notes themselves.
"I want to know where our money is. All of it. You are either ignorant or have a death wish to steal from the Night Crew.” The thug shook his head. “Have you not heard?"
Kasey stared down the thug. "Heard what? That the Night Crew lost millions of dollars, and dozens of men in a single night? No, I hadn't. In fact, I have no idea what you're talking about.”
"Don't play with me,” the thug threatened. “We have means of making you tell us what we wish to know."
Kasey ran her fingers through her hair. "I have no idea what you're talking about, or what you want to know. I don't even know who you are.”
The man reached into his pocket and drew out his cell phone. Setting the cell phone on the coffee table, he slid it in front of Kasey. A map of Manhattan was blown up on the screen. A red dot blinked in exactly the place the hotel occupied.
"I know money is here in this building. The manager was most helpful with my inquiries. There were few couples who checked in the night we were robbed. Of those who checked in, only you were using a false identity. I think we can all agree that this is too great a coincidence to be ignored.”
"I’m sorry to disappoint, but that’s exactly what it is. A coincidence. You’ve got the wrong room. I don't know what else I can tell you," Kasey replied.