Hunter

by Sharon Partington

  Good enough.

  “I also need propane canisters,” I said. “The kind military cook-stoves use.”

  The junk dealer nodded, his bald head bobbing as he shuffled to a bin at the back of the store. He returned with a box of about two dozen canisters, setting it on the counter.

  “I’ll take them all,” I said.

  He hesitated. “I have a client who purchases these quite regularly. She’ll be disappointed to learn I’m sold out.”

  I doubt it, you creepy little shit.

  “That’s not my problem. Will you sell them to me or not?”

  The dealer grinned. “Of course. Business is business, after all. The canisters and the scanner together come to seven hundred credits.”

  I paid him what was probably about six hundred fifty credits too much, then placed the scanner in the box on top of the canisters as the junk dealer hurried around the counter to open the door for us.

  “Let’s go,” I muttered to Jak. “Before I choke the slippery bastard.”

  ◆◆◆

  The sun was rising when we returned to the warehouse. I stuck the scanner in my bag, then stowed the box of canisters under the table. Jak put the water on for tea before bringing down the food box. He sliced us a portion of bread and cheese and we sat at the table, eating in silence.

  The outside door thumped shut, and a few minutes later Kyr joined us. She pulled four long, narrow boxes of candles, a plastic bag filled with dark tea leaves, a second bag filled with a white granular substance I figured must be sugar or salt, and half a dozen bars of dark gray soap out of her backpack. It looked like my cash donation had been put to good use. She sighed as she sank into her chair. Jak gathered up her newly acquired supplies and put them away, then hacked her off some bread and cheese before making the tea.

  “Did you see Miri?” she asked me.

  “Yeah. I’ll bring her out tonight.”

  Kyr closed her eyes and breathed a small sigh of relief.

  “Is she well?”

  “She’s fine,” I said, ignoring Jak’s lecherous grin.

  “And Sendren?”

  “He’ll be dead this time tomorrow.”

  Kyr nodded. “I’ve made some progress in my portion of our bargain. A man I know has contacts within the government. He’s agreed to make discreet inquiries about your Wynn Delaren, but because of her alleged relationship to the president, it’ll be difficult, and he expects to be compensated accordingly.”

  “When do you see him again?”

  “He hopes to have something for me in a day or two. You can come with me, when I meet with him.”

  “Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome,” said Kyr as she rubbed her eyes. “I think we should get some sleep. The next few days promise to be very eventful.”

  I chuckled. “You could say that. Oh yeah,” I pulled the box of propane canisters out from under the table. “These are for you.”

  Her eyes widened in surprise as she looked from them to me. “Where did you...?” Realization dawned and she blushed, her eyes filling with tears as she shifted her gaze to her cup. “Thank you,” she whispered.

  “I’m just paying my way,” I said gently as I got up from the table.

  I moved to the sleeping area and sat on the cot to kick off my boots, then I lay down with a weary sigh, covering myself with the blanket. Tonight Jak would take me back to the brothel. I’d liberate Miri then use the scanner to find and eliminate Rikkar Sendren.

  I closed my eyes, listening to the sound of murmured conversation as Kyr and Jak spoke on the other side of the divider. After a few minutes Jak’s footsteps pattered away and the springs on Kyr’s bed squeaked.

  I hadn’t known them long, but I already felt a strange sense of responsibility for them— especially for Jak. I knew they didn’t need me to watch out for them; they’d been taking care of each other pretty well before I showed up, and they’d continue to do that after I left. Still, Jak was just a kid, despite the rough edges and tough-guy attitude. He reminded me a little of myself about the time my mother died. I’d been a little less openly abrasive, but the level of stubbornness was about the same. I’d been pissed at the world. Pissed at my dad. Just...generally pissed at everything. I’d been determined to carve my own path, and to hell with everyone. I could see that in Jak. He’d survive because he wouldn’t give fate the satisfaction of grinding him into the dirt.

  Kyr had lived a lifetime in her seventeen years. She’d seen and experienced things no child should ever have to. She’d had no one to rely on. No one to protect or comfort her. Except, apparently, Miri. All three of them deserved better than the hand fate had dealt them. Maybe tonight I could even their odds a little.

  Chapter 19

  When I woke up Jak had a gift for me: a force field neutralizer he’d built from the electrical components he’d liberated from the junk dealer. He looked almost embarrassed as he handed it to me and explained how it worked. I was impressed, he was turning out to be a handy little shit to have around.

  He took me back to the brothel as the sun set. According to our plan, he’d wait in the alley for me to bring Miri out, neutralize the tracking device, and take her back to the warehouse and Kyr. I’d take care of Sendren and join them later.

  I studied the readout on the scanner. The house had four levels. The basement contained half a dozen small rooms and two larger ones. The smaller rooms were empty, the largest of the others held three occupants, the scanner indicating considerable electrical energy coming from that one—the security room, no doubt. The remaining basement room was also empty. Probably a storage room or pantry. The main level had one room at the front of the house: the reception area. It also had two longer rooms behind that took up the rest of the floor. Probably the kitchen and dining areas. Level two contained ten smaller rooms: these would belong to Sendren’s whores. A single large room took up the entire fourth level: Sendren’s personal domain would be my guess. According to the scanner, there were twenty six people in the house, two of them in Sendren’s apartment.

  Apparently, the Master was entertaining his evening.

  I passed the scanner to Jak. “I’ll be back shortly.”

  He nodded and I crossed the street to the front door. Rayna, the receptionist smiled as she recognized me. “Welcome back. I’ll let Miri know you’re here.”

  I stood at the window, watching the street. I hoped Miri remembered what I’d said about our imaginary engagement being informal, otherwise she’d have an uncomfortable hike back to the warehouse.

  “Good evening,” said her voice from behind me.

  She wore a pale yellow shift over white leggings, the shift gathered at the waist with a pewter chain-link belt. A fringed ivory shawl was draped over her shoulders and flat gold colored sandals decorated her feet. An amber and silver comb held her hair in place and the emerald choker still flashed at her throat. She looked casually stunning.

  “Good evening,” I replied, “are you ready?”

  She nodded. “Yes.”

  “Payment must be made before Miri leaves the house,” said Rayna.

  I drew out my credit chip and slid it across the mahogany desk. Rayna completed the transaction and passed it back to me.

  “Thank you,” she said. “Enjoy your evening.”

  It was the fastest twenty-five grand I ever spent.

  I offered Miri my arm and we left the house, pausing on the front step as I adjusted her shawl. She trembled so badly I thought she’d fall down.

  “Are you all right?” I asked.

  She drew a deep breath and closed her eyes. “Yes.”

  She didn’t look all right. She looked scared to death. “Are you sure?”

  She nodded, clinging to my arm as I helped her down the stairs to the street.

  “I have a friend in the alley. He’ll take you to Kyr after he gets rid of that tracking device.”

  “I...there’s a problem. If the choker isn’t removed in a certain way, I’ll be injected wi
th hydracor venom. Rikkar added the poison this morning.”

  I remembered what Korsin had told me about that particular poison, and the unwelcome image of a terrified Gina flashed through my mind. My arm around Miri’s shoulders tightened. “So he doesn’t trust either of us.”

  He hadn’t checked my Melardis reference though, otherwise Guild lackeys would have greeted me instead of Rayna, and Miri and I would be both be dead. “Where is it?”

  “Behind the stone,” whispered Miri. “The setting is hollow.”

  Jak stepped from the shadows as we entered the alley. He cursed as I told him about the venom. “I won’t be able to get the choker off here, then. I’ll have to wait till I can see what I’m doing. Where’s the tracker?”

  “In the jewel itself,” said Miri.

  Jak sighed his disappointment. “It’s synthetic then. Kinda too bad, I was hopin’ we could sell it.” He looked at me. “Catch up with you later?”

  I nodded as he passed me the scanner. “I’ll be back by sunset tomorrow. If I’m not, go through my bag—it’s underneath Kyr’s extra bed. In the side compartment, you’ll find the name of a friend of mine, Kenny Briani, along with the call sign of his ship. Find a way to reach him, and he’ll get you off the planet.”

  Jak grinned. “You’ll be back long before sunset.”

  I smiled. “I’ll do my best. Go on, Kyr’s expecting you.”

  I watched them disappear down the alley, waiting until they were out of sight. They’d be taking the scenic route back to the warehouse. I looked back to the brothel.

  It was time for my appointment with Sendren.

  I crossed the street, staying to the shadows as I headed for the rear of the house. The small yard ended at a chain-link fence bordering the alley. The only light came from a street lamp in the alley itself, and it didn’t extend much beyond the lamp post. Lights shone in a few of the brothel’s upper windows but the basement and main floor were dark. A concrete stairwell ended at a dark green wooden door. The windows all carried the faint telltale shimmer of the force field. I tried the door on the off chance it had been left unlocked.

  Nope. Shut tight. I’d have to go in through the basement window.

  I placed Jak’s neutralizer against the glass and turned the dial. I felt a small vibration, saw a brief spark. The blue shimmer on the window disappeared.

  Huh. Look at that. The thing actually worked.

  I broke the glass with my elbow, and reached in to unlatch the window and push it open. I crawled carefully through, avoiding the shards of broken glass embedded in the frame. The last thing I needed was to slice myself open and leave a blood-trail throughout the house.

  Well stocked shelves filled the room, and sacks of what looked like flour, salt, and sugar were stacked against the wall. I ducked behind a large, wooden vegetable bin as the door opened and the overhead light came on.

  One of Sendren’s goons, come to investigate.

  He walked to the window and paused, kneeling to study the glass on the floor. I shot him, relieving him of his blaster before stuffing his body into the half empty bin and closing the lid.

  The hallway was clear, but the room across the corridor had two guys in it. Six video screens flickered through the partially open door, each bearing alternating images of a different area of the house. The reception area. The kitchen. The rooms belonging to Sendren’s whores, most of which were occupied, each of which displayed video of the various and sundry perversions going on inside them. One of the security techs manned the controls of a digital recorder, apparently Sendren wasn’t above blackmailing his wealthy, politically connected clientele.

  I shot both security guys, then blew a nice big hole into the center of each video screen. Peons eliminated. Moving on.

  I pointed the scanner down the hallway. The remaining basement rooms were empty. I made my way quickly down the corridor. A staircase led to the upper regions of the house. I had to get from the basement to the top floor without being seen, and it would be much easier to accomplish in the dark.

  Somewhere down here would be a breaker box controlling the flow of electricity into the house. I adjusted the display on the scanner to show only electrical or mechanical energy. The screen flickered and a blinking red dot pointed me in the direction of the breaker box in the furnace room. I shot it out in a burst of blue-white sparks. The lights dimmed, flickered, and stayed on.

  What the fuck?

  Sendren must have an emergency backup generator down here somewhere.

  A second flashing red dot led me into one of those vacant basement rooms. The generator was tucked away in a corner behind a locked steel grille. I didn’t have time to seek out the key, I blasted the generator through the grille, and the house was plunged into blackness.

  Much better.

  Irritated voices and footsteps thumped down the stairs and into the reception area directly above me. Nothing dampened a lustful mood faster than stalled air conditioning and total darkness.

  I slipped into to the stairwell and silently took the stairs up two at time, pausing on the first floor landing to peer into the reception area. The front door stood open, and seven or eight half-dressed clients milled about on the sidewalk. They were surrounded by a bevy of Sendren’s whores, in various stages of undress, and three or four enforcers. The clients were demanding the return of their money and didn’t appear to be very satisfied with the assurances a flustered Rayna provided. Sendren would be forced to make a personal appearance soon in order to smooth things over, and somebody would be on their way to the basement to see what was up with the lack of electricity. I didn’t have much time left to get it done.

  I quickly followed the stairs up two more levels, hiding in the darkness next to a sliding wooden door. Sendren’s voice came from beyond, he sounded irritated. I cracked the door open and peered inside. Candles illuminated a massive oval bed surrounded by sheer white drapes, the rest of the room was in shadow. Sendren sat, cross-legged and naked, on the bed speaking into a hand held com-link. His female bed partner lay next to him, ignored. At least for the moment.

  From the brief snatches of garbled conversation that drifted to me, he was being made aware of the emergency and his presence was being requested outside.

  He was going to be a little late.

  He slammed the com-link closed, reaching for the caftan next to the bed. I slipped into the room, leaving the door to the stairwell open, staying to the shadows the candlelight didn’t quite reach. He pulled the caftan over his head, and I lunged forward, grabbing him by the silky material, pulling him backwards onto the floor. His little bed partner screamed, sliding off the bed to crouch in a terrified heap beneath the window.

  “Get out.” I told her as I knelt on Sendren’s chest, my blaster at his throat.

  She scrambled for her clothes and made her escape, racing down the darkened staircase to the main floor. Sendren stared at me like I was the angel of death. Which actually wasn’t that far off the mark. If he recognized me as being Miri’s client, he failed to mention it—maybe because he was more interested in bargaining for his life.

  “There is...money in the drawer next to the bed...I...the key is—”

  “I don’t want your money.”

  A flicker of confusion passed across his face. “What then...?”

  “I’m taking care of a favor for a friend. Her name is Kyr. You remember Kyr.” Sendren paled, and I chuckled mirthlessly. “I thought you might. Oh yeah, she sends her love.”

  I pulled the trigger, and there was one less asshole in the galaxy.

  Moving to the window, I looked down into the street. Sendren’s bed partner chattered hysterically to anyone who’d listen, weeping and pointing to the upstairs windows. No one paid her much attention yet. Rayna and the peons were still working at damage control, but that would change—she was putting on quite the show.

  Sendren mentioned money in the drawer. Miri could probably use it and he wouldn’t need it where he was going. I forced the
drawer open, pulling out a metal box filled with a substantial stack of credits that I stuffed into my pockets. Candles still burned on the table. I used one to set the draperies surrounding the bed alight.

  Sendren was on his way to hell, the least I could do was light his way.

  I took the steps two at a time as I headed for the basement. Shouted voices came from outside, and a woman screamed. Someone had noticed the fire. I unbolted the storage room door, staying to the shadows as I made my way circuitously back to the street. The top portion of the house was engulfed in flames and a crowd had gathered in front, watching it burn. Sirens approached and I slipped into the alley as a fire rescue vehicle pulled up.

  Sendren was dead. Miri was safe.

  The Gates of Heaven had become the Gates of Hell.

  ◆◆◆

  The return trip to the warehouse took longer than I expected. It was almost noon by the time I pushed that heavy metal door open. Jak and Kyr looked up from the table.

  “About time!” said Jak with a relieved sigh. “Ten more minutes, and I’d have been on my way back there, looking for ya.”

  “Sorry, I was without my escort. I got turned around a few times.”

  Jak shook his head in amused disgust. “I’ll bet you couldn’t find yer ass with both hands and a map.”

  “Where’s Miri?” I asked as I took a seat at the table.

  “Sleeping,” said Jak. “She’s taken over your bed,” he added with a grin. “I’m sure she won’t mind sharin’.”

  “That’s okay,” I said wryly. “I’ll sleep upstairs.”

  Kyr sliced me a chunk of bread and cheese and brought me a cup of tea. “Did you get the choker off?” I asked around a mouthful of bread.

  Jak pulled it out of his pocket and tossed it on the table. The jewel was gone and the band had been sliced through.