Hangman's Army: Lake Of Sins, #3

by L. S. O'Dea

  “Thank Araldo, you’re safe. I saw the dead Servants.” His eyes searched her face and ran down her body. He grabbed her wrist, staring at her arm. “You’re hurt.”

  “It’s nothing. A scratch.” She touched his cheek, loving the feel of his whiskers. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

  He leaned his head into her touch and she moved closer. He bent toward her. He was going to kiss her. Finally, he was going to kiss her.

  “What in the name of all that’s holy did you do?” asked Townsend.

  She jumped and Hugh stepped away from her, dropping his hands to his sides.

  “You turned everyone loose? Why would you do that?” asked Townsend.

  Hugh smiled at her and then faced the reporter. “There was a slight change of plans.”

  She walked over to Townsend and slapped him on the shoulder. “If you thought he was going to leave all those Guards to die, then you don’t know him at all.”

  “How are we going to get out of here without being caught?” Townsend stared at all the Guards with a look of stunned disbelief.

  “I couldn’t leave them behind.” Hugh glanced back at the group and his smile faded. “It wasn’t right.”

  “Of course not.” Townsend closed his eyes for a moment and then he stepped aside, waving his arm toward the door. “Bring everyone inside. We need to figure out what we’re going to do.”

  CHAPTER 44: HUGH

  HUGH STARED AT THE dead, little Guard lying on the table in front of him.

  “Whenever you’re ready,” Townsend said from behind the video camera.

  He’d never be ready, not really. He didn’t want to do this—speak to the camera, speak to the revolution. He needed to get Trinity back to the forest. Back to Gaar and Mirra, Jackson and Tim. Back to where she’d be safe. Townsend, Trinity and Bruno had related what had happened in the alley. His heart stalled every time he thought of her fighting five Servants on her own. She shouldn’t have been alone, wouldn’t have been if she’d stayed in the woods where she belonged.

  He ran his hand through his hair. He wouldn’t be able to live with himself if something happened to her. War had casualties, but not her. She was annoying and mouthy and arrogant to a fault, but she was also strong and honest and he admired her. He’d tried to persuade her to go back to the forest but she’d refused to leave without him and he couldn’t go. Not yet. Not until all these Guards were safe, far away from the Almightys’ city.

  Trinity had taken Reese to the side, located her tracking device and removed it. Reese had tried to be brave but her face had paled and she’d almost passed out. It was one more sin at his door. He’d insisted on implanting it in all his Guards. Shit, he’d invented the thing.

  As soon as Trinity was done, she’d checked the others. Even though the shelter scanned all Guards for tracking devices as soon as they were brought in, he’d suspected a trap but they’d been lucky; there’d been none. These Guards were all unwanted strays. Jason and the Council were making costly mistakes. They saw these strays as useless and expendable instead of a valuable commodity. The Almightys’ arrogance was going to cost them. They’d probably never imagined that he’d use a Guard from inside their own secured facility to free Reese and the others.

  “Hugh, I need you to talk. Tell the Allied Classes what you’re thinking,” prodded Townsend.

  He looked around. Most of the Guards were gone. Bruno was escorting them in small groups through the tunnels under the building and to the carriage. Then he was driving them to the outskirts of the city. Sassy and Brennon were leading each group to a safe place in the forest and they’d all meet up later.

  Townsend was right. It was time to film his message. It’d only taken moments for Townsend’s grumbling about all the extra Guards to grow into excitement. According to the reporter, this would be a huge boost for the revolution. Everyone would see for themselves that Hugh Truent had freed, not just his Guard, but all the Guards at the Midtown Shelter. Everyone, especially the Guards, would rally behind someone like Hugh, someone who’d risk his own life to save theirs.

  “This message isn’t only for the Allied Classes.” His words were barely a whisper as he ran his finger across the little Guard’s cheek, her skin soft with youth. He touched her hair. That too was soft. He didn’t have to fake the tears in his eyes.

  “She was young. Innocent of any crime.” He looked directly at the camera. “She didn’t deserve to be killed. Her body hidden away like trash in a dark room before being burnt to ash.” He paused. “And she’s not the only one. There was a roomful of Guards who’d been murdered. Their crime? Being unwanted by Almightys.” His face hardened as he allowed the anger, the unjustness of it to pour through him. “Who are we”—he pointed to himself—“to say that she didn’t deserve to live? What gives us the right? Who gives us the right?” He pointed at the camera. “You do.” He lowered his hand. “Each and every one of you who remain loyal to the Almightys, give us that right. All of you, who stay true to the laws that imprison you, give us that power. Every one of you hiding in your home, cowering behind your lies is responsible for her death.”

  He placed his hands on the table next to the little Guard and looked down, his voice lowering. “But the Almightys aren’t the only ones to blame. This is my fault and yours.” He looked at the camera again. “We allow this to happen. We tell ourselves that it’s how it has to be. How it’s always been.” He let his anger and frustration show through his tone. “That’s not acceptable. Never was. We, as a society, need to stop this abuse. Stop the killing of innocents.” His voice softened. “Only by banding together can we do this. The authorities won’t give up their power without a fight. We need to be ready for that fight.”

  He moved to the other side of the table. “I came to the Midtown Shelter to free my Guard. She’d been arrested because I’d escaped prison. She’d done nothing illegal. She hadn’t helped with my escape. She was innocent and yet, she was arrested. She received no trial. She was removed from her home and placed in the shelter to die. Why did they do this to her?” He shrugged. “I’m not sure. To teach me a lesson? Maybe. To set a trap for me? Probably, although it was a poor one flawed by arrogance.” He glanced at the dead Guard and then back at the camera. “One thing I do know is that they arrested Reese because they could. No one would question them. No one would fight.” He smiled, but it wasn’t friendly. “They made a mistake because I’m questioning them. I’m fighting. I freed all the Guards. I did it. No one else. So Jason, if you want me you’re going to have to come and get me.” By now, he was glaring at the camera, his breath coming almost in pants.

  Townsend stopped recording, his eyes glittering with excitement. “Wow. Wow.” He clapped Hugh on the back. “That was...”

  “How long before we leave?” He needed to move—to run, to fight, to do anything to release the raw anger from his blood.

  “The carriage took the last group a few minutes ago.” Trinity glanced at the few Guards who remained. “They’ll travel with us.”

  “Come here.” He waved to the largest Guard. “I need your help.”

  The Guard walked over to him.

  “Get her and follow me.” He pointed to the little Guard and headed for the door.

  “Where are you going?” asked Townsend.

  At the same time, Trinity asked. “What are you doing?”

  “Townsend, you don’t want to know. Trinity, follow me if you’re that curious.”

  He glanced at the little, dead Guard as they left the building and suddenly, he was exhausted - his spirit as lifeless as her. How many like her had died over the years? How many had died while he was eating dinner, sleeping, going on dates? He’d known that they’d killed the Guards no one wanted. He’d even donated money to a few of the rescues that took in unwanted Guards and kept them until they passed. He should’ve done more. Sarah had tried to get him to do more, but he’d been too busy. Well, he wasn’t too busy now.

  CHAPTER 45: CONGUISE

  PR
OFESSOR PETER CONGUISE SAT in his office wishing Jason, the Supreme Almighty, would shut up. Jason had been ranting about Hugh for over an hour and quite frankly he’d had enough. If he were younger, he’d punch Jason in the face but over the years he’d learned to control and channel his temper into more productive outlets.

  He opened his desk drawer and pulled out a bottle of scotch. He poured a generous amount into two glasses. He slid one across the desk. “Jason. Sit. Let’s talk about this like reasonable Almightys.”

  Jason’s face was flushed from his rant. He flopped onto the chair and grabbed the drink, downing half of it.

  Conguise held back his sneer. He wanted to toss the man from his home but the public loved the bumbling idiot. Of course, Jason’s lack of intelligence did work in the professor’s favor. Dangle a little alcohol or female in front of the man and the Supreme Almighty would do whatever he was asked.

  Jason rubbed his eyes which were bloodshot from lack of sleep. Conguise understood. He hadn’t slept much either since the video and the display of the dead, little, female Guard. The city was in an uproar. Half of the Almightys were in fear, thinking that the lower classes were planning to attack like the Trackers had done and the other half were outraged over the death of the young Guard. He took a sip of the liquor and enjoyed the smoky-smoothness as it slid down his throat. He didn’t imbibe often so he made sure that when he did it was of the finest quality.

  “What are we going to do?” asked Jason, his voice whiny.

  That was one of the many problem he had with the Supreme Almighty. Jason acted, or more accurately reacted, without analyzing the situation and once he’d messed everything up he expected someone else to fix the problem.

  It’d been Jason’s Guards who’d allowed Hugh to escape in the first place and now, Jason had screwed up again. In a fit of temper after seeing the little, dead Guard displayed on a prominent city street in front of a church, Jason had stormed the Midtown Shelter and had publicly executed all the House Servants who worked there, whether they’d been on duty the night the Guards were freed or not.

  “Let’s think on this for a moment.” He took another sip, calming himself with the simple pleasure. “Killing the Servants was a mistake.”

  “It was not! They betrayed us.” Jason’s face reddened more.

  “Perhaps, but it was still a mistake.” He held up his hand. “Let me explain. First, by killing the Servants you destroyed any possibility we had of discovering if one of them was involved—”

  “They had to be involved.” Jason finished his drink in another large gulp.

  He clamped his jaw to stop his cringe from showing. He should’ve opened the cheaper scotch he kept for these occasions when Jason was in a hurry to get drunk. “Yes, maybe. We—”

  “There is no maybe. They were involved.”

  “Do you want my help or not?” He was done being interrupted.

  Jason glared at him for a moment, but that didn’t bother him. Right now, Jason needed him more than he needed the Supreme Almighty.

  “By all means, enlighten me.” Jason refilled his glass and took another drink, leaning back in his chair.

  He was half-tempted to let the Supreme Almighty handle this on his own. Jason would be ousted from office. His only hesitation was that he wasn’t positive who’d be Jason’s replacement. The wrong man as the Supreme Almighty could spell the end for his special projects, and possibly his life. Just because his experiments were sanctioned by the current Supreme Almighty didn’t mean that a new one might not decide that they were an abomination and should be destroyed along with their creator. So, right now he had no choice but to help. “As I was saying, you made a mistake.”

  “Please explain how killing traitors is a mistake.” Jason’s lips curled in a sneer.

  “We’ll never know if they were involved in the escape.” He held up his hand again. “Before you insist that they were all traitors, especially in public, you may want to think about what that means.”

  Jason’s eyes were even angrier, but he shut his mouth. He was never fond of not being the smartest in the room, although he should be used to it.

  “If they were all traitors that means the Servants are also siding with Hugh and his friends.” He took another sip, letting his words sink into Jason’s thick skull. Soon, horror replaced the confusion on Jason’s face. The Servants turning against them even caused him to shift in his seat. “Exactly. Servants are everywhere in an Almighty’s life.”

  “They could poison us all.” Jason gulped down his drink.

  “I doubt that. They’d have to be very well organized.”

  “They run everything for us. They’re more organized than we are,” said Jason.

  “In simple ways, yes. They can run the day-to-day tasks of a household or business but they’re terrible at large scale planning such as for a party or event.”

  “That’s true. My wife has to do that.”

  “Exactly. Servants lack the ability to work together. Poisoning all Almightys or even a great number of Almightys in one night would be beyond them.”

  “Thank Araldo for that.” Jason refilled his glass.

  He glared at the emptying bottle. He’d have to get another one soon, but this time it wouldn’t be the good stuff. “However, the public will fear that their Servants are against them if you keep claiming that the ones at the shelter were all traitors.”

  “I...I can’t say they weren’t. Not now.”

  “The second reason that killing them was a mistake is that, as we both know, there are certain groups of Almightys, some of them very rich and connected, who want reform. Hugh’s mother was one of them.”

  “Sarah was a kind woman. Sad what happened to her.” Jason’s eyes held the professor’s as he tipped his glass as if in toast.

  Sarah Truent had been nothing but a meddling woman with too much time on her hands and unfortunately, a lot of charm and resources. He’d not set out to kill her, but he wasn’t sorry she was dead. His part in the bombing had never been proven, although Jason suspected him. That was fine. Let the other man know that he’d stop at nothing to protect their way of life. “That leaves us with everyone upset over your actions for one reason or other.”

  “I’m well aware that the public is upset. What I don’t know is how we can fix this.”

  He took a sip of his drink. The proverbial we again.

  “I can’t apologize.” Jason swirled the alcohol in his glass.

  “No, that would be political suicide.”

  “I can’t un-kill them.”

  He took another sip, watching a bead of sweat trickle down Jason round cheek. He was tempted to keep quiet. To let Jason suffer the consequences of his actions for once, but he couldn’t. Not yet. Jason didn’t have the vision to see his hand in front of his face, but he was still useful. He’d bide his time a little longer. He was close to success and with that came power. All he needed was a few more tests and he could show Jethro to the world. The boy was a miracle of his creation. Jethro was getting stronger every day and he was smart. Conguise wouldn’t take credit for that though. His injection didn’t increase the brain of its host and quite frankly, he didn’t want it to. He didn’t need one of his creations being smarter than him.

  “Answer me, Peter. What should we do?” Jason grabbed the bottle of scotch and refilled both of their glasses.

  Amazing how generous the other man was with someone else’s alcohol. The professor sat perfectly still. It wouldn’t serve his purpose for Jason to see his sneer. “I’m thinking. This needs to be handled delicately.”

  Jason stood and began to pace. “Delicately?” He snorted. “We need to catch that bastard. That’s what we need to do.” He stopped and stared at Conguise. “Catch Hugh and this goes away.”

  “How do you propose we do that? The last trap didn’t work as expected.”

  “That wasn’t our fault. How were we to know that he’d be able to bribe our Servants? Servants who’d worked at that shelter for yea
rs. We took the necessary precautions. We installed new locks. We put more Servants on duty and we made sure that we didn’t have any new workers like that traitorous Guard at the prison.” Jason shook his head, his fat cheeks jiggling. “No. The failure of that trap wasn’t our fault.”

  “Hugh won and we lost.” He spat the words, their foul taste lingering on his tongue. “That can’t happen again.” He wouldn’t let it happen again.

  Jason took another gulp of his drink and continued to pace. After a few moments he dropped back into the chair and smiled. “We go after Hugh’s family.”

  “I don’t—”

  “Hear me out. This time we’ll be better prepared. We’ll have Guards everywhere and Almightys too. We won’t rely on sneaky Servants. We’ll use loyal Guards and Almightys.” Jason leaned forward, eyes gleaming with drink and excitement. “This time we’ll catch him.”

  “I don’t think that’s wise.” Jason was an idiot. He didn’t see any further in this game of chess than the next step.

  Jason’s eyes narrowed. He wasn’t the type to appreciate another’s opinion when it differed from his own, especially, when he considered his idea brilliant.

  “You asked for my opinion, so here it is.” He took another sip of the liquor. He shouldn’t have to outline this, it wasn’t that difficult. “Hugh’s brother-in-law, Sam Norable, is a well-known and well-loved professor.” He wasn’t sure why he tried to give little clues. He supposed it was the teacher in him. Always searching for his next star student by trying to see who was smart enough to understand and who wasn’t worth his bother. He didn’t like wasting time with idiots and yet, he was bound to the biggest idiot of them all. “We don’t need the young Almightys siding with the rebellion. Sarah and Sam didn’t have anything to do with the situation at the Midtown Shelter. You know it and the public knows it. We could’ve convinced the public that they’d helped Hugh escape, but not this. The Norable’s treat their Guards and House Servants appropriately. They’d never risk their lives for one.”