Shadow Fray

by Bradley Lloyd

  Saturday was a day to spend time with Griz. But not this Saturday. He was on a train to meet with someone he hated. Someone who had slit a man’s throat and fucked his sister. And Griz was dead.

  The passing landscape outside his window didn’t register. He needed to fill his thoughts with something more positive before he went insane. Like Hale. If only he were with Hale instead of on this train. The thought lined up the two extremes in his life: Hale and Scarecrow. Hero and villain. If he hated Scarecrow, then he… what? Loved Hale?

  No. As much of a connection as he felt to the man, it was far too early for that. He’d only known Hale for four days. Of course, he’d lusted after Black Jim for years. Surely that was swaying his emotions now.

  Thinking back to yesterday, it was crazy how Hale had known Justin was going to break things off. How the hell had he done that? And how had he changed Justin’s mind so quickly? All without Justin saying a word.

  A person who knew his thoughts without his having to say a word. It put a smile on his face but also made him nervous enough to break out in an instant sweat.

  In a way he was trapped. He had no doubt that pulling away from Hale would cause the other man to come after him all the more fervently. Hale wouldn’t back down from a fight. Justin got that message loud and clear in their tussle yesterday. The alternative was to give in and let Hale get close to him. In either case, Hale won.

  Justin was pinned down. He wasn’t sure he liked that at all. At the same time, he kind of loved it.

  So confusing.

  For a fraction of a second, he thought he could talk to Mr. Mays about it. Then he remembered.

  He would never have the chance to talk to Mr. Mays about it. The funeral was tomorrow. How was it possible to have his heart feel open for the first time and yet broken at the same time?

  Despite the many conflicting thoughts, on one point he was certain: the last thing he wanted to do was give time and energy to Scarecrow. He had too much other crap going on right now that he should be focused on. As the train pulled into the Racine stop, it became a resolution. He wouldn’t let Scarecrow get to him. He was going to disengage emotionally from this meeting. Just get the info, get out, and be on the next train back. That was the plan.

  He found Scarecrow in their usual meeting spot, looking out the window as if he expected Justin to come from the roadside direction. As Justin walked up on him, he was pleased to see Scarecrow’s eyes widen in alarm as he turned around. He definitely gave the old man a start. He couldn’t keep the smirk off his face, even though Scarecrow was scowling.

  “It’s not wise to sneak up on a guy,” Scarecrow snapped. He kept his hands in his coat pockets. He was probably packing. Coward. He certainly did look jumpy.

  “Sorry,” Justin said, even though he wasn’t sorry at all. “Took the train.”

  Scarecrow didn’t respond. He seemed to be scanning the station, maybe to see if anyone had followed Justin. Did Scarecrow know about what had happened with Griz?

  Justin looked at him more closely. His eyes were bloodshot, but he didn’t look high. Maybe hungover? Usually his handler was running the show, trying to use intimidation to act in control. Today he was oddly silent. His red-rimmed eyes looked at Justin but also past him and to the sides.

  “So….” Justin began, offering the other man an opening. Scarecrow didn’t bite. Fine. He’d stick to the plan. “Tell me about the Arena so I can get out of here.”

  With another glance around the station, his handler reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a thick envelope. “Take this first,” he said. “It’s more money.”

  Justin reached for it, then paused. This made no sense. “You paid me at our last meeting.”

  “Not enough,” Scarecrow said, shoving the envelope into Justin’s hand. “Ah, numbers have been going up, so I’m giving you more. Double.”

  What was this? Something didn’t feel right, but Justin wasn’t going to turn it down. For all he knew, Scarecrow had been cheating him anyway.

  “Where’s your sister?” asked Scarecrow.

  “Not here.” Justin wanted to ask why he wanted to know. Why the hell would she be here, especially after Scarecrow’s warning? But he was going to keep this as simple as possible. Short answers. Keep the anger down.

  Scarecrow ran a shaky hand through his thinning hair. Maybe he really was high. After another endless hesitation, he reached into his pocket and produced a small slip of paper along with a photo. Justin didn’t look at it, just took it and transferred the info to his hoodie.

  “This one’s at a nuclear power plant south of here across the state line. The power plant ain’t in operation anymore, hasn’t been for a hundred years. I gave you a GPS photo so you can see the layout. It looks maintained, probably for safety reasons, but it doesn’t run.”

  “Power plant sounds big,” Justin said. “How will I know where to go?”

  “You’re home team, kid. It’s not actually inside the building. It’s outside, in a fenced-in area. It’ll be a cage match. There’ll be some transistors but nothing loose. I’ll clean it up, make sure there’s no rusty metal to break off. I’ll meet you at the main entrance exactly forty-five minutes before show time, which is 11:39 p.m. on 10/24. It’s on the slip. If you’re earlier, you’ll sustain a financial penalty.”

  That was interesting. Justin had never been the home team before. He’d have to put some thought into his image. He’d be the one waiting before the camera this time, not the one walking in. Hale could help him out with that.

  But shit—his last Fray with Hale. The glove. With everything going on, he hadn’t even considered whether they’d give him a weapon. That must be why Scarecrow was acting so strange. Justin’s stomach turned sour.

  How had he not been worried about a weapon, especially with this new arrangement involving Scarecrow and Gin? “They want me to cheat,” Justin concluded. “What is it this time? Another glove or something new?”

  “No,” Scarecrow said, “nothing. There’s nothing.” That was a relief. Or was it? Did that mean his opponent would have something?

  “What about the other guy?”

  Scarecrow shrugged. “We wouldn’t know, would we?” Justin crossed his arms, anger rising at the glib response. Scarecrow appeared to take notice and softened a bit. “Look, stuff has been popping up in Frays lately, it’s true, but it’s not all sanctioned, and they’re cracking down. You bring a blade of your own, word is you’re out for good. I expect many of these guys we’ve seen bring weaponry are going to disappear, like permanently. Word will get around fast. We’re not in charge. They are. The Shadow Masters. And they don’t want you out yet, kid. You’ll be fine.”

  Justin wasn’t buying it. “I bet that’s what Black Jim thought before I came after him with that fucking glove,” he blistered. He was close to his breaking point. “Just… don’t get lazy. Don’t take it for granted. And make sure you do your fucking job.”

  Scarecrow nodded. “You sure your sister’s not here?”

  Did Scarecrow think he was lying? This was bullshit. He turned his back on Scarecrow and walked away. He had a funeral tomorrow. He didn’t have any more time for this man.

  He felt a tug on his arm and whirled around, hand fisted and ready to strike.

  Scarecrow jumped back and held up a hand in alarm but didn’t let go of Justin. “Easy, easy. Just one more thing. Tell your sister… our deal is off. For you too. I should never have done that. I’m sorry.”

  “What if I lose?” Justin asked. Not that he was planning on it.

  “It’s okay if you lose,” Scarecrow said. “I’m not gonna be like that anymore.”

  Justin shrugged his arm out of Scarecrow’s grasp. Why the change of heart? Maybe he should be relieved, but looking at this pathetic guy in front of him, he still wanted to beat his face in. It didn’t change anything.

  Justin turned again and walked away.

  Chapter 24

  JUSTIN COULDN’T sit still in the pew. Normal
ly this church was a comforting place, almost austere compared to the grandeur of the Basilica. He’d been to St. Hedwig’s many times before, sitting between Charlie and Gin just as he was now. Hell, this is where Charlie went to school. But this time was different. He had the urge not just to leave but to run out the door. The only funeral he’d ever been to was nothing like this.

  When his mother had passed after a violent and sudden illness, the gathering had been much smaller. His mother had been well-liked, but those she cared for professionally were sick or elderly and tended to die. Those she’d cared for in other ways wouldn’t have gone to her funeral. Justin remembered Griz being present; everyone else had disappeared after that day.

  This funeral was completely different. Looking at all of the people around him, Justin questioned how many of them had even known Griz. Not many.

  Funerals were usually small affairs, if they were even held. But not for Uppers. The sight of the pageantry had Justin grinding his teeth. When someone important died, it was a rare chance to come out and be seen, a chance for the community of Uppers to gather in the same place. It only happened during funerals and weddings, and funerals were much more common. It was also the only time the Uppers didn’t clamor for the balcony, because there were so many of them. At these occasions you sat in the front where you’d be seen.

  None of these people had visited Griz when he was sick. Not one.

  Justin pulled at the sleeve on his borrowed suit. Devin was tall but slimmer than Justin, and the jacket was too tight. It was hard to breath. He needed to be done with this charade and take off the fucking mask. Ginny put a hand on his knee, and Justin realized he’d been bouncing it nervously. She moved her hand from his knee to his hand and grasped it firmly. Justin took a deep, steadying breath. He looked at her, a silent thank-you.

  Gin appeared much more comfortable in this environment. She was naturally beautiful, but today she would put any Upper to shame. She wore a form-fitting black dress with a confidence that gave the impression of power. She had on small diamond earrings that had belonged to their mother, and her mother before that, along with a bracelet Justin hadn’t seen before. Her hair was slicked back a little more than usual, putting her neck and face on display. The diamonds sparkled amidst the black of her dress and hair and stood out against her honey-toned skin. So simple and yet more beautiful than any of the gaudier displays of money surrounding them.

  Charlie seemed to be doing fine. He was clearly distracted and looking around as much as possible without drawing attention to himself. From time to time, he’d turn his head all the way around to look up to the balcony, where Sister Tim was busy playing the organ. While it probably wasn’t appropriate, Justin let him look. He didn’t care what impression they made on these people, and if it comforted Charlie to look up and see her, who was Justin to deny him that? She, at least, had been very kind and comforting to them before the service.

  Devin sat stoically next to Charlie. The man was still a bit of a mystery to Justin, but some of his family had come in from Denver on a train, arriving that morning. Ray was there, sitting on the other side of Gin. All together they took up one pew in the church, second from the front.

  The front pew was reserved for the very elite, in this case, the mayor and her entourage. Justin had never seen her in person before. His eyes were drawn to her, even though he was seeing her from behind. She reminded him of an older version of an actress from the Old World, the mother in The Parent Trap from the 1960s. There was nothing maternal about the woman in front of him, though. She looked fierce and pinched, her red hair tied back in the tightest bun he’d ever seen. He noticed it was streaked with gray. She didn’t hide it. She sat so straight and still, it was like she was made of porcelain. The unbreakable kind.

  Had Griz known the mayor? A man like Griz had to have many contacts, if not friends, but who were they? Had Justin really known the man well at all? He couldn’t help feeling like he should have learned more, talked to him more, asked him more questions.

  Of course, it wasn’t like Griz let him get a word in edgewise, was it? Justin smiled at the thought. Griz had seen him for the quiet boy he was and accepted him. That’s why Griz had given him the gift of music.

  Justin blinked away any wetness coming to his eyes. He certainly wouldn’t cry here. No one else was. It wasn’t appropriate to cry at funerals.

  Ginny squeezed his hand, and he realized he’d been bouncing his knee again.

  After what seemed like an interminably long time, the funeral was over. The service hadn’t really been about Griz at all. It was just a bunch of Bible passages and talk of all the things he’d seen and lived through, a testament to how the world had changed in his lifetime. The sickness, the coastal flooding, the poisoned ground. There was no one thing that changed the world. It was all the little things adding up. He supposed for Griz, it was a lot of little things that ended up killing him—but it was Justin who finally brought him down, even if Hale said otherwise.

  Justin’s legs were itching to run from the church, but he forced himself to walk down the long center aisle. Being in the second pew allowed him to be one of the first outside, thank God. He breathed in the fresh air as though he’d been starving for oxygen. Their group walked down the steps to stand near the road, which was closed to traffic to accommodate all the people.

  Justin hadn’t had much of a chance to meet Devin’s family yet, beyond introductions. They were Griz’s family too. Did that make them his family as well? As they gathered in a group, he relied on Gin to start the conversation. That was her job in their relationship and one she excelled at.

  Surprisingly, though, it was Devin who spoke, and in hushed tones. “You guys don’t have to stick around for this, unless you want to. We’ll have a private ceremony tonight, away from all these people. Griz would have hated this.” Devin’s previously stoic façade broke into anger. This Justin understood. Whoever had killed Griz was probably here, or at least the person who orchestrated it—

  “And this must be Griz’s family,” the mayor said from behind their little group, pronouncing family in three syllables and drawing out the word like it had gotten stuck in her teeth. Justin hadn’t been paying attention—he should have seen her approaching, should have been more aware of his surroundings.

  Immediately, Devin’s face turned to stone, his expression gone.

  “Mayor Cram.” Devin’s head nod looked more like a small bow. “Such an honor to have you come to my grandfather’s funeral. He’d be very pleased.”

  She smiled without showing her teeth. The mayor wasn’t dressed as extravagantly as many of the other guests. She wore a navy suit with simple jewelry, her accessories a lot like Gin’s. He supposed you didn’t need much jewelry when you wore an entourage. She was flanked on both sides, and Justin had the eerie impression of being outnumbered.

  “Such a shame more family couldn’t be here,” the mayor said. “For someone who lived as long as he did, I assumed there’d be more of you.” She surveyed them all, pausing on him, Gin, and Charlie. Why? Because their skin tone wasn’t the same? She especially gave Charlie a long look, him being the palest of them all.

  Justin nearly laughed to see Charlie scowling back at her. The mayor clearly wasn’t used to such a reaction, but in one swift second, she schooled her expression into an icy smile.

  Justin’s near laugh died just as swiftly when the mayor turned her gaze to him. He saw her eyes narrow, a brief intensity lighting them before the smile again took precedence on her face. “I believed he might have more friends in attendance. I understand he was very outgoing—and yet it’s only you.” Justin’s blood turned cold. He’d seen that look on fighters before in an Arena. Instinct wouldn’t let him look away, and while the mayor’s eyes were hazel, they seemed to burn with an amber fire.

  The mayor moved her gaze back to Devin. “Shall we walk down to the lake? I assume that’s where you’ll be disposing of the ashes.”

  Devin blanched. “We won’
t be disposing of his ashes.”

  “Turning him into a keepsake? That’s a shame. The last funeral here, we all walked down to the lake. It was quite a sight, all these fine people dressed up in their best. It was like a parade. Such a worthy send-off.” Again she fixed her eyes on Justin. Her voice took on an almost flirtatious quality, her look appraising. “I’d much enjoy the opportunity to talk with some of you. Are you sure you won’t change your mind?” Justin felt a chill. Did she expect him to answer?

  “Quite sure,” Devin said dryly, coming to his rescue. “Griz hated the water.” The lie was perhaps a little too quick to be passable.

  “Hmmm. How odd he would move back here in that case. Perhaps he should have stayed in Denver. I assume you’ll be going home to Denver yourself after all this is over?”

  “I haven’t decided yet.”

  “I see,” the mayor said. “Well, enjoy your stay for as long as it lasts.”

  She eyed all of them one more time. “I suppose there is no point in sticking around if things here are wrapping up. This has been a pleasure. Thank you all.” With one last smile, she turned and began walking away. Justin felt like he’d been dismissed, even though she was the one leaving.

  It was deathly silent.

  “Good-bye!” Gin shouted loudly and far too enthusiastically.

  The mayor turned and stared. Justin glanced nervously to the side to see Gin waving and smiling brightly. The difference between Gin and the mayor was Gin showed her teeth when she smiled.

  After pausing with a confused look, the mayor turned her back on them and walked toward a large black SUV parked nearby at the side of the church, where the road was open.

  “Girl, you are crazy,” Ray said as he sidled up to Gin.

  Gin was saying something back to Ray, but Justin didn’t hear what it was. As the mayor got into the car, Justin noticed the driver.