by Neil Hunter
Once he was on board the cruiser, the rest of his trip to the Newark Air and Shuttle Port would be rapidly completed. If he was able to make his connection and get on the strato-jumper, he could be halfway around the world before the cops found out. He had friends abroad and he had already transferred his assets, so there was no reason for him to stay in New York.
Randolph, sweating even more than before and soaked through from the rain, heaved himself through the open hatch and felt a firm hand grasp his arm.
“Let me give you a hand, Mr. Randolph.”
Someone’s strong fingers gripped him. A moment later he was hauled bodily into the cruiser and the hatch was closed with a solid thump.
“Wait,” Randolph protested. “We forgot Mennard,”
“We didn’t forget him, Randolph. He’ll have company by now. From the NYPD.”
Randolph lifted his dripping head and stared at the speaker.
He found himself face-to-face with Janek. The cyborg had an amused smile on his lips as he studied the financier’s incredulous expression.
“T.J., I think you win your bet,” he said.
“What did I tell you?” Cade acknowledged. He appeared from a corner of the cabin. “Hell of a day, Randolph.”
The financier stared at the Justice cop. “Mennard?” he said.
Janek shook his head. “He’s as dumb as you, Randolph. We’ve been watching him for days. Led us right to this cruiser and you.”
Randolph climbed to his feet, glancing from the cyborg to Cade. Beyond Cade the financier could see the lights of the city shimmering through the falling rain, glittering brightly against the dullness of the day. They seemed to mock him, saying, here we are, Randolph. So close but getting farther away with each passing second.
Realization dawned on Randolph that everything was slipping away from his grasp. He had not escaped after all. On the contrary, he had walked right into Cade’s hands. The Justice cop had simply played his waiting game and Randolph had appeared on cue.
So much for his clever plans. He had been fooling himself all along, believing he was smarter than his ex-partners. And now he was caught, too.
Or was he?
“Can’t we talk, Cade?”
“You’ll talk, Randolph, just like all your partners. Especially Brak. He’s trying hard but he’ll end up in the same place.”
“Be like old home week when you guys get together on Mars,” Janek said. “Be able to sit around telling each other how smart you were.”
Randolph bit back the retort burning his tongue. He turned his full attention to Cade. “It doesn’t have to be this way, Cade. I want to deal. Not talk, not information—I’m talking hard cash, Cade. I’m willing to pay up front. There’s plenty of it. And I know every man has his price, Cade. Even you. I’m a practical man, always have been, I understand the way the world runs. It runs on money, Cade. Cold, hard cash. It buys and sells nations. And people...”
Randolph let his words trail off. He watched Cade as the Justice cop moved closer. There was an expression in Cade’s eyes he couldn’t fathom. It wasn’t disinterest. It wasn’t anger. Randolph watched his man, trying to read his face. Hoping that the cop was considering the offer.
“Name your price, Cade. I’m a very rich man, you understand.”
“Rich enough for my terms?” Cade asked.
“Name them.”
“Difficult, Randolph. I need your help. What’s the going rate for a Justice cop’s life? You tell me, then times it by four. Three slaughtered here in New York and one in L.A. Go ahead, Randolph. I want to hear your price.”
Randolph stepped back from Cade’s menacing figure. A coldness washed over him that had nothing to do with his rain-soaked clothing. It was the chill of fear, brought about by the bleak expression on Cade’s face.
“Cade ... I ...it was Brak’s man who killed them...!”
The words were hollow. They had no substance and they were wasted on T. J. Cade.
Randolph knew with shocking abruptness that he had made a bad mistake by trying to bribe the Justice cop. There was no way out left to him. No place to run, no place to hide.
He turned and slumped heavily in one of the padded couches. His eyes stared out through the canopy, seeing the city drift away as the cruiser gained height. The hazy lights vanished, replaced by the streaked leaden sky.
Janek glanced at his partner. “Braddock said it isn’t over until it’s finished. Remember?”
Cade nodded.
“Then I’d say it’s over, Thomas. Agreed?”
“Agreed,” Cade said. “Let’s wrap it up, partner.”
Piccadilly Publishing
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