‘What is this?’ She turned on the man as soon as they were alone, the others off to inspect the chair. ‘What the fuck did you do?’
‘That product you gave me was almost one hundred per cent pure. This is a buyer’s market. You want to stay ahead, you have to keep ahead. This is going to make our product perfect.’
‘What about him? I told you, I wanted to deal with him on my own.’
Davey grabbed her shoulder again, so hard it hurt. His smile dropped to the floor like a lead weight. ‘Keep your fucking voice down. We made a deal, product for the address and I want the best fucking product. Now, he wasn’t there when my boys paid a visit. But I know where he is. His real name too.’ The man pulled a piece of paper from his pocket, pinched between his fingers. He held it up for her to see. ‘I’ve got two boys keeping an eye on it. You just—’
‘I said I wanted to do this on my own. What if he sees? What if he…?’ She could barely get the words out, the panic setting in. What would Pearce, or whatever his name was, do when he found out what she’d done? What would he do to her mother? ‘You have to call them off.’
Davey’s eyes narrowed. ‘You telling me what to do?’
‘I’m just saying…’
‘No one tells me what to do.’ Spit flecked Michaela’s face as he bellowed.
Every head turned in their direction and then away again. Suddenly she realised just how alone she was in a room full of people.
‘This isn’t a fucking game,’ he hissed. ‘You get an opportunity to strike, you take it and you do it proper. Now you want this or don’t you?’
‘It’s not like I have a choice, do I?’
‘That’s what I thought.’ He pressed the paper into her hand. ‘Now, with your permission, I got some men to talk to who are about to make us rich.’
‘They’re arms dealers, aren’t they? They’re going to sell it to soldiers.’
‘Their money’s all I care about. Now go on. Got a car waiting for you. Your night isn’t over yet. And remember, you asked for this. It’s a good thing, working for me. You’ll see.’
Clutching the paper in her fist, scared it would somehow wrestle itself free and escape her, she did as she was told.
Behind her, she could hear Davey shouting for the blood to be cleaned up and the loser scraped up off the floor.
Chapter Sixteen
It had been hours.
Amanda had pounded at the door until her hands were numb and raw. No one had come, no one had answered. Through the small window, she hadn’t seen a single person, only heard the distant march of boots.
There was a window at the far end of the corridor and she’d despaired watching the stripe of sunlight on the opposite wall fade towards evening.
She couldn’t remember the last time she had eaten, the last time she’d had something to drink.
Karina only watched, perching as best she could on the thin bench. It wasn’t wide enough to stretch out on, and so she was forced to keep one foot on the ground or risk sliding to the floor.
Her eyes were red, swollen and despairing, and the look she kept throwing Amanda only got on her nerves.
‘Are you finished crying?’ Amanda asked. ‘You’re the Abra, get us out of here.’
‘You’re the criminal,’ Karina shot back, her tone grey, ‘shouldn’t this be your area of expertise? You saw those sigils. Only the person who closed it can open it again, she keyed it to herself.’
‘There has to be something. Steph, where is she? Isn’t there a way you can contact her?’
‘You think if there were I wouldn’t have done it already? She’s young, she’s scared.’
‘She’s got my fucking scryball. If I don’t get it—’
‘It always comes back to you, doesn’t it? You’re no better than those people out there.’
‘I was helping you.’
‘While it suited you. Don’t kid yourself. If they’d asked you, you’d be right out there helping them. I can see it in your eyes. You’d have your hands around my throat right now if you didn’t think Steph could come back at any moment. You have no idea what she’s capable of.’
‘Neither do you, the look on your face when she fought.’
‘Who could possibly be ready for that? Those animals out there finished what you started. She was bright, intelligent, she could have changed the world. And then she met you. And what could I do after that?
‘You know she wanted to find you? Track you down? Yeah. But I wouldn’t let her. I wanted to show her there was a right way of doing things. That people were good and decent, that things could be changed without violence and dirty tricks. Things would get better, I told her. So long as we kept pushing and persuading. Now look where we are. They won. People like you have won. And they’re going to keep on winning.’
‘You said Harry was going to kill the whole island. What did you mean?’
‘I meant what I said. Back there, before they caught up with us? I said someone had already interfered with the storm ward.’
‘And it was Harry,’ Amanda realised suddenly. ‘That’s what he’s been doing. Every time I’d see him, there was dirt and sand on him. And his beard, it was like he’d been having nose bleeds. Like you had when you were…’
‘Now you’re getting it. Those wards house some serious magic. With the staff here in his pocket, it probably didn’t take him long to find out where they all were.’
‘You think that’s it? He’s been fucking with them somehow?’
‘Not all of them, but enough. I didn’t have time to think about it when we were there, but now it’s obvious. He said he was going up to the hill? I’d say he only has to get a few more done up like the one on the beach and then he’s finished.’
‘And what will happen?’
‘Have you ever noticed him carrying something? Something he never lets go?’
‘He has a medallion. A stone he keeps around his neck.’
‘That’ll be it. That’s what will connect him to all those new sigils he’s got on the wards. He’s doing what I did but bigger. Much bigger.’
‘He’s messaging someone?’
Karina sighed with frustration. ‘He’s shutting them off. He’s turning the wards back on the island, turning the spell inside out. It’s going to short every sigil on the island. The storm’s going to come sweeping in and scrape this whole place clean of people, just like it was made to.’
‘And that sorts out the sigils on the data disks that the warden was talking about. So all Harry needs is the password and he’ll have everything he wants. The prison will be gone. They’ll think he died with the rest of us while he’s off establishing a new gang. And with those disks, he’ll have a good head start on where he left off before he ended up here.’
‘And it won’t be long now,’ said Karina. ‘It’s been hours and he doesn’t have to hide what he’s been doing any more.’
Amanda hit the door with her fists. It had taken him a long time, but Harry had finally beaten her. He’d been planning this for months, years even. No wonder he had panicked when he’d first seen her. He must have thought she’d come to wreck his plans all over again. But when he’d realised she hadn’t a clue, no wonder he’d been in better spirits when he’d next seen her. No doubt it felt like Christmas, knowing she’d die in his big scheme. And right now dying was all she could do.
‘Where do you think Steph is?’ she asked, trying to peer out into the corridor.
‘Far away, I hope.’
‘You knew she could teleport.’ Amanda didn’t make it a question.
‘When you asked, I didn’t think I could trust you. If you’d let them know she was here… The island’s meant to have wards against that too. But she found a way around them. That should give you an idea how talented she is. A good roof over her head and who knows what she might have become.’
‘Know what?’ said Amanda, rounding on her. ‘I’ve already said that I’m sorry for that. I get it. And I’ll keep saying it to her
. But maybe if you’d kept more of an eye on her instead of pretending you could change the world, then maybe she would still have a roof over her head. And if it was so fucking great with you, then why has it taken her this long to come here?’
‘Because the first time she came here I told her to stay away from me. Don’t you get it? I’m bait. I didn’t know it before, but you’re the last piece of the puzzle.’
‘What the fuck are you talking about?’
Karina slumped, her head hitting the wall behind her.
‘We checked the scryball. I know who did this to you. And it’s both the beginning and the end to all of this. His name is Gregory McKittrick. He’s a software engineer. His wife, Melissa, was on my campaign team. I never really knew her, but she helped with mailings and door to door. He pitched in with newsletters. But then she got arrested. They’d been smuggling healing charms into the country. Nothing harmful, just a magical bump to help with arthritis, pain treatment – charms so minor they didn’t think they’d be detected.’
‘But they were.’
‘She was. She would go over to France, pick them up, hide them in the headrests of her car, then she’d come back. No one on the campaign knew, as much as people tried to prove otherwise.’
‘But then she got caught.’
‘She got caught. He begged me to do something, but what could I do? The law was the law, no matter how unjust. We couldn’t be seen to be standing by criminals. We cut ties. In the end, they hanged her. And Greg was so angry. But our opponents were already tearing into us, branding us all criminals. The numbers showed it, we were losing sympathy. What else could we have done? They shouldn’t have been…’
‘You don’t have to convince me. Just tell me what happened.’
‘That’s it. He went away. I’d thought that was the end of it. A few months later, we won our argument on the death penalty for Abras. They made this place as a trial… Well, that’s over now.’
‘None of this explains where I come in.’
‘I’m getting to that. Back before all this, Melissa and Steph had become friends. When it all happened, I forbade Steph from seeing them again. I think the McKittricks were the ones who helped her with material for her hands. And after what happened, Greg encouraged her to draw those plans she made. And when she did, I think he was the one who told my opponents where to find them – Fitzackley among them. Back then, Fitz was a climber in magical law enforcement. He must have been so pleased to have me as one of his first prisoners. I think Greg was hoping that I would suffer the same fate as his wife. Instead I ended up here.’
‘But that wasn’t enough.’
‘Apparently not.’
‘What does this mean for my daughter?’
‘I don’t know. If you had asked me three years ago, I’d have said that he was probably no harm to anyone, but after this, I have no idea. It’s not like he’s actually physically hurt anyone. I’m sorry, but I don’t know. He’s a sad, grieving, very angry man. I wouldn’t have said that he was capable even of this, but…’
‘But here we are.’
‘I talked to Steph. She was the one who told Greg about you. Like I said, he was in software. He must have figured out a way to find you.’
‘And decided to go after me through my daughter.’
‘Whatever he told you was a lie. He doesn’t know anything that’s happening here. Only what you tell him.’
‘Wasn’t like I could risk not believing him.’
‘Exactly.’
‘So Steph knew this McKittrick guy. How does that get her to this?’
‘I told you that Fitzackley got involved once Greg sent his information. They raided my home, they found Steph’s things. You have to appreciate what Steph’s managed to do: she’s built on her mother’s work and what she’s done with it shows enough potential that it could change everything. She’s started an entire new magical notation: simpler, more efficient. Given time it could change the world.
‘Fitzackley realised that the moment he laid eyes on what was found in my house. He’s been after Steph ever since and sending those people out there after her. She’s been running for a year and a half now, men like Mallory at her heels – not knowing who to trust, scared out of her mind.
‘Now do you begin to see? Because of people like them, people like you, she’s been fighting and scared for so long that she doesn’t know how to stop. And it’s only a matter of time before she gets hurt or goes too far and does something she can’t take back.
‘But now she’s run out of places to hide and so she came back to me, right into the lion’s den. That’s why I needed to get to those people. She needs a place where she can be safe and nurtured. Because they won’t stop. Even after this, they still won’t stop.
‘The money that can be made from a mind like hers. If they don’t develop her ideas, they can just sell them. That woman, the one you thought was your friend? She’s the one who has been interrogating me since she got here. She’s been in my dreams, trying to find out what I know, to give away where she might hide. I haven’t slept in a year without her finding me in my sleep and questioning me. They’ll stop at nothing.
‘So now do you get it? What you started, they’re finishing. That girl out there is so angry and lost, she doesn’t know which way is up any more. All I know is that any direction she picks by herself, it’s going to be bad for everyone. She’s a cornered, frightened, angry young woman.’
‘So that’s it? You’re just giving up on me?’ The voice came over the small speaker by the door, cutting off with a scratch of static.
Karina sat bolt upright, like she’d been electrified. The women looked to one another. How much had she heard?
‘Steph?’ Amanda stepped out of the way just in time. Karina would have pushed her into the wall otherwise.
She peered out of the small window, craning her neck this way and that to catch a glimpse of the girl outside. ‘Steph? Is that you? You have to get out of here. The door’s sealed shut with magic. There’s nothing you can do for us. I can’t see her.’ That last to Amanda.
‘She can’t teleport us out?’ asked Amanda.
‘It doesn’t work like that,’ scowled Karina. ‘She can only do herself. Steph, where are you? I can’t see you.’
‘I came back for you,’ the young woman’s voice was thick with emotion. ‘I fought for you. Now I’m a monster?’
‘I didn’t say that.’
‘Well, that sounded like what you were saying. Because I stood up for myself? Because I tried to stop the people who were hurting you?’
‘Because where would it have ended? Those plans in your room. Those weren’t self-defence.’
‘It would have stopped them. All you wanted was another meeting, another protest, it wasn’t getting anywhere. Now they have you in prison and I’m not supposed to help you get out?’
‘Yes.’ Amanda leapt to the door before Karina responded. ‘Steph, you have to get us out. I need that scryball. I need to finish this. I don’t care what else happens. I just need to know Michaela’s going to be OK.’
Amanda peered out of the small window but couldn’t see anything. The strip of sunlight was still there. It wasn’t dusk yet. But there was no sign of Steph, the corridor was empty, her voice on the speaker.
‘No.’ Karina pulled her away again, anger in her eyes. ‘Steph, all you have to do is hide. Go somewhere they’ll never be able to find you. I’ve talked to people. You can just walk away. Make a life for yourself. You’re smart, you’re talented. Wherever you go you’ll succeed, you just have to give yourself a chance.’
‘They’ll never leave you alone,’ said Amanda. ‘They’ll never stop coming. But we can work together. If we figure out a plan…’
‘Shut up!’ The speaker whined with feedback, making the two inmates wince. ‘We don’t need you, Coleman. You’re just like them.’
‘Exactly why you do need me. I mean it. After this, they’re going to come after you again. Whatever you
do, they’re going to keep finding you. You could fight them on your own. Maybe you’d win, but you’d have to be sure. This isn’t a game. You only get one chance. You’d have to be sure.’
There was a long stretch of silence from the other side of the door.
‘Steph?’ called Karina.
‘Do you remember what you said to me?’ Steph was quieter now. ‘On the train? About magic just being another way for people to have power over other people? I hated you for saying that. Then I hated you for being right.’
‘That’s just the way the world is,’ said Amanda.
‘No,’ said Karina. ‘No, it isn’t. If you do things their way, then it makes you no better than them. You don’t want that. Steph, you’re better than that. I know you are. Please, just go. I’m begging you, don’t worry about us. Those people out there will get what’s coming to them.’
‘What planet are you from?’ Amanda snapped. ‘No. They won’t. They’ll only get away with more. Believe me, the world is full of people like them and they never get caught. They get more and more powerful and then they die of old age in their sleep.’
The speaker went quiet, but for the occasional pop or crackle.
‘What are you doing?’ hissed Amanda. ‘She can free us. You really don’t care?’
‘Of course I care. But I won’t make a weapon out of her or anyone else.’
‘Who said anything about making a weapon? She’s out there, we’re in here. She can get us out. We should be doing everything we can. We aren’t the only people on this island.’
Karina shuddered. ‘I know that too. But if all that’s left is acting like them… I’m not going to do that.’
‘How very fucking principled. But if that means the only option is rolling over—’
‘You were willing to kill for what’s important to you. Well, I’m willing to die for what’s important to me. So fuck you. I tried to change things for the better. That’s more than you can say.’
‘You were the only one playing by the rules. Look what it got you.’
‘Yeah? Well you’re right here with me.’
Strange Ways Page 24