Page 101 of Throwing Fire

“Sylvie’s going to have to give you a raincheck,” Kez says. “We’ve caused enough of a stir for one six.”

“You are more than welcome to stay,” Acker offers from where he’s moved to the other side of the desk, proving his hearing is just as good as I thought it was.

“Thanks.” I nod at him over Kez’s shoulder. “We’ll take you up on that.”

Gig sighs. “You guys owe me.”

Kez ruffles his hair. “Always. How’re you coming with that line to the mainland for Snow?”

“Yeah, getting there,” Gig says. “This’ll go green when it’s up.” He indicates a cycling display that’s currently orange.

“Why do I need a line to the mainland?” I whisper in Kez’s ear.

She tips her head back to bump my cheek. “I thought you wanted to talk to the Vark brothers?”

Smart kitten. I’d all but forgotten. “Yeah, I do.” I’d have preferred to do it face-to-face, in case Mik or Zilly decide to fuck around, but I’ll have to make do.

When the display goes green, I tap in the code for Vasilly Vark’s personal line. Wait while it cycles. Zilly’s brown eyes, framed by lashes thicker than a camel’s and set in a walnut face geneered to weather the fierce desert climate of his chosen home, peer at me from the display a moment later. “Snow? Man, I heard some wild fuckin’ tales about you.”

Behind me, Kez sniggers. “All of them are true.”

“Yeah,” I say. “I need a favor. J-nox, he’s using the Tonyle hard-line. I need to know where he really is.”

The skin above those heavily lashed eyes furrows. “Fuck me, man.”

“Name your price, Zilly.”

“You really sitting on top of Tyng Tower these days?”

“Yeah.”

“I’ll trade you favors, man. Never know when you might need Tyng at your back.”

“Deal.” I don’t bother to negotiate. Kez would, I have no doubt, which is why my kitten runs the business. But I want results, right now, to protect her, and that’s why I’m head of security.

“Okay.” Zilly’s eyes leave mine as he fiddles with something out of sight. “J-nox’s last log in was more than four hours ago. From Ykimo. Maggot Station.” He gives me the code for the northern city’s old mag-lev station, swallowed by an earthquake a few decades after the Colony’s founding. Digging Jaxon out of there will be a bitch. And there’s no guarantee he’ll still be there. Four hours. Fucker could be anywhere by now.

“I need to know the next time he logs in, Zilly. Plex me on these numbers.” I give him the Infinity’s ship code, Kez’s viewie, and the Warren’s house code. That’ll get to me one way or another.

“You got it. Listen, Snow, anytime you need anything, me and Mik, we’re here.”

Amazing the loyalty a few credits can inspire.

“Thanks, Zilly.”

I sign off and turn to Kez. “Net’s tightening.”

Kez glances away. “That’s usually when Jaxon slips through.”

I know she’s speaking from experience, and frustration, but he didn’t have me hunting him before. “Not my net.”

Kez looks up at me and for once I can’t tell what she’s thinking. Is she really afraid Jaxon’s going to get away from me? I put my arm around her shoulders. “You want something to eat before we turn in?”

She nods, which saves me an argument. Those noodles were too long ago, and the bugsicles weren’t more than a snack. I turn to Acker, “Night Market deliver down here?”

“Yes,” Acker says. “But my Wisdom has already arranged a meal, if you’re ready to eat. And there’s someone waiting to meet you, now that the Deeps are secured.”

“Okay.” I shrug. I’m not really feeling up to a meet-‘n’-greet, but Acker wouldn’t have set it up if it wasn’t important. “I’m ready when you are.”