Page 69 of Throwing Fire

Kez steps over the kit, lights on the edge of the bed, and drops Ronnie into the pile of rabbits behind me. I get a kick in the back as they shift. Probably Tigger. He’s the most resentful at having to share ‘his’ domain.

She leans over and rubs noses with me. “I don’t care what they think. This is all that matters.”

“Yeah?”

“Yes. Hale, I don’t want to get serious?—”

I grunt. It’s probably time. There are serious things we need to do. Together and separately. Duncan didn’t come back to the Warren last night, so he doesn’t have any fresh intel to sell. But he’ll be here for breakfast and the daily divvying up of runs, so I need to eliminate that threat before he can pass on anything new. And I held off going after Jaxon last night, but nothing’s holding me back today. Today I track that fucker to ground.

“—but I’d like to see Liv today if we can.”

I nod. “You set that up. I want to talk with Gig about the Warren’s security. Then I got fifty million reports from Myhre to read. When’s Doc Gray coming?”

“What time is it now?” Kez doesn’t believe in living life to anyone’s schedule but her own, so she doesn’t even have a chrono in her room. But she knows I’ve got one in my head.

“Ten after seven.” I translate it into civvy time, since Kez gives me strange looks when I start talking oh-hundreds.

“Three hours. He said around ten o’clock.”

“Okay, we’ll meet him at mine.” My place is right on the river, which is easier for the fish-doc to get to than Nock City. “Busy day, kitten.”

She nods. “Can we spend it together?”

Most of it. “Yeah. Only time you’re outta my sight is when you’re with old Blue-Shades,” I say, referring to Mike-the-Merc and his rig. “You got any Crackle stuff you need to do?”

Her expression grows pained. “Yes. Thanks for reminding me. Place-settings at noon. Why do I care what plates she has?”

I chuckle. “Pick the ugliest ones they got.” I’m just teasing. Neither Kez nor I would sabotage Chiara’s big day. Several Tyngalings we spoke to last night called it ‘the event of the season.’ Better have some nice fuckin’ plates, then. “Use the time to find out what you can about what scores Myhre might have to settle.”

Just because I learned what’s behind Myhre’s moves don’t mean I’ve suddenly started trusting her.

“Where will you be?” Kez asks.

Hunting down her runner. “I got some things to do, too. How ‘bout we meet at the Tower around two?”

She smiles. That was the right move.

CHAPTER 26

Iwait until after breakfast, after Ape and Duncan leave on their first runs of the day, before I pigeonhole Gig in the Control Center.

He looks a little hung-over this morning, but since he doesn’t smell of sex or of ethanol, and there was no sign of Sylvie at breakfast, I think that’s just the result of the thunderbolt.

He settles gingerly onto one of the couches, fidgets. “Should I get the boss?” he asks.

Kez has just disappeared in the direction of the bathroom. Since she was in and out in five minutes before breakfast, I suspect she’s gone to shower, which gives me a few minutes alone with Gig.

I shake my head. “She’s busy. This is between you and me.”

Gig sinks back into the couch. Rubs his hand through his hair. “Am I in trouble?”

“Not with me.”

“Then, uh, what’s going on?”

“What I’m gonna tell you now will hurt. No way around that. But I don’t think it’ll bother you as much as it’ll bother Kez.” I gauge hisreaction. Still open, still a little nervous. “I get the feelin’ you don’t like Duncan much.”

Gig shrugs. “He doesn’t like me much.”