Page 55

The following morning, we met Max in a run-down part of East Providence.

“Jason Bennett works in there,” he said, pointing across the street to an auto shop.

“She said he wants to stay ‘on the good side’. So what’s the play?”

“Appeal to his conscience, I guess,” Max replied.

“Maybe you two should hang back for this,” I said reluctantly to the girls. “We don’t want to intimidate him with numbers.”

“Maybe me and Max should hang back,” Iyoni countered, “and Kara should bat her eyelids at him. Win him over with sex appeal.”

“I can do that,” Kara said, perking up.

“Uh-huh,” I said, not thrilled about using Kara that way, but unable to argue the merits. “What if he’s gay?”

“Why, that’s why you’re there, Xan,” Iyoni said, reaching behind me to pinch my ass. I barely slapped her hand away in time, and she giggled.

“Behave yourself, or I’m going to report you to the Archon,” I muttered, and she laughed louder.

Max stood by, eyebrows up as he watched our byplay. “Er … description,” he said, and cleared his throat. “Bennett is late twenties, lanky, blond, and about six-one.”

“Is he a supe?” I asked.

“Yeah. SPAR lists him as a low-grade pyro.”

“Fine.” Easy enough. “Kara and I will take it from here.”

We headed across the street and Kara reached for my hand out of habit, pulling hers back at the last second, and throwing me an apologetic glance. I winked at her, vivid thoughts in my mind not only of last night, but also of her waking me up this morning.

“Stop making eyes at each other, you too,” Iyoni muttered playfully, before she and Max peeled off to stand nearby, in case they were needed.

“You want to take the lead?” I asked Kara. “I’ll jump in if needed.”

“Sure, sounds like fun.”

The auto shop was a dim, oil-stained cave that reeked of burnt rubber and old grease. One bay door hung half-open, the other propped with a chunk of concrete. Stripped car parts were piled in corners like metal spaghetti. The counter was cluttered with paperwork and a landline phone from the ‘90s.

Kara headed straight for it while I followed along, reaching out with my senses for any supes. The fire elemental was deep in the shop, working beneath a car, his legs and the end of a creeper jutting out.

“Hi,” Kara said to the man behind the desk. Just that one word, drawn out and delivered with a smile. He practically swooned.

“Well, hello there, miss. What can I do for you today?”

“I was looking for Jason.” She gave him a wide-eyed stare and chewed her lip. “I hear he’s good with his hands.”

I coughed into my fist and turned away, before the glare I could feel forming undid all her hard work.

“I’m sure he is,” the desk guy said with a hint of envy, then turned to holler across the shop. “Bennett! Lady here to see you.”

His shout drew the eyes of every man present, and a second later the pyro slid out from under the car, wiping his hands on his overalls. He glanced in irritation toward the desk, saw Kara, and his expression changed to one of puppy-dog enthusiasm in the time it took him to find his feet.

“Can we use your office?” Kara asked the man behind the counter. “It’s kind of … private.”

How she packed that much innuendo into one word I’d never know, but I felt an irrational jealousy of Bennett, and had to stamp on it hard. Kara was just playing a role, even if every damn man in the shop was wishing they could swop places with the lucky mechanic.

The man in question arrived, gave me a fleeting glance, and focused his attention on Kara. “Something I can help you with, ma’am?”

“She says you’re good with your hands,” the desk guy said, and I really wanted to punch him.

“Thank you so much for coming over,” Kara gushed. “Can we talk in there?”

The pyro glanced at the office and gave her a grin. “Sure.”

Kara walked off, hips swaying in tight jeans, and all of us watched. Bennett followed like a dog on a leash, and I gave him a moment before I headed after them, just in time to slide my foot in the door as he tried to close it behind him.

He frowned at me. “Private conversation, d’ya mind?”

“Oh, he’s with me,” Kara said in her helpless damsel voice, and Bennett reluctantly released his hold on the door.

Kara waited until I’d shut it, then dropped the act. “Jason Bennett, we’re from SPAR.”

He tensed, eyes hardening. “I haven’t done anything—”

“Oh, we know,” Kara said lightly. “Just a few questions, then we’ll be on our way. We won’t cause you any trouble … today.”

The hesitation turned her promise into a threat. Bennett swallowed loudly and gave a jerky nod.

“We understand you know someone in SPAR and have helped them in the past.”

“Right … yeah,” he muttered, glancing my way. I leaned against the door, trying not to look too threatening. “You mean that tip I passed a few months back?”

“Just that,” Kara said, smiling encouragingly. “Go on.”

He swallowed again, caught between unease at our ambush and Kara’s allure. Her allure won. He focused on her, ignoring me. “So … er … I got a brother, right?”

“So many do these days,” Kara murmured.

“Right …” Bennett said, momentarily thrown. But he picked up steam. “My brother works for a faction in College Hill. Demons,” he sneered. “Every one of them bastards’ nasty.”

I rubbed my jaw, eyes narrowing as he casually insulted Kara without knowing it.

“Oh, I can only imagine,” she said.

Bennett smiled like he’d found an ally. “So, I heard about this fight I knew was brewing. My brother said they were planning this inter-faction brawl with some other demons, and—”

“How long ago did you say this was?” Kara cut in.

“Oh … er … about a year. Bit less. So, like I was saying—”

“And since then?” Kara pressed. “Any other tips you’ve reported?”

“No, it was just that one.” He frowned. “Don’t you people keep records?”

“Of course,” Kara said smoothly. “It’s about trust, Mr. Bennett. I like to know who I’m talking to.”

“Right. Sure, makes sense.”

“So, just that one time? No other contact with SPAR?”

“Well … a couple of SPAR guys came by afterwards and asked me some questions. Not as nice as you of course.” He smiled at Kara and she returned it dutifully.

“They told me to keep an ear out for similar stuff, and I was glad to. I’ve got a wife and two little kids, and you just can’t be too careful when—”

“You’re so right, Mr. Bennett. That’s partly why we’re talking to you now. You’re aware tensions have been growing?”

“Oh yeah, for sure. Just the other day this guy came into the shop, and—”

“Which faction does your brother work for?”

“Oh. He’s a security guard at one of them skyscrapers on Thayer Street. I don’t quite remember. House Praxic, I think. No—last job. Vel Syndicate. Those are the guys.”

“He ever worked for the Moreau Corporation?”

Bennett laughed. “He should be so lucky. No, my brother is a few fries short of a Happy Meal, if you catch my drift.”

“I do, Mr. Bennett,” Kara said. “Thank you so much for your cooperation. We won’t keep you.”

I opened the door for him.

“Er … right.” He cast her a last, forlorn look, and walked back out into the shop without even glancing my way.

“Let’s talk outside,” I told Kara, and we headed out to rejoin Max and Iyoni.

“How did I do?” Kara asked as soon as we cleared the shop, but I waited another dozen paces until we reached the others.

“Kara was brilliant,” I told them both, and she flashed me a smile. “Unfortunately, that’s the only good news. Bennett had nothing useful to offer.”

“Then we’re five of six dead ends,” Iyoni said, crossing her arms. “Is it even worth tracking down the delivery guy?”

I hesitated for a moment. “We should see the job through. Max, I’ve got the address from Bruna, and we can handle this. Why don’t you head on back? That lieutenant of yours clearly needs all the help he can get.”

“Sure thing, Xan. Hope I helped.”

“You certainly did,” I said. “Be sure to let Bruna know I won’t forget the favor, and make sure you visit her more often.” I grinned. “You can tell her I said that, too.”

He gave a chuckle, nodded to the girls, and headed off.

I watched him leave, then turned back to Iyoni. “No, there’s no point tracking down the delivery guy.”

Iyoni looked confused. “You just said—”

“If I thought there was a chance it might get us somewhere, then sure. But we’re after the saboteur, and we have enough for that.” I shook my head. “That last lead is another wild goose chase, and we don’t have time to waste.”

“We don’t really have proof,” Kara said tentatively. “It’s just circumstantial.”

“You’re right,” I said, clenching my jaw. “But the only one who needs to be satisfied is Dacien.”

“We’re still going for the source, right?” Iyoni asked. “Are you going to interrogate Farron yourself?”

“What would I do? Tie him to a chair and take a feather to his toes?” I shook my head. “I don’t have the skills for that, and we can’t risk missing a lead to the bomb. No … I need someone who knows how to get answers.”

I watched Iyoni, wondering if she’d regret her acceptance of me when she realized what I was intending.

She frowned but said nothing. Kara was the one to break the silence. “Which means what?”

“He’s going to hand him over to Dacien,” Iyoni said bluntly. She fixed me with her penetrating gaze. “What if he has nothing to do with Moreau? What if he’s just trying to do his job, raiding the infrastructure of a man we all know deserves it?”

Kara crossed her arms. “Based on information he must know comes from another supe faction? He’s not innocent in this.”

“He’s not guilty, either,” Iyoni said.

“I don’t like this anymore than you do,” I said. “But someone inside SPAR leaked the patrol route to Moreau, and a faction out there is targeting Dacien. What if the two things are connected?”

“What if they’re not?” Iyoni challenged.

“We’ve been over this.” I sighed wearily. “The only way to find out is to do a trade. Dacien gets the saboteur he was looking for, but only if he agrees to interrogate him for clues to Moreau.”

Kara tapped her fingers against her lips, then nodded. “My father gets what he wants, and we get a way of stopping Moreau.”

“Exactly. Or, at least … hopefully.” I glanced at her. “I haven’t forgotten what he said. I know what this could cost you, Kara. I won’t let him hurt you.”

Kara didn’t answer, but her expression softened.

Iyoni spoke without inflection. “Meanwhile, you get Dacien off your back.”

I paused, trying to read her eyes. “Yes,” I said, my voice tight. “But that’s just a bonus. It’s not my motivation.”

Her face remained expressionless, then she carefully inclined her head.

“Is that acceptance?” I asked, cautious now. “Are you regretting your decision?”

“You’re dancing with the devil, Xan,” she replied, her poker face impenetrable. I couldn’t read her at all.

I sighed, the weight of it all pressing down on me. “You want to judge me again?” The words slipped out sharper than I intended. “At least wait until this is over. Give me a chance to stop Moreau before that damn sword of yours makes another appearance.”

But Iyoni shook her head. “No, that won’t happen. First, I judged who you are, not what you do—and that hasn’t changed. Second, I’m bonded to you now. And third … I agree.”

“You agree?” Kara said, unable to keep the surprise from her voice.

“Yes.” Iyoni held my gaze, but replied to Kara. “Xan’s finding a way through when options are limited. He won’t let Moreau touch you, and he won’t let innocents die if he can help it. The bomb’s more important than Dacien’s warehouses, right?”

“Absolutely,” I said firmly. “Finding it is all that matters.”

“Even if it means doing what you said you wouldn’t,” Iyoni continued. “Passing a man to Dacien who may not deserve to be there.”

I winced at the reminder. “If he doesn’t, I’ll get him out,” I vowed. “I’ll find a way … somehow.”

“You’re taking a morally gray path, Xan,” Iyoni said, her voice softer. “I know why, and I know how much it’s hurting you. I wasn’t questioning you …” She hesitated. “Well, I suppose I was, but not in doubt of you. Just to understand—and now I do. I trust you.”

I nodded, accepting it, and felt some tension drain away. “Thank you.”

“You never need to thank me,” she said, eyes still locked on mine. “One day, you’ll understand what this bond means to Kara and me. Then you’ll know just how much we have your back.”

“Call him ‘master’,” Kara stage-whispered.

Iyoni didn’t look away, but her lips curled up at the corners.

“I’m not sure what I’ve done to deserve you both,” I said, the words heavy with relief, “but damn, I’m glad you’re with me.”

For a second, neither of them spoke, the moment held, soft and quiet and just ours.

“You didn’t need to say that, Master,” Kara replied, eyes shining as she gazed at me. “We’ve always been with you.”

“Eh … not strictly true,” Iyoni demurred. “From what you told me, you spent the first few days cussing him out every other moment, and I did threaten to obliterate him.”

Kara glared at her. “Ignore her. She’s just determined to ruin your heartfelt moments.”

Iyoni smiled. “Dragging us back to the subject in hand, it still leaves a question.”

“Which is?” I asked.

“Farron or Reyes?” she said, then gave a small shrug. “They both have the means to cover for Moreau’s source. If it was Farron, he’s misleading Reyes. If it’s Reyes, he’s pointing the finger at Farron.”

“Damn it, she’s right,” Kara said.

“I’ve already thought of that,” I said wearily.

“And there’s no clear motive pointing to one over the other.

” I made a gesture of frustration. “Oh sure, I bet if we had time to dig, we’d find some coercion behind it all in true Moreau style.

But we don’t, so there’s nothing for it but to go with my gut. ”

“What if you’re wrong?” Kara asked, concern in her eyes.

“If I’m wrong … then we make sure they come out of it alive.

” I shrugged while they both looked at me.

“It’s a long way from perfect, but it’s the best I’ve got.

This is an untenable position. I can’t juggle the lives of Kara, innocents, and a SPAR agent who knows what he’s been doing. Something has to give.”

Kara nodded her acceptance, reaching a hand out to me. I gripped it tightly, and she gave a supportive squeeze.

“So how do you choose?” Iyoni asked.

“It’s Farron,” I said, already set on my decision.

“Why?”

“For two reasons. First, knowing Reyes, I just can’t see it being him. Second … two dead, two don’t exist, and two small-timers, one of which is a year-old source? If Reyes was trying to misdirect us, he’d have done a better job with the list.”

Kara nodded firmly, adding her other hand to our clasp. “I’m totally behind you on this, Master.”

“Me too,” Iyoni said. “Your logic is sound, and the options are limited.”

“So what do we do now?” Kara asked.

“We make a call,” I said, and pulled Dacien’s cufflinks from my pocket.