Page 16 of Blood Game

She grabbed the handle on the door. “Neither do I.”

Innis was everything Anne had described, and more. Tattoos covered every inch of his body, at least all the visible parts. She could only guess at the parts that weren’t visible. And the variouscolors of eye shadow had been applied in layers over light blue eyes. It was striking, and set off the blue hair. And he was in costume—camouflage pants, t-shirt, combat boots, and the headband.

“It's a bit wild in here this morning,” he explained after introductions were made.

“Most of the gang have been up for two days straight. It's that way when you go to war.”

Bywar, he obviously meant the gamers who were wired in at different computer stations around the café, planning strategies, launching attacks, fighting off counter-attacks, the streets in chaos, smoke billowing from a burned-out military vehicle—the usual chaos and destruction that lured both men and women to the world of internet gaming.

She caught the expression on James' face as he stepped into that make-believe world that was far removed from the real world that he and so many others fought in each day, a world where there were no breaks to eat, smoke a joint, or go to the restroom. A world of real blood and death.

Wanker. She thought of that as she spoke with Innis and explained the reason she was there.

“Cate's editor,” he exclaimed. “All the way from New York! I've got this great idea for a book. A thriller, lots of action with some great sex thrown in...!”

She smiled. If she had a dollar for every time she heard that. “When you have something put together, I'd be happy to take a look,” she replied, then brought them back to the reason they were there.

“You did some work for Cate when her computer crashed last year.”

He shrugged. “I help a lot of customers. Yer mum is one of them.” He threw a smile at James.

“I set up her website for her rental company. That sort of thing. Simple stuff.”

“You also set up off-site storage for Cate on her own server.”

He shrugged again. “Basic stuff, secure, in case her computer crashed again.”

“I need access to that site.”

Blue eyebrows disappeared into the purple headband. Before he could respond, a young woman appeared at his elbow. She was small with short-cropped black hair spiked up all over her head, zombie make-up, and also dressed for combat.

“What about her computer?” he suggested. “Anything she was working on would probably be there.”

She and James exchanged a look. “That's not an option.” She explained about the break-in at the Tavern.

“That's raw,” he replied. “I suppose it takes all sorts in this world.”

The young woman gave them both a look. “Kim needs your help,” she said insistently, indicating a young Asian man at one of the computer terminals.

“Look, I'm sorry about Cate,” Innis started to explain. It was the typical brush-off.

“I'd really like to help, but I have customers waiting.”

“And I have a court order,” Kris informed him.

Blue eye shadow was vivid against suddenly pale skin. “Look, I don't want any trouble from the authorities.”

“Innis!” the young woman insisted impatiently.

“Bugger off, Luna!” he snapped. “I'll be there in a minute.” He turned to Kris.

“I don't know if I can help,” he said hesitantly. “Everything is protected. Only Cate had the password. Security and all that.”

Three excuses rolled into one, his voice climbing with each one.

James leaned across the counter. “Then, go in through the back door.”

She didn't know who was more surprised, herself or Innis.