Page 37 of Gates of Tartarus

“Maela?” Emlyn stares at me. “Do youwantto work for Gaia?”

“Err. I just said I’d think about it. She made it sound so noble and altruistic. I mean: finding trafficked women and children would be agoodthing, right?AndGaia has an office in London, so…” I trail off. He’s looking a little sucker-punched.

Seef grunts again. “Likes to scratch the lion’s balls with a short stick, that one.” He shakes his head and crosses right arm over left. Today, in preparation for our session, he’s wearing a dark-green tee-shirt, which really works with the bastard’s coloring, and black joggers. He doesn’t seem to realize it’s November and cold outside.

Flustered from Emlyn’s reaction, I roll my eyes and grimace. “Do you think you could speakEnglish, please? Or French, if you prefer. But one of the two.”

Seef smirks at me. “Jy krap met n kort stokkie aan n groot leeu se bal, Maela.”

I narrow my eyes and turn back to Emlyn. “I haven’t said ‘yes’ or ‘no’. And do you mean to say you want me to keep working for Babylon, even after we dismantle Kronos?”

“Well, yes,” Emlyn answers quietly. He clears his throat and looks down at his desk, then picks up his pen and starts to tap it against his fingers.

There’s a short silence while I try to digest the implications. I’m opening my mouth to say… what, I don’t really know… that of course I’ll stay, I think, when Seef ruins the moment. “Besides, we’re paying for all of your training.”

My head whips round. “Wrong answer,balsak!” I hiss. He looks momentarily taken aback, then grudgingly respectful. I turn to Emlyn again. “Emlyn, I didn’t know that Babylon was a long-term option. I mean, you once brought up the CIA, but ifyou, I mean, if, uh, the London branch, well, of course, I’d really like that.” I gaze at him earnestly, wanting to banish the bruised look from his eyes.

Emlyn smiles ruefully. “Gaia would be a wonderful opportunity, and I don’t want to pressure you. Shouldn’t have brought it up, really, but… just keep it in mind as an option, would you?”

I nod my head, feeling touched and a little shy. Seef is watching us, an enigmatic look on his face. “So, Driscoll, has Cole agreed to share the formula?”

The conversation turns back to my meeting yesterday. Elizabeth is wary about sharing proprietary information, with phase-two trials already under way. Gaia’s been getting very good results and are already looking ahead to phase three. We also discuss whether or not I should get a booster; it could enhance my ability, but, equally, cancel it out. We’re all leaning towards the booster, though. And Maddox Smith is sending over some footage of Tennireef, so I’m going to be focusing on Magda today. She seems to have imprinted on me strongly.

I’m prepared to see the familiar apartment, so am shocked when I step out to see bright sunlight and soft, white sand. Have I accidentally transported myself to Capri, with Emlyn? I look around. No: there are palm trees, and turquoise water, not a “wine-dark sea”, and I spot a cabana with a bar. And, holy heck, there’s Magda, looking svelte in a bikini and see-through wrap. Seriously, how do her breasts stay so perky? She strolls back to a sun-lounger, drink in hand, then settles herself, closing her eyes in contentment. The cow. She’s attracting admiring glances from some of the other patrons, and I want to shout at them and tell them they’ve got the hots for a murdering whore – Tennireef thedrolwas right about that – but I only shake my head in disgust. It really isn’t fair that she’s on holiday in the Caribbean, while we’re in rainy London. I’m about to leave when her mobile rings.

She picks it up with one slim hand, the bracelet Ratko gave her round her wrist. Clearly, she’s not planning on swimming, whereas I’d be jumping up and down in the waves like a porpoise if I could. I sidle over to eavesdrop.

“Yes, Rhea, got in this morning. I’m not sure that it was really necessary, but now that I’m here, I might as well enjoy myself.” Magda listens for a moment, lush lips pursed. “Yes, we do want to take all precautions, but you know that I… Fine. So, is Boy Wonder taking over for me?” She sounds disgruntled, and I feel a slight burst of satisfaction.Hah! She’s been demoted – by being sent to the Caribbean, I think.Damn! “Artemis?She’sassuming control? Are you sure she’s ready? She’s barely out of training wheels,” Magda sneers.Gosh, she must be upset. She’s mangling her metaphors. Magda’s lips whiten. “We’ve discussed that. He was a mistake, and I took care of it. I’ll lie low, then I’m coming back.Unemi ái.” Magda almost hurls the phone into her bag and takes a long drink. I figure I won’t get anything else when she closes her eyes so look for the rope and slide down.

Seef and Emlyn are watching me intently when I open my eyes. “Well?”

“She likes piña coladas,” I say, then hasten to add, when Seef’s face goes an interesting shade of puce. “No, really. She’s on a beach somewhere in the Caribbean. Got there this morning. Seems that Rhea thinks she’s a liability, so she’s going to lie low and someone named ‘Artemis’ is taking over in London.”

“Bliksem!” Seef swears.

Emlyn gives a heartfeltdamnin agreement. “There goes that lead.”

I look from one to the other. “You never know. I can still shadow her, see if she takes any more calls. We might get lucky with a video chat.”

“Yes,” Emlyn sighs. “There is that. But we’ll need to concentrate on Tennireef for now. Let’s hope the video footage does the trick.”

“And,” I say slowly, “I should probably have that booster.”

Seef nods. “It’s a risk worth taking. All right, Driscoll, let’s go work some of this off in the gym. Emlyn, I’ve got a meeting on Monday afternoon, so can we meet at my office?”

“Can’t,” Emlyn apologizes. “I’ve got to meet with the prosecutor who’s charging the gang members we’ve rounded up. I was going to suggest that Maela come to your office and you take over the session yourself.”

“That’ll work,” Seef replies. “Come on, Driscoll. Let’s go.” He heads towards the door.

I round my eyes furiously at Emlyn and scowl. He has the grace to look abashed, but I stick my tongue out at him anyway when following Seef out. Down in the gym, I change into my workout clothes and spend the next hour getting pummeled. I’m getting pretty good at the knife strike. Less so the 360 defense. Feeling cross all over again that Emlyn’s abandoned me, I end up flat on my back on the mat, Seef looming over me.

“You need to learn to think through emotion, princess.” He leans down to give me a hand up, and I slap it away.

“Ugh. Are wedoneyet?” I swipe impatiently at a strand of hair sticking to my face.

“No,” his eyes narrow. “Stop whining.”

“I’m notwhining!” OK, well, I am, but that’s beside the point.