Page 65 of Gunslinger Girl

“You were dead the moment you walked into Casimir,” Selene repeated. “But another stack of bodies does me no good. As of this moment, the Old Reds are disbanded. You and the rest of your gang have twelve hours to leave Cessation. Anyone left in the city come sunrise will sincerely wish they hadn’t ignored this brief measure of clemency.”

She raised her chin, looking out over the upturned faces that filled the Gallery. “Is that clear? No one is to harm any Old Red in Cessation until the deadline has passed. After that… do what you please. That’s twelve hours… starting now.”

At that, Selene turned on her heel and headed for the elevator.

“Turn them loose,” Beau instructed Santino before following her.

“That’s it?” After how Selene had dealt with the assassins, Pity had expected threats, intimidation, even blood—but not mercy. And why didn’t she ask who helped them get into Casimir?

“Seems like,” said Olivia. “Well, looks as if I’ve got some work to get back to.”

“Wait!”

Pity shuffled after, but Olivia outpaced her. She slid over the bar and went immediately to Siena Bond, where she poured brown liquor into a glass until it was at the rim.

“Good to see you, Siena. It’s been too long.”

“Good to see you, too, Liv.” The woman’s voice was as dusty as her clothing. “Nearly had to have someone else pour my drink for me. I miss something exciting?”

“Just a little ruckus.”

Pity caught up, settling herself a few stools down from the bounty hunter. Up close, she could see that the woman was middle-aged, with a narrow face and cropped, ash-brown hair, fading to gray. But the eyes that snagged Pity’s in the bar mirror were bright and sharp. They lingered briefly before dropping back to her drink.

“Good timing, though,” Olivia continued. “If you’re looking for a job.”

“Could be.”

“I’ll let her know you’re available.”

Siena drained her glass in one go and stood to depart. “Then I guess I should take what rest I can.”

When the bounty hunter was gone, Olivia turned. “Okay, now you can tell me what that look is for, Miss Pity.”

Pity leaned over the burnished wood. “Even if Daneko is gone… what about the other thing? The help. Why didn’t Selene…”

“Shhh.” Her voice dropped low. “Because Selene wasn’t about to advertise that there might be a traitor in Casimir. Could be anyone: a worker, a Tin Man, even a regular.”

Pity stared ahead, at the reflection of the Gallery. The prisoners were gone, but the crowd remained, loosening and unsure of what to do now. It was filled with the faces of strangers, acquaintances, and friends. Max’s black-and-blue hair drew her attention like a beacon, and she saw that he was looking at her.

She dropped her gaze quickly. “Then everyone is under suspicion.”

“Not as far as they know,” Olivia replied. “So keep your eyes open, mouth shut, and those guns close.”

CHAPTER 21

Keeping her eyes open wasn’t a problem. Despite the madness of the day and Starr’s narcotics, sleep visited Pity in slim measure. And when it finally did, it brought frenzied, broken dreams, feverish images impossible to knit together.

Inhale, aim… exhale…

Twelve bullets for twelve men, who shattered into shards of glass when she fired, each one a burst of crimson and wearing Finn’s face… Empty chambers, and still the killers came and came and Finn lying everywhere… everywhere…

She awoke drenched in sweat. At first, Pity thought the knock was one of the gunshots that had scored her nightmares. But when she didn’t answer, it sounded again.

Slipping a gun from beneath her pillow, she hobbled to the door, ignoring the pains of protest in her leg. “Who is it?”

“Santino. There’s someone with me who’d like to speak to you.”

The tension in her muscles released. “Hold on.”