Page 35

Chapter twelve

Fifty-Fifty

“Oh damn,” Zann said, looking awed. “Just like Mom used to make.”

That compliment meant more than Niko wanted to let on, a warm sensation webbing through his chest. “I tried.”

Zann dug in, heaping mouthfuls of carne asada taco into his face. Niko helped himself too, trying to outdo Zann in how much he could consume in under a minute. Elliott seemed hesitant to join them, glancing at them both and leaving his food untouched.

“Whaffa madder, babe?” Niko asked through a mouthful of meat.

“Don’t tell me you’re a vegetarian, or something. That’s an irony I can’t fucking take,” Zann said.

“I’m not a vegetarian.” Elliott narrowed his eyes.

“So, it’s the company you don’t like, then,” Zann said.

“Fvann—” Niko warned with a full mouth again.

“No,” Elliott said. He picked off a small piece of garlic and ate it. “I just— We’re going to burn through supplies quickly now. Maybe we should keep meals simpler, more pared down—”

“You can eat it,” Niko said. “We’re going to have a lot more meals like this. We’ll get more supplies from Lady D.”

“Are you sure, Niko?”

“Yeah. You don’t need to worry about food shortage anymore. Even with another person here.”

Elliott finally dug in now, eating just as ravenously as Niko and Zann had. It seemed he’d needed permission of some kind to enjoy the experience—whether from Niko, or himself, Niko wasn’t sure. Maybe both. The three of them collectively destroyed the food before them.

“Speaking of Lady Death. What’s going on with her these days?” Zann asked.

Niko reached for more food, his fingertips dragging instead along the last tragic crumbs of meat and cheese. How had it disappeared so fast? “She’s still doing her thing. Same old. She, uh. She killed Aleksi.”

“ Whoa .” Zann sat back in his chair, eyes wide. “Wait, what? When? Why?”

“When we went to see her, he tried for our bounties. He ended up ambushing us—”

“Unfurprivingly—” Elliott interjected around his own mouthful of food.

“Unsurprisingly, yeah. Unfortunately, too. I… hadn’t wanted it to end that way. But you know how she’s always been when her people try and pull one over on her.”

“Shit,” Zann said. He still looked stunned. His gaze crept over toward Niko, eyeing him a little warily. “Did you see it happen?”

“We did,” Elliott said flatly.

“...You, uh, okay, Niko?” Zann stared at him now. There was a lot Niko wanted to say about it. The truth was, he wasn’t entirely okay. Aleksi’s death was something he still wrestled with sometimes, when he had quiet moments alone.

The man had brought it on himself. He knew that—and reminded himself of it repeatedly, like a mantra. But if Niko hadn’t crossed paths with him again, he’d still be out there, living his life, running goods to and from Dainna. He’d died for something as useless as greed.

Niko could feel Elliott’s gaze on him without even looking. The last thing he wanted to do was stir up the other man’s self-loathing again with painful wording. He knew he still blamed himself for all of it too. The whole thing had been a blow below the belt to them both.

“Yeah, you know, it’s— It sucks. But I’m alright.”

“Yeah?” Zann asked, silence falling between them for a beat. “Just making sure.”

“Yep. I’m okay, Zann. He chose his path.”

“Hey,” Zann said, his tone changing as he sopped up a dollop of tangy chili lime juice with his last scrap of tortilla.

Niko envied that he still had a bite left.

“So, the past few hours, I’ve been combing more of those files.

Found some real interesting things in there about Station Twelve. In Fourier’s in particular.”

Niko sat up a little more. “Yeah?”

“What did you find?” Elliott asked.

“So, get a load of this. Uru Taal, of all people, has been making generous donations to Station Twelve for the past two and a half years.”

“Ever since you gave them the files,” Niko said, looking at Elliott.

“Wanna make a guess who was in charge of the fundraising and donation outreach effort?” Zann continued.

“Not Fourier,” Niko said, his brow furrowing. “He didn’t even start at Station Twelve until a few months ago. Right?”

“Right. But here’s the thing. He ran this whole big donation drive with the funds disbursed to three stations in particular.

One he worked for at the time, and two he didn’t.

The Ouriaus Station on Vhesria, Twelve on Kaapra-19, and,” Zann flicked his gaze toward Elliott, raising his eyebrows, “the South Althiss Station on Delevia. That fundraiser got significantly high donations from some big people. With the highest contributor being Uru Taal.”

“Those—” Elliott’s eyes were wide. “Those were the three I directly sent files to.”

“Taal was paying them off from circulating or investigating your shit. Through Fourier.”

Niko could see the muscles in Elliott’s jaw strain as he ground his teeth. He watched him in silence.

Zann shook his head. “This piece of shit Toliai prince has been nothing but bad news. He’s got his fingers in everything.”

“I’m not convinced he isn’t the primary head of Honeybliss,” Elliott said. “At least unofficially. They’re not terribly hierarchical, but I find more and more that he’s the one making things happen in the shadows.”

“Yep. My thoughts too,” Zann commented. “It gets worse, though.”

“Of course it does,” Elliott muttered.

“I actually got a glimpse into some of Fourier’s old personal finances too.

Taal's been wiring him dark money under the table for years before that, even. And the dates of each transaction seem to line up with a history of shit Fourier pulled in other stations before he’d transferred.

Investigations into people. Arrests. Even potential disappearances.

I'm still trying to match it all up. Fucker was a straight up Honeybliss clean-up mook.”

“Shit,” Niko murmured. “I hated that guy from the moment I saw him.”

“Yeah. Greasy little sleazeball,” Zann muttered.

“I thought when he’d first shown up that maybe I’d give him a chance, but now I wish I’d tossed his ass straight in the trash compactor.

See if Uru Taal could bail him out of that.

Wonder how many other cops he’s personally gotten killed for looking too deep into it all, too.

Fucker’s worm food now anyway. Good riddance. ”

Elliott sat in silence, his gaze lax and fixed on nothing in particular, lost somewhere deep in thought.

Something began to dawn on Niko, and his skin crawled.

“Wait. If Galapol had all these records of his personal finances on file, were they—?”

Zann smirked, joyless, harsh, and sharp as a knife.

“Yep. Looks like they knew all along. Chief knew too. They just didn’t give a fuck.

But even more than that, it meant they condoned it.

After all, they chose to rank him up as my replacement.

Being wary of Honeybliss is one thing, but actively helping them do the shit they do is a whole other level of fucked up.

And for what? Station funding? Fucking fundraisers? ”

It hurt. Niko had believed in the police for so long, had worked alongside them to keep people safe.

Had it been a farce all along? Only some people were worthy of keeping safe?

Only some were extended protection? If the right person was the one to inflict the hurt, were you just shit out of luck as Galapol helped them sweep your ruination under the rug?

It seemed that way.

How many other young, hopeful officers, investigators, and bounty hunters on the right side of the law were beginning their careers now too, with no idea of the corruption that ran rampant through the very system they’d devoted themselves to, like a deeply rooted cancer?

Zann seemed to hold the same sentiment. “I gave those bastards years of my life. I worked hard for them. Day and night. Overtime. Weekends. I gave so much to them, and in the end it’s all just bullshit.”

Elliott eyed Zann quietly, his attention focused on the dark-haired man now. He stayed silent, whatever thoughts swimming through him now held deeply within.

“I know,” Niko agreed. “But in the end, it wasn’t for Galapol , really, was it?

It was for Mom. And Ryen. It was for all the people out there who needed help.

It was to try and protect them . People like— Like Cleo.

” He glanced at Elliott. “Those were the people I worked hard for and still want to continue working hard for, Galapol or not. I don’t think any of that was a waste. ”

“Yeah,” Zann said. “You’re right. Of course you’re right. But it still fucking smarts.”

“I wish,” Elliott finally spoke, his tone quiet, “that I had met you before any of this.” He looked at Niko as he said it, their gazes locking for a long moment.

“Yeah, Elliott,” Niko said. He ached. “Me too.”

Another thought crossed his mind, goosebumps pricking up his arms and neck. He glanced back at Zann. “Do you think, if he has that kind of reach into Galapol, that Taal could be the one who has Dad and Loolae?” Niko asked.

A cold quiet descended over the table. Elliott looked sick.

Zann eyed him. “Yeah, I sure fucking hope not. Not that any of those other fucks would be much better. I’m going to look into him, though. See if there’s anything we can find.”

“I’ll help you,” Elliott said.

Zann stared at him for a moment, pressing his lips together. “Yeah, sure. I’ll take all the help I can get.”

Niko was relieved. He realized he’d wanted the two of them to like each other more than he’d been willing to admit. Like might still be too strong of a word, but seeing both men willing to set aside their differences and unite against their real enemy was a start.

He could accept a start right now.

Niko yawned. Having to play chaperone to the two all day had worn his energy reserves low. As well as days of endless research and not knowing if he’d gotten two people he loved killed.

“Why don’t you get some rest, Niko? You look like you haven’t slept in a week,” Zann said.