Page 14

14 The Double Bluff

It was still dark when I awoke abruptly, alert, ready. I was instantly aware of two things at once, the pleasant, throbbing sensation of having been stretched and fiercely made love to, and the crashing sensation of what I was about to do. Inside me, the rawness of my emotions and tears still throbbed dully.

I tuned into Rain’s steady breathing, and the pain in my chest intensified, for now I was going to destroy everything Rain tried to build between us. It was easy to tell myself there was no other way. Far easier it was to destroy than to build. Even if there was another way, time was running out to find it. This was bigger than me and Rain, and perhaps one day he’ll forgive me.

I slipped out of bed. Rain did not stir.

I tiptoed to the other room, where I found my dress. I pulled it on quickly, then found his jacket and pulled out the recording tape from it. After grabbing my shoes, I tiptoed out the front door, and down the stairs, avoiding the elevator, so as not to wake Rain.

I jumped into a taxi and made my way home.

A radio informed me that there was another execution by the GLF in the city hall. A child, mayor’s offspring. GLF meant to shock, and so they did. I closed my heart against the cruelty of it.

Today I would bring an end to it. After all, this was my test to see whether I was a suitable candidate for the agency, I thought sardonically, and not with a small amount of bitterness. Wild thought he could control me, command me. I was the best damned detective this city ever had, and I had my own ideas about where this needed to go, and it was not where Rain was guiding it.

Since I left Rain’s apartment, I knew immediately I was being followed. I did not bother glancing behind me. My senses were keen enough to know who it was. Paying her no mind, I returned home, showered, dressed in my usual suit. Strapped two holders onto my body and put two revolvers into them. One of them was the one Rain gave me.

I hesitated for a moment, when I held his gift, reeling from the rawness in my heart, the crushing regret. The emotions had not subsided. Like a flooded river bursting its banks there was nothing I could do to reseal it. The best I could hope for was to wait for it to retreat.

I strapped his revolver to my body, and it felt like a piece of Rain against me. It gave me strength and reinforced my purpose.

I did not lie when I said that I was never tempted by the oblivion, that I was not going to jump into it from the edge of the roof. What I omitted to say was that I held no fear of that oblivion. And the fearless prowling along its edge was what made me the best damn detective in the city.

With that thought, I marched outside. On the way to my car, I bought the Daily Times from the street vendor and turned to page two. The editor, Tracey Hodgkins, was not a friend of mine, but we traded favours now and then. I preferentially gave them an exclusive interview when they wanted one, and some details of the high-profile cases. They, in return, occasionally published stories I wanted them to publish, not all of them true, but convincing enough to draw out some bastard. The editor did not disappoint me this morning. Folding the paper, I got into my car and drove to the Central Bank. I glanced behind me only once to see Serpent still following me. She made no effort to hide it, as if she was goading me to confront her. No doubt she knew I spent the night with her ex-husband.

Outside the bank, I leant against the statue of the first president of Brandria, whilst waiting and watching the doors.

The Serpent had settled into her favourite spot in the coffee shop across the street, watching me. I almost smiled grimly at the irony of it. She was exactly where I wanted her to be, to witness what I was about to do and race to Rain with the news of betrayal.

Kyle Snow was an early riser, it seemed. Soon I watched them go inside the bank, then come out again. I moved, striding forwards to block their path.

‘Snow,’ I said dryly, in that tone I used on my suspects.

‘Who the …’ they trailed off. My face has been on the news and in papers a number of times. The last time being only three days ago.

‘You know who I am,’ I said and lit the cigar. ‘How did you enjoy the opera last night?’

‘What do you want, detective?’

‘I want the money you have in that case of yours,’ I said with a nod at the brown leather valise.

‘Are you out of your bloody mind?’

‘I’m only asking about the opera as I very much enjoyed it myself. Found it rather intriguing.’ I pulled out the recording tape, and their eyes fixated on it. ‘Interesting thing, this,’ I said between puffs of smoke. ‘You should really listen to it. Very colourful, very detailed and very, very damning.’

Their eyes narrowed. ‘Are you blackmailing me? Do you know what I can do to you?’

‘Oh I have a fairly good idea. Likely what you did to my Ma. But don’t get your guns out yet, Snow. I’m not here to bring you down. How about we take a stroll, before your industrious Agent Hawk races here to intercept me trading this tape for your valise. You see, unlike me, he’s quite determined to see you in prison.’

‘Hawk?’ Snow’s face blanched a little. ‘He was there, too?’

‘Listening to every word. Where do you think I got this tape from?’

Snow glanced around and nodded for me to follow. We walked away from the building. ‘Speak quickly, detective, before I am tempted to shoot you and take the tape off you.’

I pulled on the cigar. ‘I’d not recommend that, Kyle. I get very upset when someone threatens me like that. To answer your question, I spoke with Fanigan, and I want in. I’m not as much of an idealist as you might imagine. All I really want from life is enough money so that I don’t have to step in other people’s piss whilst going up the stairs to my apartment. A more fashionable suit wouldn’t go amiss either. And if your plan succeeds, we all get what we want. You get to be on your way to becoming a president. I get a very juicy promotion and a new suit. And you get my undying devotion and outspoken support on your presidency campaign. I dare say the public love me more than they love Carlson.’

‘Never took you for the greedy type, Detective Rockhall.’ They cast me a sideway look as we strolled a little down the street.

‘Practical, I would say.’

‘If you were listening, you know I can’t give you this money. But I can arrange …’

I stopped and faced them. ‘They don’t call me the best detective for no reason, Kyle. What you have planned will not work. You give GLF that money to slaughter everyone in the city hall, and you will destroy more than Stateguard. This won’t just make them look bad, but also your office. It is not a secret that Hawk’s First Division is working the case. If you’ve read the Daily Times this morning, you’ll know the papers have sniffed this out already. They believe ONS has taken over the hostage situation.’ I thrust the newspaper into Snow’s hands, already folded to page two where my tip off from yesterday was plastered all over it.

They stared at it. ‘Why the hell would they believe that?’ Snow roared in outrage. ‘Who gave them this information?’

I shrugged nonchalantly. ‘It doesn’t matter. We have a problem here, anyhow. One I can solve for you. If you give me that money, I can make you look like a bloody hero and Stateguard like children caught with their pants down pissing in their neighbour’s pool. The papers are already calling for the security detail to be passed to our agency. If this goes how you plan for it to go, with everyone dead, no one will come out looking good out of this.’

Kyle’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. ‘And what do you propose?’

‘Give me the case. I will be your delivery dog to GLF. Least I can do after killing Grant.’

‘You killed Grant …’

‘Don’t yell, chief. Is it so surprising? Someone had to die for Ma.’

Their face turned red with rage. ‘Speak quickly, Rockhall, I’m quickly beginning to dislike you.’

I tapped my cigar, sending ash to the ground. ‘Instead of killing the hostages, I will convince GLF to stage a battle with Secureforce, led of course by Fanigan and his best detectives, which includes me of course. When the hostages are secure I’ll kill the GLF terrorists and return the case to you. In return for my participation and show of good faith … amongst other perks we discussed, such as a promotion to senior inspector, I’m willing to give you the only copy of that rather clumsy conversation you had last night at the theatre.’

‘Is that all, you want? A promotion and a bit of gold in your bank account?’ he asked sardonically.

I drew on the cigar and exhaled smoke. ‘A car. I want a nice car.’.

Snow eyed the tape again. ‘GLF will be pissed if we double cross them. We don’t want to lose their services.’

‘In the confusion, who knows what went on in there. Perhaps they double crossed us. After all, what is truth? Hey Kyle? Truth is what we say it is. I just need the case, the name of your contact, and for you to send Fanigan’s team inside at midday sharp. I’ll meet them myself. You can call them the negotiators. That will be our cover. We have found a way to communicate with the hostage takers directly and made a deal to release the mayor. By lunch this will be over, and you will be the hero of the hour. I will of course tell the papers how we could not have saved them without your ingenious plan.’

Snow regarded me, considered it. ‘How do I even know I can trust you, Rockhall?’

‘Because I need only give this tape to the papers for your whole plan to unravel, and your career to end abruptly in the penal colony prison.’

They eyed the tape again. ‘Fine, we’ll do this yoru way.’ They held out the case and we exchanged the packages. ‘The contact’s name is Sykes. They are in the pub next door to the city hall. They can get you inside it. After that you are on your own. I’ll speak with Fanigan myself.’

‘Midday, Kyle. Don’t be late,’ I said and walked away, holding the suitcase of money.

Down the street, in the window of the coffee shop, I saw Rain’s ex-wife, watching me. I got into my car, and as I drove off, I saw her throw some coins on the table and race out of the coffee shop.