Galilee Rising (22 page)

Think
. He's using local talent so I can discreetly put out feelers to old CIs and childhood friends and ask them to keep their ears open. My fucked up childhood in Diablo's Ward has to be worth something. I'm sure the Triumvirate can hit the local henchmen hangouts I already clued them into. I may be a partner in this endeavor, but I want to remain as silent a one as possible. I'm stubborn but I ain't stupid or suicidal. Anymore.

Thinking of stupid. An idea comes to me that makes me grimace. There is one person who can really help, but I'm not quite sure the gains exceed the costs. Or that he'd assist us. Or that I'm strong enough to even start that ball rolling. He did work with both accomplices and all but controlled the underworld for years. It wouldn't surprise me if their paths crossed at least once. Might be worth a shot. Just need to visit the Wizard for some courage.

My eyes open when I hear footsteps descending the ramp. Lexie, in her designer pink jumpsuit, stops when she spots me. She frowns. "Bren owes me ten bucks."

"Why?"

"I bet him I'd find you down here," she says as she struts over to my couch. "Scoot." I remove my legs and she flops down next to me with a long sigh. "I am freaking exhausted. We finally gave up wailing on punks around four this morning. Got nothing to show for it but bruised knuckles. Ruined my manicure, see?" She holds out her chipped nails. "Don't know why I even bother." She lowers her hand, glances at me, and half smiles. "Guess we need to talk, huh?"

"If you say so."

"I do." She crosses her long legs. "This whole situation sucks, huh? All of it. Cain's like the one person on this earth who scares the shit out of me. You know Brendan actually died when he flooded that sewer? If I hadn't shown up and performed CPR, that would have been it. When he woke up, sputtering disgusting water all over me,
that
was the moment I realized I was in love with him, you know? Our first kiss was in that sewer." She shakes her head. "Anyway, I know it's pointless, but I wouldn't be a good friend if I didn't warn you away from this one. You're already too exposed, don't want to make it worse. He finds out about you, and that's it. We might as well fit you for a toe-tag, especially since Nightingale's…you know,
fond
of you."

"I don't have a death wish. I'm not going to advertise my involvement. And despite what you think, I am good at keeping secrets," I say, narrowing my eyes.

She looks away with a sigh. "We probably would have told you. Eventually."

"Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence."

"What? I can count on half a hand the people who know. My own sister doesn't even have a clue. It's need to know, and you didn't, okay? Don't take it personally." She pauses. "How long have you known?"

"Jem for about a month, you and Brendan the day you took down Boneshaker. The blonde wig's a nice touch, but you have the same posture and phrasing as both."

She frowns. "This is why we work alone." She folds her arms across her chest. "So he really didn't tell you?"

"Of course not. He'd never betray you like that." I shift on the couch so I'm facing her. "But, for the record, that was a pretty shitty thing. Not trusting me. He and I got into fights because of it."

"I know. He came to us like every other day begging for permission. I almost gave in a few times--he was so pathetic--but Bren held the line. It cut Jem up something fierce keeping it from you. I think he was ready to bare his soul to you the moment we touched down in town. You made
quite
the impression on him last year. And the moment I realized you were into him too, I decided to help things along. It was such a pain in the ass to get him to that party, let alone getting his hair cut. Never knew he could be such a babe. Should have kept him to myself, huh? Huh?" she asks, nudging me. Her smile drops when she notices my miserable expression. We sit in silence for about thirty seconds. "If it's any consolation, he
really
likes you. I've never seen him so happy as when he's talking about you."

I stand. "It's not." I move over to Doris and sit, pulling up the file. "I sent all our data but the partial print ID to Harry O'Hara. I have to warn you, he might suspect--"

"Let's just can the shop talk for now, okay? I know you're hurting, and let's face it, I'm the only person you can talk about it all to."

"I don't want to talk. I want to find this bastard before he sets off another bomb. My fucked up love life can wait." I spin in the chair to face her. "Besides, there's nothing to talk about. We hung out a few times, we weren't engaged or anything. Never even went on a date. The relationship never made it past the gate, and that's probably for the best. It never would have worked, even without his psychotic brother showing up. He's too…smart for me. Too shy. Not to mention the whole superhero angle. It's weird. No offense."

"None trying to be taken."

"We had a few laughs, but it was bound to end sometime, why not now? Okay? End of conversation." I spin back to the screen. "So, we know of two accomplices, Danny Watkins and Gary Acevedo, and that he had at least three more. The question is how did he recruit them?"

"To the best of my knowledge Cain's never worked here before, at least not as Cain."

"Well, he's basically a mercenary. It's not a big leap to think someone here hired him once upon a time. According to the files the only known connection between Acevedo and Watkins is James Ryder. I've sent this information to GFPD as well. I'm sure they'll try to interview him, but I can't see him being cooperative. Our best bet is to let Doris do her thing. Now, there's too much footage for her to go back in time all over the city, but I've programmed her so if Acevedo or Watkins show up anywhere, she'll alert us right away."

"Sounds great."

"I know you said Cain changes his appearance a lot, but on the off chance he gets sloppy I'd like a picture. I know Jem has some of him as a child, so I can send it to a colleague who has software to age him up."

"He didn't tell you?" she asks, eyes narrowing.

"What?"

"They're twins. Identical twins."

My face falls. "Oh. I-I didn't know." Christ, what else didn't he tell me? "That'll make it harder then. Doris will just spot Jem and alert us." There goes that plan. I lean back in my chair. "What do you think Cain's next move's going to be?"

"Not a damn clue. If you're right, and he wants people to hate us, he might continue the bombings. He still has a shit load of explosives left. Or, if he's really serious, he'll attack Jem Ambrose, not Lord Nightingale."

"Has he ever done that since he became Cain?"

"Strangely, no. I mean he showed up at his apartment or the hospital before to taunt him, but he's never gone after him as a doctor or threatened to out him."

"Maybe he's proud of that aspect of Jem's life," I offer.

Lexie slips into the chair beside me. "Total possibility. Those two have the sickest relationship I have ever come across. I don't know how much he's told you about his childhood, but it was seriously fucked up. The fact Jem turned out half as well adjusted as he did is a miracle."

"I know."

"He won't be able to kill him," she says more to herself. "I don't think he'd do it for anyone or anything, and that's the only way Cain will stop. Not a doubt in my mind of that. Sometimes I think Jem can't kill him because he just wants to punish himself." She sighs. "He was so…
happy
. You make him so happy. Now it's all fucked up again. He's petrified something will happen to you, so don't let it, okay?" Her cell buzzes, and she pulls it out to check the text. "Bren. He might have a lead on who hacked into the BNN footage. Miles Raitt?"

I plug the name in. "Known computer hacker. One arrest eight years ago. Served a year for accessing the city's CCTV footage and traffic system during a museum heist. He never gave up the crew he was working for. Other alleged employers are Nocturne, our old friend Oleg Casanov, a semi-retired mobster Mario DiAssini, and…James Ryder. Alkaline. Shit."

"Feed his photo into Doris along with Watkins and Acevedo. That his last address?" she asks, pointing to the screen. She types it into the phone. "Send all this to GFPD. They can get to Casanov and Ryder. I'll take DiAssini." I pull up his file, and she notes the address. "Oh, before I forget. Here." She pulls out a small cell phone. "This is a prepaid cell completely untraceable to any of us. Any shop talk is done on this. The three other numbers are programmed in. Use it if you need it." She rubs my arm, stands, and runs out of the lair.

I stare at the computer screen but really stare past it into the dark recesses of my mind. Maybe they'll find Raitt. Maybe he'll lead them right to Cain. Maybe…I sigh. Yeah. Right. Shit. I don't see any other option.

I have to face my boogeyman.

CHAPTER TWELVE

True Evil

I knew this day would come. I've dreaded it, had nightmares about it, but I still prepared. He broke out of prison once, there was no way I'd let there be a second. Alkaline is housed in the protection wing underground at Xavier Maximum Security Prison. They keep him doped on Thorazine, he only leaves his cell twice a week for a shower and the other to walk around the gymnasium with full restraints. He watches television an hour a day, reads, works out in his cell, but will never see the light of day again. The guards aren't allowed to speak to him so the only human contact he gets are phone calls to his lawyer. A visit from GFPD and the Feds must have been a welcome change, not that he showed his appreciation by spilling his guts or anything. He said he didn't know who Cain was and hadn't had contact with Watkins, Raitt, or Acevedo for years. I know this because I got the full report from the guard in the room. Every guard on his block is on my payroll. A grand a month to send me progress reports but mostly for insurance. Ryder escaped last time by having a guard in his pocket. I just took a play from his book. It also makes it easy to arrange meetings such as this.

I'm not as nervous as I thought I'd be. No sweating or shaking hands. My foot isn't even twitching. I sit at Doris waiting for the video link-up to the laptop I had smuggled in. I decided on a video conference so I can see if he's lying, something not as easily detected through the phone, so I have to look at his handsome face and dead eyes. Goody.

I sigh. I don't want to do this. I wouldn't be doing this if there was any other option. In the past three days we've made no forward progress. None. Doris hasn't picked up a visual on the men, the criminal element hasn't heard any whispers, and no new evidence has surfaced. Every potential trail is cold. Brendan and Lexie are frustrated, probably Jem too but I haven't had contact with him. It still stings thinking about him, which I seem to do twenty times a day. He'd try to talk me out of this, the others as well. Probably why I didn't tell them. Or I might have listened to them.

The black computer screen is suddenly alight with the image of a white door and the sound of a turning key. The webcam on the laptop jostles as the person holding it opens the door and walks into the cell. My stomach twists when I see him. His dark hair is shorn short and he has a beard, but the rest is exactly as I remember. Handsome face, dark eyes, and amused expression as he takes the computer. "Thank you," he says to the guard. I watch as he lies on a cot and adjusts the screen so we can see each other. A huge grin fills his face, crinkling his shark eyes of his. "Joanna Fallon."

"James Ryder," I say curtly.

"You're looking very well. Immense wealth agrees with you." I don't utter a word, just glare. He studies me for a few seconds. "You do look well, Joanna. I'm serious. I was certain you'd end up a shell of a woman, drinking yourself to death or finishing what you started all those years ago."

"I wouldn't give you that satisfaction."

He pauses. "It wasn't personal, Joanna. You were a means to an end, just like the doctor and her daughter. He had to be taught a lesson."

I almost stop the call, my hand even lurching toward the button but stop myself. Gonna have to be on top of my impulse control today. "I'm not here to talk about that."

"I know. I didn't think you arranged this to rehash the past, but it's not very often I have anyone but my four walls to speak to. No matter how hard I try the guards won't say a word to me."

"Gee, poor you," I say, emotionless.

He grins again. "I hope you're paying them well. Though I am surprised I haven't received any late night visits from Mr. Truncheon or fist. That always seemed your style. At least it would break the monotony."

"Can't say the thought never crossed my mind. But I'm not you. Your need for revenge put you and your girlfriend in your current states. You're just not worth that."

His smile drops. "How is Grace?"

"Not great. She's tried to kill herself. Twice."

His mouth sets straight, and he looks away. I give him a few seconds for that fact to sink in. Oddly, I get no joy from his pain. I'm just numb. His gaze returns to the camera. "Is there anything that can be done?"

"No. And eventually she will succeed. That'd be another death on your conscience. If you had one."

"Don't be cruel, Joanna."

"Why not? I've been taught by masters."

He glares at me for a few moments, but I remain impassive. "Ask your questions. I assume this is about my replacement on Galilee Falls Most Wanted List. I'll tell you what I told the police: I know nothing."

"And that's total and utter bullshit, and we both know it. One of your old cronies is understandable. Three? Not so much."

"And why the hell should I tell you a damn thing?" he snaps.

"Besides the fact I can make your life an unimaginable hell, to say nothing of Grace's, I think you want to. Said it yourself, he's replaced you. Collected your old playmates, probably using your old hideouts," I scoff, "and let's face it, he's already proved himself a better villain. Got a body count higher than yours in one shot. At this rate Galilee will forever be synonymous with him, and you'll just be like…what's his name. Whoever was top dog before you." I lean back in my chair. "And
I'm
asking. Went to all this trouble too. Gotta be worth something, right?"