Fate's Edge (30 page)

Sebastian bowed his head. “Always, my lady.”

She had expected nothing less. “Come. We travel north.”

ELEVEN

KALDAR sat in a Starbucks across from the mall’s Sears entrance, sipped coffee—it was slightly burned and bitter—and contemplated his sanity. Or rather, the lack thereof.

Audrey was right. They were rushing the scheme. They needed ten days. Two weeks would have been better. But the Hand wouldn’t be delayed for long. In every con, there came a time when the plan fell apart, and one had to improvise. This was no different. He was used to flying by the seat of his pants; he welcomed it most of the time. Often, when he was under pressure, things miraculously snapped into place. But he wasn’t flying solo.

First, there were the kids. As much as he reassured Audrey, there was a small chance one of them would stumble. True, both of them could defend themselves, but having the potential didn’t always mean guaranteed results.

Then there was Audrey herself. Beautiful, sweet Audrey. Distracting Audrey. Audrey who monopolized his brain when it should be concerned with other things, like planning and calculating. Leaving her father and brother he understood, but walking away from a talent of that caliber to chase cheating husbands and insurance frauds in the Broken? She loved what she did; back in Pena’s house, she had enjoyed every moment of it. The memory of her, cool, collected, and smooth as silk, popped into his head.
Mmmm.

Audrey, Audrey, Audrey . . .

Why had she stopped stealing? If there was ever a woman born to be a cat burglar, she was one. She could live like a queen in the Broken or in the Weird. But something had made her stop cold. The violent episode with the drug dealer damaged her, but it didn’t break her. She’d made a conscious choice to walk away from her talent. Curiosity was once again killing him.

He’d tried to steal a kiss again before dropping her off, and she gave him a flat stare that slammed the door in his face.

In his experience, women fell into two categories: those who were too old or taken, and those who were up for some fun. With the right approach, most available women could be seduced. It had nothing to do with their character or their gender and everything to do with the basic human need for recognition and attention. He was a grifter. Seducing, whether it was to separate people from their money or to entice them into friendship or an affair, was his art. He was expert in it.

He wanted Audrey. He’d used the correct combination of flattery and playfulness. He complimented her. He said all the right things and employed all the right touches, and yet here they were in the exact same place they had been the moment they’d met. She still wouldn’t give him the time of day. He won a battle here and there, but mostly he lost. He was tired of losing. He was tired of obsessing about her. It left him irritable and off-balance. And worst of all, Kaldar knew that the moment she reappeared on his horizon, his irritation would evaporate, and he’d be all wrapped up in trying to earn a smile. Like some puppy.

He was thirty-two years old. Way too old to be thinking in circles about some redhead with a plump cleavage.

His mug was empty. Kaldar looked up, considering if he should get another coffee. A brunette in oversized shades smiled at him from two tables away.
Hmm.
Denim shirt, baring toned arms; low-cut white pants, secured on her narrow hips by an expensive belt; Ariadna Alto shoes with a sky-high heel—he’d seen them on the cover of a tabloid when he went to a store to pick up a few things to complete his own transformation. A chunky necklace of caramel glass beads completed the look. She had money, and she was unsuccessfully trying to pretend to be carefree and casual.

He was wearing his businessman persona, the same one he wore when he’d come to trade for information with Alex Callahan. Most likely, she was just reacting to the right combination of signals his hair and clothes were sending. He smiled back at her, pleasant but not beguiling enough for an invitation.

“I leave you alone for a few hours, and you’re off flirting.”

Kaldar turned. His mouth fell open. A pale pink suit bordered with black embraced Audrey’s perfect figure. Her hair was brushed and sprayed until it looked glossy and slightly stiff. A wide hat perched on her hair at an angle. Her makeup was heavy and flawless. Her jewelry would’ve made any self-respecting conman come to attention: bloated gold rings encrusted with diamonds; a tennis bracelet so iced, it was bordering on vulgar; diamond earrings; and, to top it all off, a heavy chain of gold beads studded with tiny diamond dots. She looked like a politician’s trophy wife, full of money and ready to take “shop until you drop” to the next level. She was absolutely perfect, from the hat to the pointed toes of her thousand-dollar spiked heels.

Audrey cleared her throat and raised her eyebrows, pointedly looking at the chair in front of her. Kaldar got off his ass and held it out for her. She landed, one leg over the other, her French tip manicured fingers holding a tiny pink purse. He sat next to her, and the heavy scent of roses emanating from her almost made him sneeze.

“Jonathan Berman,” he said, inclining his head.

“Olivia Berman.” She held her hand out, and he kissed her fingers.

“Charmed.”

“So do I look like I’m ready to spend some money I didn’t earn?”

“You look divine,” he told her, and meant every word. “Former beauty queen marries a wealthy asshole; all the means, none of the taste. Yonker will eat it up.”

Audrey examined him, leaned over, and adjusted the knot on his tie. “You look pretty good yourself. The slicked-back hair is a nice touch.”

“I was going for rich sleazeball.”

“You got it.”

They looked at each other for a long moment. She smiled, and he grinned back, unable to help himself.

“Why did you walk away from stealing?” Kaldar asked. And he just blurted it out. Brilliant move. Simply brilliant. Such finesse, such perfect timing.

“A lady never reveals all of her secrets,” Audrey told him with a smug wink.

He probably could’ve come up with some clever retort if his mind had stopped imagining peeling off her clothes.

“Any word from the boys?” she asked.

“Nothing.” Nothing was good; it meant the plan was proceeding as scheduled.

“What happens if Ed Yonker tries to check us out?”

Kaldar shrugged. “While you were getting the war paint on, I checked on a few things. Ed Yonker just put in a bid on the Graham Building. It’s an old theater and a perfect location for him: its back faces an Edge bubble. I imagine he now ferries people into the Edge. If he obtains Graham’s, he’ll be set up just like Magdalene. He put in the highest bid—eleven million.”

“And?”

“I put in one, too.”

She stared at him.

“It’s Friday afternoon. It will take them at least a business day to run credit checks and other things. I’ve spent a long time building up this identity. Jonathan Berman has rock-solid credit and owns enough fictitious real estate to buy Donald Trump. If they dig deeper, we’re in trouble, but they won’t until Monday, and by Monday, we need to be gone. Shall we?”

“We shall.”

He tossed some bills on the table, rose, and held out his hand to help her from her chair. She put her hand in his, and he gently led her down to the parking lot.

“It must hurt to burn an identity like that,” Audrey said.

“Small price to pay.”

“How do you do it? How do you keep up with things in the Weird and in the Broken?”

“A gentleman never reveals all of his secrets.”

She laughed, leaning her head to the side, and Kaldar wanted to kiss her neck. “Please. You’re dying to boast.”

“All right.” He shrugged. “I’ve spent most of my life trading with the Broken. I know many useful people, and I make it a point to remember their names and the names of their wives or husbands. I’m pleasant and charming, and I always come bearing gifts, so they don’t mind doing me small favors.”

“Why do you do this, Kaldar? Is it for the thrill?”

“That’s part of it.”

“And the rest?”

“I want the Hand to suffer,” he said. “I’d burn all my identities and start clean if I had to.”

“To kill one of them?”

He knew his face had gone predatory, but he didn’t bother to hide it. “Oh no. I want the whole thing.”

“The entire Hand?”

“Yes. I want to end the entire organization as we know it.”

Audrey blinked. “You’re aiming high.”

“The last feud my family endured lasted for over a century.” He allowed himself a small smirk. “Mars hold grudges.”

“I’ll have to take care never to feud with you,” she said.

“I wish you would feud with me. Then, when I won, I’d reap sweet rewards.”

“Picturing me as your love slave?” Audrey laughed.

Kaldar nodded. “And you are divine.”

“And what if I won?”

“Then I would be your love slave, of course.”

“So you’d win in either case.”

“Precisely.”

Audrey searched his face for something, then bit her lip. “Did you get us new wheels?” she asked.

Kaldar gave her a flat look. “Please.” He dipped his hand into his pocket, pulled out the remote, and pressed the button. A black Hummer answered with a short beep.

“A Hummer?” Her Southern accent was getting thicker by the second. “Shooog, you shouldn’t have.”

“Only the best for my doll.”

She reached over and patted his cheek. “It’s too bad this partnership will be over soon. We’d own this town.”

Huh.
“It doesn’t have to be over soon.”

“Oh no, it does. It definitely does.”

 

JACK watched the huge, shiny car swing into the street. They had been giving out flyers for most of the day. The two of them kept to themselves, and they had gotten most of their flyers handed out and had had to go back to get a second stack. Paul, the guy with the placard, even complimented them. At lunch, George and he got a sandwich each and some bottled water. The sandwich was okay, but nothing like Rose’s cooking.

He missed Rose. It stabbed at him suddenly. He missed his sister, her voice, her scent, his room, his stuff. He missed the smell of the house. He even missed Declan. It all seemed so far away somehow. Jack shook his head, trying to clear the memories. Now wasn’t the time to get all sad and whiny. George had let Paul talk them into a few more hours of work with the promise of a hot dinner. Jack had made all the right “I want more food” noises, and George finally reluctantly agreed.

The large black car slowed down a few feet away in front of two kids. The window rolled down, and Audrey’s voice rang through the street. “Oh my goodness! Shoog, look at the children. You boys are adorable. What are you doing?”

“We’re giving out flyers,” the smaller kid said.

“Is this for a school project?”

“We don’t go to school,” the bigger kid said.

“That’s silly. How can you not go to school? What do your parents think about this?”

The bigger kid shrugged. “We don’t have parents.”

“You’re orphans? Oh, my God! Honey, give the children some money.”

Kaldar’s voice said something gruff. Audrey reached through the window and handed two twenty-dollar bills to each of the boys.

The other children abandoned their customers and made a beeline for the car. George grabbed Jack by the shoulder, still acting. “She’s giving out money, come on!” They ran to the vehicle.

“We have no parents.” The smaller kid at the window was sniffing for emphasis. “The church makes us hand these out to earn our lunch.”

“What? Who makes you do this?”

Several hands pointed at Paul, who stared at the whole scene with owl eyes. “He does!”

“Is that nasty man forcing you to
work for your food
?”

Heads nodded.

The car door swung open, and Audrey stepped out onto the pavement. She was wearing a ridiculous pink outfit, and her hair was shiny and hard like a helmet. She tucked her purse under her arm. “We will just see about that. Hey, you!” She pointed at Paul. “Yes, you over there! How dare you exploit these children?”

Paul raised his arms. “No, ma’am, look, that isn’t what this is.”

The other door opened, and Kaldar stepped out. He looked the way he looked when he’d gone to Rose Cliff, dressed in a suit, with his hair slicked back.

Audrey put her hands on her hips. “Well, is it or isn’t it?”

“Is it what?”

“What this is?”

Kaldar walked over to them, looking exactly the way Rose looked when Jack forgot to wipe his feet and tracked bloody mud all over the carpets.

Paul blinked again. “Look, you got it wrong. We’re trying to help the kids.”

“By making them work for their food? I have news for you, Mister, slavery has been abolished in this country in eighteen ninety with the Immunization Proclamation,” Audrey said.

“You mean Emancipation and 1863 . . .” Paul murmured weakly.

Behind Audrey, Kaldar shook his head at him.

“Don’t try to confuse me! You’re using these boys as slave labor. Maybe they should go and pick cotton for you next.”

“Umm . . .”

“Well, I am telling you, these kids won’t have to work tonight.” Audrey looked over the kids. “Who wants McDonald’s?”

Jack stuck his arm out with everyone else, and yelled, “Me, me, me!”

Audrey swung to Kaldar. “Honey?”

Kaldar sighed, opened his wallet, took out a thick wad of cash, and deposited it into Audrey’s hand. Audrey waved it around. “Let’s go, children! I saw a Mickey D’s around the corner.”

She marched down the street, everyone following her.

“Wait . . .” Paul called out. “You can’t do this.”

“Trust me,” Kaldar told him. “It’s best to just go with the flow when she’s like this. Come on, I’ll buy you a cup of coffee.”