Scarlet (22 page)

She debated whether to follow, but in the end decided against it. She wouldn't get anywhere questioning him further. He'd obviously come here to do a job. Now that he'd performed his duty, would he leave? Stick around? Maybe he hadn't yet finished.

The was a frightening thought. He'd already caused a lot of damage with the wall stunt. What if that was only part one of his plan? She paced back and forth, her mind working overtime.

"You're going to wear a hole in the concrete floor if you keep that up." Takeo said, stepping out of the back room. Juan followed.

"I didn't expect to see you guys here."

He laughed. "Where did you want us to go?"

"It's not a matter of want." Red shrugged. "I just figured you wouldn't stick around for long after the show. Where's Demery, by the way?" She swallowed hard and braced herself for the news that he'd quit. She really couldn't blame him. It seemed as if bad luck was following her.

"He's over at the emergency care center," Juan said, looking decidedly uneasy.

Red frowned. "What's he doing there?"

The two men looked at each other and her eyes widened in concern.

"Spill it. gentlemen. I can't handle any more surprises today."

Takeo ducked his head sheepishly. "I thought it might be a good idea to have him stay close to John Green. You never know what he might overhear with those vamp ears."

"You could've gone yourself," Red said.

Takeo shook his head. "Probably not a good idea. I'm more likely to beat the truth out of him. Demery is easygoing enough to stick with diplomacy."

Red wanted to be mad that they'd taken it upon themselves to investigate the case without her knowledge, but all she could muster was gratitude. "Thank you," she said quietly.

"For what?" Takeo asked.

"For believing in me."

Juan laughed and Takeo joined him.

Red's brow furrowed. "What's so funny?"

"You." Juan said.

Color flooded Red's face until her ears started to heat. She didn't appreciate being laughed at when her world was crumbling.

Juan held up his hands in defense. "We're not trying to piss you off."

"Could've fooled me."

"It's true." Takeo said. "I think you're missing the obvious."

"I'm missing something."

"Tell her, Takeo," Juan said.

"We saw John Green when he arrived. His face was pretty smashed, like he'd taken a beating. But the way we see it, if it had been you who did it, he'd be in far worse shape."

Red blinked as his words sunk in. "So you think I'm innocent because he wasn't hurt more."

"Exactly." they said in unison.

She shook her head. "Gentlemen, there is so much wrong with that line of thinking that I don't know where to begin."

"You have to admit it's true." Takeo said.

Red laughed. "Yes, it's true. If I'd set out to hurt him, there'd be more broken than just his face and shoulder."

Juan's expression grew serious. "Who do you think sent him?"

"Roark Montgomery."

Takeo gaped. "The politician?"

"That would be the one," Red said.

Juan stepped forward. "But why would he do that?"

Red's stomach twisted. "He has a plan for the world, and it doesn't include the Others. It also doesn't help that I shot off three of his fingers, when he was trying to kill Morgan Hunter."

Both men blinked as if they hadn't heard her correctly.

"You shot him?" Juan asked.

"It's a long and rather tedious story, but yes, I shot him. He didn't leave me much of a choice."

"Can you prove he's behind what's been happening in Nuria?" Takeo asked.

She shook her head. "Not yet. Not unless I can get John Green to confess, and that's not likely to happen, since I won't be allowed anywhere near him."

"Yeah, that could be a problem for you, but not for us." Juan said.

"No. I want you guys to stay out of it. Whatever Roark is up to, it only involves me as far as I can tell. I don't want you guys coming onto his radar. You don't know what he's capable of." Red thought about Morgan and his cousin, Kane. They'd been as close as brothers once. Then one day Kane tried to kill him and came damn close to succeeding. The pain on Morgan's face when he killed Kane was still etched firmly in her mind. It was better to keep Juan. Demery, and Takeo out of this for as long as possible.

"We're training to be part of the Nurian Tactical Team," Takeo said.

"Which is why I need you to stay out of this. You aren't clone with your training yet. You still have a lot to learn. Roark is a killer and has many assassins at his disposal. They can be anywhere. They come in all guises, including members of your family."

Juan's brown eyes widened. "That's not possible."

"Believe me, it is." She ran a hand through her hair, dislodging her ponytail.

"There has to be something we can do," Takeo insisted.

Red looked at him, meeting his amber gaze. "There
is
something you can do."

"Name it," he said.

"Go get Demery before the townspeople spot him and something bad happens to him."

Takeo scowled, but before he could say anything more,

Juan grabbed him and dragged him out of the sheriff's station. "You heard the commander," he said. "Let's go."

Red gave Juan a small smile and watched the men walk out into the fading sunlight. It would be dark soon. Raphael would be rising, if he hadn't already. She longed to contact him to vent her frustrations, but knew she couldn't. They were still friends as far as she was concerned, but the kiss

they'd shared last night complicated matters. And the last

thing Red needed in her life was more complications.

chapter fifteen

Bannon pushed the synth-papers around on his desk. He'd been doing reports for so long his eyes were crossed from staring at the pages. He'd had more and more administrative work since Gina Santiago left. Gone were the days of heading out regularly on patrol. He missed being in the thick of the action. Missed taking down unknowns. Hell, he missed riding around with a team of twelve men in the cramped space of a stinky maglev shuttle.

Never thought there'd be a day he'd admit that, but it was the truth. He grimaced, shoving the papers across his desk. A new recruit jumped when their gazes met. He hit a button on his compunit. There were still three reports left to go. Bannon glanced at the clock. If he made it out of here by five it would be a miracle. He looked over and saw the grunt, Catherine Meyers sitting at her desk. At least he wasn't the only one stuck working desk duty.

Maybe he'd give her the rest of the reports to finish and knock off early. Bannon was grinning when his vidcom chirped.

*    *    *

John Green signed the last of the documents needed to release him from the emergency care center. The nurse thanked him and left his room. He'd been patched, fed, watered, bathed, and changed. He looked out the window. The sun was just starting to set on the horizon. Despite the self-inflicted injuries, it was the best he'd felt in years.

He flicked up the collar of his shirt, admiring the brand-new tan fatigues the town had given him. He glanced down the length of him, turning from side to side.
Not bad,
he thought. They weren't the most flattering thing he'd ever put on, but at least they were clean and didn't carry the same holes and baggage as his previous wardrobe.

He stared in the mirror, his green eyes glittering from behind the black circles that had formed. They'd repaired his shoulder and broken nose. In a few days, he'd be able to breathe better than he ever had. His tawny hair had been styled neatly, thanks to the woman at the sheriff's station who'd taken his false statement. Maggie something. It wasn't important. She'd fulfilled her role rather quickly. Almost as if She'd been eager to harm the other woman. It wasn't any of his business. He shook his head and went back to inspecting his appearance.

All in all, not bad for a man who'd spent the last two years of his life drifting from place to place running cons.

He pictured his latest victim. John thought her name might be Gina. Beautifully exotic with her golden skin and black hair, she'd been willing to help him. She didn't even wait for backup. He was still surprised about that. Most people, particularly those living on the fringe near the boundary fence, rarely went out of their way to help a stranger. It was too dangerous. John had found out the hard way when he'd been trapped and imprisoned by that snake of a politician.

A twinge of guilt hit over what he'd done to her, but it didn't last long. He'd had no choice but to set up the woman. Knowing who she was, or anything else about her, hadn't been part of the deal. Freedom was. John would do anything for his freedom. If he'd had any doubts before, this proved it.

He'd tried to shut out the town's malicious rumors. They'd vilified the woman while the medics worked on him. If Gina knew what was good for her, she'd leave this place. Just like he was about to do.

John thanked the medical personnel and strolled out of the emergency care center. It wouldn't take long to reach the location for the meet. It was only a few blocks away. A shuttle would be waiting to take him north. Once it arrived, he could leave this whole nightmare behind him.

*    *    *

The vidcom rang as I was about to knock off for the day. I couldn't remember much about the conversation, only the suggestion to head to Nuria. I'd been driving for hours. My maglev shuttle cruised over the desert, hovering a foot off the ground. My eyes scanned the horizon, but there was nothing but miles and miles of sand. It sifted over the road, covering the only sign that mankind had ever been here. With it came the intense heat, licking at my senses.

My mind seemed fuzzy, as if something was clouding it. I I tried to think, but it was too much effort. I pressed the lever down harder and the vehicle lurched, speeding toward the lights in the distance.

Nuria ... The last remaining wart on the desert's smooth rump.

There was something I needed to do in Nuria. I thought hard and an image came into my mind. Tawny hair, green eyes, tall, medium build. A man was waiting for me. A man with a tracking device inside his watch. A man I planned to kill.

I knew he'd be behind the water trader. That had been predetermined. It took me awhile to find the place since I had to go through back alleys and side streets. The dark didn't help. I'd forgotten my night-vision goggles.

Buttoned up for the night, the town had just drifted off to sleep. There'd been several close calls as I worked my way to the back of the water trade building. I'd become adept at slipping into shadows, blending into walls. Stealth was the only way I'd make it out of here once the job was done.

Not long now,
I thought, glancing at my navcom for the time. He should be waiting. Convenient. Blending with the shadows, I traveled through the belly of Nuria, scurrying past the
heart before anyone could see me. The night had grown darker, more menacing, easily hiding other predators. Sweat clung to my forehead and pressed my clothes to my body.

A flash up ahead drew my attention and I stopped, dropping into a crouch to scan the area for movement. The light came again and I realized the man had lit up an illegal smoke slick.

My shoulders relaxed slightly. It felt good being back in action. I crept forward as the man drew deep on the stick, filling his lungs with smoke. He held his breath a few seconds before letting it out. Smoke spilled out of his nose and mouth in a steady stream.