A whole world, p.25
The Oriceran Rich and Famous Collection: Two Complete Oriceran Universe Series, page 25
“That one is Billy Rae, and the one at the far end of the table is Jimmy Caro. Ten minutes. Good luck.” The sergeant rolled his eyes and shut the door.
Henry turned to the young men. They were both watching him warily but with no expressions.
They look like they’re not really here, Henry thought. No emotions. No thoughts. Just calculating.
“So…” Henry walked over to the nearest man, who had long blond hair curling over his ears. “What do the tattoos mean? Billy Rae, right?” He pointed at the blue symbol on the man’s neck.
The pair looked at each other, then down at the table in unison.
“I’m not a cop.”
The young man glanced up at Henry, then tilted his chin back down.
“My name is Henry Neumann. I’m a business owner. An entrepreneur.”
“We know who you are.” His partner, Jimmy Caro, was bigger, with dark, stringy hair and a gold tooth prominently displayed in the front of his mouth.
“How so?” Henry took a few steps toward the other end of the table. “Maybe we have a connection between us. A mutual acquaintance. Did Stryker send you?”
Jimmy was quick to respond. “No idea who you mean. We saw you in a magazine. That’s how we know you.”
Nicole laughed. “The downside of being somewhat famous. Anyone you come across can come up with a valid reason for knowing who you are. But how about me? Does either of you assholes know who I am?”
Billy Rae looked at her and sneered. “A hot piece of ass?”
Nicole chuckled. “Talk all the trash you want now, kid. You’re chained up in a police station. You’re as safe as you could ever be. If you talk to me like that on the outside, I’ll break you apart so badly you’d die staring at your own ass.”
Billie Rae grinned, revealing a set of braces that made him look even younger. “I’d rather die staring at something else, but I guess Fate has its plan for all of us. Both of you will be dead by spring. Mark my words.”
Nicole took a step toward him, her look cold and deadly, but she stopped when Henry held up a hand. He bent down low and stared Billie Rae in his eyes.
“Why did you throw Molotov cocktails at a library building? What was the point? What was your boss trying to say? I already know he’s here. How much more of an entrance does he need to make?”
The kid grinned and spread his fingers on the table. “Maybe he wanted us to be here. Right here, right now, talking to you. Maybe he knows you’re predictable. Not a healthy trait to have.” He glanced up at Henry, still smiling. “Consider this a warning, Neumann. We have magicals on our side. A whole army. We have more power than you can understand. This was a warning shot. If you don’t start playing along, we’ll burn this whole city to the ground and everything you’ve built along with it.”
Nicole tapped her chin. “Hmmm, interesting. Threats delivered by two malformed teenagers who live to troll the internet. You’re Stryker’s idea of a threat? It feels like the threat level has dropped to a pale yellow.”
“You can listen to us and live, at least for a while, or ignore us and die a lot sooner.” Jimmy sucked his gold tooth and curled his lip. “Your choice. I don’t give a shit which one because either way, we’ll get what we want in the end.”
“What do you want?” Henry asked. “You said I should start playing along. Playing along with what?”
Nicole kicked the leg of Jimmy’s chair, shaking it hard. “You suck at delivering cohesive messages. What part did you forget?” Jimmy said nothing. Billy Rae looked like he was asleep, with his eyes closed and his head hanging down.
Henry growled as he resisted the urge to start slapping them around. “If you want something from me, tell me what it is.”
They still said nothing. Nicole took Henry’s hand. “Come on. They’re done talking.”
“Tell Stryker hello for me, and I’ll find him eventually.”
Jimmy looked at him with heavy eyelids and a stony expression. He had done his job and wasn’t giving anything else away.
Nicole and Henry left the room with several minutes still left on their interrogation time and worked their way back to the lobby. They stepped out of the building, and Henry called Winter on speakerphone.
“Nicole is here with me. This was a dead end. They made general threats about cooperating but refused to tell us how to cooperate.”
“They could be working with Stryker,” the dwarf replied. “But something tells me there are deeper plots at work here.”
“Then we’ll have to figure out the layers. I’ll see you at home, Winter.” He hung up and ran his hand through his thick hair. “I don’t know that I believe it’s Stryker. There are smarter messengers. Why risk everything on those two mooks?”
Nicole reached up to fix his hair. “Because they’re disposable.”
Henry reluctantly nodded. “And fanboys of an ancient monster.”
“Fanboys can still be dangerous, Henry. You want my advice?”
“Always.”
“Stop worrying so much about Stryker and start paying attention to this gang of wannabes, or whoever they are. If anything that kid said is true, they must be planning something else, and it must be big.”
CHAPTER THREE
Henry was lost in thought on the way back to the ferry terminal. What does Stryker want from me? Is it just that damnable stone? What else was worth threatening him with a delayed death? Who else am I putting in danger? It was the opposite of what Henry devoted the hidden side of his life to doing—solving problems.
“Hey, you still here?” Nicole clapped her hands. She grinned while she studied his face. A veteran bounty hunter.
“Sorry. Trying to solve a puzzle, and I’m missing a few pieces.” He smiled weakly.
“Stryker. I get it. A poisonous thorn and your biggest foe to date.” Nicole tapped her fingers on the hidden switchblade in her pocket. Henry relaxed as he watched the tell.
“Almost my biggest. That ice witch who came up through the sewers under Cherry Street a few years back was pretty gnarly.”
Nicole put her hands on her hips. “I remember hearing about that one. You got there just ahead of a bounty hunter. Those were your early days.” She put a hand on his arm, pressing a little tight. “This could be worse. That witch had no plan other than destruction, and she didn’t have a thousand-year-old grudge. Bechtel Stryker has had a long time to think about every detail.”
“Understood. I won’t let down my guard.”
They had reached his car, and Nicole leaned against the door. She let out a sigh. “Now, that is one thing I don’t have to worry about with you. I’m guessing you sleep with a weapon under your pillow.”
“Close enough. Always stay prepared.”
Nicole tapped the weapon in her pocket again. “Exactly.”
“Then this is goodbye, until next time. Unless you need a ride back to wherever you’re staying. You never did say.”
“I never do. Keeps everyone safer. No, that’s fine.” She brushed a lock of dark brown hair out of her eyes. “Listen, I have a couple of days ’til I take on another job. My idea of a weekend. How about I come hang at the Neumann manse and bother Winter? Maybe talk him out of a gadget or two.”
“Are you that worried?” He pressed his lips into a thin line.
Nicole tilted her head, and her long hair fell across her shoulder. “That’s a lot of people to watch over. Maybe for one night, you take a little help. I won’t dig for secrets.” She crossed her heart with her finger. “I swear.”
Henry felt a chill go down his back but ignored the warning. “You’re always welcome.”
“Then it’s settled.” She drummed on the roof of the car.
“You know the way?”
“Neumann, I looked into your background a long time ago. Still some holes in the biography, which is intriguing.”
Henry said nothing. He wouldn’t take the bait.
Finally, Nicole said, “A night at Castle Neumann. I’ll be there before dark. I have a few loose ends to wrap up.” There she went, tapping the weapon again. “Hopefully, the place is haunted. Makes things more interesting.”
“It is. Winter swears he hears people talking at night. I think it’s Ellie using shadow magic on him.”
“I really like that girl. I wonder if she’s ever thought about bounty hunting?”
Henry let out a short laugh, but as he opened the car door, the smile left his face. “She won’t leave those other kids behind. Very loyal, and while Stryker is still out there, none of them are safe.”
“Then you have your new mission: defuse Stryker, save the kids. Right up your alley.” She stuck her hands in the back of her jeans and turned to go. “Someday you have to tell me what got you into your unique line of service.”
Henry opened his mouth to say something but thought better of it. “Someday,” was all he said as he slid into the car. He put the SUV in drive and eased it onto the lower deck of the ferry.
Nicole arrived just after dark. She emerged out of the shadows wearing leather from head to toe, with a gun strapped to her thigh. The cameras caught her striding up the front walk.
“That girl is good,” said Winter. He was watching the screens from the command center. “She got through the fences and wards without disturbing a thing. You never said she was a magical.”
“She’s half-Light Elf,” replied Henry, leaning toward the screen. “But she prefers a Glock to a fireball.”
“I can see that. She’s walking up to your front door like a boss. I wonder how she feels about dwarves?”
Henry put a heavy hand on Winter’s shoulder and let out a low growl. “Down, boy. I saw her first.”
“No need for any fangs and fur. You tell her yet?” Winter looked over his shoulder. “I’ll take that scowl as a no. How are you going to keep our junior GI Jane from telling her?”
“Ellie has been warned several times. That’s a line she won’t cross.”
Winter gestured at the screen. “That bounty hunter is a Level Six. She’s one of the best at tracking people, reading them, and figuring out all their secrets. Maybe you should tell her before she figures this one out.”
“Keep her out of the cave, and we won’t have a problem.”
“If you say so, boss, but she finds out on her own, and she might wonder how much she can trust you.”
Nicole stood at the front door and waved at the cameras. Henry took the stairs up to the main floor two at a time. He gave Ellie a stern look; she was waiting in the shadows. She retreated, opening her hands and creating a thick veil of darkness around herself.
He looked at the wide staircase leading to the second floor and watched the other teenagers retreat to higher ground. Norman let out a small spray of peppery fireballs that sizzled around Henry’s ankles, letting him know they had their own line not to cross, too.
Henry stamped out the sparks on the wide dark-gray tile planks that had been laid in a herringbone pattern at the front entrance. He shook off the feeling that he was making a mistake and opened the door. “You found the place.”
“It sits on a hill overlooking the town, Neumann. I had time to scope out the perimeter. Your wards need work.”
“Winter will be wounded to hear that.”
“Winter needs to reinforce them. I’ll show him the weak points before I leave. I’ll trade for a clever weapon. Something small but worthwhile.”
“Fair enough.”
The bounty hunter walked in, looking all around. She let out a long, low whistle. “You have some serious bank, Neumann.” She tapped a pale-ivory wall. “Solid and reinforced. You’ve built a very pretty bunker above ground.” She held up a hand. “Don’t bother clearing your throat. I know there’s a bank of computers and an armory somewhere in this place. I’m not looking for a tour. Keep your secrets. I’ve got mine too. Maybe someday you’ll show me yours, and I’ll explode a few of mine.”
“You have no home base that I’ve ever found. Where do you keep all your secrets?”
Nicole tapped the side of her head as she moved down the hall. Henry followed her, amused but staying close. “Everywhere. Always be prepared, remember? Where’s dinner? I’ve had a long day, and I’m starved.”
Henry noticed the small tear in her leather jacket and the hint of white bandage underneath. He flexed his fingers. A short line of hair appeared and receded at the sight. “Everything turn out okay?”
“For me, at least.” She snapped her fingers and sent a short volley of marble-sized balls of green light into the air. “Where are all your magical guests?” The balls rose to the ceiling and split apart, zipping off in different directions. They pinged as they found their targets and let out loud screeches one after the other. Startled cries came from the second floor and one from the darkness in the corners up ahead.
“Ellie, I take it?” said Nicole, stopping near the deep shadows. The bounty hunter put out her hand and waited until the shadows pulled back, leaving the teenager standing there pressed against the wall. “Nice to meet you. I’m Nicole. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Ellie reluctantly shook her hand, saying nothing.
“Okay, we’ll work up to hello. Respect. You’re careful. I like it.” Nicole kept walking, stopping briefly to look into rooms as she passed. Henry watched Ellie slide back into the shadows.
“Are we walking toward some kind of food?” asked Nicole. “Real bank, Neumann. Well done.”
Dinner finally arrived in the form of six extra-large pizzas from Westside Pizza. Winter lured the teenagers out of their hiding places with promises of food. Finch took the towering stack of boxes from him and carried them into the kitchen, making sure to keep a little distance from Nicole.
He read the receipt. “We’ve got two Big Kahunas, a Tropical Heat, a Meat Mania, and a Garlic Chicken. I didn’t know that was a thing. Who orders that?”
Shia held up his hand, smiling proudly. “Love me some garlic.”
“Remind me to stay upwind from you.” Finch set the boxes down. “Do we have paper plates, or what? Let’s light this rocket. I’m starving.”
Henry grabbed a pack from the cupboard and brought them over, sniffing the air. “Meat Mania, my favorite.” He opened a box and clapped his hands together. “First dibs.” He grabbed two slices and took a large bite, then turned to look at Nicole and the others.
“Forgive him. He usually eats alone.” Winter snorted and opened another box. “Better dig in. You snooze, you lose around here. You only have seconds ’til this all goes up in smoke.”
Nicole laughed and squeezed between Norman and Shia. She took a piece of the Tropical Heat.
“You sleep with that thing?” Jordanna pointed at the Glock strapped to Nicole’s leg.
“Nearby. Don’t you keep a weapon handy?” She took a bite but kept her attention on Jordanna.
Jordanna stared back. She pulled her braid around to the front and opened her hand, and a fireball appeared. “I am my own weapon. Why use magitech when you were born with the real thing?”
Nicole unstrapped the gun and held it up. She pulled back the slide, and the barrel pulsed with a red glow. “Why not use both?” She put the gun back in its holster and snapped the tie over the top.
Rami’s eyes widened, and he glanced at the others. “Damn.”
“Yeah, damn,” whispered Shia.
Ellie frowned and spoke a little loudly. “Who’s up for a Mortal Kombat 13 tournament?” She flicked her hand toward the doorway and picked up one of the pizza boxes as she marched out. The others looked at Winter, who nodded and handed them two more boxes.
“When did you become their leader?” Henry sat down on a stool, wiping his mouth with a napkin.
“Day One. It’s important to establish dominance early and use trickery if necessary.”
“That explains the haunting,” muttered Nicole.
Henry’s phone buzzed. He pulled it out. It was an email from an unknown web address. Not the wolf pack. He twisted around to show Nicole.
“TLD? What does that mean?” He suppressed a yawn as he opened the message and read.
“Dark magical web. Who are you playing with?”
Winter came and looked over his shoulder. “That’s a message board for wannabes.”
We told you to play along.
Henry sat forward. Adrenaline spiked through his body. Nicole and Winter leaned over to read the email.
Winter scratched his chin. “Almost impossible to trace. Might take me a while, depending on how smart they are.”
“Then maybe not so long,” said Nicole.
“You’re going to answer. I get it.” Winter stood up straight, stretching his arms overhead. “But are you sure that’s a good idea?”
Henry started typing. “Most of the time, you find out what’s a good idea later if you’re still standing. If these idiots want me to join their game, I need to know the rules.”
He typed a reply.
All right, I’ll play along for now. I can be a cooperative man, and I enjoy stupid little games. You make the first move.
A reply arrived seconds later.
“They are hovering over their keyboards.” Winter took the last slice of Garlic Chicken and folded it, easily biting off half.
How unfortunate for you. The burning is here. The destruction has begun.
Henry stood and hesitated for a moment. Nicole gave him a small shove before crossing her arms. “Go to your sanctuary, wherever it is. I’ll meet you outside, and we’ll find the annoying twits. I trust you.”
Winter choked on the last of the pizza slice. His eyes watered as he glanced at Henry.
Henry didn’t have time to explain. He went down the hall toward the hidden entrance to the command center. He looked back as he slipped inside the door—no prying eyes—and hurried down the stairs.
Winter was close behind him and elbowed him out of the way at the row of screens, where he started typing furiously. First, the outside of the house appeared from every angle across the bank of computers, then the offices at Neumann Tower, then Aspen Neumann’s home, and then the hospital.
Henry turned to the young men. They were both watching him warily but with no expressions.
They look like they’re not really here, Henry thought. No emotions. No thoughts. Just calculating.
“So…” Henry walked over to the nearest man, who had long blond hair curling over his ears. “What do the tattoos mean? Billy Rae, right?” He pointed at the blue symbol on the man’s neck.
The pair looked at each other, then down at the table in unison.
“I’m not a cop.”
The young man glanced up at Henry, then tilted his chin back down.
“My name is Henry Neumann. I’m a business owner. An entrepreneur.”
“We know who you are.” His partner, Jimmy Caro, was bigger, with dark, stringy hair and a gold tooth prominently displayed in the front of his mouth.
“How so?” Henry took a few steps toward the other end of the table. “Maybe we have a connection between us. A mutual acquaintance. Did Stryker send you?”
Jimmy was quick to respond. “No idea who you mean. We saw you in a magazine. That’s how we know you.”
Nicole laughed. “The downside of being somewhat famous. Anyone you come across can come up with a valid reason for knowing who you are. But how about me? Does either of you assholes know who I am?”
Billy Rae looked at her and sneered. “A hot piece of ass?”
Nicole chuckled. “Talk all the trash you want now, kid. You’re chained up in a police station. You’re as safe as you could ever be. If you talk to me like that on the outside, I’ll break you apart so badly you’d die staring at your own ass.”
Billie Rae grinned, revealing a set of braces that made him look even younger. “I’d rather die staring at something else, but I guess Fate has its plan for all of us. Both of you will be dead by spring. Mark my words.”
Nicole took a step toward him, her look cold and deadly, but she stopped when Henry held up a hand. He bent down low and stared Billie Rae in his eyes.
“Why did you throw Molotov cocktails at a library building? What was the point? What was your boss trying to say? I already know he’s here. How much more of an entrance does he need to make?”
The kid grinned and spread his fingers on the table. “Maybe he wanted us to be here. Right here, right now, talking to you. Maybe he knows you’re predictable. Not a healthy trait to have.” He glanced up at Henry, still smiling. “Consider this a warning, Neumann. We have magicals on our side. A whole army. We have more power than you can understand. This was a warning shot. If you don’t start playing along, we’ll burn this whole city to the ground and everything you’ve built along with it.”
Nicole tapped her chin. “Hmmm, interesting. Threats delivered by two malformed teenagers who live to troll the internet. You’re Stryker’s idea of a threat? It feels like the threat level has dropped to a pale yellow.”
“You can listen to us and live, at least for a while, or ignore us and die a lot sooner.” Jimmy sucked his gold tooth and curled his lip. “Your choice. I don’t give a shit which one because either way, we’ll get what we want in the end.”
“What do you want?” Henry asked. “You said I should start playing along. Playing along with what?”
Nicole kicked the leg of Jimmy’s chair, shaking it hard. “You suck at delivering cohesive messages. What part did you forget?” Jimmy said nothing. Billy Rae looked like he was asleep, with his eyes closed and his head hanging down.
Henry growled as he resisted the urge to start slapping them around. “If you want something from me, tell me what it is.”
They still said nothing. Nicole took Henry’s hand. “Come on. They’re done talking.”
“Tell Stryker hello for me, and I’ll find him eventually.”
Jimmy looked at him with heavy eyelids and a stony expression. He had done his job and wasn’t giving anything else away.
Nicole and Henry left the room with several minutes still left on their interrogation time and worked their way back to the lobby. They stepped out of the building, and Henry called Winter on speakerphone.
“Nicole is here with me. This was a dead end. They made general threats about cooperating but refused to tell us how to cooperate.”
“They could be working with Stryker,” the dwarf replied. “But something tells me there are deeper plots at work here.”
“Then we’ll have to figure out the layers. I’ll see you at home, Winter.” He hung up and ran his hand through his thick hair. “I don’t know that I believe it’s Stryker. There are smarter messengers. Why risk everything on those two mooks?”
Nicole reached up to fix his hair. “Because they’re disposable.”
Henry reluctantly nodded. “And fanboys of an ancient monster.”
“Fanboys can still be dangerous, Henry. You want my advice?”
“Always.”
“Stop worrying so much about Stryker and start paying attention to this gang of wannabes, or whoever they are. If anything that kid said is true, they must be planning something else, and it must be big.”
CHAPTER THREE
Henry was lost in thought on the way back to the ferry terminal. What does Stryker want from me? Is it just that damnable stone? What else was worth threatening him with a delayed death? Who else am I putting in danger? It was the opposite of what Henry devoted the hidden side of his life to doing—solving problems.
“Hey, you still here?” Nicole clapped her hands. She grinned while she studied his face. A veteran bounty hunter.
“Sorry. Trying to solve a puzzle, and I’m missing a few pieces.” He smiled weakly.
“Stryker. I get it. A poisonous thorn and your biggest foe to date.” Nicole tapped her fingers on the hidden switchblade in her pocket. Henry relaxed as he watched the tell.
“Almost my biggest. That ice witch who came up through the sewers under Cherry Street a few years back was pretty gnarly.”
Nicole put her hands on her hips. “I remember hearing about that one. You got there just ahead of a bounty hunter. Those were your early days.” She put a hand on his arm, pressing a little tight. “This could be worse. That witch had no plan other than destruction, and she didn’t have a thousand-year-old grudge. Bechtel Stryker has had a long time to think about every detail.”
“Understood. I won’t let down my guard.”
They had reached his car, and Nicole leaned against the door. She let out a sigh. “Now, that is one thing I don’t have to worry about with you. I’m guessing you sleep with a weapon under your pillow.”
“Close enough. Always stay prepared.”
Nicole tapped the weapon in her pocket again. “Exactly.”
“Then this is goodbye, until next time. Unless you need a ride back to wherever you’re staying. You never did say.”
“I never do. Keeps everyone safer. No, that’s fine.” She brushed a lock of dark brown hair out of her eyes. “Listen, I have a couple of days ’til I take on another job. My idea of a weekend. How about I come hang at the Neumann manse and bother Winter? Maybe talk him out of a gadget or two.”
“Are you that worried?” He pressed his lips into a thin line.
Nicole tilted her head, and her long hair fell across her shoulder. “That’s a lot of people to watch over. Maybe for one night, you take a little help. I won’t dig for secrets.” She crossed her heart with her finger. “I swear.”
Henry felt a chill go down his back but ignored the warning. “You’re always welcome.”
“Then it’s settled.” She drummed on the roof of the car.
“You know the way?”
“Neumann, I looked into your background a long time ago. Still some holes in the biography, which is intriguing.”
Henry said nothing. He wouldn’t take the bait.
Finally, Nicole said, “A night at Castle Neumann. I’ll be there before dark. I have a few loose ends to wrap up.” There she went, tapping the weapon again. “Hopefully, the place is haunted. Makes things more interesting.”
“It is. Winter swears he hears people talking at night. I think it’s Ellie using shadow magic on him.”
“I really like that girl. I wonder if she’s ever thought about bounty hunting?”
Henry let out a short laugh, but as he opened the car door, the smile left his face. “She won’t leave those other kids behind. Very loyal, and while Stryker is still out there, none of them are safe.”
“Then you have your new mission: defuse Stryker, save the kids. Right up your alley.” She stuck her hands in the back of her jeans and turned to go. “Someday you have to tell me what got you into your unique line of service.”
Henry opened his mouth to say something but thought better of it. “Someday,” was all he said as he slid into the car. He put the SUV in drive and eased it onto the lower deck of the ferry.
Nicole arrived just after dark. She emerged out of the shadows wearing leather from head to toe, with a gun strapped to her thigh. The cameras caught her striding up the front walk.
“That girl is good,” said Winter. He was watching the screens from the command center. “She got through the fences and wards without disturbing a thing. You never said she was a magical.”
“She’s half-Light Elf,” replied Henry, leaning toward the screen. “But she prefers a Glock to a fireball.”
“I can see that. She’s walking up to your front door like a boss. I wonder how she feels about dwarves?”
Henry put a heavy hand on Winter’s shoulder and let out a low growl. “Down, boy. I saw her first.”
“No need for any fangs and fur. You tell her yet?” Winter looked over his shoulder. “I’ll take that scowl as a no. How are you going to keep our junior GI Jane from telling her?”
“Ellie has been warned several times. That’s a line she won’t cross.”
Winter gestured at the screen. “That bounty hunter is a Level Six. She’s one of the best at tracking people, reading them, and figuring out all their secrets. Maybe you should tell her before she figures this one out.”
“Keep her out of the cave, and we won’t have a problem.”
“If you say so, boss, but she finds out on her own, and she might wonder how much she can trust you.”
Nicole stood at the front door and waved at the cameras. Henry took the stairs up to the main floor two at a time. He gave Ellie a stern look; she was waiting in the shadows. She retreated, opening her hands and creating a thick veil of darkness around herself.
He looked at the wide staircase leading to the second floor and watched the other teenagers retreat to higher ground. Norman let out a small spray of peppery fireballs that sizzled around Henry’s ankles, letting him know they had their own line not to cross, too.
Henry stamped out the sparks on the wide dark-gray tile planks that had been laid in a herringbone pattern at the front entrance. He shook off the feeling that he was making a mistake and opened the door. “You found the place.”
“It sits on a hill overlooking the town, Neumann. I had time to scope out the perimeter. Your wards need work.”
“Winter will be wounded to hear that.”
“Winter needs to reinforce them. I’ll show him the weak points before I leave. I’ll trade for a clever weapon. Something small but worthwhile.”
“Fair enough.”
The bounty hunter walked in, looking all around. She let out a long, low whistle. “You have some serious bank, Neumann.” She tapped a pale-ivory wall. “Solid and reinforced. You’ve built a very pretty bunker above ground.” She held up a hand. “Don’t bother clearing your throat. I know there’s a bank of computers and an armory somewhere in this place. I’m not looking for a tour. Keep your secrets. I’ve got mine too. Maybe someday you’ll show me yours, and I’ll explode a few of mine.”
“You have no home base that I’ve ever found. Where do you keep all your secrets?”
Nicole tapped the side of her head as she moved down the hall. Henry followed her, amused but staying close. “Everywhere. Always be prepared, remember? Where’s dinner? I’ve had a long day, and I’m starved.”
Henry noticed the small tear in her leather jacket and the hint of white bandage underneath. He flexed his fingers. A short line of hair appeared and receded at the sight. “Everything turn out okay?”
“For me, at least.” She snapped her fingers and sent a short volley of marble-sized balls of green light into the air. “Where are all your magical guests?” The balls rose to the ceiling and split apart, zipping off in different directions. They pinged as they found their targets and let out loud screeches one after the other. Startled cries came from the second floor and one from the darkness in the corners up ahead.
“Ellie, I take it?” said Nicole, stopping near the deep shadows. The bounty hunter put out her hand and waited until the shadows pulled back, leaving the teenager standing there pressed against the wall. “Nice to meet you. I’m Nicole. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Ellie reluctantly shook her hand, saying nothing.
“Okay, we’ll work up to hello. Respect. You’re careful. I like it.” Nicole kept walking, stopping briefly to look into rooms as she passed. Henry watched Ellie slide back into the shadows.
“Are we walking toward some kind of food?” asked Nicole. “Real bank, Neumann. Well done.”
Dinner finally arrived in the form of six extra-large pizzas from Westside Pizza. Winter lured the teenagers out of their hiding places with promises of food. Finch took the towering stack of boxes from him and carried them into the kitchen, making sure to keep a little distance from Nicole.
He read the receipt. “We’ve got two Big Kahunas, a Tropical Heat, a Meat Mania, and a Garlic Chicken. I didn’t know that was a thing. Who orders that?”
Shia held up his hand, smiling proudly. “Love me some garlic.”
“Remind me to stay upwind from you.” Finch set the boxes down. “Do we have paper plates, or what? Let’s light this rocket. I’m starving.”
Henry grabbed a pack from the cupboard and brought them over, sniffing the air. “Meat Mania, my favorite.” He opened a box and clapped his hands together. “First dibs.” He grabbed two slices and took a large bite, then turned to look at Nicole and the others.
“Forgive him. He usually eats alone.” Winter snorted and opened another box. “Better dig in. You snooze, you lose around here. You only have seconds ’til this all goes up in smoke.”
Nicole laughed and squeezed between Norman and Shia. She took a piece of the Tropical Heat.
“You sleep with that thing?” Jordanna pointed at the Glock strapped to Nicole’s leg.
“Nearby. Don’t you keep a weapon handy?” She took a bite but kept her attention on Jordanna.
Jordanna stared back. She pulled her braid around to the front and opened her hand, and a fireball appeared. “I am my own weapon. Why use magitech when you were born with the real thing?”
Nicole unstrapped the gun and held it up. She pulled back the slide, and the barrel pulsed with a red glow. “Why not use both?” She put the gun back in its holster and snapped the tie over the top.
Rami’s eyes widened, and he glanced at the others. “Damn.”
“Yeah, damn,” whispered Shia.
Ellie frowned and spoke a little loudly. “Who’s up for a Mortal Kombat 13 tournament?” She flicked her hand toward the doorway and picked up one of the pizza boxes as she marched out. The others looked at Winter, who nodded and handed them two more boxes.
“When did you become their leader?” Henry sat down on a stool, wiping his mouth with a napkin.
“Day One. It’s important to establish dominance early and use trickery if necessary.”
“That explains the haunting,” muttered Nicole.
Henry’s phone buzzed. He pulled it out. It was an email from an unknown web address. Not the wolf pack. He twisted around to show Nicole.
“TLD? What does that mean?” He suppressed a yawn as he opened the message and read.
“Dark magical web. Who are you playing with?”
Winter came and looked over his shoulder. “That’s a message board for wannabes.”
We told you to play along.
Henry sat forward. Adrenaline spiked through his body. Nicole and Winter leaned over to read the email.
Winter scratched his chin. “Almost impossible to trace. Might take me a while, depending on how smart they are.”
“Then maybe not so long,” said Nicole.
“You’re going to answer. I get it.” Winter stood up straight, stretching his arms overhead. “But are you sure that’s a good idea?”
Henry started typing. “Most of the time, you find out what’s a good idea later if you’re still standing. If these idiots want me to join their game, I need to know the rules.”
He typed a reply.
All right, I’ll play along for now. I can be a cooperative man, and I enjoy stupid little games. You make the first move.
A reply arrived seconds later.
“They are hovering over their keyboards.” Winter took the last slice of Garlic Chicken and folded it, easily biting off half.
How unfortunate for you. The burning is here. The destruction has begun.
Henry stood and hesitated for a moment. Nicole gave him a small shove before crossing her arms. “Go to your sanctuary, wherever it is. I’ll meet you outside, and we’ll find the annoying twits. I trust you.”
Winter choked on the last of the pizza slice. His eyes watered as he glanced at Henry.
Henry didn’t have time to explain. He went down the hall toward the hidden entrance to the command center. He looked back as he slipped inside the door—no prying eyes—and hurried down the stairs.
Winter was close behind him and elbowed him out of the way at the row of screens, where he started typing furiously. First, the outside of the house appeared from every angle across the bank of computers, then the offices at Neumann Tower, then Aspen Neumann’s home, and then the hospital.
