That went in a very bad direction. I don’t know what this ace is. It may not exist. Should I get Gerard on the phone? I consider that. The answer is no. Her threat is unsure, but I could be forced out if the backers see this as my fault. Fixing my error should come first.Mymeaning whatever note the clean-up team left in her house. Tasker needs to fire someone or someones.
She will need to be silenced, and we have her signature.
Am I truly ballsy enough to have her body claimed and used in the program?
I head over to the large wall-to-wall window and watch her pink Chevy pull out of the parking area with a roar and a spume of black smoke.
Fuck to the yes. I do have the balls. I would love to see her dead, sawn up, and put to good use after we stitch her into a new her, with some added bits. I can keep her on ice in cryonics until we’ve perfected that process.
The best-ever revenge just got an update.
I tap the screen and send a summons for Cannon. He’ll need a few men who aren’t known. Track her, scare her, and give her one last chance to leave? I must be going soft. I guess so? What if they bring her to me and let me interrogate her so I can get a gut feel for the truth in her answers? Not like it was here.
Not like today, when she could be insolent.
I scratch my chin. Then, if I must have her killed, she can go on one of those tourist adventures out to sea, where she will fall overboard and drown. Somewhere she can be quickly retrieved from, so we can cryonically freeze her. Solved, providing the scientists agree.
I poke the intercom. “Send in Cannon once he arrives, ASAP, Jane.”
Her reply is brisk. “Yes, sir.”
Today is going well, considering that nastiness.
The man arrives within five minutes and stands at parade rest in his suit and tie—a throwback to his military service, but it looks good, gives me a buzz. I nod approval.
“I need two men for a job where it would be best if theyremove themselves from the country afterward and don’t come back. Might just be a scare, might be more.”
“Yes, sir. I have some individuals in mind. They came in with the last shipment. Your instructions?”
“Verbal only. Nothing in text. Go quiet with this. Equip one of them with a body cam so I can watch the footage and tell them to stay off any other cams.” He stares harder when I say this, as if it’s a given. “Watch her from a distance to assess their approach. I’ll leave the exact method up to you, but it’s Hailey Tarrant. Scare her, tell her to do what she was told to do, then we wait twenty-four hours, then I’ll escalate if she doesn’t react how I need her to.”
“Sure. Will do. I don’t think I need more. She’s not going to be hard to find.”
“Go. A bonus for you at the end of this one.”
“Sir. Thank you.” He exits. Efficient, as always.
Escalate meaning kidnap her and bring her to me at a safe location. Then kill her if we still need to. That’s two chances for her. I’m definitely going soft on her. It’s because I really,reallywant to see her fucked up. Resisting my worst sadistic urges is better for me.
14
THE WEIRDOS
The noise from the Maelstrom Bar percolates through the doorway into the room, and a few early drinkers wander past the opening. It’s six-thirty PM, and I’ve taken a seat opposite the door, so I’m either at the head or the bottom of this polished timber table. Molly abandoned her spot beside me to go greet everyone. A jumble of thrill and dread squeezes the air in my lungs with uneasyexpectation, as if this meeting could give me a bucketload of new information.
Will they expect me to reveal everything I know in return?
The talk with Clay shook me. I blurted out secrets I never meant to share and that was a stupid mistake. I haven’t yet relayed what was said to Ron and Molly. His threats and mine. I’m not ready. I’m not ready forthis.
I’ve come to see Molly and Ron as friends, but I don’t know anything about these Weirdo people. Since the previous night I’ve been running about, reacting, overreacting.
This time, I will listen to whatever they say. Think. Then think some more.
The members are gathering at the door, drinks in hand. I stand up, which makes me feel less an interloper, though I’m playing with the strap on my handbag where it rests on the table, and my heart rate is up.
The first through the door is a tall woman in jeans and buttoned floral shirt, with a head of short, bouncy blond curls. She raises her hand. “Hi there!”
I wave back.
