Life is full of little moments like this. Interactions executed with such perfection that it’s hard to believe we managed to pull it off at all.
I was on patrol in the city when Iniko called to say they had him. Our window was small and closing, so if we wanted to move on Maxwell, we’d have to act quickly. Had it been any other day, I’d have delayed our attack. Risking a mission as important as this under a time crunch isn’t the sort of thing I take lightly. But after what happened at Lilith’s place, it couldn’t have come at a better time.
I needed the distraction. Something serious and severe to focus all my attention and remove any risk of my mind wandering back to her.
Maxwell swallows hard, his fingers tightening around the wheel as his Bentley starts rolling forward again. Neither of us says a word as we drift through the thin stream of traffic. Beyond the Bleed, the Sprawl’s effervescent glow might as well not exist. Here, there are only black surroundings, brightened only by headlightsand the streetlamps overhead, which guide us further toward our destination.
But, as with all men in his position, Maxwell’s silence breaks when we pass the motel where his mistress is waiting inside.
“Why are you here, Ghost?” he asks. Other than his shallow inhalation, I wouldn’t think he was afraid.
“You know why, Maxwell.” Until tonight, calling him by name would’ve resulted in some imaginative punishment from the Head. But with the lack of title comes a severe understanding that he has been stripped of his power and is no longer the Hand.
Maxwell Henderson is now just another ordinary, mortal man, no better than those who dwell in the Bleed.
“You can’t be serious?” His knuckles whiten. Whether it’s from rage or fear, I can’t tell. “I’ve done everything you’ve asked. I’ve kept my mouth shut. I lied about my own son’s death…” Passion causes his voice to crack and shake. But he shows no sign of sadness for Tom.
Interesting.
“Then take solace in knowing that the rest of your family will live,” I say.
He blinks rapidly, processing what I’ve just said. Then the realization hits.
“You can’t. You swore an oath,” he says.
“You’re right. I did, but so did you.” I don’t take my eyes off of him. Constantly watching through the rearview.
Any sudden moves, and I’ll have to break that vow. Show him that my loyalty to the Veil is more than just a set of words.
“Why is he doing it?” Maxwell’s temper flares. “Huh? Why’s the Head pushing for my death?”
I don’t answer.
I don’t know.
“I didn’t cross the line. I kept true to my word. I kept up my bond to the society above all else. For Christ’s sake, I letyoukill my son.” Droplets spew out of his furious maw, splashing haphazardly against the windshield.
“The Head will bring you before the Council,” I say, uninterested in going down memory lane. His mentioning Tom once equated to sadness, but a second time is desperation.
“You will face trial and be given a chance to clear your name.”
“Face trial,” he scoffs. “When my judge and jury are the men sitting in his pocket? Hoo-fucking-rah.”
I press the barrel tighter against his head.
“You’d be wise to remember who you are talking to, Maxwell.” It’s a threat I’m fully willing to act on. It’s not within my power to kill him, but he’s a prisoner of the Veil now. No one would bat an eyelid if he walked into our hallowed hall with a few broken bones.
My words remind him of his place, and he keeps still for the rest of our journey.
We pull off the main road, onto a dilapidated concrete street, littered with potholes and cracks. There’s no light along it, and no wayward souls driving or even walking in either direction. The way is long abandoned and forgotten by time. Two miles further down the road, we come upon the rusty and decaying remains of an old railway station.
This is all that is left of a once promising venture to link an underground metro between Midnite City and smaller surrounding towns. The idea was made redundant by the addition of sky-rails into the city, instead. Why let more in, the Veil pondered, when so many reside in the Bleed already?
But various mega-corps have found uses for the tunnels that were already constructed beneath Midnite City. They use them as a low-cost alternative for transporting their goods from one district to another safely. However, the railyards and depot stations that were built this far out were left abandoned.
The Veil found a use for them, though.
“Why did you stop?” I ask, gazing into the pitch-black mouth of a tunnel that obscures the few tracks that are laid inside it.
