Page 117 of Drift

“Give the bitch fest a rest, Gena.” West reached into a wardrobe and took out two masks. “But thanks for the call. I’ll have a coffee and some toast with the next one.” Gena flipped her the bird but also a smile as West threw a mask Drift’s way, and Light frowned as he tucked it in his back pocket. It looked the same skull one Drift had worn to break in back at theirs. So yeah, it wasn’t all about musical talent out there on the streets when it came to them, and Light briefly looked away. He’d last worn a mask like that to break into a property. The manor’s.

Drift handed him the guitar and a matching mask, but the amp, ano smaller than a hand-held luggagecase one, he kept at his feet.

“Fender Acoustic 100. Bluetooth app setup.” Light looked the amp over. That meant one or both of them had a phone on them to run the Bluetooth connection, and he name-dropped out loud to give Simon a heads up on checking out what tech exactly would be crossing the threshold. “Impressive.”

“Get them to point, and the amp plus any phones will be confiscated.” Simon came through on his earpiece. “Don’t tell them that yet, though. It won’t go down well.”

Drift picked the amp up and shrugged, although he snorted a cold smile, maybe seeing why he’d product name dropped out loud. “Best one for guitar and vocals. Plus its lightweight and easy to carry on my part… and easy to set up with the phone West has on her whilst I… work.”

Oh yeah, he knew where Light’s intent had gone with the name-dropping. Which meant West and the guitarist usually worked their talents to draw people in, that left Drift, what? Ghosting the crowds? Feeding? Running? What was that sarcasm on Drift’s mention of… work?

Drift shook his head at him as if waiting for the penny to drop, then followed West out into the hall.

Footsteps raced up the stairs, and Brighty bolted past them with Casey, a young lass just a year older than him. Light had met her in the instrument room Drift had also shown him, and Light had been lost on how skilled she worked her way around a flute. All Mr. Tumnus’s daughter fromThe Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,ready to lead anyone astray into a dangerous taste of hot chocolate and offer of Turkish delight. She carried the flute now, her laughter loud as she tried to catch up to Brighty and take back the flute case he’d pinched. As he watched them play, Light kept to thedon’t askguideline Raif put in place, but it baffled Light to the core how anyone parent would carry on with their daily lives knowing kids like these were forced to walk the streets. But one out of every twenty-three kids in London were homeless, which were terrifying statistics. It was terrifying how easily homeless kids were markedasa statistic.

“Bagsy Westie’s bed.” Brighty skirted into the loft, and West’s face creased as bed springs creaked, true trampoline style. Casey was there, bouncing with him to, and West automatically shifted back for them, naked fear in her eyes over leaving them behind.

A tug at her arm, Drift pulled her away with a shake of head.

The Night-walkers had sent a warning Gray’s way because he’d sent the phone in here, which meant someone in the house didn’t want them around either the house or Drift. And the Night-walkers hadn’t gone after Drift for answering the call of his name, just those who had tried to make a call to someone inside it. And it was there in Drift’s eyes as he tugged West away.

Rather they keep the threat directed at the manor, away from the kids.

They made it outside, and as Light swung the guitar on his shoulders, Drift slipped the amp briefly between his legs and fastened his jacket. West took lead, but as they worked their way into the third street and past some rundown industrial buildings, Drift angled off to the right. Light frowned his way as he disappeared for a moment behind some bins, then relaxed a little more when he came back with a backpack. At some point, Drift had snuck out and put it there. Fuck. Light hadn’t even noticed, and a danger lay there. If he had time to do that, what else had he had time to do? The kid was definitely used to following his own rules and not… keeping his fucking ass still. Drift slipped the bag over his shoulder just as a bus pulled up.

As they got on, Light eyed the bag as they took their seats.

“Essentials,” said West, and he looked her way now they were on the move. Drift did too, then after a look at Light, he offered the backpack over with a sigh.

Light made the check quick, discreet. Spare clothes for two, underwear, makeup, hairbands, a drink, some cash, a box of Anadin with Drift’s name on and a few strips inside and… what was that? He kept a touch on the estrogen for a moment before he slipped it back into its private space and zipped the bag up, resisting looking at West.

“That’s why I can’t find a trace of her identity,” whispered Simon. “She’s transgender, and no doubt not even been able to change her birth sex and name via Deed Poll, so by only using West and transitioning, it’s given her a completely fresh start. And relax over Drift slipping out. I followed him via the drone as West showed you your bed for the night. He took the bag out, made no contact with anyone, and left it there. No one touched the bag until he did a moment ago. No one was around to see him leaving the bag was a sign, and there’s no tech equipment within two miles to pick him up. But if you missed him slipping out—fucking focus.”

Simon had stayed sharp, but Light wouldn’t have known West was male to female if not for the clue, and he hid his frown. Did she even have access to her birth certificate in order to apply for a name and gender change? Most who walked out never thought of proof of identity. Some walked out to forget it. What identity did Drift even have?

Light handed the backpack to him. “Thank you.” Drift would have known what he’d find.

West kept her look out of the window, at the passing cars, but it seemed too focused, a little uncomfortable, and she buried it as Drift shoulder-shoved into her gently. She looked Light’s way eventually, and he offered her a soft smile. She was back to a tougher look in her eyes, one that didn’t offer explanation or details. It was none of Light’s business, the look said, and rightlyso too, but her look seemed to say she’d had a rough ride off someone, so not test her patience with any now.

Light focused on the passing streets. They changed route at the next stop, then carried on for another twenty minutes before he called out, “At the corner, please, here, mate.” Busses he was used to on getting to and from uni when his car had broken down.

The bus driver nodded and pulled in just before the T-junction.

After West and Drift joined him on the pavement, Light waited for the bus to move off, then nodded at the multistorey carpark over the road. He took the lead, and on the second level, George eased out of an unmarked Mercedes-Benz.

Light sent him a nod but stopped Drift from opening the door for West.

“What now, asshole?” Drift slammed the door shut and levelled a look his way.

George came in, holding a device, but Light took it off him and didn’t make a move toward either West or Drift. “Just a check to make sure no one’s planted anything on you. You okay with that?”

Drift snorted and held out his arms. “And to check we’re not slipping anythinginwith us, right?”

Light went in and offered a nod. “That too, yeah.” Drift’s look hardened, but Light held the anger. “You’d do no different,” he said quietly before running the device front to back over Drift to check for any surveillance equipment. “Trust is going to be hard until we all get to know each other.” He stopped at Drift’s jacket when he got a signal.

“Yeah?” said Drift, taking out a laser pointer. Looked like he wanted the option of getting out again. “It’s all one-way to me at the moment. We’re forced to trust you without the use ofDoctor Whoscrewdriver gadgets, right?”

Light cocked a small smile, more so at what Drift had just removed: the laser pointercouldhave passed for Doctor Who’s screwdriver, especially with taking out tech equipment. He checked it out for tracking equipment, then pocketed it, knowing Simon would be tearing it apart when he got back. “You didn’t need them in your backyard.” He flicked him a look. “You picked up I had surveillance tech on me well enough.”

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