Page 79 of Dark Sky

Wagy grimaced as he recalled what had happened. “Big guy, blond ponytail. He seemed to know all about us and what we’ve been doing. He said you violated the falconer’s creed.”

Soledad took that in and a small smile crept across his face. “Did he carry a big revolver?”

“Yes. He shot it and nearly killed me.”

“I know him,” Soledad said. “Or I should say, I knowofhim. His name is Nate Romanowski. He was a special operator in the same unit I was in before they kicked me out. Five years ahead of me, in fact. The officers who knew him talked about him like he was some kind of phantom, and the falconers in these parts talk about him like he’s some kind of god. I think it’s all bullshit. I’m not afraid of him.”

“You didn’t meet him,” Wagy said. “He twisted my ear half off. In fact, I can barely hear through it now.”

“I did notice it was a bit crooked.” Soledad placed the bottle down on the coffee table and sat back. The grin grew wider. “That’s him, all right.

“He used to be somebody to fear,” Soledad said. “He was a legendary badass. He did a bunch of covert crap for Uncle Sam, and when he got out, he did his own thing. But I hear he’s gotten old and soft. He’s a corporate sellout now. A ‘bird abatement’ guy trying to make it rich so he can look down on people like me, even though I’m the kind of rebel he used to be.”

Soledad drained the rest of his beer and signaled for a fresh one. Both Cyndy and Zenda looked at each other to see whowould obey. Finally, Cyndy rolled her eyes and tossed one to him. Soledad opened it and turned back to Wagy.

“Romanowski is like one of those old-school mafia guys you’ve heard of. He’s got acode,” Soledad said with derision. “You know, like don’t hurt the families of your targets or run narcotics in your own neighborhood, or make sure to take care of your brothers when they’re in the can—shit like that. He’s from another time.

“You and me,” Soledad said, nodding to Wagy, “we’re the new breed. We’re the Sinaloa cartel, the Zetas, the Jalisco New Generation. We’re the fuckin’ MS-13 of outlaw falconers. That old shit doesn’t apply. There are no rules for us, dude. Romanowski’s exactly the kind of guy we hate. So he thinks I’m in his territory, does he?”

Wagy nodded his head. He didn’t like how this was shaping up. He wanted a doctor.

“Did he find the birds?” Soledad asked.

“He must have,” Wagy said. “He seemed to know all about them.”

“Did he take them?”

“I don’t know. He had to leave here real fast, like it was an emergency. I’ve been here bleeding out and getting ready to die alone.”

Soledad ignored him. He turned to Cyndy and Zenda. “Do you girls need a ride back into town or do you want to crash here tonight?”

Zenda’s eyes flashed. “Is this your idea of a party? One drink and we break it up?”

Soledad didn’t answer her. And he didn’t feign concern, something Wagy had gotten used to.

“You can walk back for all I care,” Soledad said to her. “I’ve got some urgent business that just came up that I need to attend to.”

To Wagy, Soledad said, “We’re done here. Romanowski has fucked up our operation and I’m six birds short of my goal. There’s no way I’m going to take that flight to Dubai six birds short.”

Wagy shook his head. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying I need six birds to fill my order and I know who has them. It’s time this creaky old badass got taken down a peg, you know? He has no idea who he’s messing with.

“He should be pretty easy to find,” Soledad said. “It’s not like the old days when he operated off the grid. Now he’s a legitimate American businessman. He pays his taxes to fund the gangster government. Shit, headvertises. It’ll be like nothing getting the birds I need.”

“Will you at least drop me off at the ER on the way there?” Wagy asked.

Soledad said, “No can do. That would give away the game.”

Then he seemed to notice that both Cyndy and Zenda were glaring at him. Cyndy had her hands on her extra-wide hips.

“Are you still here?” he asked them. His eyes were so cold Wagy felt a chill just being near him.

“My partner’s turned into a liability,” Soledad said to them. “Maybe you two can help me load some cargo into my vehicleso we can blow this joint. I’ll help him out in a minute and meet you in the barn.”

“We didn’t come here to work,” Cyndy said.

“Then you’re a liability, too,” Soledad said.

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