Page 35 of Jump or Fall
It all looked the same at first: concrete walls and narrow fetid paths. But the details were starting to stand out, like a rusted pipe overhead with faded stickers, or a nest of wires in the corner.
The wires bothered him the most. They were everywhere—dangling, coiled, sometimes frayed and sparking. How people weren’t electrocuted daily was a mystery.
Trash piled wherever people felt like dumping it, but one area of the Division had turned into a semi-official pit. You didn’t need a map to find it—just follow the smell. A rot that burned the back of your throat.
After a couple wrong turns, he finally found the station.
Kimmie was sitting under the tree out front, reading something on the tablet in her lap. She glanced up as he approached and her stern expression softened.
She wore a light gray tank top and dark plum tactical pants, her wiry tan arms on full display.
“What information can you give me on the guy you’re looking for?” he asked.
“Not much.” She shrugged. “Asshole calls the stuff ‘Revive’ and preys on people trying to get rid of their scars.”
“How do they contact him?”
“He infiltrates the mirror ads and gives them a code to scan. It pulls up a site for them to purchase it, he sends a drop point, and then he’s gone. The code grabs their bank info and pulls the credits when they pick it up.” She narrowed her eyes. “And yes, we’ve tried to do a sting, but he always knows it’s us.”
“Have you tried to track the account?”
“Yep. Untrackable. Same with the ads. The money gets filtered out to a bunch of fake names that buy credit keys.”
“Do you know anyone who can participate in a new sting? Someone who’s used the serum already would be ideal.”
She swallowed hard. “Why not you?”
“A repeat customer is less suspicious.”
Reluctantly, she said, “My mom.”
This problem was personal, apparently. “When can we meet with her?”
“Now. Just wait here for a minute so I can call her.”
Kimmie tapped her tablet and wandered around the grassy park while she spoke. When she tapped her ear to hang up, she gestured for him to follow her.
They walked down a rickety corridor and up and down sets of stairs. The smell was more pleasant than some of the other areas. She must live far from the pit.
“Anything I should know before meeting your mom?”
“She’s dying,” she replied matter-of-factly.
He glanced in her direction, but she kept her eyes forward. “The serum?”
“Yep.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s her own fault.” She waved a hand. “I told her it was fake, but she wouldn’t listen.”
They reached a set of apartments tucked under an awning with vines growing up and around the rusted railings.
Please have air conditioning.
Kimmie unlocked the door with her thumb. As it swung open he was hit by a small wave of cool air.
Oh, thank God.
