Page 56 of Jump or Fall
“Kim… Division One is gated, and that’s most likely where she is. I can’t even get very far in the rest of the city with my helmet on.”
“I know. I’ve been driving around the edge, trying to get a glimpse of her, but I think his house is along the wall. Records are so locked down—I can’t find anything, even with being promoted to Squad Leader.” She moved closer, desperation in her voice. “Did you ever do work for him? Do you know where he goes? Where he might take her?”
“No.” He rubbed his scar. “I never did anything directly for him, and thank fuck I’ve only been in the same room a handful of times.” A wave of menace followed Secretary Knight everywhere he went. His voice alone was enough to fill him with dread.
Kim slouched like she was about to collapse in on herself. “I need to get her back.”
Sadness twisted inside him. First her mom had been poisoned, and now her sister was in the clawed hands of a monster.
“I have two birds now,” he said gently. “I’m still learning to use them, but I’ll fly them into Division One when I can. The range from Eight is too far, so I’ll have to go into at least Division Three. If he lets her have a tablet, it might be hard to trace, but I’ll see what I can find.”
He needed to be careful. Getting caught with the birds was sure to have a harsher punishment than another stripe on his face.
A tear fell down her cheek. “Thank you.”
His next drink arrived. He took a big gulp and tilted his head to the left so it wouldn’t spill from his mouth. Keeping his lips clamped shut was easier if he stuck to small sips, but everything was making him tense: the scarred faces, Eight, and the reality of fighting back.
“So, how do you know Silva Lasko?” he asked.
“I went to school with his son, Theo. At least, before we moved to Eight. We kept in touch.”
“And how does that translate to telling him I was headingto Naxos?”
“He coordinates with the tunnel workers to help people leave. I was sending you through, so I had to talk to him about it. How’d you hear about him?”
“He’s who I’m supposed to work with. I’m surprised someone that high in the food chain is trying to take it all apart.”
“Most people don’t want their families constantly threatened,” she said pointedly.
“Fair. Know any place I can rent?” The whiskey was going to his head. He needed to crash soon. Being back was making it impossible to sleep without the help of alcohol. All the smells and sounds had brought his lowest point screaming back into his consciousness.
“There’s an old lady renting out a place near the top I could show you. Need work?”
“Yeah,” he grumbled. “This mission will probably take a long time, so need to fill the rest of the hours in the day, I guess.”
Why couldn’t everything just work out with Naxos?
He never wanted to see this fucking place again, but here he was—a scar-faced loser trapped in a slum indefinitely.
Kim pulled out her tablet and swiped through it. “Looks like there’s a courier spot. Some of the paths have changed since you were gone, but the map you made should still help.”
He grunted in acknowledgment. “I can do that. Congrats on the promotion.”
“Thanks.” She bit her lip. “It’s hard managing a bunch of morons, but not all of them suck. The Silver is a dick of course.”
“He’s probably a nobody in the hierarchy if he’s assigned to Eight. They get bitter.”
The room spun, sending a wave of nausea rolling through his system. That last drink was hitting him hard.
“I’m gonna head up,” he slurred. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
Kim stood as he wavered on his feet. “How much did you drink, man?”
He waved her off. “Don’t worry about it.”
Rolling her eyes, she took his arm. “Come on.”
She led him up the stairs to his room. Once they reached his door, she blurted out, “Is there still no chance?”
