Page 4 of Hupotasso
But that was just what Spider would want. And I could ill afford another public display of bloodshed. No, I need to play the game. I’ll have to knock her up before I can knock her off. The Families would become too suspicious otherwise.
“Jag,” I sigh now, putting the phone on speaker so Wolf can also listen as our friend pleads my wife’s case. “You’ve fallen under her spell. It’s easy enough to do, but…”
“No, Falcon, listen…”
“No, you listen. She’s a plant. Tom confirmed it right before I killed him — he had no reason to lie and every reason to tell the truth. I’ve told you what I want done with her. If you’re finding it too onerous I’ll find someone else to follow my orders.”
“Falcon, you know you can count on me. I’ll escort her to your castle; she’s on the plane already. I’m just saying that she maintains her innocence, and I can’t see any mark on her arm.”
“It’s concealed by the scar,” I sigh. “Of course we can’t see the bite.”
Wolf nods his assent from where he sits, drinking scotch and watching me. I’d filled him in on everything that I’d suspected and discovered. Although he generally sides with Jag on most things, today he’s completely with me. Like Jag, we’ve been friends for a very long time and there are no secrets between us three. I suspect he’s stayed with me after the ceremony and insisted on escorting me home because he wants to make sure I don’t do anything unhinged.
He’s going to have his work cut out.
“Nevertheless,” Jag goes on. “I’d like to look further into this.”
“I was going to ask you to do just that when you return to the castle,” I murmur, “among other things.”
“Other things?”
“It’s time we put an end to Spider’s machinations once and for all.”
“You intend to reveal his involvement in placing a spy in The Games and potentially working with The Free Men?”
“Not at all. I’m going to kill the cunt.”
Wolf spits out his drink.
3
“Straight to the castle?”
“Yes.”
I lean back in the plane seat and shake my head, trying to decide which of my million questions to ask first.
“So, he’s cancelled the honeymoon and ordered you to take me to England on the Lear. He doesn’t even want to be on a plane with me?”
“No honeymoon,” Jag sighs, “and no, he has no wish to be in your presence. Wolf has escorted him home and they await you there.”
“Motherfucker!”
Jag snorts.
“Just give him some time. I’ll look into your claims. I’ll look into Tom’s assertion, and we’ll go from there.”
“Wait, Tom? TOM? That’s who ratted me out as the spy?”
“Apparently,” he takes a sip of his whisky and looks at me over the rim of his glass, “and ratted is hardly the term if you maintain you are innocent.”
“You know what I mean,” I snap. “Tom is a fucking loser, asshole, dipshit. I can’t believe Falcon would take his word over mine.”
“Wasa loser, asshole, dipshit,” Jag says quietly.
I pale as I consider the ramifications of his words.
“You mean Falcon killed him?”
