Page 60 of Gunslinger Girl
“No.” The kiss turned to ice. “I’ll give you a choice. The first one to tell me who sent you dies right now, quickly. The other will be interrogated for everything else. Hours, days, weeks… as long as it takes me to feel satisfied that anything of importance has been disclosed. Do you believe that I will do this?”
One nodded, and then the other.
“Good. Now… talk.”
An edged silence fell. Even from the safety of the prevailing side, Pity tensed as anxious seconds passed, a bitter taste in her mouth.
The remaining assassins stared at the floor, eyes blank, as if they were seeing nothing. The one with the scar began to shake. But it was the ratty man who spoke first, one word that looked to pain him more than his injuries.
“Daneko.”
“Daneko?” growled Beau.
Selene waved a hand, silencing him. Then she took his gun and went to the confessor. Pity turned away as a single shot rang out—worse, somehow, than all the ones that had preceded it. A meaty thump followed. When she found the courage to look back, the Tin Men were wrenching the remaining assassin to his feet.
“Please… wait… He wasn’t alone.”
Selene signaled for the Tin Men to pause. “What do you mean?”
“Daneko wasn’t the one who paid us,” the man panted. “I don’t know who did, but I overheard him say something to our team leader about help from back east.”
“Hmm.” Selene stared at him for a moment. “I look forward to hearing the details Santino pries out of you on that topic. Take him away.” Any hope for mercy—of any kind—evaporated from the assassin’s face. “To the interrogation cell, not the regular ones.”
Beau accepted his gun back from Selene when they were gone. “Daneko didn’t get them into Casimir unseen. Not with that amount of gear.”
Selene nodded. “He didn’t get them onto my terrace, either.”
“They must have had assistance here as well—codes, maps, a way to bypass the surveillance cameras.”
“I know.” Selene turned back to Pity. She smiled neutrally. “Ugly business, this.”
Pity could think of nothing to say. Selene had just executed someone. Maybe not in cold blood but lukewarm at best. But I killed, too. It felt unreal, though it had happened scant minutes before. Whatever had burned within during the attack was extinguished, leaving a hollow that clawed at her, trying to fill itself. She stared at the tangle of still forms on the marble floor.
I killed them.
“Santino, take a team,” Beau ordered. “I want Daneko here, now. We never should have believed him or the bullshit peace he—”
“Beau, relax.” Selene pulled out her chair and sat, paying no mind to the fresh bullet holes in it. “We don’t need to exert ourselves. Why not have the dogs corner the rat? Send a message to the other gang leaders. Find Daneko, contain him, and send word. If he isn’t cornered by sundown, Cessation shuts down.” Her eyes narrowed. “And Casimir is closed until I decide it isn’t.”
The side door opened. Rifles snapped up, but it was only Adora.
“Everything okay in here?” she said as if she had found them out of drinks rather than surrounded by bodies.
“Everything is fine now, Adora,” said Selene. “Get someone in here to deal with this mess, would you? And the one below my balcony as well.” She paused. “Beau, why not send a head along with each message. It will add a touch of urgency, don’t you think? And, Santino, our new guest will wait a bit. See to Pity.” Selene reached across the desk and squeezed Pity’s arm affectionately. “Thank you, my dear. I’m in your debt.”
Pride joined Pity’s stew of emotions as Santino scooped her up again. It was a pleasant addition, though it didn’t quite neutralize the others.
“I can walk!” she protested.
“Miss Selene said take care of you, so I’m taking care of you.”
“Hold on.” For a moment Beau considered Pity, eyes chilly. “That was stupid. You should have waited for me.”
She held his gaze, acutely aware of the odds they’d overcome. “They would have gone for you first and then killed me and Sheridan anyway. You had more ammo and you miss less. It made sense.”
He glanced at Selene, then back to Pity. “Next time I give you an order, you follow it.” He paused. “But Selene is right—you did good.”
“Thank you.” Pity heard the sincerity in his words.
