Page 25 of Mongrels United
“We’re taking you at your word that you really tested Bellish last night,” Grady said. “Now you get to take us at our word that we have Anny out there.” She paused. “You didn’t tell her about any of this, did you?”
Rim rolled his eyes. “Of course not!”
“So now you can tell me who gave you the Bellish.”
Rim let out a heavy sigh. “Nash Hyson.”
Grady kept her face immobile. “Thank you. Lieutenant?” She spun and left the room. Outside, she leaned against the wall with one hand, her breath coming faster. She heard the interview room door slide closed and click to seal.
“You okay, Grady?” Jackalyn asked.
Grady nodded. “Just a bit surprised. But in hindsight, I shouldn’t have been. Get Hyson in here, Jack. ASAP.”
“You want me to arrest him?” Jackalyn asked. “Possession of Bellish is still on the crime list.”
Grady considered that. “He wouldn’t come quietly. And besides, he took the stuff to Rim to test. He didn’t know what it was.”
“Then he threatened Anny,” Jackalyn added. “To keep Rim quiet.”
“Did he?” Grady asked. “We only have Rim’s word on that. And he’s shaken up by the Bellish. He’s old enough to remember what the ship was like before the Raid. He’s the nervous sort and might have imagined himself into thinking Hyson was threatening him. Hyson can be…overpowering, even when he says nothing.”
“So, ask him nicely, then,” Jackalyn said. She considered. “I’ll go myself. He’ll cooperate if I ask him.”
“You know him?” Grady asked.
“Long time ago, but yeah. A few nights…you know.” Jackalyn shrugged. “He attaches and detaches fast and smooth.”
“I’ll take your word for it,” Grady assured her. “Just get him here pronto. He has alotof questions to answer.”
“I hear you.” Jackalyn turned and headed down the short corridor to the front room.
Grady followed, schooling her face so nothing telling would be revealed to the Guards when she stepped into the front room.
Where had Nash Hyson got the Bellish?
Unfortunately, with that man’s business interests and the company he chose to keep, she suspected the answer would be convoluted, and not one he would be willing to give up voluntarily.
Maybe she should have had Jackalyn arrest him, after all. That would give Grady leverage right from the start.
And she had a feeling she would need all the leverage she could get for what came next.
Chapter Eleven
The Civilian Division of the Bridge Guards had the only multi-person podcar on the ship. It was Nash’s first time in the thing, so he studied it curiously as it raced alongside the Artery magline at a speed that outstripped the train itself. It had two benches, instead of the single one behind the controls, which two people could fit onto. There were two brawny Guards on it now.
The Lieutenant of the Civil Guards sat beside Nash on the back seat. Nash knew her, but the “Westcott” on her shoulder didn’t tell him where or how he knew her. She hadn’t seemed upset about that, either.
When he had asked her why she wanted him to go to the station with her, her smile was wry. “I think you know very well why, Hyson.”
He did know. What had surprised him was how quickly it had happened. He’d figured he’d have a day or two, or even more, before Rim wound himself up enough to report to the Bridge about the Bellish.
He’d underestimated how badly the Bellish had scared Rim. The man had been an adult in the days before the Leroux Raid, though. Nash should have allowed for that. Whatever Rim had experienced, back then, had given him the nerve to rush straight to the Bridge. He must have headed there the moment Nash was out of sight.
Perhaps the man hadn’t been exaggerating about the lethal qualities of the drug, after all. Nash had figured he was trying to make a point. But now… Now, he needed to recalibrate, especially since the Bridge had responded with all due speed, too. The Lieutenant’s presence at his front door had forced Clip to come and wake him. Nash had barely got to sleep.
The Artery was clear of the usual morning traffic. It was too early. And the Collinas avenue, when they reached it, was clear as always.
Westcott had made it clear that he was being invited to answer questions, and that he wasn’t being arrested. So when they reached the gates, the pod stopped and everyone got out. Westcott waved Nash toward the nearest gate, where another Guard was raising the barrier. “After you,” she said stiffly. And her hand did not linger anywhere near the handle of the night stick on her belt.
