“Yeah — ‘Thomas Wisdom.’ If you could track me, he’ll be able to.”
Logan shook his head. “No — a bigger problem than that. White’s not just with the government. I can’t explain it all now, there really isn’t time. But he’s involved with a... subversive group that is bigger and more dangerous than the government.”
“Cale, I don’t share your sympathies with the transgenics, nor do I go for Eyes Only’s wild-eyed conspiracy theories. I’m a cop — or I used to be. I stick with the facts. And the fact is — Ames White sent me into that building to die. I believe that — but that doesn’t make my partner’s killer any less a monster.”
“White is the monster. Surely you see that.”
“I’m not helping you, Cale. We share a common goal where White is concerned, but your transgenics can go to—”
“Forget that,” Logan said. “Think about your family’s safety. White’s operation is not just in this country — his group has operatives everywhere. They’ll find your family... just like I found you.”
“You don’t scare me, Cale. I know my family is safe.”
Looking into the man’s eyes, locking onto them, Logan said, “For now, probably. But White will find them... and Kleena Kleene, British Columbia, is so small, he shouldn’t have any trouble.”
Thompson leaned back on the bed, aghast, springs squeaking. “How...?”
“One of the anagrams my computer spit out — an anagram for your wife’s maiden name. She left the night Hankins died and flew to Bella Coola, then rented a car and drove to Firvale. From there she and your kids went through Anahim Lake and took Highway 20 to Kleena Kleene.”
All the blood had drained from Thompson’s face, making his beard look so dark it seemed black.
“The truth is, Sage — you said it yourself — if I can find that information, so can White.”
Thompson brought a hand up to his face; he was trembling, seemed about to weep. “Oh... oh Christ...”
“I can have your family out of there within twelve hours and have them safely relocated. Eyes Only has a network White has never been able to penetrate — and never will.”
“You’re saying...?”
“I can get your wife and children new identities, and you too... and eventually you’ll even be able to rejoin them.”
“But White—”
“A gun is only one way to stop White. A better way is through Eyes Only — and all you have to do is tell the truth... tell what you know about White.”
Tears had streaked down to glisten in his beard; there was something strangely beautiful about the effect of it, the teardrops catching the dim light of the lamp. “What do you want me to do?”
“To start with, get your stuff. We’re getting out of here right now.”
And five minutes later they were in Logan’s car; traffic had eased and he was able to speed toward Terminal City, unhindered.
As he drove, Logan phoned Asha. She picked up on the second ring.
“Everything all right?” he asked.
“A-okay.”
“Good. I’ve got the other package.”
“Cooperative?”
“Very. Meet me. You know where.”
“Half an hour,” she said, and the line went dead.
Bobby parked the stolen car near the abandoned building that served as an entrance to the exit tunnel. Once inside, Original Cindy led him down the passage toward where it interesected with the main shaft. Blackness surrounded them, only the thin beam of Bobby’s pocket flash piercing the dark.
Cindy thought about running, but the transgenic still held the stun rod in his other hand and she didn’t trust her achy body and throbbing skull.
They reached the intersection — to their right lay Terminal City; to the left, Logan’s building. Automatically, she turned right.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
She turned back to face him. “Terminal City. Isn’t that where you wanna go, Bobby?”
He tossed the beam of the flashlight down the corridor to the left. “What’s up there?”
“How should I know?” she asked, her tone bitchy. “Do I look like a freakin’ tour guide? You wanna join your brothers and sisters, or what?”
On the ride over, Original Cindy had decided that the best course of action was to simply march this freak into Terminal City and let Max kick his sorry ass.
The bland face stared her down. “I think you’re lying to me. I think you know what’s down that direction. Do you think I’m stupid?”
She gave him the finger. “I think you should sit and spin.”
Bobby took a step closer to her and raised the stun rod. “Would you like to sit and spin on this?”
Though designed to stun, those rods could be lethal — she knew — if application was prolonged. And how long was too long, well, that was an issue she didn’t particularly want to research.
She smirked sourly. “Leads to a pad Logan’s got.”
The kid-on-Christmas-morning smile on Bobby’s otherwise blank face told Cindy that she had just revealed the piece of information that Bobby most wanted to learn...
She had to get away from this sick fuck and warn Max, and tell her Logan might be in danger.
So she took the right turn and started running, fleeing into the blackness of the tunnel...
... making it only a few steps before the pain in her head distorted her balance, and she went down.
She was about to scream for Max when she saw a blue spark in her peripheral vision, and white hot shards of pain shot through her every fiber.
She couldn’t talk or move.
Original Cindy just lay there, shaking violently, an epileptic having a hell of a fit, the pain greater than any she’d felt in her whole life. She only hoped that she would die soon.
Eventually, gratefully, she passed out.
When she came to, Original Cindy found herself tied to a straight-back wooden chair in Logan’s apartment. Bobby had lashed her wrists and ankles to the chair and run a strip of duct tape over her mouth. She tried to scream, but all that came out was a muffled “Mmmmmm!”
He had placed her so she faced the door that opened to the staircase below. Turning her head as far as she could in either direction, she looked for Bobby but couldn’t see him. Either he was gone or he was directly behind her. She listened as closely as she could, but all she heard was the pounding of her own heart.
Trying to break free was useless.
Though she strained against her bonds, she made no progress. Finally giving up, she stared at the doorknob and waited. It didn’t take long before she saw the knob turning. She tried, but the tape over her mouth kept her from screaming for help.
Terrible elongated seconds passed before the door opened, and she was surprised to see the federal agent she’d seen at Jam Pony a few weeks ago. She hadn’t really caught his name — Gott-something?
Whoever he was, now he stood in the doorway, his hands behind his back, his mouth open in surprise as he saw her rocking from side to side in the chair. Over his shoulder she could just make out Logan’s freedom fighter friend, Asha.
They both came into the room, Asha with a pistol drawn and when she saw Original Cindy, the gun seemed to leap up in front of her face, both arms outstretched.
Then Bobby stepped forward from behind Asha. He’d blended into the wall and when Asha turned back to face Original Cindy, he made his move.
Sticking out her chin, gesturing with her eyes, Original Cindy tried to signal Asha that Bobby was behind her... but to no avail.
Cindy watched in horror as the stun rod touched Asha’s back. The gun leapt from her hand and she wilted to the floor in convulsions. The fed turned and tried to kick out at Bobby, but he succeeded only in providing the transgenic with an easier target. Hitting the agent’s leg with the stun rod, Bobby sent him writhing to the floor as well.