‘Lemme speak to Monk.’
Reave turned to Monk.
‘It’s Sammy, he wants to speak to you.’
Monk moved within range of the screen.
‘What d’you want?’
‘It’s trouble, boss.’
‘Trouble?’
‘That killer. He’s on the loose. It looks like he’s heading your way.’
‘What?’
‘I just heard over the LDC radio net. I’ve got a buddy who works as a dispatcher. The bomb at Authority Square didn’t get him. He’d already left the place. Mutt and Drucker made a play for him. He shot Drucker, and then chased Mutt into a Sex-O-Mat. It seems like he’s wrecked the place and cut Mutt up pretty bad. I figure there can’t be no way that Mutt didn’t talk.’
Monk looked grim.
‘So you think he’s on his way here?’
Sammy nodded.
‘He’s got to be.’
Monk thought for a couple of seconds.
‘How long ago did all this happen?’
‘Five, maybe ten minutes.’
‘Listen, you better get back over here.’
Sammy avoided Monk’s eyes.
‘Listen, Monk. No disrespect or anything, but I ain’t coming anywhere near the place. I had it with this job. I’m through.’
Monk snarled.
‘You’re through alright.’
He hit the console with the edge of his hand and broke the connection.
‘Chickenshit!’
He turned to Nancy and A.A. Catto.
‘You hear that?’
They both nodded. Nancy looked round the room. Everyone had fallen silent.
‘We have to get out of here.’
A.A. Catto turned to Monk.
‘How do I get out of the city? I’ve got to find a place where he can’t reach me.’
Monk looked blankly at the other hoods.
‘Don’t ask us, lady. We’ve never been out of the city in our lives.’
A.A. Catto looked round helplessly. Nobody seemed about to offer any kind of practical suggestion. Reave muttered something about calling a cab, and A.A. Catto hit him with the small riding crop that hung from her wrist. Even the blow seemed a little preoccupied. Finally the Minstrel Boy grinned.
‘You could rent an airship.’
A.A. Catto gripped the crop firmly and advanced on him.
‘Are you trying to be funny?’
The Minstrel Boy shook his head.
‘Am I in any position to be funny?’
He held up his bound hands.
‘I’m perfectly serious. I’m good at getting people out of trouble. Ask Billy and Reave.’
A.A. Catto looked doubtful.
‘Where do I get an airship from?’
The Minstrel Boy grinned.
‘Dirigible Rentals, Lighter Than Air Leasing. They’re both good. You can get their coordinates from Information.’
A.A. Catto kicked him.
‘You’re trying to make a fool out of me.’
The Minstrel Boy shrugged as best he could while tied up. Captivity seemed to be making him philosophical. A.A. Catto was about to kick him again when Reave called across from the com-screen.
‘He’s right. Both corporations exist.’
Reave had discreetly checked while A.A. Catto had been raging at the Minstrel Boy. She redirected her anger at him.
‘Then get one, dummy.’
The Minstrel Boy sank back into the corner with a sigh while Reave went about his task. He ceased to wonder how he was going to get out of the situation. He was thankful for being alive from one moment to the next. He wondered if this minute at a time lifestyle was the basis of his new-found philosophy. Reave looked up from the screen.
‘Dirigible Rentals can get a one hundred capacity here in fifteen minutes. It comes with a cinema and small intimate ballroom. The orchestra’s extra.’
‘Screw the orchestra. Can’t they get it here any quicker?’
Reave shook his head.
‘We’re paying double for that.’
‘Order it, then.’
‘I can’t.’
A.A. Catto went bright red.
‘What do you mean you can’t?’
‘You have to. You’re the client, it’s your credit card.’
Reave stood up and A.A. Catto flung herself into the chair in front of the com-set. As she was arranging the airship hire, Nancy went over to where Monk was sitting staring bleakly into the mirror of her elaborate makeup table.
‘How long do you figure it will be before Jeb Stuart Ho gets here?’
Monk toyed with one of Nancy’s gilt hairbrushes.
‘If he took a ground cab, and the traffic went his way, maybe ten minutes. Give or take a couple of minutes each way.’
A.A. Catto came across from the com-set. She’d gone white.
‘But the airship won’t be here for fifteen.’
Monk nodded.
‘So it’ll be too late.’
Monk nodded again. A.A. Catto bit her knuckles
‘What can we do?’
Nobody answered. She looked at Nancy.
‘There must be something. He’s going to kill me.
Nancy looked at Monk, and back to A.A. Catto.
‘If Monk and his boys could hold him off for five minutes or more we could go up on the roof and wait for the ship to come. We can board it from there. It’s not used, but there’s still an old mooring tower from when this used to be a fancy hotel.’
Monk, who had listened to the whole conversation in sullen silence, suddenly slammed his fist into the top of the dressing table.
‘No way!’
Nancy looked at him in surprise.
‘No way what?’
‘No way will we hold off this guy for you.’
Every eye in the room was on Monk. Reave walked over and stood beside him.
‘Why not, Monk, what’s wrong?’
The Minstrel Boy’s voice came from the corner.
‘I’ll tell you why not.’
Reave turned towards him.
‘Why?’
‘For one, the man knows if you all jump on your airship, he ain’t going to get paid, and for two, Jeb Stuart Ho is most likely to kill anyone who gets in his way.’
A.A. Catto suddenly exploded. She pushed past Reave, and started slashing at the Minstrel Boy with her riding crop.
‘I’ll kill you! You little creep! I’ve had enough! Nasty little punk! I’ll …’
Reave grabbed her, pinning her arms to her sides so she couldn’t reach her ring. Even as he was doing it he couldn’t believe himself. He’d never been so brave.
‘Come on. Calm down.’
A.A. Catto continued to struggle.
‘If I’m going to die, I’m going to kill him first.’
The Minstrel Boy had curled up in a ball in the corner. He marvelled that he still hadn’t died. Suddenly Nancy moved between him and A.A. Catto.
‘There’s no reason why anyone should die, least of all you.’
A.A. Catto stopped struggling,
‘What do you mean?’
Nancy glanced at Monk.
‘I’m sure Monk and the boys would hold off Ho if you offered them a credit card each.’
Monk suddenly looked interested.
‘How do we get them?’
‘A.A. Catto calls the bank and makes the arrangements. They could be transmitted to the desk clerk who could hold them until we’re safely away.’
Nancy didn’t neglect to make sure of her own place on the airship.
Monk hesitated. He tilted back his fedora and scratched his head. Then he looked at A.A. Catto.
‘You agree to that?’
‘Anything, anything.’
Monk nodded.
‘Okay, do it, we’re wasting time.’
Reave let go of A.A. Catto. While she began desperately to punch out coordinates, he began to direct his men.
‘Huey and Jeff, you go down to the lobby. Stay hidden. When he comes in let him get past you, then shoot him in the back.’