Heat (12 page)

The intruder could have been Skizz. Mary still owed him five hundred dollars for drugs she had taken before Gaia inspired her to drop the coke habit. Only Skizz wasn't exactly the type to bug someone's phone. He would never have been snooping around her apartment in the first place. He might kill her, sure, but the other stuff was too weird to be Skizz.

Mary also gave some thought to the
sex-for-points bozos
she had caught at the Village School. Two assholes from the gang had already tried to rape her. Now that Mary had helped to expose the ring, she was sure that they would love to get back at her. Except this thing with the case and the electronics wasn't exactly the kind of stunt that a bunch of dumb high school jocks would pull.

"I don't know," she confessed. "It's not like my family's rich or anything. I can't imagine what ..." Mary stopped. Maybe she
could
imagine. A memory drifted through her head: Aunt Jen on a crackling phone line.

"Did you think of something?" asked the government man.

Mary nodded. "Maybe. It might have something to do with this friend of mine. A girl named Gaia Moore."

"Gaia?" The man slowed the car and glanced over at Mary. "I know Gaia."

"You do?"

"More than know her. She's my niece."

Mary stared at the man behind the wheel. "You're Gaia Moore's uncle?" The idea excited her so much that she nearly forgot the pain in her leg. It was almost too good to be true. In fact, it almost seemed like it
couldn't
be true. She shot the man a doubtful glance. "Man, what are the odds?"

"Actually, it's not all that coincidental," Loki answered. "I came into town especially to check on Gaia. And her foster parents said she might be with you." The man cast another glance at Mary. There was a tense expression on his face. "So what makes you think that these people who were in your apartment have anything to do with my niece?"

Mary started to blurt out a response but realized

there were things she probably shouldn't say in front of Gaia's uncle. "Gaia told me something," she said carefully. "Something about her mom."

The man sighed. "Katia. Gaia told you about how she died." He steered the car through another right turn.

"Yeah."

"And did you share that information with anyone else?"

A twinge of pain ran up Mary's leg.
She twisted in her seat. "I told part of it to my aunt Jen. She works at the library. I thought she might be able to find out something that would help Gaia."

"Your aunt. Yes." Loki looked at her with a strange intensity. "Anyone else?"

"No." Mary peeked out her window. It seemed like they had been driving for a long time. "Are we almost at the police station?"

"Soon," said Loki. "You're sure you didn't tell anyone but your aunt?"

Mary nodded. "Only Aunt Jen." A medium-sized apartment building swung into view through curtains of blowing snow. "Hey!"

"What's wrong?" asked Loki.

"That's my building." Mary ignored fresh pain from her leg and brought her face close to the foggy side window. "We've been going around in circles."

"We have?" Loki pulled around a double-parked minivan. "I must have taken a wrong turn."

A tightness began to slowly squeeze
Mary's throat.
"What police station were you going to, anyway?"

"Actually," Loki replied, "I thought we should do something about your injuries before we went to the authorities."

"Are we going to a hospital?" asked Mary.

"Not necessary." Loki abruptly stopped the car in the middle of the street. He twisted and reached into the car's backseat.

Mary leaned away from him. "What are you doing?"

Loki pulled back a case. A small, leather case, sort of like the one Mary used to carry her flute in for band. Deftly Loki popped the catches at the side of the case and flipped it open.

"I have just the thing for your pain," he said.

Loki reached into the case, pulled out
a vial of cocaine,
and threw it to Mary.

ED'S ARMS HAD BEEN DOING LEG
duty for over a year, but he couldn't remember his shoulders ever being so tired. "Where are we going now?"

Deep Breaths

Gaia Moore marched ahead of him, her torn

sneakers crunching through the snow. "Back to the brownstone."

Ed groaned. "You can't mean your brownstone."

Gaia nodded without turning. "The one where I stay, yeah."

"But we've already been there," Ed replied. "And we've been to Mary's apartment, and back to the club, and to half a dozen local restaurants and made at least that many trips across the park."

Gaia stopped in her tracks.
She didn't say anything at first, but Ed could see her back moving in and out as she took deep, deep breaths.

Somehow I don't think this is going to be good,
Ed thought.

"We're going back because Mary might be there," said Gaia.

"I understand, but--"

Gaia spun around and stomped back to Ed. "What's your idea, huh? Where do you think she is?"

"I don't--"

"Because you know what I think?" said Gaia. "I think she's in trouble!" She leaned over Ed and slammed her hands down on the arms of his wheelchair. "I knew she was in trouble, but I didn't help her."

"You tried to," said Ed. He looked up at Gaia and shivered. There was enough tension in her to light half the city. "Look, I'm sure Mary's okay."

Gaia let out a breath that whistled through her teeth. "How the hell can you know that?"

MARY LOOKED THROUGH THE CURVING
side of the small glass vial. The powder inside was so white, so fine.

Loyalty

"Go ahead," said Loki. "You want it, don't you?"

Mary wanted to say no, but instead she nodded. "Yes," she said in a harsh, breathy voice.

She reached over and took the vial from his hands.
She did want it.
Mary wanted the rush, but more than that she wanted the energy and the feeling of being able to think so much better. "You're not really Gaia's uncle, are you?"

"I am." Loki started the car moving again and took a hard left. "Now, take your medicine like a good girl."

Electric wires. Mary felt like all her nerves had been replaced with tight, hot electric wires. She wanted the cocaine.
She needed it.


Mary ran her finger along the black plastic top of the vial. A few loose grains of powder stuck to her fingers. Want it. Need it.

"Take it," repeated Loki. "The sooner you're done, the sooner you can see Gaia."

Gaia.

Mary ran her finger over the glass one last time. Then she dropped the vial on the floorboard of the sedan, raised her foot, and crushed the little bottle under her heel.

"I promised I would stay straight." Mary ground the cocaine into the sedan's dark carpet.

"Promises are very important," said Loki. And then he swung his arm in
a lightning-fast backhanded slap
that drove his knuckles into Mary's mouth.

The blow was like an explosion. Mary's head snapped back. Incredible pain lanced through her mouth.

"Now," said Loki. His voice was flat calm. "Let's go over a few things again. Did you tell anyone?"

Mary raised a trembling hand to her mouth.
Her fingers came back covered in blood.


"Did you tell anyone?" said Loki.

He didn't raise his voice, but his tone left no doubt he expected an answer.

"No," Mary mumbled through her torn lips. "Nobody."

The second blow was blindingly fast.

Mary's head went back so hard, sparks ran across her vision.

"I already know you told your aunt," said Loki. "Isn't that right?"

"Yes," Mary cried. "Yes."

Loki nodded. "So you did tell someone," he said as

he turned the car around another corner. "And did you tell anyone else?"

"No."

"You're certain."

Mary nodded. "Yes." She sniffed. "Don't you know that already?"

"If you're referring to the devices I left at your home?" Loki shrugged. "Unfortunately, they don't always pick up everything."

"There was no one else."

Loki nodded. "For the sake of both you and Gaia, let's hope you're telling the truth."

LOKI STEERED THE BLACK SEDAN
around the corner. "Don't worry," he said. "We'll be getting out soon."

Loki VP

Mary sagged against the window. "And then what?"

Loki didn't answer. Instead he pulled the car over to the side of the road and parked. He left the engine at a low, smooth rumble. The windshield wipers continued to drive back and forth, clearing the heavy, wet flakes of snow.

It was time to end the threat posed by Mary Moss. Loki intended to not only ensure that the girl would

never share what she had learned about Katia's death but also to put an end to
Gaia's experiment in friendship.
When this was over, Gaia would never again dare to share her deepest feelings with anyone--except, of course, her dear uncle.

Loki reached into his pocket and pulled out a black stocking cap. "It's time to get out."

The girl looked at him suspiciously. "I don't suppose that means you're letting me go?"

Loki had no intention of letting Mary go free, but he knew well enough how a little hope could make it easier to keep a prisoner under control. "Come with me and answer a few questions. Then you're free to do as you please."

The expression on the girl's face was one of
mingled fear, doubt, and hope.
It was clear to Loki that she didn't really believe him, but it was just as clear that she desperately
wanted
to believe. "I thought you were going to kill me."

"Answer my questions, and I'll have no reason to kill you." He pulled the black mask over his face and got out of the car.

The heavy blanket of snow softened his footsteps as he circled the car. Loki checked the area to be sure that no observer was too close before opening the door. There was no one. He jerked open the door, letting in a swirl of snow.

The girl tumbled out and tried to stand. Loki looked down at her.

"Don't try to run," he said. He raised one side of his coat and revealed a heavy black pistol attached to a long tube.

"Silencer," mumbled Mary. "That's what the other thing was in the case."

"Come with me," said Loki. "I'd prefer not to use this if I don't have to."

Mary nodded. She began walking along the sidewalk in slow, small steps. Her feet slipped frequently in the snow.

Loki stayed close. "That's good," he said. "Keep moving."

Mary stopped and shook her head. "No," she said softly.

Loki was on her in one quick stride. He grabbed the front of her coat and pulled Mary toward him. "I said I would prefer not to use the gun. I didn't say I would hesitate."

"Are you really Gaia's uncle?" the girl asked.

"Yes." There was no harm in telling her anything now. The girl would never have the chance to spread her information.

"And after you kill me, what are you going to do to Gaia?"

Loki gave a tug on her coat. "I've already told you. Talk and you're in no further danger."

The girl gave a weak nod. She started to move again, but two steps down the sidewalk her knees folded, and she collapsed in the snow.

Loki took her by the arm and lifted her.
Mary dangled from Loki's hand like a doll.


He gritted his teeth. "Get up." Mary continued to hang limply from his hand. Loki removed the silencer and put it back into his pocket. He took the dark, heavy bulk of the Glock pistol and pressed the blunt barrel against Mary's back. "Answer my questions, and I'll set you free. Stay here and die."

Mary got her feet back under her and stood. She trembled in Loki's grip, but when he gave her a nudge with the gun, she began to walk.

Loki steered his captive along. "Her death was an accident."

Even in the dim light he could see the girl's eyes grow wide. "You killed her?"

"I loved her," said Loki.

He jerked on Mary's arm. They were in the midst of a small grove. Ordinarily they might have been visible from half the park, but the driving sheets of snow closed in around them like walls. Everything more than a dozen yards away was lost in
curtains of white.


"Stop here," said Loki. He released his grip on her. "Turn around and face me."

Mary slowly spun around. "You killed Gaia's mother."

Loki put his gloved hand in the girl's hair and shoved back her head. "It was an accident."

"Right, I believe you." Despite her awkward position Mary suddenly smiled. "So, who were you trying to kill?"

Loki took the Glock pistol and leveled it at Mary's forehead. "Gaia's father." His finger slipped inside the trigger guard.

He barely noticed the girl's right hand coming up. It wasn't until her hand was in front of his eyes that Loki realized he had been careless.

And then his face exploded in pain.

GAIA HAD READ THAT SOME BLIND
people developed a better sense of hearing. Or sense of smell. Or touch.

A Decent Snow

Maybe it was true; maybe it was nothing more than another urban legend. All Gaia knew was that she couldn't feel fear, but she could feel everything else. Sometimes she wondered if she felt them more than normal, frightened people.

At the moment
what she felt was rage.
Rage and frustration.