Part 13 (1/2)
”Be careful, sir.”
”Always.”
Marina grabbed the phone and said, ”One other thing, Edward. I'll need a ceremonial knife for tonight. It needs to be elaborate with lots of sharp points and real jewels. Make sure the edge is razor sharp. The most important detail is a homing device hidden in the hilt. Can you put that together and have somebody run it out to us before the meeting?”
”I'll get Nancy to work on it, ma'am,” Edward said, ”but it will be a rush job. Maybe not up to our usual standard.”
”That's fine. Do the best you can as long as I get it in time.”
”Yes, ma'am.”
Chapter Nine.
Smythe felt like a new man. Ten hours of sleep, a hot shower, a shave, and a big meal had restored him. It was also nice to put on clean clothes, even if they weren't his own.
The ”safe house” had proved safe indeed. n.o.body had bothered him at all. If anybody lived on the floor below, he had heard no evidence of it. He could almost forget he was a fugitive.
Now he had to make one of the most important decisions of his life. He could run. With guns, money, and other supplies taken from the apartment, he could get pretty far. However, Ethel had made it clear that she would come after him, and that was a frightening prospect. The unnatural darkness in her eyes still haunted his dreams.
Being wanted for murder didn't help his situation. Smythe couldn't go back to his house. If he tried to use a credit card or access his bank accounts, the police would immediately know his location. He couldn't even turn on his cell phone. If he wanted to stay out of prison, he would have to live on the margin of society, a vagabond with no name. That didn't sound like fun.
He needed a friend, but he didn't have any that he could rely on in a crisis. He realized he was much better at ruining relations.h.i.+ps than keeping them.
He had no choice. He picked up the phone and dialed the number on the card that Ethel had given him.
”Dr. Smythe,” she said at once. ”I hope you're rested and feeling better.”
”Much,” he said. ”I suppose I should thank you for your hospitality.”
”My pleasure. Welcome to the Gray Spear Society.”
”The what?”
”That's us,” she said, ”and like everything else we do, our name is secret. Revealing it to a stranger is punishable by death.”
He suspected she was just trying to scare him. ”Come on.”
”I'm not joking.”
”How many people have you actually killed?”
”I lost count a long time ago. Thousands. Are you ready to work?”
”I never agreed to work for you,” he said.
”I don't need your agreement,” she said. ”Aaron and Marina are investigating a lead tonight. I want you to help them.”
”They're criminals.”
”They're fine warriors and the best teammates you could hope for. Regardless, I'm giving you an order. Don't begin your new career with insubordination, or it will quickly end.”
He frowned. ”You keep threatening me.”
”If you don't like to be threatened, that's fine. I won't do it again.”
Smythe heard the implied message clearly. The next time Ethel needed to chastise him, she would just kill him instead.
”What is the mission?” he said in a low voice.
”It's simple. We want to know who is responsible for the illness you call PRooFS.”
”Why?”
”Because it's interesting to us,” she said. ”We're concerned.”
”Who are you? What do you do?”
”The Gray Spear Society is a global organization that protects the Earth from G.o.d's enemies. It's possible PRooFS has a supernatural origin. If so, we must stop it.”
He took a deep breath. ”Do you know how crazy that sounds? PRooFS is a medical crisis, not a religious one.”
”I'm not going to give you an orientation lecture over the phone. We'll deal with that when you see our headquarters. In the meantime, just follow orders. Meet your new senior officers across the street from the Shroud of Steel Nightclub in Naperville at 9 PM sharp. They will give you additional instructions.”
He clenched his jaw.
”h.e.l.lo?” she said. ”I didn't hear a proper response to a commanding officer.”
”Yes... ma'am.”
Aaron looked across the street at the Shroud of Steel Nightclub. The entire front of the building was covered with sheets of rusty steel. There were no windows. Abstract images of guitars, drums, and screaming faces decorated the facade. He could tell music was playing because he could feel the drum beats through his feet. The sound level had to be deafening inside the club.
He checked his watch. ”9:05. The rookie is late.”
”Not a good start,” Marina said.
Both of them were dressed for the occasion. She wore a leather bustier that showed plenty of cleavage, matching leather shorts, and boots with spike heels. Underneath the leather, a body stocking made of elastic, red fishnet covered everything but her hands and head. Aaron had to admit she looked s.e.xy, even though the biker s.l.u.t style didn't appeal to him.
He also wore too much leather, but his was brown instead of black. Dangling chains and rings added extra weight, and he clanked when he walked. For once he was glad for the cool weather because it kept him from sweating and stinking.
Timothy Smythe came around a corner and approached with a scowl on his face. His right hand hovered near his belt buckle, suggesting he carried a gun under his jacket.
”h.e.l.lo,” Aaron said. ”Welcome to the team.”
Smythe looked like he wanted to puke. ”What are we doing here?” he muttered.