"Your gun doesn't help with all of them," stated Ara.
"You're right, it doesn't. It's why people here carry swords or other weapons. Or just use their fists. Something about the Hinge prevents guns from harming those beings. But if you step in close, use something powered by your own hands, then you can protect yourself."
"You want stay here?" asked Mei.
"We have a barracks on site," added Ara.
"No ma'am. I have a place of my own, but thanks. But you don't have to worry about me not showing up. I'll be here."
"I need go market. You take me. Ara, stay here with Magda." Mei started to walk over to her purse on a nearby counter. She smiled.
"I happy you here," she said.
Jebediah hesitated. "You have me, ma'am. But I don't think you understand what you're getting."
He looked at the mostly full soup bowl and picked back up his spoon.
Mei grabbed her purse and turned around. She paused.
In the space of the few minutes it took her to get her purse, Jebediah had finished off the entire bowl.
She stared for a minute.
"I know what you are," she said.
Drifting smoke from a large coal-fired grill parted across Jebediah and Mei. They stepped under an arched entryway to the Hinge's open-air market. Guitar music played with a passion underscored barkers yelling out impossible deals.
Shoppers from across the Hinge of all shapes and sizes moved among the crowded stands. People wearing fine watches and jewelry walked next to plain-clothed laborers without judgment or a second glance. All of them swayed to the timeless dance of merchants asking for too much and shoppers wanting to pay too little
Multi-colored handmade clothing was stacked alongside carved artwork in one stall. In the next stall over, someone sold homeopathic cures for impotency and overactive bowel syndrome, because you never wanted to cure one without the other. Across from there, lobsters, fish and more exotic animals swam or crawled around aquariums waiting for people who liked their seafood very, very fresh. All the stalls crowded together in tightly packed circles spreading outward from a center currently hidden from view.
Jebediah loomed over his much shorter ward, and they threaded through the milling crowd. His physical presence combined with the holstered gun openly carried at his side created space where they walked. It was owed to a combination of glowering intimidation and his reputation.
Pickpockets veered off to seek easier prey when his eyes, always moving across the crowd, caught their own. Gangs of thugs from the Warren with nothing better to do than glare at shoppers suddenly found other places to be. Members of the ardati closed ranks around the privileged class they'd escorted to find the latest organic, handmade, free-range goody.
Jebediah and Mei came to a stop in front of a fruit and vegetable stall. Mei picked through the greens with the same care a jeweler examines a diamond.
"So many people. All types of people, together here," she said, her eyes never leaving the broccoli she held up to the light.
Jebediah nodded, keeping his eyes moving. "It's the one place you see people from across the Hinge. Everyone finds something they want here. And, at least while they're here, they won't try to kill each other."
"I no understand."
"The Flash doesn't work here. Standing in the market is like not being on the Hinge. Anyone trying their abilities either fizzles out or finds themselves on the ground half-conscious. And the large houses won't have open conflict. Not here. Don't get me wrong, you'll get robbed if you're not careful, and there's the occasional fight. But, it's still one of the safest places on the island. It's a place of neutrality."
"Why no magic work here? What make everyone behave?" she asked.
"Walk with me. I'll show you."
She paid for the produce and they left the stand. Jebediah didn't offer to carry her bags and she didn't ask for his help. They both knew why his hands needed to be free. They walked toward the middle of the market. Surrounded by the inner ring of stalls and sitting at the very center of the Hinge itself was the source of the guitar music.
A man sat leaning back in an old, wide backed chair, his legs kicked up and over one of the chair's arms. He was draped in a knee length duster with its collar turned up to his ears. Spiky-red hair, the same color as his guitar strings, made his head look like it was on fire.
The music he created was louder and clearer than what should have been possible in the open air. His songs moved from old-school rock to modern music and all the points in between. And everyone inside the market heard him as if he were standing at their side.
The guitar he used was a wonder. The surface under the red strings rippled and flowed as if made of the ocean. Not just water, but the ocean itself. Radiating from its surface was sunlight filtered through deep waves. Whales and sea life of all type would swim across its face. It was as if you could peer into the center of the ocean. You could smell the salt of the sea and hear the echoes of all that lives within its deep recesses.
"Who is he?" Mei whispered.
"They call him Chord. He's never spoken to anyone and no one knows where he came from. And as far as anyone remembers, he's always been here. Day and night, through storms and heat, he sits in that chair and plays that guitar. And so long as he does, no one's Flash will work here. One of the big Houses tried to take over this space awhile back. Most of their guardsmen couldn't cross the border into the market. It was like their legs wouldn't move. The ones that got on property made it about five feet before they were launched straight into the air. For all I know, they went orbital and are circling the planet. No one's tried anything after that."
"He amazing," she said.
"Someone told me he's Poseidon, trapped on the Hinge and allowed to touch his ocean home only through that guitar. Others think he's an old rock star resurrected and made to play by whatever powers really own this place."
"And you?" Mei asked.
The bounty hunter smiled. "I think I don't worry as much when I'm here."
"He hot," observed Mei.
Jebeidah shrugged. "He's wearing a coat in the mid-day sun. I'm not sure I've ever seen him sweat though …"
"No. I mean sexy hot," corrected Mei.
Jebediah opened his mouth to say something, made a noise, then closed it again.
"I love musician," Mei continued. "They love long time. Strong tummies." She tilted her head and slowly nodded as if in thrall of a fond memory.
"You…y'know I'm probably not the right person to know or talk about that. I mean of course whatever you think I'm sure you're experienced, I mean not that you're experienced with a lot of people 'cause, well, you're a grandmother, and NOT that you're old or anything but …" He continued to stammer on for a few more minutes before seeing the smile on Mei's face.
"You're messing with me, aren't you?" he asked.
"No. I old, not dead," she replied.
Then her hand shot to her mouth with a mew of excitement. She walked to a nearby stall and grabbed what looked like a red bulb with green and white overlapping leaves across its body.
"Magda love!" she said, grabbing several and beginning to bag them.
"What are they?" Jebediah asked, grinning at her excitement.
"Pitaya."
The answer from a voice to their side. Jebediah turned and without thought shifted closer to Mei.
A tall, darkly gorgeous woman wearing a red form-fitting top with leather pants approached them. Her hand flipped away lustrous black hair then brushed some imaginary dust from her chest. She walked with the knowledge that she held all eyes at all times, sure and together and completely in control. The bodyguard next to her moved with the perfect balance of a fighter. His hands rested on two knife hilts jutting from scabbards at his hips. Some passers-by in the market inclined their head slightly to the pair, though whether in respect or fear, Jebediah couldn't tell.
Jebediah locked eyes with the man and let his hand drop to his gun. Could I draw and fire befo
re you cut me? The other man gave a tight smile as if reading his thoughts.
The man and woman stopped close enough to be heard but far enough away to feel safe.
"Those are wonderfully refreshing," the woman said, pointing to the fruit in Mei's hand. "A bit like kiwi, only lighter and sweeter. Oh, forgive me, my manners. My name is Shira."
She flashed a dazzling smile, then continued.
"It was just so funny, here I was looking for something to brighten up the drafty old house, and the market is positively aflutter with the infamous Mei shopping with none other than Jebediah Creek himself. So, of course, I just had to go see."
She looked Jebediah up and down in an appraising way and smiled again.
"Here you are indeed," she said, approaching the fruit stand.
"Your man stays there," Jebediah said. Shira's bodyguard raised the corner of his lip in a snarl and went to the balls of his feet. Jebediah responded by taking a step back and moving in front of Mei.
"Raja, enough," Shira said to the bodyguard. "It's just two girls talking for goodness sake. Besides, we should step lightly here. We've all heard the stories of Jebediah Creek. Deadliest man in the Hinge and all that …"
"Before me," corrected Raja. "Deadliest, before me."
Jebediah looked at the man in a new light. Raja Rakash, deadliest knifeman in the history of the Hinge.
You've left blades in men before their fingers made it to gun triggers, he thought.
"I mean, honestly, the guitar player wouldn't let anything happen here anyhow," Shira finished, then turned to Mei.
"My family's business has gotten so big, I suppose we're lumped in with all the other tiresome, troublemaking Houses. Being noticed is so difficult sometimes. It must be wonderful to be able to walk about without being recognized. To be small enough not to attract too much attention. I envy you that."
"What you want?" Mei asked in a flat tone.
"For us to be friends, of course. There are so few of us ladies able to influence the Hinge. Imagine what we can do together? I don't mean to brag, but associating yourself with my house carries so many advantages. You wouldn't believe how terribly some were treated before we took them under our wing. I mean honestly, what kind of people would we be if we let those less fortunate have their homes damaged or families hurt in any way?"
"Fine. We friends," replied Mei.
"Wonderful, wonderful! I'm so happy." Shira clapped her hands together. "Imagine the brunches we'll have together. Now that we're friends, and I'm so embarrassed to bring this up, but some of the charity that we do for others, well, it's quite expensive. Some have seen fit to give us donations to help offset those expenses, you understand. I'm certain we can come to an arrangement."
Mei nodded in understanding. "I know what you say. People like you at old home." Mei paused. "My family pay a lot. My family pay too much. I no pay for friends."
Shira gave a tight smile. "And if we can't be friends, where does that leave us?"
"It leave me alone. And it leave you alone."
"But us women—"
"Girl," said Mei.
"What?" Shira started, annoyed at the interruption.
"No woman. Girl. Wear too tight clothes look like hooker. Girl walk like own everything. No own me. You no woman. You girl."
"Old witch! I don't need my Flash to slap you down!"
Her hands bunched into fists and Jebediah pushed forward to block the blow. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw Raja's hand tighten and a blade begin to draw.
Jebediah quick drew his gun, sparing a fraction of a moment to wonder how the situation had gone bad so quickly. The gun and the knife swept up at the same moment …
And stopped on opposite sides of a wiry and dirty man who'd chosen this exact moment to step between them all. The man had one hand inside Mei's bag and the other on Shira's purse. Jebediah turned the gun barrel against the would-be thief's temple. On the other side, Raja traced his knife down the side of the man's scalp until it rested just over the beating vein at his neck. The thief's bladder released. A wet patch spread across his crotch and his legs started to shiver as if struggling to hold his weight.
"Wrong time, friend," Jebediah said to the thief, his eyes never leaving Raja's.
"Wrong people," Raja added, glaring back at the bounty hunter.
After what felt like an eternity, Shira spoke up.
"My apologies, sister. This heat has flared my temper. Let us part as colleagues. I'm certain we'll come to be friends in the future. Just as I've become friends with so many others. As I said, we're able to help them in many ways."
Shira grabbed a pitaya from the pile and threw loose change at the mustached owner of the stall. She looked down at Mei and met her eyes.
"I mean, it's not as if you can just live in this market." She reached up and gently pushed aside Raja's knife from the man's neck. The thief found the strength to stagger away as quickly as his failing legs would carry him.
Shira twisted Raja's hand about so his blade faced upwards, then cut the fruit in half, exposing its red flesh with small dark seeds. She took half for herself then gave the other to Raja. Then she pulled at his arm and led him away while taking a bite. Shira paused for a moment and turned back.
"Did you know pitaya comes from a cactus? I think it's remarkable when something so useful comes from such a dirty, humble beginning." She gave Mei a meaningful look, then walked away.
Raja spared a final glance at Jebediah. The bounty hunter tapped a finger on his gun in response.
Mei started bagging the rest of the fruit. Her previous joy was lost.
After a moment she turned to Jebediah.
"We call different name in Vietnam," Mei said, holding up one of the red fruits. She looked at Shira's departing back before speaking again.
"We call it Dragonfruit."
They started back to her home.
Mei stared at both bodyguards from her armchair. Tension was etched in Jebediah's face. But something else shone through Ara's eyes. Pride, perhaps? Jebediah couldn't tell.
The other bodyguard had listened quietly while Mei told her what happened in the market. Jebediah was pacing the length of the room while Ara leaned against a wall, head inclined slightly toward the ground and arms crossed over her chest. The bounty hunter was the first to speak.
"You have the money. Pay them. This whole thing goes away," he said.
"And then what?" Ara responded. "You think they'll stop? She just called that vindictive bitch, Shira, a hooker." Ara laughed and flashed a smile. "I wish I could have been there."
"You know her?" Jebediah asked.
"We've run into each other before. She's the girl that gets that one thing, not because she wants it, but because you do. The one that smiles to your face while planning to ruin you. And she's Flashed. She can project a crimara."
Ara pushed off the wall, walked over to Jebediah and looked up at him.
"You really want to pay them?" she asked.
"I want to stop something from starting," he replied.
Ara glanced over to Mei, still sitting quietly in her chair. "I think it's possible this is already started."
He looked at Mei.
When the old woman finally spoke, they both listened intently.
"This most nice place I ever have. Magda, she have own room. I have big bed, sleep good. I have place keep cold food and hot water come from bath. I no want fight, all the time too much fight. But I no want give up either. My family … too much …" she struggled with her English to find the right word.
"Sacrifice," she said, finally. Her gaze shifted to the kitchen with an unreadable expression. "Too much sacrifice."
Mei fixed both bodyguards with a gaze that invited no further debate.
"I pay you protect. Now, you protect," she said.
Jebediah and Ara looked at each other.
It was Jebediah who finally spoke. "We're going to need more than just us two. We're going to need a house guard. People with militar
y training."
Mei and Ara both smiled.
"I know where find," Mei replied.
Chapter 9
"I'm Lieutenant John Riley, USMC, retired, sort of. I heard you all could use some guns?"
The soldier was surrounded by ten other armed men, all that remained of 3rd Marine regiment, 2nd battalion, rifle platoon. They formed a half-circle with Lt. Riley in the middle.
The soldier beamed an easy smile directly ahead to Jebediah. Ara stood at the bounty hunter's side, pretending not to notice the speculative way several of the soldiers were looking at her.
Lt. Riley looked around at Mei's home behind Jebediah, then peered up to the top of the small valley the house sat within.
"Boy, it's pretty here. I have to tell you, we were all wondering if Mei would call us. After what happened with her son, we weren't sure she'd want anything to do with us," said Lt. Riley.
"She knows none of that was your fault, Lt. Riley," replied Ara.
"Call me Johnny," he cut in with another smile he likely wanted to be charming.
"Sure … Johnny," she replied slowly. "Mei needed some time before she saw you guys again."
"It's really okay, ma'am," replied Johnny. "Some of the guys left the Hinge soon as we got here. They couldn't get away fast enough from the rest of us, I suppose. Too many crazy memories. Problem was how much the world outside had changed. Most had no family or friends left, and fewer had a way to earn a living besides what the Marine's taught us. Don't get me wrong, the Hinge is all kinds of crazy, but least here we can sell our skills. At least here, we're around friends."
The soldiers standing around Johnny nodded their agreement.
"What was your last job?" asked Jebediah.
"Security work for some big wig in the Caliber. More show than anything. The guy made us wear suits and sunglasses, and run around his car like he was the President or something. He cut us a few weeks ago, and we've been idle since."
"How idle?"
"You mean, are we still frosty?" asked Johnny. Jebediah nodded in response.
"We practice every day. Physical conditioning, rifles, hand-to-hand, patrol exercises. You'll find us ready. I'm just not sure what you need us for. Mei's just about the sweetest person in the world. And if you're who I think you are, I have to believe you can handle whatever comes up."
Jebediah's Crime: A Heroic Supernatural Thriller (The Hinge Series Book 1) Page 9
