#2 Shades of Gray: From Moscow, With Love

by Kristie Lynn Higgins

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chad

  5:45 A.M...

  Hellenistic Sector, Residential Vicinage...

  A few cars passed their taxi as they made their way back home to Nexus Apartments. The driver dropped them out front, and Kim rang the gate bell and within a minute, a security guard met them, opened the gate, and escorted them to the front. Another security guard buzzed them through, and they walked in.

  "Welcome back, Ms. Griffin and guest," the security guard at the desk said as he marked down their arrival on a H.H.C.

  "Thanks." Kim stopped at the desk.

  Kat offered her hand to the second security guard then to the one who escorted them in. "Hi, I'm Kat."

  The two men shook her hand.

  "I'm Marc and this is Henry," the second and younger of the two guards said.

  "Hello." Henry tipped his cap to Kat after shaking her hand.

  "Marc, was there any mail from yesterday?" Kim asked.

  "No, but someone did leave a letter."

  "Oh." Kim held out her hand for it. "From whom?"

  "He didn't say, and the letter is for Ms. Kat."

  "Me? Really?" She took the envelope. "Thanks." Kat examined it, finding nothing written on the outside.

  "Who in Tartarus knows you're here?" Kim questioned as she wondered if that woman was keeping something from her.

  There was only one way to find out who it was from, so Kat opened the envelope and read it as she headed for the elevator.

  Kimberly's view...

  "Are you going to answer me?" I follow her. "Hey! I'm talking to you!"

  That woman's ignoring me, and I could strangle her where she stands. I don't like that she's keeping secrets, and maybe she isn't a victim as she puts on, but maybe she's... I can go on like this all day in my thoughts, but I don't have the time. I need to find out who sent the letter.

  Katharine's view...

  I pretend not to see her glare at me as if Kimberly will twist my arm behind my back and pressure me into answering her. I have more important things to worry about and continue reading the letter after we enter the cab. I'm still reading it when we arrive on the thirty-first floor, and I read it again by the time we arrive at Apartment H.

  Kimberly's view...

  I snap, "Door, unlock,"

  "Voice recognized as..."

  "Mute," I snap again, interrupting it as I take my frustration out on everything around me.

  It must detect the stress in my voice for it questions me, "Is everything all right? You sound..."

  "I'm fine, and I said mute!" I command.

  For Ares' sake! Now my apartment's ignoring me.

  Katharine's view...

  Her outburst doesn't phase me as I grip the letter. I find out that there's no need to tell my friend Chad that Preacher died; he already knows. I wish I had been there to console him.

  End Katharine's view...

  They entered the small entry and then Kim headed for the kitchen and Kat the living room.

  After a few more minutes, Kim couldn't take it anymore and questioned, "Well? Are you going to tell me who it's from?"

  "What?" Kat mumbled as she turned and faced her.

  "Haven't you been listening? I've been asking you over and over. Who sent the letter?"

  "Chad," Kat said as she changed her mind about sitting on the couch and went and stood by the table in the kitchen.

  "Is he a boyfriend of yours?"

  Kat shook her head, answering Kim's question and read the note for a third time. She folded the letter, removed her backpack from around her shoulder, and pulled out the Bible.

  Kim stared at her as she controlled the urge to scream like an angry banshee. That woman wouldn't give her a straight answer, and she was about ready to choke it out of her. She demanded, "Who's Chad?"

  Kat set the book on the table and rubbed her hand over its white leather cover. "Chad's a boy I know." She traced its worn gold lettering with her finger. "He hung out with me and Preacher."

  She remembered Preacher was that guy friend of Kat's who was murdered. Her face softened for a moment as she asked, "What does the letter say?"

  "Chad wants me to know that Preacher's funeral is today. He also wants me to know he misses me. He still doesn't understand why I left the Kitchen and Wayfaring Lane. He wants to know why I left him and Preacher." She shook her head, wanting so badly to cry. "He never understood how unsafe it was to have me around and that I put them in danger."

  "You do know you can't go to the funeral. We need to track down the lead we have. We need to find Adam Greenhouse, so we're going to Genesis Arboretum."

  Katharine's view...

  Kimberly's probably right. I peer at her then turn my gaze away. If I went, I'll be putting him in danger. I think about how fond he was of Preacher and how he's alone now, and I don't want to do that to him. I don't want to abandon Chad and force him to say good-bye to Preacher on his own.

  No, I can't, but I also don't want to argue with Kimberly. I need to think it over, so I tell her, "I'll be on the roof." I grab the book and start for the door.

  "You can't go," Kimberly insists. "You need to put personal things aside and focus on what's important. We need to find out who murdered my mom."

  I don't respond, pause at the door, try to think of something to say, decide against it, and leave. I hate arguing with Kimberly; it's better to drop it for now.

  Sometime later...

  The Nexus Apartments' rooftop is flat and surrounded by a four foot metal railing consisting of three bars. A raven flies above me, and I glance at it. I stand at the edge that faces the parking garage. There's less to see at the parking garage and less to distract me. I look to Preacher's Bible and speak to him as if he can hear my thoughts.

  I miss you. I feel as though your death is my fault. I hold the book close. I know Topa had you killed. He hired an Illicit Closer to do the job. My mind flashes back to an alley off of Wayfaring Lane as I hold his cold body in my arms. I can't get that night out of my head. A deep heart-rending sorrow devastates me. You were the one who pulled me out of the darkness. You made my life worth living, and now I only have Chad, and he only has me, so I can't leave him alone.

  The raven caws overhead and distracts me for a moment. Kimberly told me she heard Topa tell one of his henchmen you were interfering with sales of a narcotic called Sunna Snaps. She told me that's why he hired the Illicit Closer. Still... I shut my eyes. If I had never met you, I feel as though you would still be alive. But I'm selfish, so very selfish. If I could change things, I would still want to meet you. I would still want to be in your life, and I would want you to hold me. I walk away from the ledge, sit in the middle of the roof, and fondly think of Preacher. Most people who saw you thought you were a homeless man. It was the way you dressed. You always wore worn clothes and those awful glasses of yours. They were broken, and you had them taped in the front. You refused to buy a new pair. You came from a wealthy family, so it wasn't about the credits. You said they meant something to you. You said you couldn't bear to throw them away. I rest my hand on the cold concrete. And then came Chad. You first introduced us about a year ago. I can clearly remember it was a Thursday. It had only been a week since I awoke in Etna Toys Plant and Warehouse. I didn't know who I was and Un-Men were hunting me. I was so alone in the world. I guess you thought me and Chad could help each other.

  End Katharine's view...

  Almost a year earlier...

  31 A.D.C...

  October 29...

  Hellenistic Sector, Old Business Vicinage...

  "Kat."

  Preacher walked to her and had a boy with him. Preacher found her lying on a cot, one of about a hundred in a shelter known as the Kitchen, and Kat turned his way when he called her name. He stopped at the end of her bed and placed his hands on the boy's shoulders.

  "I'd like you to meet Chad. He's also new to Wayfari
ng Lane."

  Chad wore a worn, burnt-orange, hooded sweat shirt and blue jeans. His brown hair was unkempt and dirt covered his face. The boy's brown eyes mirrored her own; they looked lost and alone.

  "Hello, Chad." Kat sat up and stood, offering her hand. "Nice to meet you."

  The boy about twelve hesitated then shook her hand. "Hey."

  "I've assigned Chad the cot next to yours." Preacher motioned to a bed. "You guys can watch out for each other."

  Chad threw a duffle bag on the empty cot.

  "I'll check on you two later. I have to go make sure lunch has started. I think the Kitchen would grind to a halt without me." Preacher started off. "Kat, Chad's a very smart kid. Ask him about the workings of Noir. He knows a lot." He headed for the food prep area.

  "So," Kat started. "You study a lot?"

  "Not really. I don't go to school, but I like to read things on my H.H.C., and I remember everything I read."

  "Wow, that's amazing?"

  "Do you have any special talents?" Chad asked.

  Kat glanced at the backpack leaning against her bed that had her Beretta resting inside it. "Umm..." she said. Surely there was something else she was good at besides shooting things. Even if she was, Kat didn't remember, so she told him, "I have very good aim."

  His eyes widened. "Really?"

  "Yes."

  "Show me." He searched through his duffle bag. "Here, this is a piece of putty. It'll stick to anything." Chad glanced around the room. "See that sign over there?"

  "The one that says Kitchen about twenty feet away?"

  "Yeah, that one. Hit it with this putty."

  "Okay." She took the piece, removed sunglasses from her backpack, and put them on. Kat did this to hide the Ult L-E. She focused on the target as the e-field of her body altered and her eyes glimmered like sapphire. "I'll hit the dot of the letter i." Kat threw the putty, arching it so the piece wouldn't nail anyone and hit the dot dead on.

  Chad squinted. "Wow, that's cool." He ran over to the sign, climbed a chair, reached up on his toes, removed the putty, and ran back. "But can you do it again? Try it."

  She took the piece, threw it, and hit the dot.

  "That's amazing." His brown eyes widened with excitement. "Are you like some super hero?"

  Kat chuckled. "No, I'm just like you." She sat on her bed and removed the sunglasses after she felt the Ult L-E had dissipated.

  "Why did you wear those?" He pointed to the glasses. "It isn't bright in here."

  "It's a secret. Maybe I'll tell you about it someday." Kat patted her bed for him to sit. "Now, let me test your abilities. Hmm..." She put her finger to her chin. "What question? I know. Preacher tells me water is rationed on the Dark Half of the planet."

  Chad rubbed his hands together. "Yeah, Noir distributes Water Ration Cards among most of the populace, and the cards allow each person two liters of water per day. Whatever amount isn't used accumulates on a card and can be used as credits." He reached into his duffle bag and pulled out a candy bar. "I was very careful how much water I drank the last few days and had enough credits to buy two chocolate bars. You want a piece?"

  "Chocolate... I love chocolate."

  Chad removed the paper wrapper, opened the foil, and broke off two squares. He handed one to her. "You want to hear more?"

  "Sure." She bit into the piece.

  "Those with a work ID number carry a P-Ration Card. P for productive part of society, and those like us unfortunate enough not to find work or find legitimate work are issued D-Ration Cards. D for drain on economy."

  Kat removed her card from her back pocket. "It does say D-Ration." She licked chocolate from her fingers.

  "P-Ration Cards are given an extra allowance of water for bathing and house hold cleaning. D-Ration Cards are given these large disposable wipey towels." He reached into his duffle bag and pulled out a sealed white plastic bag. "A bath in a bag."

  "Yes, I have a few of those. They're not as nice as a shower."

  Chad nodded, thought for a moment, and questioned, "Preacher said we're supposed to look out for each other. Are you really going to look out for me? Be there when I need you?"

  The present...

  Nexus Apartments' rooftop...

  His question echoed through her mind.

  "Yes, Chad." Kat stood, walked back to a different part of the railing, and glanced over the edge at Zeus Park across the street. "I'm going to Preacher's funeral." She went inside. "I'll be there for you." She dreaded the task ahead. "Now to convince Kimberly to let me go."