“Awww. That’s so sweet,” Katie replies, touching the serial killer’s wrist. She smiles at the way he seems unsure of what to do next, the direction of their interaction obviously more in her hands. “You’re kind of cute, so we can see what happens. The two of us will have plenty of time together once you agree to join my organization. If you wish to remain freelancers and do this as a monthly favor then I’m satisfied with that too. After all, far be it for me to prevent others from finding their path. I think that makes sense.”
“We’re more than willing to be a medicine supplier for you, but I have an important job to do first,” Cassidy states as she moves to the edge of her chair. Expecting the other woman to draw a weapon, she is relieved to see that Lloyd is keeping Katie calm with a gentle palm massage. “Before you try to offer a better deal or threaten us, this is a personal journey. My mother wished for her ashes to be thrown off the Golden Gate Bridge, so I broke Lloyd out of prison as a bodyguard. At the time, it made more sense than paying people to help me and risking abandonment in the wilderness. Worse would be left alone in Nebraska, which I’m sure you understand. Anyway, I’d be more than happy to come back to help you. It’s just that I don’t want to make my mother wait.”
“Perfectly understandable,” Katie declares, twisting Lloyd’s thumb until he releases her hand. Clapping over her head, she is surprised that nobody comes to clear the table. “I’m sure you have need of supplies, so I can pay you for what you are willing to give right now. From the inventory that I was sent, I’d say some-”
The sound of gunfire erupts from outside and Katie curses while running to the nearest window. She can see people escaping into a fortified bomb shelter, none of those retreating having any experience with combat. Unable to see the fighting that is taking place near the front of the mansion, she angrily hurries out the door. Cassidy and Lloyd remain in their seats, neither one sure if they should be getting involved or not. With a shrug, they grab a few biscuits and sip at their beers while getting comfortable in their chairs.
“You two want to give me a bloody hand!?” Katie shouts from the hallway. The woman returns with her skirt removed to reveal black stockings, denim shorts, and an array of guns strapped to her legs and hips. “Move your arses to the roof and back me up. You can’t make a deal with a dead woman and there’s a good chance the Chicagoans will shoot you too. The person who kills the most enemies gets a special prize. Come on, yanks!”
“How do we keep getting involved in shit like this?” Cassidy asks as she draws her handgun and trudges after the warlord.
“I’m more confused about why she’s going to the roof when the fight is on the ground.”
“Probably an armory for us to get better equipped.”
“Do you really think a woman like her would have something so mundane?”
“What the else could be up there?”
******
“Are those fucking howitzers and a fucking mini-gun?” Cassidy asks as they step onto the front balcony. She stares at the three weapons with their barrels over the railing, several pedals and switches built into the ground between them. “That doesn’t seem like a smart idea. I mean, I know the howitzers are small enough to fit up here, but the force of the shots would destroy this place. This can’t be safe.”
“I had my engineers reinforce the building to accommodate my toys,” Katie answers, moving to the edge of the balcony. She flicks a switch on the underside of the railing and the gentle hum of a generator rolls from the floor. “They even made my command center usable by a single person. Pedals and buttons to reload as well as one to open up the refrigerator stashed in the floor. The mini-gun gets a little hot, which means the user can get thirsty. Reminds me that I should change into a real shirt instead of the dress top. Please take stock of our situation while I get into something more expendable. No peeking, Mr. Tenay.”
Lloyd salutes their temporary commander, noting that she leaves the reloaded shotgun sticking out of the curtain. With Cassidy practically drooling over the heavy artillery, the serial killer looks out over a parking lot and several long buildings. He can see the tops of trees from a park or forest beyond the open space, which is where most of the gunfire is coming from. Jeeps with mounted machineguns come into view for a brief moment, the vehicles swerving onto the road and then back out of sight. People in bulletproof vests and helmets are swarming toward Katie’s soldiers, the local fighters using cement-filled cars for cover. Several of the defenders duck into open manholes and use the tunnels to reach new positions, their sudden reappearance typically taking out one or two enemies before they have to hide again. Lloyd can see that one of the Chicagoan squads is about to break through to the edge of the mansion’s property. A mine goes off and sends the invaders flying, most of them never getting up or scrambling away on what few limbs they have left.
“Those greedy bastards keep trying to overthrow me,” Katie declares, returning in a sleeveless Union Jack shirt. She has a sheathed knife on the side of her bowler, which makes the hat lopsided on her head. “We used to have an alliance, but a new leader decided it would be more cost effective to kill me. Probably because he wants the plant and is angry that I keep sending raiders after his personal supply units. Not that I keep any of it. All I take from that bastard is given to the rebel factions in his territory. So now you can see that I’m the good guy in this, which means I’m well within my rights to blast away at the goons he keeps ordering to my doorstep. Unless these are from the gang union who I’ve been messing with lately out of boredom. Nope, those aren’t them. So I’m still the good guy.”
“I call dibs on the big toys,” Cassidy announces, putting on a pair of purple and black earmuffs. Reaching over her head, she pulls down a periscope that will help her aim the howitzers over the buildings. “Leave me out of your competition. These babies will make things too unfair. Looks like a squad is getting through your front door. Keep them off my ass while I handle everyone else.”
“You can’t call dibs on someone else’s weapons,” Katie argues before the blonde adjusts one of the howitzers and fires. The mortar sails over one of the warehouses and everyone can hear the explosion of a jeep. “Wow. You’re like some kind of firearms savant. Unless you’ve used one of these before.”
“I had a boyfriend who liked big weapons.”
“So he . . . you know.”
“We didn’t stay together long enough to find out.”
“Probably for the best. Guess it’s me versus you, Mr. Tenay.”
Having found a weapon locker, Lloyd swings a sharpened sword and checks a fully loaded nail gun that one of the engineers left on the balcony. Doing a few stretches, he joins Katie in the middle of the roof and blows a kiss to the warlord. She shakes her head at his gear while making sure all of her weapons are loaded and the safeties are off. When they hear someone on the other side of the locked door, Lloyd casually walks forward and jams his sword through the wood. A surprised gurgle and several screams erupt from the enemies followed by the sound of a short retreat down the stairs. Freeing the blade, the grinning killer nods his approval and shakes some of the blood onto the floor. The balcony shakes from the howitzer taking out another jeep before Cassidy moves to the mini-gun and fires into the approaching soldiers.
“I’m already ahead,” he mentions with a smirk. The gunshot from the warlord’s pistol makes his ears ring, the bullet passing through the hole in the door to take out another of their enemies. “So what prizes are on the line? I’d start listing stuff, but I doubt we have much time to be silly.”
“If you win, I’ll give you a kiss on the lips, my darling knight,” Katie says over the sound of a bulletproof shield rising behind Cassidy. The blonde is whooping and cheering, the joy of using such big weapons overriding the acknowledgement that she is killing people at the request of a warlord she just met. “Reminds me of my first time. Now I’ll give you a kiss on the cheek if I win, but you’ll also have to be my manservant for a day.”
“As long as both kisses involve tongue, I’m fine with whoever wins.”
“Then we have a deal.”
“Time to get our kill on.”
“Interesting catchphrase. I like it.”
Lloyd and Katie flank the door, moving far enough away to avoid getting hit by any shrapnel from the predictable breach. They are mildly amused that their enemies pick the lock and kick the flimsy barrier open. With an impish smile, Lloyd puts his sword in the way and slams the door back into the face of the first soldier who stumbles back through a few seconds later. Katie takes the man out with a shotgun blast to the throat, which sends his head flying back into the mansion. Nails are fired into legs as the Chicagoans rush onto the balcony, but they stop their advance at the unexpected sight of the heavy artillery. They are violently snapped out of their stupor by Lloyd beheading one of the soldiers and Katie unloading a clip into another enemy’s groin.
Armed with pistols and machineguns, the invaders expected to make short work of the two defenders. Instead, the viciousness of the gleeful psychopaths throws the barely trained men and women in disarray. Feet are impaled with nails and helmets are knocked off, which leaves the soldiers open to pointblank shots to the face and throat. More enemies run onto the balcony, many of them already wounded from racing through Cassidy’s barrage. The sounds of fighting on the lower floors mean those foolish enough to come upstairs are trapped and all they can do is push forward in the hopes of taking out their main target.
Running out of ammunition, Katie repeatedly grabs the nearest person by the arm to twist the gun-holding limb toward another enemy and taking a single shot. When she sees a large handgun that she wants, the warlord draws the keen knife on her bowler and slices the other woman’s fingers off to claim the weapon. Using both hands, she fires at a man sneaking up on Lloyd and lets the kickback aim her next shot over her shoulder. Knowing someone is behind her, Katie fires and hears someone curse as their nose is blown off. Finding the power of the gun too much for her aching shoulders, she flips it into her other hand and bashes a nearby enemy in the face. With a shrug, she steals the man’s machinegun and finishes reloading it. Letting Lloyd keep the other soldiers busy, Katie hurries to the doorway and fires into the mob that is coming up the stairs. She ducks back onto the balcony to avoid return fire, one of the bullets clipping her leg.
Not wanting to lose the competition, Lloyd continues ducking around the tightly packed soldiers. Being in such close quarters and moving quickly, he gets his enemies to shoot each other more often than they graze him. The insane tactic has left him with several superficial cuts and bruises, but nothing that hurts enough to slow the killer down. He eventually whittles the attackers down to two men, one of which he groin kicks over the balcony railing. The last soldier moves his gun, but it is blocked by the sword and his shots fly harmlessly into the distance. The nozzle of the nail gun is shoved into the man’s mouth before the trigger is rapidly pulled and he drops at Lloyd’s feet.
“Any left out there?” the killer asks as he joins Katie near the door. A grenade rolls through the entrance, but the pair kick it back down the stairs. “My foot was in front, which means those kills are mine. Puts me at . . . I lost count.”
“I knew I forgot to do something,” the warlord replies while lying down. She crawls and stretches out of the doorway to fire careful bursts at the back of the retreating enemies. “Looks like this attempt is dying down. Means I have a month of peace around here. I’d say these guys are like punctual cockroaches, but they’re too bloody stupid to compare to insects. How’s our friend doing with the big guns?”
“At this point I think they’re engaged and discussing children,” Lloyd replies as the sounds of gunfire die down. Two more blasts with the howitzers go off before the battle ends and Cassidy hits a pedal to drop the shield. “What are we going to do about our competition? Since neither of us kept score, I assume it’s a tie.”
Katie kisses him hard on the lips, the pair oblivious to the bodies that surround them. “Let’s just say you’re not the only one with a crush. I loved the way you moved and got them to shoot each other. The use of the nail gun at the end was simply artistic. Makes me wonder what other things you’re creative with.”
“I once beat a man to death with a ream of paper. Though I’m only sticking with the topic of killing because I don’t know for sure if you’re talking about sex,” the grinning man states, leaning in for another kiss. He sighs and pouts when his forehead is tapped by the woman’s machinegun. “Fine. I won’t get greedy. Kind of like the teasing anyway. Guessing you want us to help clean this mess up.”
“I have specialists for that, so we’ll be going to the circus for a few days. It’s in Peru, which is LaSalle’s twin city and part of my territory,” the warlord replies while examining her blood-soaked clothes. Claiming the periscope, she watches the last of the Chicagoans retreat into the distance. “We’ll settle our business and restock you before we head out. That way you can continue on your journey after the celebration. Though I do hope you stay for a little while longer. Both of you are rather interesting and I feel we’ve barely gotten to know each other. Not a good thing considering we’re going to be working together.”
“True, but how is there a circus with the Guardians running around?” Cassidy asks, her bangs sticking to her scarred forehead. Even with her pea coat removed, the heat from the three weapons has caused her to be covered in sweat. “Last I heard, they freed all the circus animals and killed the owners within the first year. Please don’t tell me you have a war going on with them too. Lloyd and I have had more than enough run-ins with Guardians on this trip. It’s like we’re cursed to keep bumping into them.”
“Nothing to worry about,” Katie replies, accepting a cup of tea from a maid that has creeped up the steps. She cringes at the terrible temperature, but is still thankful that the young woman held her kitchen post during the attack. “Besides, I never said anything about animals being at this circus.”
*****
The drive to Peru is no more than fifteen minutes, which is mostly because Katie’s new chauffeur has yet to memorize the local roads. She is about to punish him when she remembers it is his first day on the job, the man’s predecessor having been killed in the fight. By the time they reach the old Peru Mall, Cassidy and Lloyd have dreamed up many horrific sights that are awaiting them. Their imaginations are driven wild by Katie’s playful descriptions over the walkie-talkie, which she occasionally ends with an amused chuckle. Wearing a slinky dress that is slit up the left side and a leather jacket, the warlord looks like she is going out to a club instead of a circus. She is a little disappointed in her guests wearing their regular clothing, Lloyd trying to appease her by wearing a shirt with a British superhero team on it.
The two vehicles park in reserved spots near the main entrance, a band of children approaching to beg for arcade coins. Katie drops a bag of the tokens at their feet while Cassidy hands over one of the rolls she keeps for such a situation. The kids look at Lloyd for more, but the serial killer can only show that his pockets are empty while avoiding eye contact. He is more interested in the large crowd of visitors and vendors who have come to do business and indulge in the circus. The four anchor stores have been painted to resemble tents, each one adorned with posters that have been vandalized so much that they are unreadable. Cheers can be heard from inside and the sound gets louder as they push through the other attendees. They make slow progress until Katie takes the lead and fires a shot into the air, everyone getting out of the way to let the warlord through. Claiming a few skewers of what her companions hope is beef, she leads them into the largest of the entertainment areas.
Sections of the upper floors have been removed to allow some of the acts to work high above the audience. Long ribbons, rings, and other hanging objects are there for the performers, most of them working without a net. There are inflatable cushions on the ground floor to save them from falls, but there is always the risk that they will miss o
r bounce into the crowd. Square sections have been cleared for entertainers who demonstrate acts of either great strength or incredible flexibility. Each of the performers nods their head to Katie when she arrives to show their act to Cassidy and Lloyd. A table of food has been set up on a cordoned off dais after word of Katie and her guests spread ahead of them. Looking forward to some rest after so many fights and their exhausting journey, the two travelers relax behind the velvet rope and watch the aerial display.
“I remember seeing something like this when I was a kid,” Cassidy mentions, admiring the grace of a woman suspended by thick ribbons. Wiggling her fingers like an excited child, she carefully chooses several chocolates from a box. “It’s been too long since we got to relax and enjoy ourselves. Even in Cleveland, we had to move quickly because of the . . . Shit! I forgot about the Half-Dead chasing us.”
“Just had to ruin the moment,” Lloyd says, popping one of his pills. The unlabeled medicine and a single bottle of aspirin is all they are keeping, the rest having been traded for fuel, a lifetime pass through the territory, and fresh food. “I wouldn’t worry about it. Next time we meet up with that thing, I’ll tear it apart. That threat would have been better, but I’m not sure if Half-Deads have all of the parts I’d consider repositioning.”
Cassidy pulls out an empty sandwich bag to stash some candy for the road, her eyes glaring at her grinning companion. “For the last time, you are not fighting it. Even if you could hurt the Half-Dead, it’s radioactive. Not so much that you can’t go near it, but its touch burns and enough contact will make you sick before you could finish the job. I’m sorry, Katie, but I don’t want to bring that monster down on your head.”
“Guess our time together is coming to a quicker end than I expected,” Katie replies, raising her glass of wine. An intricate trapeze act steals her words, the entire crowd holding their breath until the performers land safely on a secure ledge. “A toast to our future endeavors, which I hope are plentiful and profitable. We may only be making a deal for medicine now, but I’d like to find other areas for us to explore together. Not that I want to contain you. Just know that you two will always have a home here.”
Crossing Bedlam Page 17
