The Girl and the Clockwork Crossfire

by Nikki Mccormack

  A figure stepped out from the wall. “Hello, little rat.”

  Bennett.

  A few seconds ago, finding Bennett first had seemed a good plan. Suddenly she didn’t feel so comfortable running into the hired killer first, not in this dark room with no witnesses.

  Maybe she’d misjudged him. He reached out and flicked a switch on the wall. The sudden light stung her eyes, but his would have to adjust as well. They both blinked in the light, then she noticed the large knife he held unsheathed in his right hand.

  She glanced at the door behind her. Could she outrun him?

  Bennett’s game grin told her he didn’t think she could. “I didn’t think you’d have the nerve to show your face around here again, but this isn’t the first time you’ve surprised me, is it?”

  “I need to speak to Thaddeus.”

  Bennett smirked and took a couple of long, sauntering strides toward her. “I seem to recall him not wanting to talk to you again if you didn’t meet his deadline.”

  “I think he’ll change his mind.”

  He touched his fingertip to the point of the dagger as though testing its lethality while he swung his leg around in another exaggerated, lazy stride forward. “Seems you need to change my mind first.”

  Somehow those few long-legged strides had eaten a substantial chunk of the distance between them. She moved one leg back, ready to pivot and run.

  “You’d make your boss very happy if you brought me to him with my new offer.”

  He chuckled. “That’d be a sound contention, if making the boss happy were my biggest concern, but I’m not really the loyal, devoted lapdog type.”

  She shifted her weight on to the back leg.

  He sheathed the knife then, and she almost dared to relax a little until he drew out a pistol and her skin flushed with the heat of renewed fear.

  “How ‘bout I just shoot you here and leave the mess for the Tower staff to clean up?”

  Macak bounded out then from where he had been hidden alongside the wall and leapt up to her shoulders so suddenly she nearly cried out in surprise. The cat bumped her cheek with his head as he took up his usual place there then turned to stare at Bennett with his raised pistol as though daring him to take the shot. Bennett’s reaction was unexpected. The killer cocked his head to the side a fraction, staring back at Macak for a minute or more in silence, then he lowered the gun.

  A broad grin cut across his features.

  “I beg your pardon. Looks like your life is already spoken for.” He sheathed the gun and gestured for her to come over with a wave of his hand. “Thaddeus isn’t here right now,” he said in a conversational tone, as though talking to an old mate and not someone whose life he had threatened mere seconds ago. “Let’s go see if Joel’s up for a ride out to the prison.”

  Maeko stood up straight and stared at the man, certain he’d gone mad, or madder in his case. What just happened?

  Bennett had turned away and was walking toward the door now. He opened it and stopped there, holding it for her. He actually looked confused by her hesitation. “Come on then.”

  Puzzled, she walked over and stepped through the door, a shudder of dread sweeping through her then coiling in to form a cold lump in her stomach as she moved past Bennett. He followed through after her, waving off one of the guards when the man started in their direction with a look of alarm.

  “All under control,” Bennett called, guiding her to the lift. Then, aside to her, he remarked, “Ever notice how animals are much better judges of character than we are?”

  She absently scratched Macak’s head. Was that it? Were they mates now simply because she had the companionship of a cat? Life was unfathomably odd sometimes, but she wasn’t about to argue with a bit of good fortune.

  “You like cats?”

  “Better than most people,” he answered. “They’re clever, manipulative, handsome little beasts, and quite efficient killers.” He reached out to give Macak’s head a scratch.

  She resisted the urge to step away so he couldn’t touch the cat. Macak, it seemed, knew what he was doing almost better than she did.

  “So, you’re not going to kill me?”

  He gave her a sideways glance. “I can if you’d like, but I’d be loath to deny this fine fellow his companion. It’s clear he’s picked you.”

  Good thing I let you come, mate. She gave Macak a quick scratch under the chin.

  “You have an odd code of ethics.”

  Bennett smirked. “I’ll do most anything for a bit of tin, but I try not to cross crows and I always respect the turf of my fellow clippers.”

  “You’re equating cats with assassins?”

  He gave her a sideways glance. “You saying they aren’t similar?”

  As if to support Bennett’s postulation, Macak extended his lethal little claws, pricking her shoulder lightly. She’d never seen Macak kill anything, but she’d seen plenty an alley cat taking down mice, rats, and birds in the unfriendly back streets. They were efficient hunters and she’d seen a few better fed felines kill without eating their victims after, so perhaps it made some sense that he regarded them as kindred creatures in some convoluted way.

  “What now?”

  “We go see Joel.”

  “Why? Couldn’t we just get in a coach and head out to the prison?”

  Bennett was staring at Macak who stared back quite calmly, as though he still felt it necessary to keep the man in his place, which it probably was. “Nah. Much as I despise the bludger, Thaddeus left him in charge.”

  Maeko felt her gut drop with dread as the lift slowed to a stop. Bennett slid the door open and gestured for her to proceed him out. She could smell fresh bread when she stepped out into the landing. Were Lucian’s servants still there? She couldn’t imagine Joel making bread, but that was what it smelled like. Too fresh even to have come from the bakery across the street. This was the smell of bread baked in house.

  She stopped before the double doors, reluctant to face Joel. Bennett continued past her, opening the door and walking in first this time. She could run now and abandon the plan. He was giving her that option and, despite how little he knew her, he somehow seemed to know she wouldn’t take it. She couldn’t give up now. Taking a deep breath, she walked through the door he left standing open for her.

  As soon as she was inside, she found herself facing another brandished gun. Joel had been sitting on the sofa with his feet resting on some of Lucian’s science journals strewn carelessly across the table. He swung his feet down, knocking some of the journals on the floor, and stood, drawing his gun and training it on her before she was fully through the door. To her not-so-secret delight, as displayed by her smug grin, Joel also found himself facing down a gun when Bennett drew his own pistol in her defense.

  Joel’s face went red so fast she almost expected him to blow his top like an overfull teapot.

  “What in the bloody hells is wrong with you?” His voice cracked as he shouted at Bennett.

  “I’ve come to an agreement with the rat,” Bennett stated, his posture and voice so relaxed she couldn’t shake the feeling that he would kill Joel with little hesitation and even less remorse. “I told her I’d take her to talk to Thaddeus.”

  Joel’s face was so red it was a wonder his skin didn’t ignite.

  “Lucian,” he shouted.

  Bennett’s shoulders rose and fell in a lazy shrug that reminded her of Reuben no matter how badly she didn’t want to compare the two men in her head.

  “It isn’t as if she doesn’t already know the truth.”

  A figure moved a few inches into the doorway from the kitchen. Constance. Her eyes were circled with dark shadows of sorrow and fatigue, her mouth drawn in a tight line of stress. There was a smudge of something down the front of her dress and her hands gripped her skirts in tight fists. She spotted Maeko, refusing to meet her eyes, and turned back into the kitchen. That meant she knew as well. What price kept her silent?

  Maeko yearned to talk to
her, but she had more important things to accomplish. Constance was on her own for now. If things went in favor of the Pirates, she’d probably be looking for new work before long.

  “It doesn’t matter,” Joel snapped in his usual pleasant manner. “If you don’t use the right name all of the time, you’re more likely to slip up when it matters. Thaddeus has to have told you this at least fifty times.”

  “Who’s told me that?”

  Bennett snorted a laugh as Joel burned brighter still. So bright Maeko thought a red light could probably be seen shining out the windows from below. Only the twitching of his finger over the trigger stopped her from laughing as well.

  “Lucian,” Joel hissed through gritted teeth, “doesn’t want to talk to her.”

  “I think we’d best let him decide that.”

  Joel stared at the pistol pointed at him, his pistol still aimed at her. For a few seconds, he appeared to be pondering options, but finally came to the same conclusion she had. Even if he and Joel were on the same payroll, the hired killer would have no qualms about pulling the trigger that his finger rested so easy on. Joel lowered the gun.

  Bennett kept his gun raised a moment longer, waiting until the nose of Joel’s weapon was sliding into the holster. Then he lowered his as well, though he didn’t holster it yet. “I’m glad we agree. Let’s get a move on. This place bores me.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  The coach ride was long and silent, though Joel’s anger somehow created an intense sound pressure in the small space. Maeko sat uncomfortably on the bench beside Bennett because she refused to sit next to Joel. Macak curled between them. Though she appreciated the buffer, she had to bite her tongue to keep from telling Bennett to keep his hands off her cat. If Macak created a common ground between them that kept her alive, then she needed to let the cat continue working his magic.

  She had managed to spot Chaff in the crowd across the street as they were leaving the Tower. He’d given one quick nod, waited for her almost imperceptible return nod, then hurried off toward where Drake’s coach would be waiting. The tightness in his lips and the distress in his eyes was obvious even from a distance. He hated watching her go with them, possibly even more than she hated going with them, though she at least had the limited comfort of knowing Bennett had come to her defense once. Whether he would do so again remained to be seen, but it was a small bit of hope to help bolster her courage.

  The silence of her companions left her only time to think. Chaff and Ash had come to her to apologize at the urging of Drake. She didn’t doubt their sincerity. What she didn’t understand was Drake. Was he simply what he claimed to be? Did he want no more than to fight for the oppressed after having lived among them for several years as an outcast to his own family? He had asked for the rest of the blueprints if she could get them, and his reasons for doing so were sound. There could be useful technology in some of those designs that might have other applications. It would be shameful to let it go up in flames or, worse yet, stay in Literati hands. However, she had no solid proof that Drake wouldn’t put that technology to similar use once the Lits were thwarted, assuming the Pirates came out on top.

  None. She had no proof. She would just have to trust her instincts if she even got the opportunity to seize the blueprints in the first place.

  If she did succeed in rescuing Garrett before the Pirates attacked, what then? Once they were clear of the prison, what was the next step? Would she go to Whitechapel with Chaff? Would she continue rebuilding her relationship with her mum? Would Drake ask her to continue working with him and the Pirates? What of Amos? Would he go on with Em’s work? Would she help him if he did? What about Ash? Would she see him again, or would they go their separate ways? So much was uncertain, but one thing was certain: she was keeping Macak.

  She stroked the cat’s soft coat, avoiding his chin where Bennett was currently scratching him, not wanting to make any kind of contact with the hired killer.

  At least some decisions in life were easy, though she had to make sure nothing happened to Macak, and they were heading to a place where bad things were apt to happen.

  I’ll protect you, mate.

  That cat turned his head almost as though he had heard her thought. His big yellow eyes met hers and he blinked once, slowly, as if to say he would do the same for her.

  When she glanced up, she found Joel glaring at her. She scowled back at him, silently wishing his face would get stuck in that unflattering expression, before turning to stare out the window until the coach rolled up to the outer wall of the prison.

  They were admitted through the gates as soon as Joel leaned out the window. The coach pulled around next to one of the many buildings. Joel was up and climbing out before it had come to a full stop. He slipped a little when his feet hit the ground, but, much to her disappointment, he managed to right himself and stormed off toward the door of the building, leaving her with Bennett. He vanished inside without a backwards glance.

  “He’s an insufferable blighter,” Bennett remarked casually.

  Unable to argue, but not sure how much rapport she could bear to develop with him, she climbed out of the coach in silence, Macak hopping out to trot along dutifully beside her. She marched into the building ahead of Bennett. No point dallying at this juncture. There was only so much time and it was going to pass quickly. They had already consumed a good hour, maybe more, getting to the prison. That left less than 11 hours to go before Drake made his move.

  This building was different than the one she’d gone into to find Chaff. That building had been dedicated more to medical use. This one had a lot of rooms that looked like offices, at least in the front section.

  “Left turn,” Bennett directed from behind her when they came up on a crossing hall.

  Maeko glanced to the right, spotting rows of cells at the far end of that hall. The hall to the left was its mirror, with a wall of cells at the far end. Before they made it more than halfway, a door toward the end opened and Joel leaned out. He vanished back inside after he spotted them coming.

  “That room I suppose?” She inquired.

  “Lead on,” he replied in somewhat vague confirmation.

  Maeko drew in a deep breath and went to the room. She opened the door, walking through without missing a step as though she had no fear. That trembling jelly feeling in her lower gut was nothing. Nothing at all. No more than the cold sweat on the back of her neck.

  Thaddeus was seated at the head of a long table looking over some paperwork. Two thuggish blokes stood flanking him as though concerned for his life in the presence of a slender little half-Japanese street rat. Joel had taken a seat a couple of chairs down from him. Maeko chose to walk down the opposite side of the table until she was standing across from Joel, facing Thaddeus. Bennett walked around to the side Joel was on, stopping almost behind him.

  “I didn’t expect to see you again after you broke that boy out of here,” Thaddeus remarked, not looking up from the paperwork. His tone offered no insight into his temper.

  “I rather hoped you wouldn’t, but things change.”

  Thaddeus did look up when Macak leapt up on the table behind her, his eyes tracking the cat as he jumped from there to her shoulders.

  Joel sneered. “That’s appropriate, two vermin banding together.”

  Bennett leaned down close to Joel’s ear and said in a dangerous tone, “Cats aren’t vermin.”

  A shudder of unease swept through Joel then and Maeko couldn’t quite hide her smile.

  Thaddeus didn’t look amused. “Don’t go thinking he’s on your side, Rat. Bennett’s only loyal to the tin that fills his pocketbook.”

  And cats.

  She nodded. “I figured that.”

  “Has anyone searched her?” Thaddeus asked the room at large.

  Bennett shrugged and glanced at the long table between them. After a moment’s hesitation, he stepped up on a chair and walked over the top of it. Using another chair to step down on her side. All the while,
Thaddeus looked like someone was scratching their fingernails down a chalkboard. Maeko appreciated the irritation he caused his boss. She appreciated less the upset his action caused Macak, who dug in his claws in deeper than usual. She winced inwardly, refusing to let Thaddeus or Joel see her pain.

  She braced mentally for what was sure to be an unpleasant experience, but Bennett was very professional about the process, making no uncalled-for investigation, though some of what he avoided would have borne fruit. He started at the bottom, quickly finding the lock picks she expected them to find as well as the small dagger tucked in by her other shoe. Both items she’d planned to lose. He searched the satchel she was carrying as well, but it was only for Macak and therefore empty at that moment. He tossed the lock picks and dagger on the table and turned to face Thaddeus.

  Thaddeus gave a nod of satisfaction and met her eyes. “Why are you here?”

  “I did get Chaff back, but he blames me for what happened. The Pirates don’t trust me, and they’re getting people hurt. I don’t want to be a part of what they’re doing and I owe them no loyalty. I have no reason to stay there now.”

  “That’s quite the sad tale, but it doesn’t explain why you’d come here.”

  “Ash is the only one who has stood by me and I don’t want anything bad to happen to him. He said he would leave the Pirates with me if I could find a way to make sure his dad is all right. So here I am, ready to trade information about the Pirates for a chance to speak to Garrett.”

  Thaddeus narrowed his eyes. “If they don’t trust you, what information could you have for me?”

  “I can’t give you their location, but I know of a rendezvous going on at half three tonight. If you go there and follow them from the rendezvous, they’ll lead you back to the stronghold.”

  Thaddeus cocked his head to the side and considered her with cautious interest. “Where is this rendezvous?”

  “I’ll tell you after I’ve talked to Garrett.”