CHAPTER THREE
The cold of the night was biting Hanna sat curled up in front of a building on the street. The clothes she wore, to blend in with the homeless of Incesu, were not up to the task of keeping her warm. It took Deni and Hanna an hour to create her disguise. She smiled behind the limp greasy hair hanging over her face.
She was getting soft. After only three hours, she was already regretting it and wondering how Deni did it on a regular basis as the Crew’s Scout. A year ago, Hanna considered the narrow bed they shared as the lap of luxury. She would not have thought twice about sleeping rough. Many times, when scouting the Jobs Tern gave her, she had done just that.
Despite her numb arse, and having to concentrate on her teeth not chattering, Hanna’s gaze never wavered from the building across the road. It was identical to all the other permacrete blocks on this estate, three floors high and made up of dozens of flats. Several lights were on, spread across the different floors, and Hanna already knew her entrance point.
Cest had not bothered with cameras here. There was nothing to steal and, if anyone was coming after him directly, he relied on the residents of the estate to warn him. He was a bastard but he was their bastard, without which they would have their different fixes of drugs interrupted, so they protected him. Such was human nature.
In the back of Hanna’s mind, she was keeping a count. This close to Cest, she didn’t dare wear her wristcomp. She relied on the rhythm of the street with her own internal clock to pick the right time. The time was now. In a slow stuttering movement, she stumbled to her feet.
Using what she learned from watching her mother and countless other junkies, she shambled seemingly aimlessly across the street. An Enforcer stepped out of the doorway of the building. The woman didn’t draw her weapon. They might not be very good, but they were alert. Hanna didn’t give any indication she saw the woman, nor did she change her pace or course towards the alley in front of her.
At three metres distance, Hanna started to hike up the skirt she was wearing, in the imitation of someone about to go for a piss in the dark alley. Out of the corner of her eye, Hanna saw the Enforcer step back inside, hopefully happy Hanna wasn’t a threat. It was her third visit to the alley. The previous two times she did exactly as the Enforcer expected, so Hanna knew it was a dead end. More importantly, she knew it was also her way in.
As her earlier visits, the windows facing the alley were all dark and sealed shut. Crouching down, Hanna reached underneath as though she was going to pull down her underwear, but instead unhooked her equipment. Strapped to the small of her back and to her thighs, were her Mag pistol, wristcomp, equipment pouch and grappling gun. The Mag pistol, in its holster, attached itself to her innocent looking, but expensive belt with the pouch. The wristcomp went on her wrist and she stood up with the grappling gun in hand.
Much easier to use than her old hook and line, she didn’t need to worry about tech sensors. Hanna targeted the roof of the building. The gun automatically scanned a four square metre area in the direction she was aiming, calculating the best place to attach itself. A small green light blinked twice on the sight to tell her it was ready.
With a gentle squeeze of the trigger, the gun fired its grapple up into the dark. A second green light confirmed it found a secure hold and Hanna attached it to her belt. Another pull of the trigger started it reeling in slowly and Hanna walked up the wall. A grav-belt would have been easier and faster, but they were all in the main armoury. Sneaker and Valerie were notified whenever it was accessed. It would have caused embarrassing questions.
Keeping an eye on the windows she passed in case someone looked out, Hanna crept up the wall. Near the top, she stopped the grapple and stepped sideways to a window. Like the others, it was closed and locked. It was not going to stop a professional thief. In her pouch was a set of glass cutters and she slipped them out. The window wasn’t technically made of glass, but another silicone derivative and wasn’t nearly so fragile. Everyone still referred to it by the age old name.
The laser cutter sliced easily through and a small tool attached the glass to her hand, stopping the large piece from falling in as she completed her cut. Putting the cutter away, she lowered the glass to the floor inside using the tool’s wire extension. Deactivating it, she wound it in and slipped the tool back into her pouch.
Using the grappling gun, she swung gently into the room and lowered herself softly to the floor. With the gun safely stowed away, she drew her pistol and checked the wristcomp’s chrono. She was a little early, but hopefully not too much. Deni would be doing her part in a little under thirty minutes. Now she had to check out the building as best she could, find Cest and, more importantly, somewhere to hide until it was time.
With only the light leaking in from outside, Hanna could barely see the room. Cursing in her head she wasn’t able to bring the combat goggles enabling her to see, Hanna moved carefully. The dark shape of a bed loomed out of the darkness. Hanna sighed in relief to find it was unoccupied.
Edging her way around the bed, she made it to the door. Like much of the Ghetto, it was a swing version with hinges and a mechanical handle. The door was closed, but not locked and Hanna eased it open. Outside was a corridor only dimly lit by a couple of faint lights. Hanna stepped out and closed the door behind her.
Moving on the balls of her feet, she tested each step carefully, checking for the slightest creak that may give her away. A door was ajar just ahead with a light on inside. Cautiously, Hanna looked in to see Twilight on her bed reading a datapad. Slowly, so as not to attract attention, she moved out of sight before slipping past. Doors led off down the corridor to, what Hanna presumed were more bedrooms.
This was not where Hanna wanted to be. Cest could well be in one of these rooms, but it was much too dangerous to try and search them all. A stairwell sat at the end and Hanna went towards it. She was just passing a door, when she heard a sound and it began to open. With nowhere to hide in the open corridor, Hanna ducked into the room opposite.
As she closed the door, she briefly caught sight of a man exiting the room. He was still in the process of doing up his trousers. Some sort of communal toilet or bathroom she supposed. The room she found herself in was pitch black, the only light, a faint glow from under the door. A loud noise behind her caused Hanna’s heart to race, but she was too experienced to let it show. There was no sense of movement and she calmed slightly, realising it was someone snoring.
Whoever was in the bed behind her, sounded massive and she dare not move. Listening, in what felt like the hardest she ever had in her life, Hanna tried to get the rhythm. It took a few seconds, but it was there. She waited until it went to the full chainsaw of inhalation and cracked the door open.
The corridor was empty and she slipped out. Closing the door silently behind her, she made it to the stairs without incident. There were sounds of voices and music coming up from the ground floor. Whoever was on the night shift of Cest’s Enforcers, must be down there keeping watch. The sound of a woman’s squeal and giggle told Hanna how they were probably amusing themselves.
Creeping down the stairs, she went into the second floor. It was mainly dark with only a few lights on. Most of the doors to the rooms were open and she glanced into each one carefully. Nodding to herself, she knew this was the right place. Here were Cest’s actual offices and where he did business. Once Deni did her part, this is where he would come to make his calls and co-ordinate everything.
Cest’s own office was easy to identify. It was the largest, with the most expensive and comfy furniture, with a full com’s set up. Checking the adjoining rooms, Hanna found her hiding place in the server room next door. It was her natural environment, despite its climate control, and easy for her to disappear into. Her chrono showed another fifty-five minutes to wait. She gave herself plenty of time to get her placing right, confident in her abilities to keep out of sight.
Hanna plugged her wristcomp into the com stations server. Not nearly as powerful as
her tried and tested Quartz 5.0 datapad, it would do the job. All she needed to do was monitor the system so she would know when Cest called his Boss.
The wait seemed like an eternity. The seconds on her chrono felt like they were taking minutes to change. She daren’t close her eyes in case she dozed or worse, actually fell asleep. She needed to stay alert. It wasn’t easy. She hadn’t had much sleep in the last forty-eight hours. She was close though, soon she could get justice for her mother.
That night played through her mind. It was two years after the death of her father. Her mother dragged Hanna along when she went to score from Cest. Back then he was more hands-on with the business, often doing the deals himself. A strip of waste ground, used for wheelie races, was one of his favourite places to do business. The four wheeled ground cars charged around a rough track with people cheering and betting.
Hanna enjoyed watching the wheelies race. The cars would twist and turn, kicking up dust and dirt behind them. Always striving to get ahead of the one in front in their bright painted colours. Her mother didn’t let Hanna stop to watch. She pulled her through the crowd by her hand, little Hanna trying to keep up on her much shorter legs.
Cest leaned against his car, a bright yellow, sleek machine. Hanna didn’t pay any attention to her mother and Cest. She was enraptured by the car. It was so clean and smooth, she dare not touch its shining metal body. These were the instincts a child of eight had to learn in the Ghetto. If it was clean, the owner didn’t want her dirty hands on it.
“Come on, Hanna,” her mother said, pulling at her arm.
“Can’t we stay, Mama? It’s so pretty.”
“No, we need to go,” her mother said harshly.
Cest laughed, braying and cruel. “Let her stay as long as she doesn’t touch.”
Nodding eagerly, Hanna clasped her hands behind her back.
“OK, Cest, thank you. We’ll stay out of your way,” her mother sounded small and weak. She grabbed Hanna’s arm and pulled much harder, half dragging her away from Cest, around the beautiful car. “Stay here and keep your hands to yourself,” she was back to her normal harsh tone.
“Thanks, Mama. I won’t touch, I promise.”
“See that you don’t.” With a snap, she broke a Fuzz cap under her nose and inhaled deeply. Hanna saw it every day and ignored her. It was rare she could be this close to one of these wonderful machines. She heard a noise like water running down the sink and looked up.
“Mama?” her mother swayed and her eyes rolled up, white orbs staring at her. “Mama!?” Hanna shouted.
Her mother stumbled forwards, narrowly missing the car.
“Mama, stop!” Grabbing her mother’s hand, she pulled her back.
One step, two steps. Her mother’s head snapped forward. A deluge of thick yellow liquid burst out, splattering the side of the car.
“You bitch!” Cest roared. Suddenly he was there and his fist crashed into her mother’s face. Her body went limp, ripped out of Hanna’s hand and slammed into the car.
“Look what you’ve done, you fucking skrag!” Terrified, Hanna backed away. His boot came back and swung into her mother’s stomach. She groaned and hacked blood onto the ground, catching Cest’s feet.
“Fuck!” he screamed. Again and again he kicked her.
“Stop, please, stop,” her mother moaned and begged, blood pouring from her mouth.
Hanna ran forward, grabbing Cest’s arm with her little hands.
“Don’t hurt her, please,” tears poured down her cheeks.
He shook her off. The face he turned to her was bright with anger and excitement. His fist came back, lights flashed in Hanna’s eyes and everything went dark.
When she woke, Cest and his car were gone. Only her mother’s body lay in the dirt.
Hanna’s grip tightened on the pistol in her hand and she forced herself to relax. Cest had to die tonight, but that wouldn’t happen if she woke everyone up by accidently firing her pistol. She checked her chrono and it was almost time. Hanna strained to listen to the sounds of the building, waiting and hoping for the moment it would all change.
An unintelligible shout from upstairs was the first indication Deni had struck successfully. This was followed by more, but Hanna could not make out what was being said. She heard running feet on the ceiling above her. People were soon outside the server room.
A voice she remembered well from seven years ago shouted instructions.
“Get tooled up and over there. Make sure you’re ready for anything. This could be that shit Gutshot, so round up as many as you can. Go!”
Sounds of boots rushing in all directions filtered through to Hanna’s hiding place and she waited, her gun pointed right at the door. No one came in and she stayed still. Patience was key, now. Hanna had to pick the right moment to leave. Wait for Cest to make his call.
Again time slowed and Hanna forced herself to breathe. The anticipation and anxiety grew. The wristcomp notified her of a call going out. Taking a deep breath and swallowing the saliva that had somehow built up in her mouth, Hanna crept out of her hiding place.
Easing the door open, she had a clear view into Cest’s office. He was leaning over his desk, his back to her, on a vid-com.
“I know it’s late, but she’ll want to talk to me about this,” he demanded.
“And yet you won’t tell me what ‘this’ is. You know how it works, Cest. You don’t talk to Kickback unless I OK it,” the man on the other end replied.
“Look, you little shit. I don’t work for you, so I don’t answer to you. Put me through or next time you take your little shot of Blank, it’ll be so rough you won’t be able to string two words together for the rest of your life!”
Hanna carefully moved round behind Cest. She was clear of the door and out of sight of the com’s visual pick up. A tap of a button on her wristcomp initiated the tiny charge she had set in the servers. It wasn’t enough to draw attention from anywhere else, but it did kill all the com’s linked to it, including the one Cest was using.
The Holo screen went immediately blank. “What the fuck?” Cest exclaimed. “No, you didn’t! You did not fucking hang up on me, you shit!”
“No, he didn’t.” Hanna said clearly, trying to make her voice sound strong and unafraid.
“What?” Cest spun and his eyes widened as he saw the Mag pistol pointed at his chest. “Who are you and what are you doing here?”
“I’m here to kill you,” Hanna growled.
He laughed. The bastard actually laughed.
“Kill me? You, little girl? I don’t think so.”
“I’m the one with the gun. Now, on your knees.”
“My knees, is it? What if I don’t?”
Hanna lowered the gun slightly. “Then I blow out your knee caps and you fall down. Your choice.” She had been going for Valerie’s cold, confident tone, but it sounded weak to her ears.
“Alright, alright. No need to be hasty.” Cest slowly lowered himself down with a smirk on his face. “You know. You did pretty well getting in here. You a thief? I could use a good thief on the pay roll.”
“I’m not here to work for you. You killed my mother.”
“Mother, is it. Well, that’s a bit difficult. There have been a lot of those, you’ll need to be more specific.” He was still smirking and Hanna couldn’t see why. He was at her mercy, but she wanted him to know.
“Seven years ago. The races on Potemkin ground. She messed up your ride.”
“Nope,” Cest shook his head. “Doesn’t ring any bells. Was she a good lay? That might make it easier to remember.”
“You fucking bastard,” he was goading her and Hanna knew it. She saw his smug expression and stared into his eyes. She tried to pull the trigger. It wasn’t like the shooting range, he wasn’t some plain target. Nor was it the practise floor or the sim, where the highly realistic holos shot back at you. This was a defenceless human being kneeling in front of her.
The pistol shook slightly. She willed her finger t
o pull the trigger, but something was preventing her. How did Valerie make this look so easy?
“What’s the matter, little girl? Never killed anyone before? I knew it as soon as you walked in. You don’t have the stone to kill me and now you’re out of time.” His eyes glanced to the left and the open door. Hanna spun as quickly as she could, but not quick enough. Energy blasted through her, pain roaring through every nerve ending and then it all went black.
CHAPTER FOUR
“Aaarrrhhh,” ice cold water splashed over Hanna and jerked her awake.
“See, I told you that would wake her up.” It was Cest and she was still alive.
Hanna shook the water out of her eyes and took in her surroundings. She was still in Cest’s office, but now she was tied to a chair. The image of Bjorn Pomykala sprang unbidden to her mind. All she could see was Valerie pulling the trigger and his brain splattering everywhere. Cest was not the only one there. Twilight and Barclay were with him, with two other men she didn’t know. Both were obviously Enforcers.
They were all standing in front of the door to the corridor and Hanna cast about for a way out. The only other way was the window to her right. Her stomach sank as she saw who else was here. Deni sat tied up beside her in an identical chair. Her best friend was already awake and like Hanna soaking wet. The two friends shared a look. They didn’t need words.
I’m sorry for getting you into this. Hanna said.
Don’t be. Wherever you are, I am. Deni replied.
“Isn’t that sweet. Are you two lovers or something?” Cest leered.
The girls looked at him and kept quiet. There was no point in saying anything. They were dead anyway, there was no need to give him any satisfaction.
“It’s the silent treatment I see. We know how to get little girls to squeal don’t we?”
The three men laughed nastily and Twilight grinned. “I bet I can get them to use their tongues on something,” she said.
“We’ll have our fun soon enough.” Cest grabbed Deni’s face and leaned into her. “What I want to know is how you found out about our shipment. Where did you get your information?” Deni stared back at him.
Crusade For Vengeance (Dark Vengeance Book 2) Page 3
