by Gavin Zanker
‘They did. They do, in fact.’ Julian struck a match on the desk and lit his cigarette. ‘But it just keeps reappearing, cropping up in the middle of the night. No one sees who does it. Now a lot of residents think there’s a curse or some such superstitious nonsense hanging over the city. It’s gotten to the point where people are afraid to leave their homes.’
‘So you want me to pull down some posters for you?’
‘Not exactly,’ Julian said. He reached into a drawer, pulled out a paper file, and slid it over the desk. ‘It seems the Dawnists are stirring again. It’s making the Syndicate board… nervous, to say the least. The last time the Dawnists were active in the city there was a more than significant level of conflict. We’d like to avoid a repeat of that.’
Aiden flipped open the file to find a grainy, black and white photo of Travis along with a series of notes on his recent movements around the city. ‘You want Travis,’ he said. Judging by the file, the Syndicate had been keeping an eye on Travis for some time.
‘That’s right. We have a lot of questions for our mutual friend here. We’d like him unharmed; naturally, he’s no use to us dead.’
‘Don’t you already have men to do this for you?’
‘That would be an option. But if anything were to go wrong the Syndicate wouldn’t come out well. Who better for the job than an outsider with no affiliation? Someone who, if caught, would be assumed to be acting alone and for personal reasons.’ Julian leaned back in his chair exhaling a cloud of blueish smoke. ‘You do this, and you have my word that the Syndicate will help you see the inside of the cultists’ lair.’
Travis was certainly not a friend, but he was a well-guarded and powerful individual. Aiden knew if he took this job, it would be one of his most dangerous yet. ‘How am I supposed to find him if he rarely leaves the compound?’
‘We recently had news that he’s planning a trip out of the city. Travelling out to meet with the Venkarth family on their lands.’
Aiden had heard the name in passing. ‘I thought the Venkarths were Syndicate.’
‘They were. Once,’ Julian explained. ‘They fractured away a number of years ago; a petty dispute over land. Some words were exchanged and… well, let’s just say they don’t respond well to comments on how close-knit their family is. Now they keep to themselves, staying in their mansion and guarding their arable lands.’
‘And you assume Travis is trying to turn them against you.’
Julian nodded. ‘That’s right. Possibly for a coming resurgence of the Dawnists. But honestly, we’re just guessing; we need facts. The good news is the Venkarths are as suspicious as they are inbred, so Travis won’t be travelling with many guards or they’d never allow him inside.’
Aiden took a moment to consider. He glanced at the photo of Travis, his imagination torturing him with the horrors that the man might have inflicted on Kate in the depths of that underground facility. He had been taken past the Zenith Door once, drugged and briefly forced to endure their brainwashing readjustment program. Travis deserved no sympathy for his actions. If this was Aiden’s way inside then so be it.
‘Deal,’ Aiden said, rising and offering his hand. ‘I’ll bring Travis to you and then you get me inside the compound.’
‘Fantastic!’ Julian said, his face lighting up as he stood.
‘But know that I work alone. And if you betray me, I’ll personally cut your throat while you sleep.’
Julian paused before taking the extended hand in a firm, almost aggressive grasp. ‘No problem there. You’ll find we keep our word around here, unlike Reinhold or Travis.’
‘I’ll find that out for myself soon enough.’
Julian withdrew from the handshake and held up his finger to signal for Aiden to wait a moment. He stubbed out his cigarette before reaching into his desk and pulling out a sheet of paper which he started scribbling on. A moment later he handed over a hand-drawn map. ‘Once you have Travis, take him to this location outside the city and we’ll take things from there.’
Aiden studied the map. It was a quick sketch, but he could read it well enough. It showed the Rim and the surrounding area, with the Venkarth lands to the south west. The hand-off location was marked at a disused farmhouse just outside of the city. ‘Why here?’ he asked.
‘There’s no way you’ll get Travis through the city gates unnoticed. The police would ask too many questions. This is a safer alternative.’
Aiden nodded. He took the photograph of Travis out of the file and pocketed it before sliding the file back across the desk. ‘I won’t need the rest of this information if what you told me is true.’
The door to the office opened and a man in an expensive-looking, navy pea coat entered. ‘Oh sorry, Jules,’ he said, a strangely vacant smile appearing beneath a shock of straw-coloured hair. He reminded Aiden of a politician, greasy with practised smiles and fake sincerity. ‘Didn’t realise you had company at such a late hour. Not intruding am I?’
‘As a matter of fact—’ Julian said.
‘Hello there, my name’s Zachary Dunston, proud member of the Syndicate board.’ The newcomer smoothed down the large collar of his coat as he stepped into the office. He approached Aiden and extended his hand. ‘Always a pleasure to meet one of Jules’ colourful friends.’
Aiden ignored the handshake and veiled insult.
‘This is Aiden,’ Julian said, doing well to hide his irritation. ‘He’ll be doing some work for us for the foreseeable future.’
Zachary withdrew his hand, a twitch around his eye betraying his displeasure. ‘Aiden? I’ve heard that name mentioned before. All good things of course. I look forward to seeing more of you in the coming days.’
‘I’ll be back soon,’ Aiden said to Julian, ‘and then we can discuss your end of the deal.’
‘What deal is this then?’ Zachary asked, looking to Julian.
Aiden made towards the door. ‘You’re in my way,’ he said.
Zachary stepped aside, the unnatural smile still stuck to his face like it was pencilled on. As Aiden left the office, he reminded himself that despite Julian’s friendly manner, he was knowingly jumping into a pit of adders. He would need to be especially careful how he dealt with the Syndicate from here on, or he might end up walking headlong into a trap that could cost him his life.
CHAPTER 3
LEIGH SCRUBBED AT the paper on her lap with the glob of putty she had found in the gutter. The pencil lines smudged and faded under the friction. She blew away the rubbings and sighed at the now blank page. She’d been alone in the reception area of the radio station for hours now. The recording booth beyond the large, scratched acrylic window was empty, despite the station never stopping its broadcast. Even now, in the early hours of the morning, music played through some speakers in the ceiling. She hadn’t asked anyone, but she figured it must be a prerecorded loop.
She looked back down at the paper and started sketching Hitch again with her last nub of pencil. She’d been trying to get the shading right for days. At least he was making it easier now he was sleeping on one of the fold-out chairs and not dashing around in circles looking to play.
A knock came at the entrance. She tensed, stuffing her drawing into her bag among a sheaf of mismatched papers. As the knocking continued into the familiar sequence Aiden had taught her, she relaxed and ran over to unlock the doors.
Aiden checked the street behind him before stepping inside and closing the door, locking it firmly. Leigh glanced over him, relieved to see he wasn’t hurt. She hadn’t expected him to be, she knew he could protect himself, but the city was dangerous and she couldn’t help but worry when he went off alone. He looked drained under the bright indoor lights: his grey-flecked stubble growing into the beginnings of a scruffy beard, his cheeks damp with moisture, the pale skin around his eyes tight.
‘You and Hitch all right then?’ he asked, ruffling her hair.
‘I’m good,’ she said as she finger-combed the tangled, black mass back into place.
<
br /> ‘No trouble?’
‘Nope, completely quiet. How about you?’
‘Could’ve gone worse,’ he said, slumping down onto one of the seats next to Hitch. ‘Could’ve gone a lot worse.’ Beside him was a small coffee table with an assortment of faded and curled magazines, and a chipped, ceramic ashtray bearing the name of a long-forgotten beer. He reached over and patted the border collie. ‘Where’s Grace?’
‘In the back, I think. She said she had work to do and hasn’t come out since you left.’ Leigh hopped into the seat next to Aiden. ‘What happened then? Did you speak to someone? Are the Syndicate people going to help?’
‘Looks like it. In return for a favour of course, but then I expected that.’
‘What’s the favour?’
‘They want me to find someone for them.’ Aiden pulled out the cigarette from behind his ear.
‘Sounds easy enough. Who are we finding?’
Aiden glanced sideways at her as he lit the cigarette with a match from his jacket pocket. ‘We? Who says you’re coming?’
‘I do,’ she said, grinning at him, ‘because you’d be lost without me.’
‘I suppose you’re not totally useless,’ he teased.
‘Hey, watch it or I’ll put oatmeal in your shoes while you sleep.’
‘I’d take some sleep about now,’ he said, rubbing his face and covering a yawn.
‘Well, don’t keep me waiting — who are we finding?’
‘Travis Kendrick. You remember him?’
‘Isn’t he that Dawnist guy with the girly headband? The one that took you into the compound last time we were here?’
‘Why is it a girly headband?’ Aiden asked, the corner of his mouth curling into a confused smile.
Leigh tilted her head as she thought. ‘I dunno. I’ve only seen girls wearing headbands before.’
‘I suppose you have a point. That’s him anyway.’
Leigh nodded firmly. ‘Okay then.’
‘Okay? I was expecting an argument.’
‘Well he dragged you away last time we were minding our won business in the city, right? I say this’ll let us get even.’
‘You’re assuming I can—’ Aiden paused as Leigh shot him a frown. ‘You’re assuming we can actually get to him. This guy doesn’t mess around. Travis is leader of the entire church of Dawnists, remember. It won’t be easy.’
‘The Syndicate guys must’ve given you a lead though?’
‘Yeah,’ Aiden said, tapping ash from the end of his cigarette into the chipped ashtray. ‘He’s due to leave the city tomorrow. Meeting with an ex-Syndicate family.’
‘So when do we leave? We should beat him there, right? That way we can lay a trap.’
‘Beat who where?’ Grace asked, appearing in the doorway carrying a clipboard against her chest. She flicked an untidy strand of dark hair out of her eyes. ‘Where are you two traipsing off to this time?’
‘We’re doing a little work for the Syndicate,’ Aiden explained.
‘The Syndicate? I didn’t have you pegged… I mean, I welcome the idea of you helping people, but it doesn’t exactly sound like you.’
‘I don’t think the Syndicate are the moral guardians you make them out to be.’
‘I never said they were, but when you compare them to the people that currently have their claws in running this city, they suddenly look a lot better. I can’t remember the last time we reported the Mayor doing anything that didn’t benefit himself.’ She ran a hand through her hair and scratched at the back of her head. There were purple bags under her eyes that Leigh had mistaken for make-up. ‘So they want you to target the Mayor and his police force, I assume?’
‘Why would you say that?’ Aiden asked.
‘The Syndicate are at war with the police these days; it seems they can’t get enough of each other. People are always getting hurt because of their brawling out on the streets.’
‘Well, it’s nothing like that.’ Aiden took one last drag on his cigarette before stubbing it out. ‘You ever heard of the Venkarths?’
‘Sure. They own some land a few miles outside the city. They keep to themselves mostly, though they do have a bit of a reputation.’
‘What sort of reputation?’
‘The violent sort,’ Grace said, raising an eyebrow. ‘Is there any other kind?’
Leigh frowned as a flash of anxiety spread up through her stomach; violent people never made anything easy. ‘How bad are they?’ she asked.
‘Well, strangers who go there don’t usually come back. You two aren’t thinking of getting tangled up with them are you?’
‘Hopefully not,’ Aiden said. ‘We’ll be leaving at sunrise. If you don’t mind us hanging around here for a few more hours?’
‘No problem. Like I said, you can stay as long as you like. At night it’s usually just me here at Rim News Radio,’ Grace said, exaggerating the name in a singsong voice. She moved to the reception desk and grabbed a sheaf of papers, attaching them to her clipboard. ‘So you’re dragging this innocent girl into trouble again?’
‘You try telling her to stay behind. She doesn’t listen to me anymore.’
‘Just make sure you look after her. She’s a good kid.’
‘Yeah,’ Leigh said, shoving Aiden and grinning. ‘I’m a good kid.’
‘So why are you working for the Syndicate anyway?’ Grace asked as she walked over to him, hand on her waist. Leigh noticed a slight swaying in her hips.
‘I’m not working for them. I just have a problem they can help me with, so I’m doing them a favour in return.’
‘Well I’m sure you know what you’re doing. Just be safe out there.’ Grace leaned down and touched his cheek with her nail-bitten fingers. ‘I mean it, you know. Don’t make me report the news with you in it.’
As Grace touched Aiden, Leigh felt her skin flush. She frowned at the unfamiliar feeling. Maybe she was getting sick. She reached into her pack and pulled out her water bottle, glugging some of the cool liquid.
‘You worry too much,’ Aiden said, leaning back in the chair. ‘I’ll be fine. I’m too stubborn to die; too much unfinished business left.’
‘Well, you’d better not.’ Grace said with a frown before sighing theatrically. ‘Right, you three stay as long as you like, I’m off to finish getting tomorrow’s show ready. Robin will be in for the morning shift.’
‘How are things with you two?’ Aiden asked.
‘We’re fine,’ she said, looking away into the booth. ‘He makes himself useful around here; not sure what I’d do without him to be honest.’ Her gaze snapped back to Aiden and she smiled, as if catching herself in a guilty thought. ‘If you’re gone when I come back then take care of yourself.’
Aiden nodded at her and smiled gratefully. ‘Thanks again, Grace.’
‘Bye,’ Leigh called out as the radio host backed out through the doors and disappeared into the back.
‘We’ve got a solid few hours before sunrise still,’ Aiden said. ‘We should get some rest.’
‘I’ll sit up,’ Leigh said, standing up and swinging her arms. ‘I already rested a bit while you were gone and I know you sleep better when someone is watching out.’
‘I doubt there’s much need to stand guard in here, not with Hitch and his nose, eh boy?’ Aiden patted Hitch’s flank. The dog briefly opened one eye before starting to snore again. ‘What you said makes sense — if we get an early start we can beat Travis out there and lay a trap, so wake me in three hours if I’m not already up,’ he said, lying across the chairs and closing his eyes.
‘Can do,’ Leigh said, pulling the paper back out of her pack and returning to sit at the reception desk. She glanced at the blank page again and pouted. She looked around the room until her gaze settled on Aiden, arm resting over his eyes. Smiling to herself, she picked up her pencil nub and started to sketch again.
CHAPTER 4
WITH LEIGH AND Hitch trailing behind him, Aiden climbed the stone stairway leading up out of the city
and into the walled redoubt. A shallow depression was worn into the centre of each step from the feet that trudged up and down them every day. By the time they reached the surface, Aiden’s lungs burned; he’d made this climb plenty of times before but never felt this out of breath. He realised with a sort of resignation that age was catching up to him. He did some quick maths and discovered that he was rapidly approaching his mid-forties. He took a moment to kneel down, pouring some water from his canteen into his cupped hand for Hitch to lap up.
As he waited for the border collie to drink his fill, Aiden studied the redoubt; at this time of the morning the place was practically empty apart from the usual cluster of police guarding the city gates. Inside the encircling redoubt walls of piled concrete and scrap metal, the Grand Arena dominated a large portion of the available space. Aiden had never been back inside that fighting pit, not since being betrayed during his escape from the city prison and forced to fight as a gladiator. He shuddered at the memories of tortured, wild beasts and desperate men bearing down on him as crowds roared from the surrounding stands, screaming for blood and death.
‘Maybe we could go in one day,’ Leigh said, mistaking his attention for interest. ‘Not to watch the fighting or anything, just to see the animals maybe?’
‘You wouldn’t enjoy it.’
‘Why not? I like going places with you.’
‘It’s not a zoo; the animals are half-starved and tormented. Seeing them would just depress you.’
Leigh frowned. ‘Maybe we can feed them then? Or set them free?’
‘One problem at a time, eh?’ Aiden said, eyeing the city gates as he wiped his wet hands on his trousers and put his canteen away. ‘Remember, if anyone asks we’re just father and daughter heading home.’
As they continued on towards the gates, Aiden had to force himself to appear relaxed. He had been on edge ever since returning to the city, unable to shake the dreadful feeling that something awful was just around the corner. The uniformed police didn’t even give them a second glance though, and they passed out through the gates which were looking run down, the largest holes having been patched with sheets of metal zip-tied to the chain-link. Aiden supposed the police officers were more concerned with who entered the city rather than who left. That and they were probably at the tail end of a night shift and too exhausted to cause any hassle.
