Zenith Rising

by Gavin Zanker

  ‘Whatever you need to say to feel better,’ Aiden said, checking his bearings. With it being roughly midday, the sun was high in the southern skies. He shouldered his pack and set off. ‘We’ve got some ground to cover so keep up.’

  ‘Is the dog friendly?’ Travis asked, a note of anxiety in his voice. ‘I think I’ve had my fill of gnashing teeth for one day.’

  ‘He’s friendly as long as you don’t provoke him,’ Aiden said, patting the dog’s flank. ‘Stay up ahead, I want to keep an eye on you.’

  ‘Good dog,’ Travis said, reaching down towards the motionless Border Collie who stared up at him. Hitch’s lip curled back to reveal his teeth, causing Travis to snatch his hand away.

  ‘Don’t worry, he just needs to get to know you a bit first,’ Leigh said, coming alongside. ‘Unless you’re a bad guy, then he won’t like you anyway.’

  ‘That’s reassuring.’

  ‘So you’re Travis, right?’ she asked as they started walking.

  ‘That’s right. Travis Kendrick. Who are you?’

  ‘I’m Leigh.’ He looked at her nonplussed. ‘Aiden’s friend,’ she explained.

  ‘Funny, I didn’t think he was the friend type.’

  ‘He isn’t. So you live in that spooky compound in the city then?’

  ‘That’s right, though I’m not sure about the spooky part. Do you live in the city as well?’

  ‘Nope, we’re just visiting.’

  ‘Why are you visiting?’

  ‘None of your damn business,’ Aiden interrupted from behind. ‘Stop prying.’

  ‘All right!’ Travis said, throwing up his hands. ‘I was only making conversation.’

  ‘So what goes on in that place?’ Leigh asked.

  ‘What place?’ Travis asked.

  ‘The compound. It looks empty, but people are always guarding it. What’s so special in there that you need to keep it locked away?’

  ‘Don’t worry, you’ll see soon enough.’

  Leigh frowned. ‘What will I see?’

  ‘Stop trying to scare her,’ Aiden said. ‘She doesn’t need you poisoning her brain with your cult.’

  Leigh slowed, leaving Travis to walk ahead while she came alongside Aiden. ‘Are you keeping my gun?’ she asked.

  ‘Just until we get back,’ Aiden said. ‘The Venkarths took mine. You don’t mind do you?’

  ‘No, of course not,’ she said. She glanced at Travis with an unsure frown. ‘He’s kinda creepy, isn’t he?’

  ‘He fits his role well enough, that’s for sure. I don’t think he’s lying though; he doesn’t know as much as he pretends to.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘I think there are others in his church, people with more power than him who keep themselves out of the spotlight.’

  Hitch started barking for attention, tail wagging, so Leigh pulled out the frisbee she had kept and threw it for him. He bounded away into a nearby bush to retrieve it. ‘So you think the Syndicate will be able to get us inside now we have Travis?’

  ‘Us?’

  ‘You aren’t leaving me behind. We’re a team remember?’

  ‘Sorry, Leigh,’ Aiden said, his tone serious as he reached out and gripped her shoulder, ‘I know you like to stick with me, but this one is my fight. If I do manage to get inside that place, it’ll just be me. Me, the person responsible for taking Kate, and a loaded gun.’

  CHAPTER 12

  THE LONE BARN had been red once, but over the years the paint had flaked away to reveal the aged wood underneath. The structure listed slightly, even seeming to sway in the breeze. Aiden wasn’t sure what was stopping it from collapsing into a heap of dust and rotten wood.

  ‘Why are we stopping at this dump?’ Travis asked.

  ‘It does look abandoned,’ Leigh said, turning to Aiden. ‘Are you sure this is the right place?’

  Aiden had already skirted around the barn once, but found no sign of anyone. ‘This is definitely it,’ he said, glancing again at Julian’s map. ‘I guess we—’

  Before he could finish, there was a flurry of activity from inside the barn. Three masked men surged out with submachine guns raised. Aiden whistled sharply to keep Hitch at his feet as they were surrounded. Leigh dodged to Aiden’s side, gripping his jacket.

  ‘Who are you? What do you want?’ one of the men shouted.

  ‘I’m Aiden. This is Travis. I think you’re expecting us.’

  The three men looked to each other, passing a signal. ‘This way, get inside quick,’ one of them barked as he waved his gun towards the barn.

  Inside, loose straw had been kicked aside to reveal an open hatch in the ground. Aiden went down first, carrying Hitch as he descended a ladder into a small, lantern-lit guard-post. As his eyes adjusted, he spotted a card game in progress on cheap, plastic garden furniture: a stained patio table and tattered deck-chairs. An empty weapon rack stood against one of the earthen walls.

  ‘Ah, Aiden,’ a voice said as a glowing white face loomed out of the darkness. ‘I figured you’d deliver.’

  Leigh screamed, leaping backwards.

  ‘Who are you?’ Aiden asked, sliding his foot back defensively, his hand snapping around Leigh’s pistol holstered in his belt. ‘Show yourself.’

  ‘You don’t recognise me?’ The man stepped forward into the flickering light, showing an angular face scuffed with streaks of white face paint. ‘We’ve met before. Though I was a bit taller then, I think.’

  ‘It’s Woody!’ Leigh said, exhaling sharply. ‘Hey, you scared us!’

  ‘Well if it isn’t the little fox. Apologies for scaring you, I forgot I was still wearing this clown makeup.’ His voice was smooth and low, his expression casual and good-natured. Something about his demeanour made Aiden feel more at ease.

  ‘Don’t you work at the circus?’ Aiden asked. ‘What are you doing here?’

  ‘I’m here to guide you back inside the city with the asset,’ Woody said, nodding at Travis who hopped off the last rung of the ladder. ‘Julian asked me to meet you here. Don’t worry, you’re not in any danger.’

  With his eyes almost adjusted to the low light, Aiden noticed the only exit from the room was a thin corridor that snaked away into darkness, the dust underfoot compacted from booted footprints. ‘Is that a tunnel?’ he asked.

  ‘That’s right,’ Woody said. ‘Leads directly into the city, bypassing any… curious parties.’ A pair of handcuffs appeared in his hands as he moved around behind Travis, slipping them over the Dawnist leader’s wrists and patting his shoulder. ‘Just a bit of added security. We don’t want you trying to bolt.’

  ‘No, sure,’ Travis said. ‘With all these places to run and hide, however would you find me?’

  Woody clamped a hand on the prisoner’s shoulder. ‘Best follow me then,’ he said to Aiden and Leigh. ‘Julian will be pleased to hear the news. No doubt he’ll want a word with you when we get inside.’

  By this point, the three guards had descended the ladder and slumped into their seats at the table, Aiden and company already forgotten as they continued their card game. As Woody guided Travis away into the tunnel, Aiden relaxed a little and his hand drifted away from his weapon. Maybe Julian was good for his word after all.

  Leigh looked to Aiden questioningly. He nodded at her and she marched ahead into the dark tunnel to catch up with Woody. Before Aiden could follow, Hitch lay down at his feet and whined.

  ‘Mutt a bit of a scaredy-cat, is he?’ one of the guards asked with a snort.

  ‘He has more guts than some two-bit Syndicate goon,’ Aiden said before reaching down and patting the Border Collie. ‘It’s all right, boy,’ he said quietly. ‘I know it’s dark, but just stick close and we’ll make it through together.’ Ignoring the string of insults coming from the pissed off guard, Aiden headed into the twisting tunnel with Hitch sticking to his heels like glue.

  CHAPTER 13

  THE EARTH WALLS of the tunnel, seemingly held up by precarious-looking wooden struts, were sodden with
rivulets of water. Aiden soon lost all sense of direction as he followed the rolling corridor, but realised they must be nearing the city as the walls turned to hard, reddish stone. There was a twist, and then the tunnel ended at a heavy metal door, the edges studded with a series of large rivets. Woody pushed it open to reveal a furnished corridor. Aiden recognised the rows of paintings hanging on the green walls — they were back in the Brentford Casino; the tunnel led directly into Syndicate headquarters.

  Woody smiled as realisation played across Aiden’s face. ‘I take it Julian didn’t mention this?’ he asked.

  Aiden shook his head. ‘I knew the Dawnists were based underground, but I had no idea the Syndicate were at it as well. Is everyone tunnelling these days?’

  ‘Seems that way, doesn’t it?’ Woody said, patting Aiden’s arm and causing him to tense. ‘Maybe we should start buying up all the mining picks and sell them at a premium. We’d make a fortune.’

  ‘Been a while since I was here,’ Travis said glancing around the hallway. ‘Never thought I’d see the place again.’

  ‘You’d best make yourself comfortable because I doubt you’ll be leaving anytime soon,’ Woody said.

  ‘How about getting me a vodka tonic then?’ Travis said.

  ‘Where are we?’ Leigh whispered to Aiden, tugging at his sleeve.

  ‘The Brentford Casino,’ Aiden said. ‘Back in the city. We should be all right here. Keep an eye on Hitch though, I don’t want him darting off.’ She nodded, but looked a little anxious as she held firmly to Hitch’s collar.

  They all followed the hallway, soon coming to Julian’s office where a sour-face man in Syndicate black stood guard outside. As Woody mock saluted him, he stepped aside to let them enter.

  ‘Julian set up a bit more security after you slipped into this place yesterday,’ Woody said with a grin. ‘I think you might have rattled him.’

  Inside, Julian’s office hadn’t changed: the filing cabinets were still overflowing and the desk still scattered with papers. The Syndicate spokesman was absent though.

  Woody pointed to the chair in front of the desk. ‘Take a seat there, Travy old boy.’

  ‘Don’t call me that,’ Travis said as he slumped down into it.

  ‘I’ll go fetch Julian,’ Woody said. ‘Aiden, you mind staying here and keeping an eye on him for me?’

  ‘No problem,’ Aiden said, perching against one of the filing cabinets as Leigh sat on the floor in the corner with Hitch. ‘I have business to discuss with him anyway.’

  ‘Good man,’ Woody said with a nod before closing the door behind him.

  ‘So the Syndicate then, Aiden,’ Travis said. ‘I never figured you were one to sell yourself.’

  ‘You think this is about money?’

  ‘If it’s not money… then it must be about that woman you mentioned,’ Travis said, leaning back in the chair. ‘Julian promised to help you then, did he?’

  ‘Something like that.’

  ‘Well, I think you backed the wrong horse.’

  ‘Why’s that?’

  Travis shrugged and gazed around the office. ‘They do well here, don’t they?’ he said, changing the subject. ‘All these paintings; it’s a a bit showy for me. Still, quite tasteful.’

  Leigh peered into a stack of papers by the filing cabinet. Aiden caught her eye and shook his head slightly. She stopped and returned to using the old frisbee to play tug-of-war with Hitch.

  ‘I suppose this makes us even now,’ Travis said. ‘What do you think?’

  ‘I think you should save your voice. You’re going to be asked a lot of questions soon.’

  The door swung open then and Julian Caldwell strode inside, filling the room instantly. He beamed, hands planted on his hips as he noticed Travis sat opposite his desk. ‘Well well, it looks like we have a visitor. Break out the coffee, lads,’ he shouted back into the corridor with a laugh before shutting the door. ‘Nice work, Aiden.’ He spotted Leigh on the floor. ‘Who’s this then?’

  ‘Hi, my name’s Leigh. Who’re you?’

  ‘I’m Julian, kiddo. What are—’

  ‘She’s with me,’ Aiden explained.

  ‘The dog too?’

  ‘Angry little mutt,’ Travis muttered. Leigh scowled across the room at him.

  ‘That’s right,’ Aiden said. ‘Is that a problem?’

  ‘Not a fan of dogs myself,’ Julian said, ‘but you’ve done us a solid so we can make allowances.’

  ‘So when are we going to discuss the other half of our deal?’ Aiden asked.

  ‘Soon, soon,’ Julian said. ‘Let me deal with our guest first, then we’ll revisit our business.’

  ‘You won’t mind me hanging around until you deliver then,’ Aiden said, more a statement than a question.

  ‘Not at all.’ Julian clicked his fingers as if remembering something. ‘Why don’t you head out to the casino and get some food inside you while I chat with our mutual friend here? I’ll have Malcolm come find you when we’re done. Sound good?’

  Aiden nodded. ‘Fine, just don’t think about forgetting me.’

  ‘I think someone would be hard pressed to forget you,’ Julian said with a laugh. ‘Don’t worry, we’ll get you set up once we get what we need from Travis.’

  Aiden motioned for Leigh to follow, and with Hitch padding after them, they left the office.

  ‘You think they’ll hurt him?’ Leigh asked as they strolled through the carpeted hallways.

  ‘Travis?’ Aiden asked. ‘I suppose they might he doesn’t tell them what they want to know.’

  ‘He’s a bad person though, right?’

  ‘You’ve heard some of what he’s done. He’s not winning any ethics awards.’

  ‘Okay then,’ Leigh said with a nod, as if giving her consent.

  They passed a row of antique vases displayed on pedestals, patterned relics of a different time. Aiden reached out to touch the smooth ceramic when he noticed a spot of blood on his thumb. Examining it he realised he must have been absently picking at the skin around his thumbnail again.

  ‘So what is a casino anyway?’ Leigh asked. ‘I’ve been meaning to ask.’

  ‘A place for people to throw their money away,’ Aiden said, slipping his hand into his pocket before she saw the blood. He didn’t need a lecture on not picking his nails.

  ‘That doesn’t sound smart.’

  ‘No, it’s not, but you’ll see why people like it in a minute.’

  ‘Do they mind kids? Most grown-up places hate kids.’

  ‘They won’t mind while you’re with me,’ Aiden said. ‘And if anyone does, you send them my way.’ They came to the door, the rhythmic beat of music and rattle of slot machines bleeding through from the other side. He pulled the door open and gestured. ‘Ladies first.’

  ‘You’re an idiot,’ she said, shaking her head and pushing him through the door.

  CHAPTER 14

  ‘SOMEONE’S COMING,’ LEIGH said, her cheeks bulging with food as she glanced past Aiden’s shoulder.

  Aiden tossed his half-eaten sandwich under the table for Hitch and turned to see Malcolm walking towards them. He stopped by the table and nodded at them both. ‘Good day,’ he said. ‘And to you too, miss. I see you’re enjoying one of the cook’s signature roast chicken and mushroom sandwiches.’

  ‘They’re really tasty,’ Leigh said, finally swallowing.

  ‘That’s good, since chickens and mushrooms seem to be the two things that this city has in abundance,’ Malcolm said.

  ‘Easy to grow mushrooms in dank places,’ Aiden said.

  ‘Indeed,’ Malcolm said with a sly smile.

  ‘We’ve met before, haven’t we?’ Leigh asked before taking another bite of her sandwich.

  ‘Yes I believe so. At the radio station some months ago.’

  ‘I remember,’ she said, spraying some crumbs over the table. Aiden cared about Leigh, but he had to admit she ate like a savage. ‘When Julian was arguing with that Catherine woman, right?’

&
nbsp; ‘That’s correct,’ Malcolm said with a warm smile. ‘It’s nice to see you again. Would you care to come this way? Or perhaps you’d like a napkin?’

  ‘Can I bring my sandwich?’ Leigh asked, hopping down from her stool.

  ‘Of course. I wouldn’t think to deprive a young lady of her sandwich.’

  Aiden rose from his seat, calling Hitch from under the table, and followed Malcolm back into the rear hallways of the casino. ‘So I’m curious,’ he asked as they walked, ‘why does the Syndicate really want Travis so badly? Surely it’s more than just gathering intel.’

  ‘It’s really not part of my job to know. Above my pay grade, so to speak.’

  Aiden could tell Malcolm was hiding something, but decided not to push it. He would find out soon enough. ‘Back to Julian’s office then?’ he asked.

  ‘I’m afraid not. Please follow, you will soon see.’

  They travelled deeper into the Brentford this time, past Julian’s empty office and down a set of stairs. They came to a secure-looking door with two guards posted outside. They stepped aside at Malcolm’s approach.

  ‘The young miss may want to stay outside. The interview room is not a place for minors.’

  Leigh stuck her chin out in protest. ‘I’m not a child,’ she said.

  ‘She’ll be fine,’ Aiden said. ‘She’s seen worse.’

  ‘Very well,’ Malcolm said, as he gestured for them to enter.

  ‘You’re not coming in?’ Aiden asked.

  Malcolm checked his wrist watch. ‘I think I’ve served my time for the present. I have a prior appointment to see to.’ He smiled at Leigh before pausing and meeting Aiden’s gaze. ‘Good luck to you both,’ he said, then turned and disappeared back along the hallway.

  Aiden was curious about the older man’s strange behaviour, but didn’t have time to wonder what he meant. Inside the interview room, Travis was sat in a large metal chair, his wrists and legs strapped down. Julian was pacing, stroking his goatee, while another guard stood off to the side looking nervous.