I ran a cursory check of the equipment. Someone had been keeping it in working order and giving it regular maintenance. Part of me was surprised, but it made sense. Douglas was arrogant enough to believe that one day, I would come back, because I couldn’t function without Shadow Company indefinitely.
“It’s been maintained.”
“Expensive piece of hardware,” Douglas said with a curt nod. “Nothing wrong with the rifle. It’s the operator”—he gave me a pointed look—“that concerns me. Ammunition is next to it.”
Beside the rifle was a small, clear case with five rounds of ammunition. The case was covered in black wisps of energy. Next to that was a smaller version of the main map with locations circled in red. Sitting next to the map were a pair of high-frequency burst comms—one each for Monty and me.
“The comms are on a scrambled frequency,” Douglas said, tapping the comm in his ear. “We go in radio silent until Rott shows up, and then I will coordinate, understood?”
“You weren’t kidding about only making a handful,” I said, taking the small ammo case and the rifle. “Five rounds?”
“You only need one,” Douglas said with a growl. “I didn’t prep anything for you, mage. Figured you have your own weaponry.”
“I do,” Monty said, looking over the table at the combat armor. “Is that for us?”
“Experimental armor,” Douglas said tapping his chest. “Lightweight and designed to stop almost anything short of a rocket. There’s a set there for each of you.”
“My clothing is more than adequate,” Monty said, feeling the material of the combat armor. “Is this runed?”
“Enhanced,” Douglas corrected. “We fight fire with fire. Strong?”
“No, thanks,” I said, tapping my jacket. “I’m good.”
“Your choice. One more thing,” Douglas said. “Feelds will be your spotter. I don’t want a repeat of last time. Any objections?”
“Has she done this before?” I asked, knowing objections would be futile. I was pretty sure her job was to put a round in my head a second after I took down Magnus. “Is she a shooter?”
“She’s one of the best. She’ll make sure the shot is clean.”
“I’m sure she will,” I said. “Doesn’t seem like I have a choice.”
“You don’t.”
Monty stared at Douglas. I could tell he was trying to figure him out.
“Why are you part of this operation?” Monty asked. “Why are you helping Rott? Do you bear the dragons that much hatred?”
“I don’t care about dragons,” Douglas said, surprising me. “I care that the power structure of my city has been skewed for too long. No one group should wield that much power unchecked.”
“You feel causing their implosion will restore balance?”
“Or wipe them out completely,” Douglas said. “Either works in my book.”
“The vacuum left by their elimination would be filled by another,” Monty said. “Someone else will step in to take control.”
“Not if we stop them,” Douglas replied. “This plane belongs to humans. Only humans. Anything else needs to go or needs to be removed.”
“Things are never that simple,” Monty said. “There are beings on this plane beyond your understanding.”
“If they aren’t human, they’re not welcome. We start the cleansing tonight. You can use one of the rooms off the corridor to get situated. We leave in two. Any more questions?”
We were about to leave the situation room when I turned and faced Douglas again.
“You said if they aren’t human then they need to go, right?”
“That’s what I said,” Douglas replied, gruffly. “What of it?”
“That apply to Rott, or does he get a pass?” I asked. “I’m just curious if your cleansing applies to him, too.”
I saw a brief flash of anger, which he quickly masked.
“Rott is serving our cause,” Douglas said, giving me a hard look. “He shares in our vision, unlike some. What happened to him was an accident, and he uses his power for good. Those others out there? They will be dealt with, along with anyone sympathetic to their presence on our plane. They will all be expunged, starting with the dragon. You may go.”
It wasn’t a request. Douglas turned from me, ending the discussion, and pressed a button on a console next to him. I heard the engine start up.
We stepped out of the situation room as a steel door slid closed, cutting off the area from the rest of the trailer. I saw Carlos at the other end of the corridor. He gave me a smile and a mocking salute as he glared my way.
I felt the trailer move as we stepped into one of the rooms. I made sure to remain silent. Monty had come to the same conclusion I had: the rooms were under surveillance. There was a good chance Douglas or Feelds was listening and watching us.
There was a small table and several chairs. I placed the long case on the floor next to me and smoothed out the map on the table, pretending to examine it.
“Let’s run over the op again,” I said, looking at my smaller copy of the map. “You will be situated where, again?”
Monty pointed to the map.
“Here,” he said, subtly placing three fingers on the map signaling every third word. “I think Rott will have to arrange to be here”—Monty placed five fingers on the map this time—“before the engine is killed.”
“Agreed,” I said. “Will you be able to distract Magnus long enough?”
Monty nodded.
“I will turn him away from you and position him near the automobile,” Monty said. “That will give you your opportunity. Don’t miss.”
“I won’t,” I said.
“Perhaps you should instruct your creature on his behavior,” Monty said. “We don’t want him to create a larger problem. You know he has a tendency to magnify the situation, increasing things to immense proportions.”
I nodded.
It was a slight exaggeration. I knew Feelds would try to put me down. She looked trained and dangerous, but I didn’t want Peaches focused only on me. Something told me Magnus wasn’t going to cooperate.
Some time later, the trailer stopped and Feelds appeared at the doorway.
“This is our stop,” she said, looking at me. “Let’s go.”
TWENTY-EIGHT
We reached my location, the roof of the Weill Cornell center, four blocks away from the designated distraction. I lay on the roof and set up my rifle, a Barrett Light Fifty beast that would easily fire past the four blocks without so much as breaking a sweat.
It all came back in a rush. The muscle memory was instant, and I assembled the pieces in a silent meditation, putting the rifle together in quick, smooth movements. I opened the tripod and stretched out on the roof.
I had a clear line of sight about a mile down West Broadway all the way past Canal Street and beyond. Feelds set up close to me and pulled out a specialized telescope.
She sighted down West Broadway and gave me a short nod with a thumbs up. Peaches grumbled on the floor next to my prone position.
“Good to go,” Feelds said. I heard her voice over the comms: “Firing solution in five.”
I looked down the scope and realized it was equipped with night vision. I scanned down the stre
et. The entrance to the TINY was unobstructed. I moved the scope down a few blocks and saw Monty standing in the center of Bogardus Plaza, a small park taking up the corner of the block between Chambers and Reade Streets.
“Eyes up,” Douglas said over the comms. “Delivery incoming.”
I moved the rifle slightly and spotted the Duezy heading down West Broadway. A few seconds later, I saw Gant come outside the restaurant and wait. The Midnight Ghost came to a stop in front of the TINY. It was as incredible as I imagined it would be. It was truly a piece of automotive art, and I could see why Magnus would opt for using it. The car made an impression. I saw Cecil get out and extend a clipboard to Gant, who signed it, taking the keys.
Cecil got into a waiting Urus and pulled away. Gant waited outside as Magnus and Rott stepped out of the restaurant. Gant handed Rott the keys, had some words with Magnus, then headed back inside.
“We have eyes on target,” Feelds said. “Package is being loaded. Thirty seconds to intercept.”
Rott held the door open for Magnus, who looked up in my direction for a brief second before getting in the Duezy. Rott got in, started the Duezy, and began heading south down West Broadway. The streets were mostly deserted this late at night, which meant little-to-no traffic. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly as I followed the progress of the Duezy.
One block and nothing. On the second block, I started seeing white smoke escape from under the hood.
“Engage target once out of the vehicle,” Douglas said over the comms. “Blaster will cover our tracks. Strong, you make sure you take the damn shot.”
Rott pulled over and got out, opening the hood. He was shaking his head and walked over to the other side of the Duezy, gesturing to Magnus to exit the vehicle.
“Sir, you need to get out,” I heard Rott over the comms. “It’s overheating and this is dangerous. I’ll call for a replacement. We should head back to the restaurant.”
“Can you fix it?”
“No, sir,” Rott said. “I’m not a mechanic. Especially not for a vehicle as unique as this.”
“Then what good are you?” Magnus asked angrily, as he stepped out of the Duezy and slammed the door. “This is unacceptable. Cecil and I will have words.”
“I understand, sir,” Rott said, closing the hood. “Please stand over there, sir.” Rott pointed to the sidewalk. “The street isn’t safe.”
“I am not a child—what’s your name again?”
“My name is Rott, sir.”
I scanned the area and saw Monty approaching. I scanned up the street and saw Gant along with several large men exiting the TINY. This was not good.
“We have incoming,” I said. “Four unfriendlies just exited the restaurant. I recommend we abort.”
“Negative,” Douglas said. “Blaster, stop them.”
“Copy that,” Carlos said over the comms. “This is going to screw the timetable, though.”
“It can’t be helped—do it,” Douglas said. “Do not let them reach Balfour. Mage, engage the dragon now. Strong, when you get the shot, take it. I don’t care who’s in the way. You take the shot, or everyone in Haven dies.”
I heard Carlos laugh.
“Lighting it up in three, two, one,” Carlos said counting it down. “Starting the party.”
I saw a barrage of rockets scream their way toward Gant and the men. As soon as the rockets impacted, the front of the restaurant exploded in an enormous bloom of flame.
“Now! Mage,” Douglas yelled, and Monty crossed the street. “Get him into position.”
“Magnus,” Monty said when he drew close. “It’s over.”
“You?” Magnus said, momentarily surprised. “What are you doing here?”
“Ending you,” Monty said, rushing Magnus as he gestured. “Your madness ends tonight.”
Magnus recovered fast, but not before Monty crashed into him. They collided and slammed into the Duezy in a flash of golden light. Monty held Magnus in a rear chokehold as he gestured with his free hand. From the way Magnus moved I could tell the hold wasn’t going to last.
“I was only going to kill Strong,” Magnus said. “But I can accommodate your demise as well, Montague.”
Magnus began moving Monty’s arm away from his neck.
“Take the shot, Strong!” Douglas called out. “Do it now!”
“Monty is in the way. I repeat, target is not clear.”
“You take it or I do,” Rott said, reaching into his jacket. “I’ll burn them both.”
“No,” I said. “This shot is mine.”
I took a deep breath, aimed, and squeezed the trigger.
TWENTY-NINE
The round raced at Monty, hitting him in the shoulder and punching through Magnus’ chest, 1.1 seconds after I fired. A spray of blood created a cloud of death around the two men as they launched forward several feet from the impact.
“Carlos, plant the Obouros assassin,” Douglas said. “Rott, check vitals. Make sure Balfour is gone.”
I saw Rott crouch over the bloody body of Magnus as Carlos carried a body bag near the Duezy. He opened it and pulled out the body of a man I didn’t recognize. A few seconds later, Douglas came into view.
“Balfour is down,” Rott said, standing up as Douglas drew a weapon. “That’s one down, and—”
“I’m sorry, old friend,” Douglas said, pointing the gun at Rott. “I want you to know your death won’t be in vain.”
“What are you doing?” Rott said. “We’re taking them out, the dragons.”
“No, I’m taking them out,” Douglas said. “Carlos.”
Carlos crouched over Magnus and pulled out a syringe. He drew blood from Magnus’ arm and then walked over to Douglas.
“Are you sure?” Carlos asked, hesitating. “We don’t know…”
“Do it,” Douglas barked. “Now.”
Carlos plunged the syringe into Douglas, injecting the blood into his arm.
“No!” Rott exclaimed in shock. “What have you done?”
“I’ve acquired power, George. The power to eliminate my enemies—the enemies of Shadow Company.”
“Dragon blood is poison to humans,” Rott said, stepping back. “You’ve lost your damn mind.”
“No, George, for the first time I can see clearly,” Douglas said. “A grief-stricken father who could never get over the loss of his daughter, who tracked and murdered the dragon he felt was responsible…before taking his own life. It’s quite tragic, really.”
“Bullshit,” Rott said, lunging forward as Douglas fired. Rott collapsed to the ground as blood flowed freely from several wounds. “How?”
“Runed rounds,” Douglas said, glancing at his gun, “I had a few made for you, too. Can never be too careful.”
“You basta—” Rott started.
Douglas fired a double-tap to the head, ending Rott’s life. I scanned over and saw that Monty was hurt, but looked intact. Sirens were wailing in the night and I knew they would be swarming over the area soon. Explosions in the city had a tendency to attract attention. A flash of violet light from Monty caught my attention as Douglas pulled out a phone.
“Terminate them all,” Douglas said into the phone. “No survivors.”
A beam of white light filled the sky. It was bright enough to temporarily convert the night into day for a few seconds. I triangulated its location and my stomach fell.
Haven.
“That was some excellent marksmanship, Strong,” Douglas said, looking in my direction. “It’s a pity we’re restructuring the Company, or else I’d invite you to join us.”
“Fuck you, Douglas.”
“I had a feeling you’d say that,” Douglas said. “Feelds, escort Strong along to his next life.”
I felt the barrel of her gun against my side.
“It’s not personal,” Feelds said. “We don’t need two shooters, and Shadow Company doesn’t—”
“Leave loose ends, I know. You don’t want to do this. He’ll betray you the same way he d
id Rott.”
“I’m not Rott,” Feelds said. “I’m one hundred percent human, and you, your mage, and that thing you call a dog aren’t. Goodbye, Strong.”
She pulled the trigger three times. The kinetic energy shoved me across the roof. The jacket Monty gave me held up. My ribs took the brunt of the impact, breaking at least two. My body flushed hot as it repaired the damage. I rolled to a stop several feet away in agony.
I could sense her get to her feet as she approached to deliver the killing blow.
Peaches blinked out, taking her by surprise. He re-appeared a second later, tackling her down to the floor. She landed hard on her back with his jaws around her neck. She was good and kept it together, but the fear in her eyes betrayed her. I didn’t blame her—I’d be scared shitless, too.
“Feelds? Report,” I heard Douglas demand over the comms. “Is it done?”
I walked over to where Feelds lay, kicked her gun away, and drew Grim Whisper. The absence of blood or wounds on me only served to ratchet up her fear. I nodded to her and motioned for her to answer Douglas.
“He’s down, sir,” Feelds replied with a slight rasp. “Him and that dog of his.”
“Good job,” Douglas said. “Regroup at the trailer in ten.”
“Roger that,” Feelds said. “See you in ten.”
I removed Feelds’ comm and tossed it off the roof along with mine.
“I’m going to make this simple for you,” I said, my body hot from the healing. “I don’t like being shot, which means right now I’m in a bad mood. My hound doesn’t like people trying to hurt me, and he’s pissed. So pissed that he’s ready to bite through your throat.”
“How are you still alive?” she asked, fear gripping her words. “I shot you point blank. Three times. Your heart should be shredded right now.”
“I think the important question is: Do you want to see the sunrise?”
She took a few moments to consider the question, and then nodded.
Requiem: A Montague & Strong Detective Novel (Montague & Strong Case Files Book 13) Page 19
