Chapter 23

I hugged my arms around myself, trying to stave off the late November chill. My breath hung in the air like the menacing pall that had taken over my conscience. The air around me was cold, but the anger seething inside of me kept me warm. I sat at a central picnic table, Rei at my side, while a quartet of Razors sat at benches arrayed several meters behind us. The florescent light fixtures above us cast a bluish-white illumination over the gravel-paved café commons, creating a halo of light amid the dark wooded park around us. Except for the six of us, the Red Tomato was empty. The only customers, a couple of norms on a date, had picked up and hauled tail once we moved in. The clerk was now busy closing up shop. Even the squirrels that usually frolicked on the café's boundaries were noticeably absent. It was as if everyone could sense the air of nervous malice radiating off of our assembled group.

My ear-throat commlink buzzed for my attention on a private channel. I held my hand to the device attached to my neck. "Yeah?"

"Peaches." It was Sugar. "You got a minute?"

"Sure," I subvocalized. "Michelson shouldn't be here for another few minutes. What's up?"

"I wanted to talk to you about this plan again."

"Okay."

"As you know, I'm hacked into the GridGuide system alright, but I can't do anything too overt or the system's Intrusion Countermeasures will be all over me. Plus, I'm not going to be able to stop all of those Lonestar calls. This is going to turn messy real quick."

I sighed. "Look, we already went over this. I know what I'm doing, and—"

"I don't mean that. I mean…" She trailed off as if searching for the right words. "I just wanted to tell you to be careful."

My previous indignation began to melt away. "Thanks," I said with genuine warmth, "I appreciate that."

"I love you," she said quietly. She hurried to explain before I could respond. "I know I don't say it very much, and I've been kind of a bitch lately, but I do. I love you." She said those three words louder this time, as if to affirm herself of the fact too. "Just promise me you'll get out of this alive."

I knew it wasn't a pledge that was in my power to keep, but I couldn't think of anything else to say. "I promise," I whispered.

I was about to say something else when Sugar interrupted, bringing the conversation to a close. "Damn, Michelson's motorcade just stopped outside the park. They're early. You better get your people ready."

"Understood." I moved to switch channels but paused. "Sugar?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you too." Before she could say anything else, I clicked the comm. and closed the channel.

"What was that about?" Rei asked in a huskier voice than normal.

"Sugar says Michelson is on his way," I replied, pushing down the well of emotion that threatened to seep through into my voice.

She let her breath out in a rush. "You think he is going to keep his word?"

"Of course not. But neither are we."

"You got that right."

At that moment I caught sight of several warm bodies making their way along the forest path between the road and the café. "Here they come. Tell the Razors to stay frosty."

Rei turned to make a signal to the gangers while I contacted Blitz over the comm.

"Blitz, you got that surveillance drone in position?"

"Yeah, I can see their little convoy from here. He's got quite the entourage—two SUVs and a pair of Toyota Elites."

"What about personnel?"

"He left half of them with the vehicles. My guess is they're there for help in case things go south. It looks like he might be planning on keeping his side of the bargain."

I grunted noncommittally. "You watch them and tell me if they make a move. Got me?"

"I got you, P."

"Peaches?"

I looked down at Rei. "Yeah?"

"Whatever happens here tonight, just know that I'm behind you all the way. It's not necessarily been a fun trip, but there's no one I'd rather have along for the ride than you."

A slight smile crept onto my lips. "Ditto."

The sound of crunching gravel interrupted our conversation. I turned my attention to the group of corporate goons that had emerged from the woods and passed into the aura of halogen lighting. Michelson and his head of security were in the lead with Jesus and Boris just behind. Three security personnel, six in total, flanked the procession on either side. None of them wore anything denoting them as Ayanami employees, but every one of them had the hard look of loyal company men that had come ready for business. Most had on some kind of armored clothing, and even though I couldn't see any weaponry, I could be sure that they were all packing some kind of firepower.

Gravel crunched underfoot as Michelson drew close. He smiled predatorily. "Mr. Peaches. I'm glad to see you. I was afraid you might have had second thoughts. I'm glad your sense of reason won out after all." He switched his gaze to Rei. "Ms. Ayanami. A pleasure as always."

Rei's fixed him with a smoldering stare.

Michelson's smile never faltered as he slid into the seat across from me. Jesus and Boris likewise joined him, but everyone else remained standing.

"I hope you don't mind, but I brought along some chaperones." He gestured to the men and women arrayed behind him.

"I brought some company too," I said, jerking my thumb back at the Razors behind us. "Do you have our payment?"

"Straight to business then. Yes, I have it right here." He produced a silvery credstick and a chip case, sliding them across the table.

Rei picked up the credstick and slotted it in a reader she produced from the folds of her coat. She nodded to me, and I took my pocket secretary from out of my jacket, inserting the chip. After verifying the authenticity of the document, I tucked both the secretary and the credstick into my pocket, fixing Michelson with an expectant stare.

"The hard copy?"

"Yes, of course." He took an envelope from his breast pocket and handed it to me. "I trust everything is in order now?"

"Not yet." I switched my gaze to Jesus. "I think you have something that belongs to me."

He smiled. "What, no hello for your old friend?"

I glowered at him.

"Fine, fine. Don't throw a fit. Boris, give the man his gun."

The dwarf shifted, pulling the revolver out from where he had stashed it at the back of his waistband. He held the weapon out over the table, its chrome surface glinting in the harsh overhead light. My gaze lingered over the inscription on the barrel before I reverently reached out and took hold of the handle, taking possession once more. Hefting it experimentally, I found that it felt heavy. Initially I didn't think Jesus could have been that stupid, but I'd owned that pistol long enough to know the difference in weight. It was still loaded. My cybernetic Smartlink confirmed the suspicion.

Michelson cleared his throat. "Now, if you will relinquish Ms. Ayanami, we can conclude our business."

He motioned to his cronies, and Boris stood, moving around the table to take Rei by the arm. He jerked her to her feet and started to drag her back toward the road, but I didn't give him the chance.

The hammer on the Warhawk drew back with an ominous snick as I surged to my feet, leveling the weapon at Michelson's surprised face.

"Not so fast."

Everyone froze, hands on their weapons.

"What is the meaning of this?" Michelson blustered. "I've upheld my end of the bargain."

"You think you can cross me and just brush me off with some cred and a kind word?" I snarled. "I don't want your damn money. You owe me more than that."

For a moment silence reigned as that pregnant statement echoed in my ears. Then Jesus laughed—a mocking laugh that seemed to resound throughout the park.

I abruptly shifted my aim toward him. "What are you laughing at? You're in this just as deep as he is."

"It's just funny, is all. You claim that this isn't about money, yet you pocket his credit so willingly. The hypocrisy is amusing."

"You're one to talk," I snarled back. "For eight years you pretended to be my friend, and then sold me out the moment you saw an opportunity."

"Your friend?" His voice took on a steely edge I didn't think him capable of. "You haven't gotten it yet, have you? I never was your 'friend.' The work we do is a business—a business, Peaches. There is no room for friends in the shadows. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. Learn from your mistakes. Stick to the deal, and everyone goes home."

"No," I said through clenched teeth. "I'm not leaving until I'm repaid in full."

He just smiled again. "Be a good boy. Take the money and walk away."

I wasn't interested in hearing any more. Without another word, without warning, and without preamble, I pulled the trigger.