5. Town Hall

"Where did you go?" Caine asked, he was sitting in a large maroon chair, formerly belonging to the mayor of Perdido Beach.

"I went to get Jack," I said nonchalantly.

"And where was Computer Jack?"

"Nowhere. He was just wandering, lost." Why was I covering for this little worm? "I ran into that girl. The blond with the strange brother."

"Yes?"

"They call her Astrid the Genius," not a title one would really be proud of. "I think she's involved with that kid, the fire kid."

"His name is Sam." I knew that. Obviously. It wasn't easy to forget the name of the only other four bar in the FAYZ.

"I think Astrid's someone we need to keep an eye on."

"Did you read her?" Caine asked, he leaned forward in his chair like I was about to announce that he had won the lotto.

"I got a partial read, so I'm not sure." I said, drawing out the suspense, testing how far I could push him.

"Why am I begging for information here? Just tell me."

I waited another second or two before saying, "She's on about two bars."

"Any idea what her powers might be? Lighter? Speeder? Chameleon? Not another Dekka, I hope. She was difficult. And hopefully not a Reader like you Diana." Ah, some useful information. Caine had just confirmed that I wasn't here just because of his little crush on me. I was useful to him, in more ways than one. For now.

"No idea. I'm not even sure she's two bars."

"Put her on the list, Jack. Astrid the Genius: two bars. With a question mark."

Jack flipped out his PDA (Personal Doom Archives, as I called it) and began typing feverishly. Tired of standing I plopped down on the couch, and began rifling through the magazines there.

"That went better than I hoped," Caine was saying. "I predicted there'd be some local bully we'd have to deal with. And I said there would be a natural leader. We get the bully working for us, and we keep an eye on the leader until we're ready to deal with him."

"I'll keep an eye on him. He's cute," I said, just to bother Caine. I was really rather indifferent to Sam Temple. Besides, it seemed he had a liking for blondes…

"Did you get a reading on him?"

"No. I didn't have a chance." The longer Caine needed me, the longer I was safe from Drake. It was critical that I remain useful. If I gave Caine the information he needed right of the bat, my worthiness would dwindle.

"Do it as soon as you can. You saw the way everyone looked at him? And when I asked for nominations, he was the first name mentioned. I don't like it, his being Nurse Temple's son. That's a bad coincidence. Get a read on him. If he has the power, we may not be able to wait to deal with him." Caine said darkly.

"Wow, you know you kind of sound like the godfather. It's terrifying, truly." He glared at me. "No, really! I'm shaking in my boots."

He sighed, "Where's Drake?"

"Probably bossing around his new posse. I think we should start calling him the Mean Machine. It has a nice ring to it, huh?"

Caine rolled his eyes, "Jack, go find Drake."

Jack gulped but hurried out of the room. "Remind me why we keep him around." I said, as Jack jumped at the slamming of the door.

"Because he is the Coates version of Astrid the Genius."

"Blah," I said. I stuck a finger down my throat and making a gagging face.

"You really don't like her do you?"

"She thinks she's so smart, you know? Yet she's not smart enough to see that she could have a brain the size of a watermelon, and it wouldn't make a bit of difference in the FAYZ."

"I guess. She's pretty though, really nice eyes. She's obviously smart enough to get Sam on her side. It's kind of like what you do with me, Diana."

"Do not compare me to her."

"Why don't you want to be compared to her? I mean she's pretty, smart, talented…"

"Why don't you take your comparisons and shove them up your ass, where they belong." I got up from the coach, seething.

"Where are you going?" He asked, mockingly.

"I don't know. Maybe to see if Sam Temple wants to compare me to Astrid. Though first I'd have to give him something to compare with…"

Caine stiffened, "Panda found you a house." I raised my eyebrows in mock curiosity. "It's on Golding Street, you know near the school?"

"I know it. I suppose I could stop there for a little while. I am kind of tired, and I'd love to get out of this uniform." I said, stretching luxuriously. I could have sworn his mouth was watering.

"I could stop by later. You know, to see how you're settling in."

"Whatever." I replied, waving dismissively. I stalked out of the room with feline grace; knowing it would be a while before Caine was ready to see me, or anyone else.