Shadows (Ultrahumans Book 2) (21 page)

‘Annoying,’ Andrea commented.

‘Yeah, but we were too late getting here.’

‘And now
you
have to explain why we’re standing over a corpse wrapped in woodchip.’

‘Probably more easily than she could have.’

~~~

‘Or not,’ Andrea said as Detective Silvian stalked toward Twilight, his face suggestive of a thunder cloud.

‘He has a sword wound,’ the policeman began without preamble. ‘I want–’

‘You
have
a witness telling you it was the Judge who stabbed him,’ Twilight stated flatly. ‘I
saw
you grilling someone who’s probably a pensioner as though she was the criminal here. You were trying to persuade her I did it, weren’t you?’

‘I was determining the veracity of her statement. You’ll give me–’

‘Do I have to file harassment charges against you, Detective?’

Silvian’s fists clenched and he glowered at her. ‘I know what you’ve been doing. I know where you were on Saturday night–’

‘So does most of the city. What the Hell are you talking about?’

There was a momentary look of confusion on the man’s face, but any further questions were forestalled by the arrival of a pair of UID vehicles, a car and a van. It looked like they were pulling out all the stops to try to catch the Judge. ‘They won’t stop me nailing you,’ Silvian growled. ‘I
know
.’ And then he stalked away, preparing to hand the case over to the agents.

‘What was that about?’ Twilight asked silently.

‘I’m not sure,’ Andrea replied. ‘He looked… It was almost like he was fighting to stay fixed on believing we were the bad guy here. I think I’ll give Viviane a call tomorrow. Ask her if she knows much about mind control.’

‘Right. I’d better talk to the UID. Jacob’s not here though.’

‘Well, it’s not like he and Heather are the
only
agents in the city.’

‘Yes, but… He’s the cutest.’

14
^th
May.

‘You don’t mind a long-distance call to England, do you?’ Andrea asked as she picked up the phone.

Penny grinned at her. ‘I’ll put it down as business expenses.’

Grinning back, Andrea dialled the number Viviane had given her and waited while the call connected, which seemed to take a while, and then there was one ring and…

A flare of light appeared in the middle of the lounge, causing both girls to cover their eyes. When they looked again, Viviane was standing there, dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, looking less like the haughty sorceress she normally portrayed and more like a concerned mother. Andrea put the phone down. ‘I guess there’s no charge.’

‘Are you all right?’ Viviane asked urgently. ‘I have sensed nothing wrong, but with the distance and–’

‘I’m fine,’ Andrea told her. ‘No problems. I just needed some advice and I thought you might be able to help. I didn’t think you’d come all the way here as soon as I called. How did you do that anyway?’

‘I took the liberty of forming a fixation on your physical pattern. I have you on… a sort of magical speed dial.’

‘Right… Uh, this is–’

‘Cygnus,’ Viviane interrupted. ‘The physical change is quite remarkable, but her power signature is quite unique. I will say nothing of this, even to the Union, have no fear.’

‘Thanks,’ Penny replied. ‘I prefer Penny when I’m this shape. Our other housemate, June, should be back soon. She had a meeting in the city.’

‘I assume it is safe to speak around her?’

‘She knows pretty much everything and she’s used to Ultras. She’s dating Red Huntress. Have a seat. Want coffee?’

‘Thank you, no, and Americans cannot make tea. I will be fine.’ The sorceress took a seat beside Andrea, appearing to relax now that the possibility of spreading darkness was delayed. ‘How may I help?’

‘I was wondering if you knew how to spot mind control?’ Andrea asked.

‘That depends entirely on the means of control. Please explain the circumstances.’

‘There’s a detective in the local police who seems determined to pin some murders on me. I don’t think he likes Ultras, but I met him last night and he seemed more intense about it. He said something about knowing what I’d been up to on Saturday night.’

‘The news of that particular exploit reached my ears in England. Nuclear weapons tend to generate media coverage.’

‘Yeah, but I don’t think he meant that, and he looked confused when I said
everyone
knew what I’d been doing. Then he kind of… refocussed, like he was taken off-guard and then his conviction was reinforced.’

Viviane frowned. ‘An unskilled use of certain techniques could result in that kind of effect. It is possible to condition someone to believe things which did not happen, or to forget things which did. Either form can conflict with reality and result in a breakdown of the conditioning if faced with enough evidence. I always ensured that my subjects were conditioned in a manner which would avoid such conflicts, but it takes careful planning to do correctly.’

‘You’re kind of at ease about being an ex-villain,’ Penny commented.

The sorceress gave her a bleak sort of smile. ‘There are a few things in my past life I regret now, but none can be undone. I have to live with them. And my insight into the mind of a truly evil person has assisted the Union on more than one occasion. Heroes think like heroes. That is not a bad thing, but it stops them considering some things which someone like me does think of.’

‘Like how mind control works,’ Andrea said. ‘So Silvian maybe had a false memory planted.’

‘More likely some form of conviction formed or strengthened. He
believes
you are responsible and has been presented with a “fact” to reinforce that, but it conflicts with reality.’

‘Is there any way we could check?’

‘Not unless this man would be willing to have a psychic examine him.’

‘That’s a no then.’

‘I didn’t know we were expecting guests.’ Everyone looked around as June breezed in. Her concession to business-wear was that her short dress was black.

‘Viviane, meet June Summerfield,’ Penny said. ‘Viviane popped over from England.’

June smiled. ‘Viviane the sorceress? Well, I suppose “popping” across the Atlantic is something you can do.’

Viviane smiled back. ‘Penny said that you were used to Ultras.’

‘Oh, pretty much had to relax around them when I got one as a flatmate.’ She fell onto the sofa beside Penny. ‘I’m going to Miami this Saturday. Swimwear shoot at short notice. Someone dropped out and they want me.’

‘Well, if you get a chance, say hi to Ever,’ Penny suggested.

‘Oh, I plan to
make
time. I like Ever.’

The sorceress raised an eyebrow. ‘Clearly
very
much at home with Ultras.’

16
^th
May.

There were two redheads in the office at the back of the Huntress’ Den. Red, of course, was sitting behind her desk, but Skadi was there, clad in a simple, short dress in pale purple, her hair pulled up into a bun. Hers was a true copper compared to Red’s strawberry-blonde and, with the cowl gone, she looked like an attractive, young girl.

‘No sign of the Judge since Skadi put a couple of arrows in him,’ Andrea said. ‘Maybe you hurt him more than you thought.’

‘I should have tried to wrap him,’ Skadi replied, shaking her head. ‘I… I guess I panicked a little.’

‘Staying calm in those circumstances is something which comes with time,’ Red replied. ‘It isn’t really something you can teach someone, except through experience.’

Cygnus nodded. ‘Facing off against someone like that, unprepared, is not easy. And at least he seems to be laying low for the moment.’

‘Have you been keeping an eye on Tonaldo?’ Red asked.

‘Just the usual,’ Andrea replied. ‘I’ve heard nothing much about new shipments and the apartments have been quiet for a while.’

‘I’ve been hearing some rumours. There have been some odd shifts in the chain of command. Various old names have gone missing suddenly. It seems like the family is tightening control in some areas they were losing.’

‘Well, he was bound to get his act together sooner or later. I think Lena threw him for a loop, but it was just a matter of time.’

‘Perhaps. I’m a little worried that someone else has taken control. Recent events could have been seen as a sign of weakness.’

‘We can ask a few dealers,’ Cygnus suggested. ‘Politely, of course.’

‘I’ll keep an eye on the apartments,’ Andrea added. ‘If there are new faces about, I’ll know.’

Red nodded. ‘June’s trying to get an early night?’

‘Early flight tomorrow,’ Cygnus replied, nodding. ‘I think they start shooting in the afternoon.
Very
last minute.’

‘These things happen,’ Red replied, ‘and you have to grab opportunities when they present themselves.’

‘That’s a fact,’ Skadi said, smiling.

17
^th
May.

‘Anything?’ Cygnus asked as she slipped into hiding beside Twilight.

‘A whole lot of not much. We
are
seeing new faces, but more old ones. There are always a few new people around.’

‘Yeah… Well, the drug dealers are mostly hiding from the Judge. I saw a few of the really low-level ones.’

‘Unlikely they’d know anything.’

‘So I put a few out of action if I saw them actually dealing and left the rest. Still, you know it seems like an overreaction considering no one’s seen the Judge since Skadi shot him.’

Twilight frowned. ‘Like they’ve pulled in their horns, and not from fear.’

‘Somehow that doesn’t sound like a good thing.’

‘No. Andrea thinks the shadows are gathering.’

‘I’d have thought that would be just up your alley.’

The brunette gave a shrug, her face in darkness. ‘There are shadows, and then there are shadows.’

18
^th
May.

‘Is he dead?’ Rex asked as Diamond walked into what had been Tonaldo’s office.

‘No, he’s still alive. I don’t want him dead yet. There’s more he needs to tell me.’

‘He’s lasting well.’

‘I’m working to keep him in pain. Sewing him up without anaesthetic helps. How are things coming along?’

‘We’ve got things, uh, sewn up pretty well. All Tonaldo’s people are either at the table, or they’ve cashed their chips. The contact information you got out of him has put us in touch with his Miami and Brazilian people, and they either saw how the cards were falling or didn’t care who they’re playing with as long as the pot was big enough.’

‘Very good. Whatever happened to old Slapstick?’

‘The Fortress. Word is Twilight left him scared of the dark. Jane’s still working on that detective. We’ve been keeping tabs and he’s just about frothing at the mouth. Some new player, calls herself Skadi, put a couple of arrows in the Judge on Tuesday. No one’s seen him since.’

‘Hmm… Twilight’s a problem. She’s shown a lot of interest in Tonaldo, and she needs to pay for hurting poor ol’ Slapstick.’

‘Cygnus will be right behind her.’

‘I think we’re about ready to fold on both of them. The trick’s gonna be figuring out how.’

‘Perhaps I can be of assistance.’ The voice came from the shadows in the corner of the room and Rex was pointing a pistol in that direction even before the black-clad figure stepped into the light.

‘Honey, you’d better have a real good explanation for surprising me like that,’ Diamond said, frowning, ‘or Rex here’ll paint the wall with your brains.’

‘My name is Durant, and I have a proposition for you. A proposition which will rid you of both Cygnus and Twilight.’

Diamond’s hand moved and Rex holstered his revolver. ‘Well, I’m not so fond of your choice of colour, but I’ll listen. How, exactly, are we going to get rid of them?’

‘The key,’ Durant said, ‘is information, and I have a lot of it. They are powerful and smart, but they have friends. I can give you names and locations. All you have to do is eliminate them and your enemies will be too busy worrying about that to look out for themselves.’

‘That’s right neighbourly of you, Mister Durant, but no one hands out chips without a payback. What’s in this for you?’

‘That’s simple, and to your benefit.’ Durant smiled and for some reason a shiver ran down Diamond’s spine. ‘All I want in return is Twilight.’

Part Five: Friends and Family

Everglades, FL, 20
^th
May 2014.

June walked out to the edge of the short jetty and stopped, waiting. The view was not exactly spectacular, but it was certainly natural. The heroine who presided over the great swamp tended to dissuade people from doing anything which disturbed the natural order there, and she was one of the most powerful Ultras in the world, even if her power extended only to the boundaries of her wetland territory.

This was the first chance June had had to take a break since arriving and the fresh air was feeling particularly good as she pulled in a deep breath and watched the sunlight glinting off the light ripple in the surface of the water. Contacting Ever was not a particularly easy thing to do, but June figured if she stood there and waited, the goddess of the Everglades would turn up if she had an inclination to do so.

There was an odd sound, like water rushing
up
a plug hole, and then a soft, beautiful voice said, ‘It is a pleasure to see you again, June.’

June turned and smiled at the woman who had appeared on the dock just behind her. ‘I told Cygnus I’d try to say hello if I got
any
chance to.’

Ever smiled back. For her, the term ‘exotically beautiful’ had almost been invented. Slim and stunningly attractive, Ever was possessed of the kind of figure women would pay huge sums of money to plastic surgeons to achieve, but her skin and waist-length hair were green. The colour just seemed to add to her looks. The fact that she almost never wore clothing did not detract from them either.