Outcast: A Corporation Novel (The Corporation) (12 page)

I stand up and take the bowl with me out of the room. I turn around once more and look at Gandā. I tell myself I see the corners of his mouth turned up, ever so slightly, in a pleased expression. Either from my plan or my complement, it doesn’t matter.

Ethan

It’s come to the point where I need more answers than I have, and I need them from the source. Or, at least as close to the source as I can get. Which is why I’m scouring the streets for Bak Amul, the Black Market Artist who was handing out faulty tattoos like they were free ration stamps. Through a combination of skill, threats, and pure luck, I was able to get the location of where he’s currently holed up.

Although no longer giving faulty Marks, he’s still hanging out in Neech. I wonder why he’s still here if my father is no longer having him conduct experiments on the unsuspecting. I’m sure it isn’t for the culture or atmosphere. He’s either done something to make the Corporation very angry, or, his mission is not yet complete. I’m guessing it is the latter of the two, since the Corporation tends to just kill whoever it is that’s made them look bad or angry.

I’m staring at his back, leaned up against a wall. He’s a tall and lanky man, but his shoulders are rounded in, making him look smaller. His clothes don’t look like they’ve come from the Inner City made to look like they’re from the Outer City, his clothes actually look like they’re from Neech—threadbare and ill fitting. His shirt is far too big, with the neckline leaning towards one shoulder and tipping towards his back, exposing a defined shoulder blade and few vertebrae of his neck. His shirttails are tucked halfway into the waist of his pants, which are too small. They come up a good two or three inches from his shoes and the legs look too tight to be comfortable. He does a series of halfhearted squats before he turns around. He’d been urinating. On the brick wall. In public.

“That’s disgusting,” I say, with my lip curled and my brow furrowed. “There are such things as bathrooms.”

He eyes me with half interest. “A wall works just as well.”

“My name is Ethan Hughes—”

“I know exactly who you are. What do you want?” He walks past me and out into the empty street. “I heard ya been lookin' for me.”

“I need you to get a message back to someone in Dahn.”

He barks out a laugh and keeps moving. I walk after him. “Why would I want to do that?”

“Before I left Dahn, I found some interesting information. A list of names of people who had been given faulty Marks by you.”

“That ain’t news, son. Your father had me keep records of who I done.”

“But he doesn’t have all the records, does he?”

Bak slows. “What are you sayin’?”

“I’m saying that that wasn’t the correct list. Or rather, that wasn’t the
full
list. You’ve been giving Marks to others that you don’t put on the list for the Corporation.”

“There ain’t no way you could know any of that.”

“My father has had me watching Neech for a long time, Bak. He’s been having me watch specific people. You were one of them. I kept track of everyone that came and went from your place.” I reach into my back pocket and take out a small notebook wrapped with elastic. “This is the true list of your clients.” His eyes go a little bit wider and he takes half a step towards me. I hold up my hand. “If I’d given this information to my father, you’d be dead by now. Or worse. I’ve held on to it and never breathed a word of it because I knew, one day, it would serve me better. You’re going to get a message into Dahn for me, or my father is going to see this little book.” I slip it back into my pocket.

“Or, I could just take it from you now.”

“You think this is my only copy? You think I don’t have someone that is going to get this straight to my father if I don’t come back from this little meeting? I’m not an amateur at these games.”

“Akin wouldn’t believe you. You’re on his most wanted list.”

“He may be rash, but he is a businessman, and he would not overlook what I would have to give him.”

“It would be worth death to you, to give him that book because I refused to do what you ask?”

“I think my father would find that very interesting. And I don’t think he would take the time to hear your side of the story.”

Bak thinks it over, but I’m pretty sure that’s just for show. “What’s the message?”

“I need you to tell D’mitri to meet me.”

“That snake?”

“Tell him I need him to meet me at the safe house tonight at midnight.”

“That's only hours away.”

“Four.”

“And what if he decides you aren’t worth his time?”

“If D’mitri doesn’t show tonight, I go to my father and tell him all your little secrets. So it’s in your best interest to convince him.” I turn and walk away, needing D’mitri to be intrigued enough to come. I don’t have any more bluffs to play.

Karis

I loop my scarf a couple of more times around my head, covering my mouth and cheeks to fight against the slight nip that's come to hover in the air. I have to hurry, it’s about to start.

There are set time intervals for everyone to come to the meetings, so we’re not caught. No one is allowed to come in through the front door. There is a cellar at The Tavern and a tunnel that connects to a couple of other nearby buildings. People enter through different cellar doors hidden throughout the streets. The windows are boarded from the inside, same with the doors. The only lights are the few candles Ethan and I supply.

I'm almost to my designated entrance near the tanner's place, one of the four secret entrances into the underground tunnel, when I see a couple of shadows, a dozen or so yards away, standing too close together to be up to any good. There can only be a couple of options as to who they are, out here in the open, this late at night. And none of them are good.

I give my head a quick shake, once, and head towards the cellar door. I really can't be late, again. I don't want to deal with Ethan. But some of the words being spoken between the two figures reach my ear, and I swear I hear Ethan’s name.

I let the handle fall, quietly, back on the soft wood of the doors, and enjoy the burn of my muscles as I stand back up as slow as I can. My steps are careful, yet purposeful as I edge to the street, against the building.

I watch them. Men, I can tell that much for sure. One is tall, the other a bit shorter, and rounder. The taller stands erect, shoulders back, frame stiff. He seems to be irritated or losing patience with the other man. The shorter one has his hands at his sides, but he's kind of leaning forward, like he's trying to be intimidating or something. At one point he even begins poking the taller man in the chest. Immediately, the one being poked shoves the shorter man back, almost knocking him to the ground. I use that moment of disarray to get closer.

I stick to the opposite side of the street, to shadows, doorways, and anything else that can help keep me hidden. I try to keep my breathing quiet and even. I know they can't hear it, but it’s echoing in my ears so loudly that I’m afraid I won't be able to make out what they're saying.

As soon as I'm brave enough to lean out from the doorway I'm huddled in, I risk a glance. The taller man is a Guard, and he looks familiar, but I can't place him. I know the shorter man for sure, and the blood underneath my skin begins to heat up. It's Raj. I knew he couldn't be trusted, and here's proof. The Guard doesn't look happy with Raj, and he's poking him in the chest, making Raj's shoulders cave with every potent stab.

“You were given a very specific and easy task to do,” the Guard says.

“And I'm doing it.” Raj is trying to sound tough, but I can hear the fear and uncertainty behind his words.

“You're not moving fast enough.”

“Tonight,” Raj says, finally pushing the Guard's hand away. “I'm doing it tonight.”

“And what makes you think he'll go for it?”

“Because Ethan has no other choice. He has to do it or I'll tell his little secret to everyone; ruining his chances of gaining support forever.”

“You'd better make good on this promise, Raj, otherwise Mr. Hughes will not be a happy man. You've broken too many already.”

“And what about Akin's promise? What about my family?”

Family?
Raj has more than his murdered wife and daughter?

“When you come through on your end, we'll come through on ours.”

“I need something from Akin before I finish all of this. Can’t I see them? Only for a moment.”

The Guard presses his big frame into Raj's space. “You ask that question again, and the deal is off.”

“You don't have that authority!”

“The only ones who know what goes on out here between you and me, is me, and I can make it be whatever I want it to be back in Dahn. Remember that.” He straightens up. “Now go to the meeting, if you’re too late, it will look suspicious.”

Raj says something under his breath but turns and heads towards the entrance over at the cobbler's place. The Guard shakes his head and says, “Pathetic” before turning away, heading up the street. Who do I follow? Raj will be easy enough to see again—I know where he's going—so I opt for the Guard.

I cross the street as quickly and quietly as I can and jump up onto the pitted sidewalk. The toe of my boot kicks a chunk of rubble and it goes skittering into the side of a building. I suck in my breath and look for somewhere to hide. There's an overturned and broken hand cart, so I duck down behind that. The Guard's boots stop and I hear a scrape as his heel swivels on the cement.

“I said, get back to the—”

There's silence for three breaths, then the steady beat of his boots again.

I close my eyes for one heartbeat, then hurry to catch up. I round a corner and stop short, skittering back and pressing my spine up against the wall. He's at a Comm Station, his back to me.

“It's Tucker. Raj says tonight is the night. I don't know if he'll come through or not, but I've certainly given him the motivation to.” He chuckles, but must get reprimanded because he snaps his body up so that he's standing at attention. “Yes, sir. Understood, sir. It won't happen again. Yes, he's going to give the proposal to Ethan at tonight's meeting. Yes, I'll fill you in when I get more information. Good night, sir.” He hangs up with a loud clamp of the receiver on the base. “Stale old windbag,” he curses.

I wait for him to walk away before I think about moving again. He heads off in the direction he was going, disappearing into the night. I count to ten and head back towards where I came from. Ethan won't be happy with me, but being late is better than not showing up at all. Especially when I give him this bit of news.

As I near The Tavern, I see people filtering out at the different entry and exit points.
The meeting is over already?
That makes me anxious, it couldn't have gone well. I'm nervous for Ethan, I want to know what Raj wants with him and what he was going to corner him with tonight.

७

I see it in his eyes, first. Then the set of his jaw and the lines of tension in his face. “I'm sorry I'm late. It's a valid reason.”

“So, what, all the other reasons you’ve given me weren't?”

I clench my teeth together. Now is not the time to fight. “I saw something you need to know about.”

“What?” He sounds so tired and worn out.

“I was late because I was spying on Raj who was out talking with a Guard.”

He looks interested. “What were they talking about?”

I shake my head and look down at my hands, frustrated with the lack of information I actually have for him. “I'm not sure, I couldn't hear it all. They were talking about you, though, and some sort of trap or plan they have.” I look up. I know he can see the concern in my face. I place my hand on his arm, trying to channel my sincerity and love through all this tension surrounding us all the time. “Please, be safe. I don't trust him; and if something ever happened to you...” I can't bring myself to finish the thought.

He squeezes my hand. “I know. You should head on back. I'll finish up here.”

“You sure?”

“I'm sure,” he says.

“Be careful.”

“I will.” He grabs for me and pulls me close, more out of habit than anything else, I think. But once I’m in his arms, close to his body, our actions become so much more than just routine. I lean in as he sweeps the hair out of my face and he whispers, “I love you.”

My eyes warm and a smile spreads easily across my face, and for a moment, it's like nothing's changed. Our kiss is slow and simple, and a shiver sweeps over my body. I can tell the action has the same effect on him. My fingers dig into his back with my hug before I pull away. Even in the tenderness we just shared, I feel the shift that's happening between us, and I can't stop it. What makes me sicker, is that I'm not sure I want to.

“I'll see you later,” I say.