Hex (6 page)

“The Countess has found Rachel's adoptive parents,” he announced as Kez walked in the door. “One of her contacts recognized their pictures, some ganger who works the area. They've changed their names, which was why we couldn't find them.”

“What about Rachel?” Raven asked.

“Nothing.” Wraith's face clouded over a little. “The person who recognized them didn't remember having seen her. But he said they had two kids.”

“That's great!” Kez said enthusiastically, inwardly wondering if Raven and Wraith would dump him as soon as they found their sister. “Are you going to find them now?”

“Let me check them out in the nets instead,” Raven suggested. Kez was surprised at this uncharacteristic display of caution but Wraith's reaction was one he couldn't have anticipated.

“Instead?” He stared piercingly at Raven. “Don't you want to see Rachel?”

“I came to London with you, didn't I?” Raven bristled, taking umbrage at her brother's tone. “I'm just not as obsessed with this thing as you are, OK?”

“This isn't obsession.” Wraith shook his head. “You just have no idea, do you, Raven? You can't relate to other people at all, just machinery.” His gray eyes were as hard as ice and Raven stared back at him, white with rage. She was too angry even to speak. Swinging around, she headed for one of the bedrooms, slamming the door behind her with a crash.

Kez stared after her in alarm, then turned to look at Wraith, utterly astonished.

“It sounded like you hate her,” he said in amazement.

“I don't know Raven very well anymore,” Wraith said stiffly. “When she stops sulking, tell her I've gone to find Rachel.” Kez only hesitated for a moment.

“I'm coming with you,” he told Wraith.

“I don't recall inviting you,” Wraith said coldly.

“Oh no.” Kez shook his head. “You're not leaving me behind now. You got her into this mood—I don't want to be here until she gets out of it.”

“Come on then,” Wraith said shortly and headed for the door. Kez followed him as quickly as he could. But they had barely reached the flitter when they heard the music starting up behind them, even louder than before.

As he strapped himself into the passenger seat of the flitter Kez wondered if he should have told Raven about his encounter with the Gateshall clique in the mall. But the thudding noise he could hear even with the flitter's doors shut warned him against returning to the apartment. As Wraith took off, Kez settled himself more comfortably in his seat, hoping that in subjecting herself to that atonal din Raven would work herself back into a reasonable mood.

•  •  •

When the group left Arkade, Zircarda and Caitlin went back with Ali to her apartment. By the time they had stretched out in the lounge in front of the vidscreen, Ali and Caitlin were bored by the thought of Elizabeth Black and Kester Chirac. However, Zircarda had decided Kez was an original: dressing like a ganger but too young to be a genuine threat. A new addition to Belgravia was always an event since the complex attracted some of the richest and most influential people in the city. Knowing the new arrivals before anyone else would add to Zircarda's social standing and, through Kez, she would be bound to be one of the first to meet Elizabeth. If anyone else had gone on in this way Ali and Caitlin would have absented themselves. After all, Zircarda had only met a weird kid at least three years younger than them. But Zircarda was the undisputed leader of their clique and they listened patiently, agreeing whenever Zircarda paused for breath.

She had finally wound to a standstill in the middle of UltraX's chart show, which Ali and Caitlin had been watching with half an eye as they listened to her, when Bob Tarrell came in the front door of the apartment.

“Dad, what are you doing home?” Ali asked in surprise.

“I need to work on the arrangements for the party, honey,” he replied, already heading for his study. “Try and keep it down in here, kids, OK?”

“Sure, Dad,” Ali said and turned back to see Zircarda regarding her with an expression she had come to recognize. The brilliant smile, coupled with the calculating look in her eyes, could only mean that her friend wanted something.

“Hey, Ali,” Zircarda began, with a casual air. “What do you think of inviting Kez and his cousin to your party?”

“I don't know if my Dad would be keen on me inviting any more of my friends,” Ali replied uneasily. “He keeps saying that it's supposed to be for work.” Zircarda's expression began to change and Caitlin leaped in quickly before things could get uncomfortable:

“Ali, didn't you tell us yesterday that your Dad wants to change the format of one of his channels, and that he needs ideas?”

“Yes, I did,” Ali replied slowly.

“Well, Kez's cousin works for an alternative rock channel—maybe she would have some ideas,” Caitlin suggested, glancing at Zircarda for approval. She got it.

“And if your father invites Kez's cousin, we can introduce her to everybody!” she proclaimed triumphantly. Ali knew when she was beaten.

“I'll ask him when he next stops for a break,” she said. “He'll just be mad if I disturb him now.”

“OK,” Zircarda agreed, allowing the minor point now that she had got her own way again. “This party's going to be the most!”

•  •  •

The flitter pulled up on a tree-lined bridge in a quiet residential district. It was not as luxurious as the Belgravia Complex, but Kez thought it looked nice, attractive and peaceful. As they got out of the flitter he felt out of place in a way he hadn't in Belgravia. Wraith looked forbidding enough in his black leathers, and Kez felt as if anyone could tell at a glance that he was just a streetrat. When Wraith locked up the flitter he didn't move from its side.

“What's the matter?” Wraith asked.

“I shouldn't be here,” Kez said gruffly. “I don't fit in.”

“Snap out of it,” Wraith told him. Then, when Kez didn't move, he rested a hand lightly on his shoulder. “Come on, kid,” he said quietly. “No one here knows anything about you.”

“I'm not one of them,” Kez hissed. “I want to stay in the flitter.”

“I'm not going to leave you here,” Wraith informed him and Kez clenched his fists.

“I'm not going to steal it, Wraith.” He glared furiously. Then he deflated. “But I almost did, when you first picked me up. Raven wouldn't let me. You were right about me, weren't you? You can't trust anyone who lives on the streets!” He turned away, not wanting Wraith to look at him.

“Kez.” Wraith slung an arm on his shoulders. “Calm down.”

“Why don't you just get rid of me now?” Kez replied bitterly. “You'll do it anyway, just as soon as you find your sister.”

“No I won't,” Wraith replied seriously. He turned Kez to face him. “You really don't know anything about me, Kez,” he said. “And you definitely don't know anything about Raven.” He shook his head. “She attached you on a whim, Kez, and she could just as easily dump you again, probably without thinking twice about it.” He frowned. “But you needn't worry about what'll happen when we leave. I'll make sure you won't have to go back to the streets.” He sighed. “I might not trust you, Kez, and I know you don't like me very much. But I was a ganger for a long time, and the Kali always took care of their own.” He took Kez's arm firmly, forcing him to walk off down the bridge with him. “Now, come on. I don't want to waste any time.”

Kez fell into step with him obediently, wondering if he had misjudged Wraith. It was a few minutes before he could trust himself to speak.

“Do you still run with them, your gang?”

“No.” Wraith shook his head. “We parted company about a year ago. I was tired of being on the wrong side of the law at the time.”

“But Raven wasn't?”

“Raven's existence puts her on the wrong side of the law to start off with,” Wraith said. “She's never cared very much for conventional morality.” He didn't look at Kez as he added: “We haven't been close for a long time, but I've heard a lot about her from friends of mine. She's not really normal, Kez. In more ways than one.”

“Oh.” Kez was silent again. Not really knowing what to say, he decided to ask a question that had been bugging him since he first met them. “Are those your real names?” he asked. “Wraith and Raven.”

“No.” Wraith smiled, for the first time since Kez had met him. “Raven probably wouldn't be too pleased if I told you her real name. I think I'm the only one who remembers it. She's expunged all records of her original identity from the net. But mine is, was, Rhys. The Kali called me Wraith because of my hair.”

“And your skin, and your eyes,” Kez added, beginning to regain his confidence.

“As you say.” Wraith nodded. “Raven chose her own name. She has quite a reputation back in Denver.”

“Not a good one, huh?” Kez asked.

“No,” Wraith said grimly. Then he came to a halt outside one of the towers. “This is it. Three floors up.”

“I hope you find your sister,” Kez said, as they entered the building. “You must really miss her.”

“I'm responsible for her,” Wraith replied, a little sternly. Then he added: “But yes, I miss her as well.”

The apartment they wanted was numbered thirty-seven, and when Wraith touched the call signal beside the door it opened almost immediately. The woman who opened it was middle-aged and dressed conservatively. She regarded Wraith and Kez a little dubiously but seemed reassured by Wraith's polite tone of voice.

“Mrs. Hollis?” he asked.

“Yes?” she replied.

“I wonder if I could speak to you for a moment?” Wraith said. “It's quite important.”

“Well, all right.” The woman opened the door just wide enough for them to enter and Kez followed Wraith into a plainly decorated room. Two little girls with blonde hair tied up in ribbons, aged about six, were seated in front of the vidscreen, watching an animation.

“Camilla, Tamara, go and play in your room,” the woman told them. “Don't argue,” she added sharply, “you can watch the screen any time.” Kez watched as the little girls got up and left. He remembered Wraith saying that Rachel's adoptive parents were known to have only two children, and he wondered if the Countess had made a mistake. If these were the kids, where was Rachel?

Wraith was looking grim again, his eyes troubled. But he thanked the woman politely as she invited him to sit down.

“Mrs. Hollis,” he said, once she had seated herself facing them. “Am I correct in believing that you and your husband adopted a child six years ago in Denver, under the names Vanessa and Carl Michaelson?”

“Oh my god,” Mrs. Hollis whispered, the color draining from her face. “What do you want?”

“I'm not here to cause any trouble,” Wraith said quietly. “But the child you adopted was my sister, Rachel. I just want to know that she's all right.” Kez knew the answer before Mrs. Hollis spoke—nothing good could come out of fear like that.

“I'm sorry,” she said, standing up. “Please leave. I can't tell you anything.”

“Mrs. Hollis.” Wraith stood up as well and faced her. He was several inches taller and she seemed to shrink before him. “I'm afraid I can't leave until you give me some answers. Rachel obviously isn't here. What happened to her? Is she even still alive?”

“I don't know,” the woman said hoarsely. “I swear to you, I don't know. They came and took her. She's not here anymore.”

“Who, who took her?” Wraith demanded.

“The CPS,” Mrs. Hollis told him, leaning back against her chair. “Over a year ago. They said a mutation had shown up in her medical examination.” Her eyes were clouded with unshed tears. “I'm sorry,” she said. “I can't have children of my own. Rachel was just like my own daughter. Please don't tell anyone I told you all this. The CPS operatives said we shouldn't mention it to anyone. If the Security Services find out I've spoken to you they could take the twins away. I don't know what I'd do if I lost them.”

“I said I wasn't here to cause you any trouble,” Wraith replied. “Thank you for telling me the truth.” He turned to leave. “Come on, Kez, let's go. There's nothing more for us to do here.” Wraith keyed the door open and Kez followed him out. As they left, Mrs. Hollis watched them go, a pathetic crumpled figure sitting on the arm of the chair.

Wraith didn't stop walking until they had left the building far behind. Then he came to a halt at the beginning of the bridge where they had left the flitter. He looked over, gazing down through the hundreds of levels of the city, saying nothing. Kez didn't know what to say. Everyone knew that the CPS coming for someone was a death sentence. Wraith had just heard evidence that his sister was dead, after searching for her for four years.

“I'm sorry,” he said quietly.

“I know.” Wraith stared down into the darkness of the depths far below. “Raven said Rachel wasn't a Hex,” he said after a while. Kez was silent. A few minutes passed slowly before he wondered if Wraith wanted to be alone. He was about to back away when Wraith spoke:

“Just give me a minute,” he said, glancing up. “I have to think.”

“OK,” Kez replied and leaned against the balustrade next to Wraith. He assumed that the ganger was coming to terms with his failure. Flitters passed overhead and skimmers moved behind them on the bridge, but neither of them spoke again for some time.

•  •  •

Bob Tarrell could hear the music pounding as he walked up to the apartment. He recognized the wail of an electric guitar somewhere in the cacophony but the rest of the music was as dissonant as anything he'd ever heard. However, he didn't allow that to faze him as he put his hand to the black metal plate by the door. When there was no answer he pressed it again. Eventually a voice came out of the wall speaker: