Pariah #1: New Arrival: Perils of Azure City (9 page)

Letting out a loud sigh, I wrapped myself in my covers and allowed myself to think of all the ways that I would punish Underhaven if I could. I held the thought for a moment before letting the notion go and trying to content myself that simply stopping them and protecting the girls was enough.

As I drifted off to sleep, I found myself wondering about the fiery eyed detective who had seen to Tracy. It was a nice thought to end my day on.

Compassion.

Epilogue

‘You’re sure?’

‘Yes, Shade confirmed it for me twenty minutes ago.’

‘Ah… did anyone get out?’

‘Malone wasn’t there at the time, so he wasn’t taken in, and it seems like one of the men got away… Lenny Finch, I believe.’

‘I see, and Shade is speaking to Finch now?

‘Yes, Mr. Drake’

‘Good… I’ll be interested to hear what comes of that. How bad is it?’

‘…’

‘Ms. Weaver? How bad is it?’

‘It is nothing we cannot recover from. We will miss the use of the site more than the loss of what was currently there – but there are plenty other sites we could use.’

‘I’m well aware of that, Ms. Weaver, but I still don’t know how bad our loss is at the depot. Tell me, please.’

‘It is hard to give a precise answer at this time…’

‘
Try
.’

‘…Perhaps ninety-five in lost product… a further eleven in lost equipment… The value on the girls is debatable; there were thirteen in all… and of course we lost fifteen men. Added to that, I don’t know what the knock-on effects will be with the police involvement… It will probably effect future sales.’

‘I see… I’ll be honest, Ms. Weaver, I’m not delighted about this. Lohman and Thane will both be displeased – to say nothing of all the small fish that will need appeasing.’

‘Of course, Mr. Drake.’

‘Then again… I suppose they are all more beholden to us than we are to them, wouldn’t you agree?’

‘I would.’

‘We did expect this, I suppose. There was always going to be growing pains… Actually… it’s quite exciting, isn’t it?’

‘Sir?’

‘A serious game is afoot here, Ms Weaver; we might be in the fight for our lives. It has been quite some time since we had to get up off our thrones and lock horns with a worthy opponent. There is the chance here to forge ourselves into something stronger… A battle that will end us or see us ascend even higher… A battle with an angel, no less.’

‘You’re being dramatic, sir. The damage done here is entirely short term. We are in no danger and the Pariah is no angel – merely a foolish girl playing games in the night.’

‘I like games in the night… Come to that, so do you; you love games in the night, Ms. Weaver. You can’t fool me, I know you’re excited too.’

‘Perhaps.’

‘Hah! You minx! Regardless, I’m intrigued by where this is headed. We have been challenged, and there is a threat here that we need to respond to before it gets any worse. The Pariah scares the people on the street and she has proven herself against others… She seems quite tenacious, don’t you think?’

‘I know nothing about her, sir. I thought she was a rumour in the paper until twenty minutes ago.’

‘Just so… Mysterious, huh? You know, I do believe we could turn the attention of this vigilante to our benefit. Her attack demands a response, don’t you think?’

‘I agree. What would you have me do?’

‘Tell everyone to be on their guard and to ramp up their security – I want her to work for her wins if she wants to keep hitting us. I want you and Shade to make sure the Club and the Sanctum are both safe.’

‘It will be done.’

‘One final thing, Ms. Weaver.’

‘Yes?’

‘Assemble a team, will you? I think it would be poetic if we sent out a hunt to capture our hunter.’

‘As you wish, Mr. Drake’

******END*******