Kris stared at the still-trembling body. The woman knew Kris. Knew Kris, and had spent her last breath snarling a promise that Kris was trapped. ''Let's get moving,'' she said, glancing around at the now-empty streets.
They hustled Tom for another block. Kris spotted a cab at a cross street and almost hailed it. A half block later, the cab rolled up beside them. Same cabby. ''You got much farther to go?'' the driver asked them.
Abby glanced at Kris, then nodded toward Tommy. His steps had been getting more shaky, and now he was shivering with a chill. Kris did a quick check. Clots of men were beginning to collect again. ''Check him out,'' she said.
''What'cha doing in a place like this?'' Abby asked.
NELLY, TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT CABBY?
''I got this fare at the ‘vader for that hotel,'' the olive-skinned man said, indicting the Tark'el Apartments. ''If I deadhead out of here, I'm gonna loose half of what I made on that ride. And you do look like you could use some help. What do you say I drop the minimum charge. You just pay the time fee.''
THE CAB IS REGISTERED TO MR. ABU Kartum. His picture MATCHES THE FACE IN THE CAB IN ONE HUNDRED FORTY OUT OF ONE HUNDRED SIXTY FACE ID POINTS. PROBABILITY IS NINETY-NINE POINT EIGHT PERCENT THAT IS HIM. HE HAS NO POLICE RECORD. MEDIA REPORTS SHOW HIM TO BE VERY ACTIVE IN THE ISLAMIC COMMUNITY HERE, WORKING ON CHARITABLE AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES. HE IS RAISING SIX CHILDREN, HIS OWN FOUR AND HIS BROTHER'S TWO. HIS BROTHER DIED FROM A PULMONARY DISEASE PROBABLY ACQUIRED AT THE CHEMICAL FACTORY HE WAS EMPLOYED BY.
ENOUGH. ''Abby '' Kris called softly. ''Check out the back.''
Abby opened the rear passenger door and dug around inside. Up the street, some men who'd been holding up a dilapidated building got energetic and meandered toward Kris's team.
THE CAB HAS NOT HAD ANY WORK DONE ON IT SINCE BEFORE TOMMY BOUGHT TICKETS ON THE BELLEROPHON. HE DEFINITELY NEEDS TO REPLACE HIS SECOND AND FOURTH SPARK PLUGS.
Kris nudged Jack toward the cab. He came, backing slowly, eyes on the suddenly active twos and threes around them.
Abby stood up, a small briefcase in her hand. ''Your last fare leave this behind?''
The cabby blinked. ''I think she had something like that. Give it to me. I'll turn it in to the dispatcher, and she can get it back tomorrow if she calls.''
''She won't call,'' Abby said, dashing quickly for an alley. She returned empty-handed. ''Cab looks clear to me. Pile in.''
Abby and Penny helped Tommy in. When Kris joined them, the cabby frowned. ''I don't go for those sorts of things.''
Jack slipped into the front seat as a small explosion came from the alley. So much for the briefcase. ''Good. We don't either. I strongly suggest you start moving, or all sorts of things are going to start happening.''
The poor man's eyes widened as he surveyed how the streets had changed in the time he'd been negotiating his latest fare. He scowled as he took in the automatics in Abby and Penny's hands. Muttering what sounded like a prayer, he put the pedal down. They bounced into and out of potholes, slipped right and left, and slid into a curb as the cabby grumbled, ''My Miriam tells me not to take fares in Katyville. She tells me every day before I leave. Do I listen to her? Do I? Tomorrow, I listen to her.''
He didn't slow down until they were down the hill and into streets with lights shining. ''You a gang or something?'' he asked into the rearview mirror. ''Cause I don't do business with gangs. You can get out now. Don't pay me. I won't take your money.''
''We're not crooks,'' Jack said, head swiveling just as if he was sitting next to Harvey in the limo back home. How he switched gears like that was a marvel to Kris.
''Crooks had our man,'' Abby said, indicating Tom. ''We got him back. We're some of the good guys.'' Abby looked at the others in the backseat with her. ''At least today we are. You can take our money.''
The cabby didn't seem persuaded, but he asked, ''Where do you want to be let off?''
''The elevator, Mr. Kartum,'' Kris said.
The cabby took a left. In a moment they were on an expressway; five minutes later, they were at the station. Was hell only five minutes away from shiny, new, and prosperous? Kris had some checking out to do back home.
As they disentangled arms and legs and got Tommy slowly out, the cabby named his price, exactly what the meter showed. ''Pay him well,'' Kris told Jack. The agent produced a large roll of Wardhaven bills.
''Keep the change and forget this fare,'' Jack said.
Abu took his pay, eyed it for a moment, then looked at Kris. ''I know you. Your face, it's familiar. Where have I seen you?''
''It's better you forget my face,'' Kris said, taking an offered coat from Abby. The maid undid something, and suddenly it was full length. ''Don't even mention us to Miriam. It will be all right in the morning. Oh, and your second and fourth spark plugs need replacing.''
''That would explain why it's been guzzling fuel worse than a thirsty camel.'' He sighed. ''Allah go with you, for He is merciful,'' he said and pulled away into the rain.
''We better get Tom to a doctor,'' Penny said, putting her coat around the man.
''Let me look him over first. We have a first aid kit in Kris's baggage,'' Abby said.
Thirty minutes later, they were back at their suite in the Hilton. Abby produced a medical kit that occupied half of one of Kris's trunks, one of the slightly off-color ones. A qualified surgeon could probably perform emergency brain surgery with the gear in it. Kris wasn't sure whether or not she'd let Abby do brain surgery on Tom. Then again, she wasn't sure she wouldn't.
But Tommy didn't need a brain surgeon, just treatment for shock, exposure, drug overdose, and a raging infection. ''Bastards didn't clean their needles,'' Abby growled. ''But there's nothing here we can't handle,'' she said as she started an IV.
''You want to put Tommy in my room?'' Kris offered through a yawn. Damn, it had been a long day.
''No. My room is better set up for it,'' Abby insisted. ''Penny and I can switch off taking care of him tonight. That way we'll both get some sleep.''
Jack sauntered into the maid's room with three bug hunting gizmos in hand. ''No new bugs. Don't see any reason not to let them know we're back home and have Tommy.''
''Let them boil in their frustration. Let's get some sleep,'' Kris ordered. She had promises to keep, but there was nothing she could do about them tonight.
And so she slept in her makeup and body armor.
Chapter 8
Kris rose to wakefulness through pressing dreams. She had to pluck each star from the sky and put it in just the right colored basket. Then she was in the Prime Minister's residence, racing down the back halls, trying to open the right door or find just the right word to please her father. And Mother was…
Kris came awake. She was on top of covers smeared with the wreckage of last night's makeup. She tried to stretch, but her body armor had not been designed with that in mind. Kris felt to the back of her neck; Nelly was still plugged in.
NELLY, HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING ON AUNT TRU'S PIECE OF ROCK?
YES, KRIS. I THINK I HAVE THE POWER ISSUE SOLVED. I AM READY TO START A SERIOUS SEARCH FOR ACTIVITY ON THE CHIP.
Kris rubbed her eyes, tried to shake the emotions dredged up by her dreams. I THINK I'M GETTING SOMETHING FROM IT.
THAT CANNOT BE TRUE. I HAVE IT TRIPLE BUFFERED. I HAVE LET NOTHING THROUGH. THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING TO LET THROUGH.
Kris was not so sure of that. NELLY, WE AREN'T HAVING THE QUIET WEEK OR TWO I WAS EXPECTING. WE ALSO DON'T HAVE TRU A SHORT DRIVE AWAY FOR CHECKING UP ON YOU. THIS IS NOT A GOOD TIME TO BE DOING SOMETHING THAT WILL MESS YOU UP.
I UNDERSTAND, KRIS, Nelly said.
That taken care of, Kris rang for Abby and breakfast.
''Ouch. That hurts,'' Kris squealed. She had never had much body hair. After Abby got done peeling this body suit/armor off, she wouldn't have any!