“That accounts for all of Wilmark’s regular team except for Lee, but runner teams are notoriously mutable. The female “doctor” was probably a substitute for Lee. All in all, it looks like a small-time operation.”
“Except for the Dragon,” Crenshaw insisted.
“That may have been an unrelated occurrence,” Marushige said with a shrug. “Our pilot did not stay around long enough to establish a link between the runners’ escape and the dracoform’s presence. It seems unlikely that such small-potatoes runners could have arranged such backup. As soon as the report is prepared, we’ll close out the case.”
Crenshaw frowned. Marushige might be satisfied that he had all the answers he needed, but she was not. Even if everything was as simple as Marushige thought, she wanted Verner to be caught and punished.
“What are you planning to do about Verner?”
“Unless something new turns up, nothing. The costs of hunting down such petty fugitives are high. Past experience indicates that such an investment isn’t worth the yield.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Sato won’t like you doing nothing.”
“You mean you don’t like it.” He recovered his composure as she lost her own. “Sato is a businessman. When he sees the reports and the cost estimates for any retaliatory operations, he will agree with me.”
Crenshaw’s day had gone sour. This should have been the opportunity to take down Verner for good, and legally, at that. Instead, it had twisted around. Marushige was going to let him get away.
Well, there had to be something she could do about it, and she would find it.
16
“She’s stopping,” Kurt announced.
“About time,” griped Sloan.
“Whuzamatter? Your bottom sore from the ride?” Black Dog asked.
“At least I got something down there to be inconvenienced.”
“You’re looking for trouble, Sloan.”
“You wanna give it to me?”
“Dump it, you guys,” Kurt ordered, without bothering to look at them.
Sloan and Black Dog had been sniping at one another ever since they’d left the hideout, stopping only long enough to get through the border check station. Sam was relieved when they did, sure that their bickering would draw unwanted attention from the guards. Roe had assured him their travel passes through the Salish-Shidhe Council lands would pass inspection, but Sam was nervous the whole time the tribal representative examined them. The SSC cop apparently thought the group looked harmless enough because he didn’t give any of them a second look.
Before they left the metroplex, the runners had traded their panel van for two Chrysler-Nissan Caravaners. They ushered Sam and Hanae into one, while Roe and Chin Lee loaded their guest into the other. Once past the checkpoint the two vehicles drove south separately, meeting occasionally at rendezvous points along what used to be Interstate 5. Only half an hour ago, they had linked up in the middle of nowhere and struck out cross-country. The vehicles were traveling without lights. Roe, being an Elf, could see quite well by moonlight. Kurt, the rigger, had to rely on the vehicle’s sensors feeding information to him through his link with the Caravaner. The ride was bumpy, but not as bad as Sam expected. Caravaners were built for this sort of thing. When Kurt stopped their vehicle and popped the door, the fugitive moonlight revealed Roe standing beside her Caravaner. Its drab green paint and simulated wood paneling blended well with the surrounding trees and bushes.
“Something wrong?” Kurt asked as Roe approached. She shook her head. “Tessien is supposed to meet us here. Let’s break for a while and rest. This cross-country driving is tough.”
“Get a rig,” Kurt suggested, tapping his datajack.
“Sure will. As soon as a car is the only thing I want to talk to.” Roe laughed lightly. “All right, chummers. Bail out and stretch your legs. Soon as he changes bottles on our guest, Chin Lee will be setting up the stove. We’ll grab some food before we move on.”
The runners responded quickly. Kurt enlisted Sloan to help him pull a pair of lanterns out of the back, and Black Dog trotted off to the bushes to take care of some personal business. Sam and Hanae were left standing with Roe.
“Katherine.”
“Yes, Hanae.”
“Where are we?”
“Near the Tir Tairngire border.”
“Are we going into Elfiand?” Hanae eyes went wide with wonder.
Tir Tairngire encompassed the old U.S. state of Oregon and a bit more. The territory had been awarded to a powerful coalition of the Awakened in return for the help they had given the Native American Nations in their struggle to regain the land. It was not long before Tir Tairngire split off from the Sovereign Tribal Council that ruled NAN, declaring their independence. No one knew much about what went on within Tir Tairngire, for the Elves who conducted its business guarded its privacy. The only fact they broadcast was that much of the land had been returned to its natural state. Tir’s official policy encouraged all other nations to do the same, offering Elven magic to aid such efforts.
“Straight across the Tir is the shortest route to San Francisco.”
Sam cleared his throat. “It’s obvious you plan a surreptitious passage. I’ve always heard that the border is closed and well-patrolled.”
“Yuh, the suit’s right. They got Dragons and Griffins and stuff. And them fragging paladins. Nobody said we were gonna have to mix it with them paladins.” Sloan’s voice was angry, but Sam detected fear. The runner softened his tone. “I heard that if they catch you trying to run the border, they steal your mind.”
“You got no worries, Sloan. The paladins won’t be able to find yours,” Black Dog cracked as he returned.
“Sloan’s got a point,” Sam insisted, forestalling the runner’s return slur. “The Tir Tairngire border patrol is famous for its efficiency. Just about every week, there’s a story about someone getting dumped on the highway after trying to get In.”
“That’s why we have to do it quietly, off the roads, and away from the regular patrols,” Roe said. “I’m going to send Tessien ahead to do recon. When it comes back with the all-clear, we’ll move out and the Dragon will fly air cover. There should be no problems.”
“I’m sure you will get us through, Katherine,” Hanae announced.
The runners did not seem so easily convinced. Sam didn’t think the plan any too practical, either, but further discussion was cut off by the arrival of the feathered serpent.
The rush of air from the dracoform’s wings kicked the dried leaves up into the air. Chin Lee cursed as the camp stove’s flame blew out. Once on the ground, the beast lowered itself onto its hind limbs and furled its wings before coiling tightly in on itself.
While Roe strolled over to the creature and began a quiet conversation, the other runners found a sudden interest in Chin Lee’s efforts. Sam noticed that the stove happened to be about as far away from the Dragon as one could get without leaving the clearing. He and Hanae quickly joined the latter group.
A few minutes later, the feathered serpent stretched out its body and, with a leap and a beating of wings, took to the air and sped out of sight over the treetops. Roe stopped at her Caravaner to check on the passenger before joining the others.