They weren’t telling me something about this mess. My instincts were certain of that fact. There was a skeleton in this particular closet. “I’m can probably help you, but I need the case file and photos, and I’m not working for free.”
Ayashe scowled and opened her mouth, only to be waved down by Spotted Elk. His thin face was graven, and it was clear he was tired. Tired of death, tired of talking. “I accept this and vote that you come and assist us. We don’t have a lot of money, but between us, we will do what we can. If you can shed some light on the death of our friends and the abduction of our children, we will pay you proportionately.”
“Me and Mason can front up,” Jenner said. “Rex knows his shit. I vote to take him on.”
“His knowledge is already proving valuable,” Michael said. “I vote the same.”
Ayashe frowned. “I still want some references.”
Jenner chuffed, and waved her down. “What’s the kill fee?”
“For a job as complex as this one, I’ll accept a trade of services from your people in advance of any money.” I faced the Tigers’ President front on. “It’s grunt work. I need to get into my old apartment, retrieve my magical tools, and rescue my cat.”
Both of Jenner’s eyebrows shot up towards her hairline. Zane, standing to the side of me, also turned his face. Ayashe looked up, and her foot stopped twitching.
Now, I had to lie – or at least omit the truth. “I lost everything to some violent squatters who seized my things, including my familiar. It bears some explanation, but I won’t be much help until I have her back.”
“Wait. Seized?” Ayashe leaned forwards. “Who seized the apartment?”
“That is none of your concern.” I rolled my shoulders, jerking them back. “It just needs doing.”
“Who? The bank? The Mafia?”
She was musor. Police garbage. She was the only person in the room I didn’t mind lying to. “I just told you it was none of your business.”
“Fuckin’ hell, Ayashe. Just quit it for one fucking day, will you?” Jenner snapped. “He didn’t ask you shit. I’m down with that trade, Rex. We can handle it.”
“Wait, no. We don’t need no one that comes with baggage.” Ayashe stood, as did several of the Four Fires crowd. “Me and Aaron are putting our jobs on the line just being here. What am I supposed to do? Pretend I don’t hear Jenner talking about breaking into someone’s house? Why didn’t you call the police?”
“It’s my apartment,” I said. “We’re not ‘breaking in’ anywhere. There are people squatting in my home and I need to get my things back.”
“And you want muscle to go kick them out. Illegally.”
“Illegal? Me? We wouldn’t do anything illegal.” Jenner leered, and wiggled her little finger next to her face. “Pinky promise.”
“Are you listening to this? John, come on.” Ayashe threw her hands up.
“You are outvoted,” Michael replied. “It is within our limits. I accept this trade: It is no more difficult or illegal than what we ask this magus to do for us.”
“Ayashe, if human law means more to you than our youth, you are welcome to leave,” John added. “This man has demonstrated knowledge and is willing to make the commitment. His request was given to Jenner, not me, and it is her decision.”
“We don’t know anything about this guy! Where he’s from, what he does…”
“He’s trying to help us!” Talya drew herself up to an imposing five and a half feet, hands fisted by her sides.
“You shut your damn mouth in the presence of your Elders.” Ayashe whirled on her, eyes flashing, and Talya shrank back. “You’re here to listen.”
“Hey. Cool it.” Zane lay a hand on Talya’s bristling shoulder.
“There’s only so far you can push the law, Jenny.” Aaron spoke for the first time since the meeting had started. “And John, same thing goes for you. In my unofficial capacity, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear this. Any trouble that ensues will be on your conscience and your head.”
“The Covenant of Ib-Int is still in effect, like it has been through twenty of my lives,” Jenner snarled. “If the Vigiles is so fucking great, wash your hands of this meeting and I’ll do the work, as usual. The only reason I’m not out there breaking thumbs to find these kids is because of your fucking law.”
Michael held his hands up. “Jenner, Ayashe—”
“The Ib-Int is worthless in the modern era if we can’t live side by side with human law,” Ayashe said, her voice low and cold. “I fought every damn day to protect those kids from the government and the streets. And that’s all I’m here to say. Go do what you want, but if you wind up in a cell, I ain’t helping you.”
“Please, Ayashe. We’re not deliberately discounting you.” Spotted Elk held up a hand again. “We are doing what has to be done. You said it yourself. The Vigiles is not well-resourced enough or flexible enough to help us.”
“No, it’s not.” Fuming, she sat back.
“Bring the photos and the casefile to Rex in the morning.”
“I’m not bringing a classified file—”
“That is an order, Ayashe.” The smaller man’s voice deepened momentarily, and Ayashe snapped her teeth together. “You may disagree with our decision, but you are bound by ties of blood and soul and our ancestral law. You agreed to bring in a freelancer to help where the police cannot. You are outvoted.”
“Fine.” On her feet, Ayashe was nearly six feet tall. She looked fit, too… triathlon-fit. “Now excuse me while I go figure out how not to get caught up the shit that’s about to get flung through the fan.”
No one else had anything to say. As Ayashe stormed from the room, they looked to Aaron. He rose from his seat.
“I’m not one of your membership, but I understand you need to take action,” he said, in a voice that was both remarkably light and remarkably calm. “Just remember that Lily and Dru are gone. It’s the children that matter now. Be careful.”
He left at a more sedate pace than his partner, audibly sighing as he closed the door behind him.
Spotted Elk stood from his chair. He was only an inch taller than me, which put him on the shorter end of the man-scale, but he had striking posture. Straight-backed, long-necked, head lifted and proud, I was strongly reminded of Zarya. It made my mouth water and my stomach pang.
“I want to meet with you alone, Rex,” he said. “When you’re ready, tell Talya that it is time… I will work it in to my schedule in the coming days.”
“As you say.” I inclined my head. As much as Ayashe talked over him, argued and raged, this man had still given the final order and she had still listened. There was something about these group dynamics I didn’t understand… something that was beyond my experience.
“Please let me know what your plans are as you make them. I have to get some sleep, or this week will be unbearable. Well met.” Spotted Elk bowed his head, motioned to Talya and the other Fires people, and left the room.
Talya smiled at me as she moved to follow, and mimed a phone beside her ear with little finger and thumb with a bird-like cock of her head, leaving me alone with four shapeshifting bikers in an otherwise empty room.
“Well, wasn’t that a blast?” Jenner clapped her hands together. “Now that Agent Asshat and Officer Jeebus have left the building, I think it’s time for a drink. You smoke, white boy?”
“Me? No.” The sudden quiet was more than just psychological relief. I felt more at ease around these people: Bikers were just another kind of muzhiki, tough guys, though I had never met a mixed gang with a female leader before. “No smoking, no drinking, no drugs.”