"We should go and talk to him," Gray said, shifting the car into drive. He pulled out onto the streets and began directing his vehicle smoothly through the traffic. It was midday, just a few hours since Scanlon had visited Assistance Unlimited. The streets were glistening with wetness, evidence of a shower that had just passed through. Thick clouds of pollution hung over the city, combining with the rain to evoke memories of London in Gray’s mind. He didn’t recall when he’d visited the city but he was certain that he had. A vague ache in his heart made him think that he had lost someone there.
"Chief?"
Gray realized that Eun had been waiting for him to respond to something. "Sorry. My mind was wandering."
"Thinking about the case?"
"Yes," Gray said, thinking once again how easily lies sometimes came to him. "What were you saying?"
"I’m not sure it’s wise to just drop in on a man like Nero. There are already folks who think you’re given too much freedom to move about. If Nero thinks you’re pressuring him, he could go to the mayor and have the screws tightened on you."
"I’m not afraid of that."
Eun looked out his window and waited a moment before speaking again. "What does scare you, Chief?"
"What do you mean?"
"We’ve all heard you cry out at night, like you’re having the worst kind of nightmares. Samantha and Morgan both say we shouldn’t mention it, that you’re entitled to your privacy. But I think we’re family now, whether we want to admit it or not. And if something’s eating away at you, we should know about it. So we can help make it better."
Gray slowed the car to a stop in front of a house that could only be described as a mansion. A large stone privacy fence surrounded the property with wrought iron gates preventing unwanted access. "Eun, I appreciate what you’re saying. But there are reasons why I keep certain things to myself."
"Like anything to do with your past? None of us know where you come from or what you did before you opened up Assistance Unlimited. It’s strange sometimes, realizing how little we know about you."
"Do you trust me?"
Eun turned to stare at Gray. "Of course I do. With my life."
"Then allow me this. When I feel I can tell you more, I will. I’m not deliberately keeping things from you. To be honest, you know almost as much about me as I do. Lazarus Gray is probably not my name."
"I don’t understand."
"I’m an amnesiac. I woke up here in Sovereign City back in ’33."
"Why didn’t you tell us?"
"I’m not sure. I seem to instinctively try to limit how much others know about me. One reason for my attempts at staying in the public eye was to draw out anyone who might know something about me." Gray hesitated. "Let’s keep this between us for now."
"You don’t want me to mention it to the others?"
"I’d prefer you didn’t. It’s not a matter of trust. It’s… I’m not sure what it is. But I feel it’s better to keep the truth about me as quiet as possible."
Eun frowned, not liking the idea of keeping secrets from his friends. But he felt honored that Gray had shared this with him and so he simply nodded, agreeing to the request.
Together, the two men exited the vehicle and approached the gate. Before they reached it, a broad-shouldered man in a dark suit appeared on the other side. A bulge in his jacket made it clear that he was armed and something about his manner indicated he wouldn’t hesitate to use his weapon.
"Can I help you gentlemen?" he asked, in a voice that was a little higher than would have been expected.
"My name’s Lazarus Gray. I need to speak to Mr. Nero."
"About what?"
"That’s private business between he and I."
"Mr. Nero’s not seeing anybody today." The man adjusted his coat and seemed disturbed by something. "You can leave your card if you want."
Gray’s eyes narrowed, watching the man closely. He was an expert at analyzing body language and he was picking up telltale signs that this brute was not only hiding something, he was afraid. The rapid blinking, the slight hint of perspiration on the upper lip and the fidgeting with his coat all added together as evidence. "Mr. Nero is here, isn’t he?"
"Yeah but like I said, he’s not seeing anyone." The front door of the house opened then and a second man emerged. He was slender and sported a blond moustache. In his left hand, he was clutching a black medical bag.
"Louie!" the doctor yelled. "We need to talk."
"Wait here," Louie said, turning his back on Gray so he could find out what the second man wanted.
Lazarus sprang into action. He took one step back and then flung himself at the gate, latching on with a steely grip. He pulled himself up and over quickly, dropping to his feet before the men on the other side of the gate had even realized what was happening. Louie spun about and muttered a curse, raising a fist. Gray caught it in midair and, in an amazing display of strength, applied so much pressure that the big man fell to one knee, groaning.
"I’m going to let you go," Gray said. "And you’re going to open the gate so my friend can come. And then," he added, looking up at the doctor, who was watching him with mouth agape, "We’re all going to talk."
The doctor nodded. "Louie, do as he says. We don’t have time for this nonsense."
Louie glared at Grey as he got back to his feet, muttering under his breath as he went to open the gate for Eun.
The doctor stepped forward and offered a hand. "Doc Barrington. I recognize you from the papers, Mr. Gray."
"Is something wrong with Mr. Nero?"
Barrington looked over at Louie and obviously made a decision to share information with Gray. "He’s sick, deathly so. There’s nothing I can do for him here. He has to be taken to a hospital or he won’t last through the day."
"May I see him?"
Barrington consented, knowing the many stories that swirled around Lazarus Gray. It was said the man had once performed delicate heart surgery in the middle of a filthy alleyway, using only a pocketknife. Louie followed right on their heels, glaring at Eun the whole way.
"What’s the problem, big fella?" Eun chided. "Jealous that I’m better dressed than you?"
"Shaddup," Louie muttered. "None of you guys are supposed to be in here. Mr. Nero’s gonna get my goat for this."
"I’m afraid your employer isn’t in the position to terrorize anyone right now," Barrington said. The doctor led them through an impressive home, furnished so expensively that it crossed the line from opulence to garishness. As they neared the room where Nero was resting, an unpleasant odor filled the air. It was reminiscent of spoiled meat and Eun had to raise a hand over his face to keep from gagging. He noticed that Louie came to a halt, well away from the door. If the smell bothered Barrington or Gray, neither man gave any sign of it.
Nero was sitting up in a chair, a blanket covering his legs. A window near him was opened, letting in what passed for fresh air in Sovereign. Gray had seen numerous pictures of Nero and the man before him only bore a passing resemblance to him. Nero looked thin and emaciated, the skin drawn taut against his skeleton. He wore a robe that hung loosely from him, evidence of how much weight he had lost.
"How long has he been like this?" Gray asked.
"He came in for an appointment two weeks ago and was perfectly fine. But yesterday I got the call that he was sick. I found him like this. Both he and Louie assure me that he’s been eating and drinking but he continues to waste away. He’s lost seven pounds since last night. It’s like he’s just drying up before my eyes."