Shivers.
The sound of sirens, flashing lights, rain; it rains a lot here.
SCAF bikes riding the sky, swooping and soaring like obscene chrome-and-plastic birds.
Body identified as one Jenny Davies: human female, aged 26, unemployed, last known address Downtown - Sector 7, 4-1 Alpha
The rain falls on her face; the raindrops splash against her sightless eyes, pool, then run off over her cheeks - like tears...

You're in the Crib, mingling and moving past the weirdo's and losers and BPN groupies - let's face it, if you didn't have to be here then you wouldn't be; but here we were again - the collection of Kick Murderers and Investigators that one drunken night had labelled themselves Steel Twin. Let me introduce you: I'm Shira, so-called team leader, trained Investigator - you may have heard of me - I used to be with Pain & Desire, the all-Ebon team that got itself wasted in the Holness Scandal - I left just before that fuck-up... The tall Ebon flirting with the barman is called Raven but God knows how long that'll last - she changes her name to go with her latest fashion. Currently the Gothic look is in, it's a pity fidelity isn't - you know how it goes: Shira you know I love you but you're crushing my love with your possessiveness, you have to let me fly - like a bird; I can't be tied down... - bullshit. She confided in me one morning, her hair literally getting up my nose, that her real name is Tracey Smith but it's a lot easier for us all to play along with her about this name thing than cause a scene. Raven's a good scout but is prone to moods and I say that as one Ebon about another - man, she could sulk as a profession...
"Hi Tracey, going a little downmarket aren't we..?"
The barman frowns his hands forming into fists, I step back, I can feel the smile forming - Raven recognises the signs, puts her hand over his left fist whispers something in his ear, his eyes widen and his hands relax; he looks down, she smiles and runs a long fingernail down his cheek before turning to me
"Having a nice day Shira? Why don't we go down and keep Tim and Spooky company..?"
She slips her arm around my waist pressing herself against me and I know that she's wiggling her ass at the barman as we walk
"Tracey - you are such a tease"
"Would you have me any other way..? And call me Raven"
We get to the table where Tim and Spooky are sitting, as usual there's no problem getting a seat next to them even though the bar is packed.
Big Tim is a sweetie but then I've never met a Stormer that wasn't - then again I've never been on the wrong side of those teeth and claws either - as the fella says, it's all a matter of perspective; our last team member is a Shaktar that Raven and I nicknamed Mr Spooky - you see he doesn't speak (which made the interview a real laugh - but that's another story). Now Shaktar's aren't particularly known for their smalltalk but I think with Mr Spooky we've got the pick of the crop - I have never heard him say a fucking word - and there's a twist: if he was a human I'd say he was psychotic. Spooky's our heavy weapons expert; I've seen him sometimes after the clear up and I'd swear he's been smiling ... like I say - Spooky. Generally on a job it's up to Raven and me to dig up the dirt, Mr Spooky and Tim are there for back-up and if we need to get heavy. We haven't done too badly - our Rep is good, I mean we're not playing in the Big Leagues yet, but they know we're there.

... So there we were waiting for Tarrant - the last member of our team. Tracey (sorry, Raven) once described Tarrant as a walking piss-tube and she has a point - he has an air of sleaze about him so penetrating that when you first meet him it's all you can do not to gag - but he has the contacts that Steel Twin needs in this wonderful world of Progress.

"Hey hey hey - my man Shira...! How's it goin' dude?"
"Tarrant"
"Raven, looking goorgeous as usual..."
Tracey just looks at him, stares back at the bar, looks me in the eye...
"Ooooh, chi-lly..."
"Tim, Spooky"
Tarrant nods to them, pointedly ignores Tracey, turns back to me.
"What have you got for us this time Tarrant?"
"What is this Shira - business-business - can't a man even get a drink first?"
"..."
"Okay, okay - Jeesos Shira one day you're gonna' be the death of me...
Alrighty people this is what I've got, it's one peachy little number so I expect a little appre-ciation this time-"
he winks lewdly at Raven, she continues to ignore him, he pouts and pokes his tongue out at her before turning back to me
"- 'stead of all the usual shit you throw in my direction - and boys-"
he turns towards Tim and Spooky
"-could you pl-ease keep the damage down this time huh..?"
Tarrant takes a green card from his jacket pocket, lays it down in front of me. I pick it up.
"Jade huh?"
"It's what you do best"
Investigate the abduction of ISABEL TURNER, female Ebon age 10, last seen in the vicinity of NewGrange Street-market (Uptown - Sector 4, 2-3 Bravo). Subject was in company of her nanny RACHEL WILSON, female human age 28 - deceased. Ascertain the whereabouts of subject, retrieve, and apprehend abductors. Extermination Warrant sanctioned if required. Contact Department Of Investigation for further information. 600 Credits per Squad Member. SCL Increase: 0.5
"And we get in touch with you if we want Media Coverage?"
"You know it"
"Hmmm..."
"Hey, what's the problem Shi - don't you want to be famous?"

Hello, Department of Investigation, how may I help you?
I give the telephonist my name and SCL level and read out the serial number of the BPN:
"Have the Shivers got any leads, any forensic material?"
Wait One - checking... Yeah, er - what do you want - anything specific or shall I just download the casefile?
"That'll be fine"
I scroll down through the list of facts and figures that have appeared on my portable. Raven props her head on my shoulder, squints at the screen.
"Hmm, seems she was out shopping with her nanny for a friend's birthday present-"
"Pretty girl"
"Shiver footpatrol found the body of the nanny - no little girl..."
"party was supposed to be today-"
"File says that her parent's phoneline has been tapped but so far no ransom demands have been made-"
"And no witnesses..?"
"Last anyone saw of them was in a toyshop, they left and that was that-"
"Where was the nanny's body found?"
"That's where it starts to get strange - the body was found about 1/2 a kay from the 'shop in an alley off the street-"
"Someone wanted privacy"
"-looks like it, bloodstains around the corpse seem to indicate she was offed elsewhere and her body dumped."
"Where was she shot?"
"Back of the head, standard CAF pistol round - the state of the corpse indicates she was raped too-"
"Before or after?"
"It doesn't say"
"Hmmm - so we've got an abduction in daylight, the nanny raped and shot and the body dumped and so far no ransom demands..."
"Skin Trade?"
"Sounds like it doesn't it? They had to have had transport - probably a van of some kind - had to be more than one of them, probably a gang, took them away somewhere raped the shit out of the nanny, blew her away and then dumped the body. Meanwhile the girl is shipped off who-knows-where never to be seen again..."
"Great..."
"We've got one break - Shivers found a torn piece of fabric near the nanny's body; it's been identified as coming from the girl's coat"
"Will that be enough?"
"it should be, at least to let me get a trace onto where she was taken to"
"Department Of Investigation it is then..."

I hold the piece of cloth in my hands, empty my mind and
I'm so excited it's Sandy's birthday tomorrow and we're all going to her party and Mummy said I've got to get her a present and that's why I've got Rachel with me and look at all the toys I hope she likes the doll 'cos Sandy's my best friend I wonder what she'll get me when it's my birthday and will we have a party I hope so Rachel says we will I like Rachel she's so nice and who's the woman she's talking to Rachel is shaking her head and who's this man with the woman and they're all looking at me and Rachel looks scared and someone's got his hands on my shoulders and I try to scream but there's something over my face and I try to pull away and I can feel the coat tearing -
"Are you okay Shira?"
Raven is looking at me
"Yeah... yeah, it's alright, just give me a moment... There were at least three of them, I could only see two - a young man, late teens I'd say, and a woman - early to mid-twenties. They were picked up after they left the toy shop. I think we should go down there, see what other associations it might trigger off."

Past the receptionist chewing gum, her hands spread in front of her, blowing on her nails to dry them. Past the glass-fronted room, the women-with-bored-faces sitting in rows on thinly-cushioned seats. Down the hallways, past the doors heedless to the sighs and moans that come out of them. Pause for a moment outside the solid-looking door, listen to the sobs that can be faintly heard from within, move on. A poorly-lit stairwell, the walls decorated with stills from long-forgotten skin flicks, at the top a door; the man's long shadow following him up the stairs.
A face shrouded in poor light, breath rasping.
Knock on the door.
A fat man is sitting behind a desk, tapping something into a computer terminal, at the sound of the knock he reaches out for a phone thinks better of it and reaches beneath the desk instead. There is the sound of a desk-drawer opening and closing...
" Yeah, wha' the fuck you want? - You! What're you doin' here? "
" Well, it's like this... "
" Wai- "
The pistol kicks in the tall man's hand. The first slug takes the fat man in the abdomen, doubling him up, the second in the chest straightening him up again for a fraction of a second before knocking him flat on the floor; a bubbling sound comes from between his lips, bloody spittle dribbling towards his chins. A second's pause then the third bullet jerks his head to one side as if it had been kicked - hard. Dead eyes stare towards the wall. If they could see they could follow the shadow that moves towards the fat man's desk, bends over it and then straightens. A little later the door closes.

NewGrange Street-market is one of those open air shopping precincts that cater to the bored wives and children of SLA employees; because the goods are more expensive and more garishly-coloured than the stuff you can get on the TV and because you can get rained on while you go from one shop to another it's supposed to be a more complete shopping experience - so the advertising states anyway. Utter crap of course - you want a more complete shopping experience go to one of the markets Downtown: the goods are a fraction of the price and, often or not, hand-made; 'course there's the ethnic touch as well - if you don't carry a gun you stand a good chance of getting mugged, you have to listen to the pleas of the beggars and, if you're really lucky, you get the chance to see a dead body or two...
Yeah...
Grainger's Toys is typical - filled with expensive crap that no-one wants or needs. The shop assistant inside can't remember the girl, when we question the staff in the other shops they claim not to remember her either. Outside in the street the shoppers give us a wide berth, I don't suppose they see many Shaktars or Stormers in these parts, some of the children start to cry when they see Big Tim. We walk around for awhile but I don't pick up anything to add to the scene I got earlier and then I see him, just the sweep of his hair as he passes through the crowds but its enough - that feeling... I slip into Tracey's mind
Tracey. On the right, youth in a black jacket, blonde hair - you get him?
... Yeah I see him-
He's one of them.
I cross the street, slot into the pedestrian traffic. Behind me Raven is speaking into a phone, looking up into Spooky' and Tim's faces. The man I'm following hasn't looked round yet, which is just as well, I drop back further - problem with being an Ebon, we tend to stand out in crowds - but this man is moving... Got a taxi yet Rave?
One's on its way - 7 minutes-
Get the boys into it and stay mobile - it looks like, yes, he's going onto the Subway - I'll stay with him and let you know where we're going.
Be careful...
I luck out - the Subway at midday is crowded, although this means I have to work harder to keep him in sight it means that his chances of making me are greatly reduced. He gets a seat in a carriage, I stand behind an elderly woman, stare at the vid and its stream of adverts, watch him from the corner of my eye. Looking down on him I get a better chance to appraise him than from the girl's eyes: he isn't wearing gang colours, which is good - a complication I'm glad to avoid, a shabby black leather jacket, torn jeans, scuffed KickaTM boots; from here I can't tell whether he's carrying a gun or not. He's older than I first thought, maybe 20, 22...
Talk to me Shira
We're on the Subway, heading Downtown, towards Sector 7, I can't be more specific than that at the mo'
Al-right, we're in a taxi now, let me know when you're more certain
Okay Rave
The train screams its way through the dark tunnels, time passes, we go from station to station people get on and off but he stays seated, his eyes closed, head nodding to some tune in his head the lead from his speakers disappearing into his jacket. Time passes - we must be deep into Sector 7 by now, getting close to Sector 2. His eyes open, he looks at his watch, the train is slowing, coming to a station:
Rave, we're in Sector 7, getting off at 2-2 Charlie
Be careful Shira, you're going to stand out down there
Yeah, I know...
I wait 'til the last moment, jump off as the doors are closing, scan the platform catch sight of his hair as he goes up the stairs, follow, catch stares from around me but no-one's said anything yet - I'm hoping that they take me for a feral, my Deathsuit hidden by my coat. We come out onto the street the rain slashing down, the light grubby. There are fewer people on the streets, I cross over from him, he walks along, I keep up with him, he doesn't appear to pay attention to what's going on around him - self-defence mechanism down here... This is a run-down area, even for Downtown, I can't believe he hasn't picked me up yet. Around us old apartment blocks, derelict buildings - he turns down a narrow alleyway between 2 boarded-up shop fronts - I keep walking, cross over and double back until I'm at the entrance to the alleyway. Above me the number of one of the shops is painted in rust.
Raven, where are you?
We're just leaving 2-2 Bravo-
I'm at 237 Fowler Avenue. Blondie's disappeared down an alleyway, I don't think he made me - looks like the alleyway ends in an old apartment building, could be that's where he lives...
Alright Shira, we'll be there in about 20 minutes, don't go down there by yourself - wait for us
Okay Tracey, I'm not going anywhere.
I inch into the shadows that fill the alley, it goes down about 20 metres ending in a wall that goes up 5 storeys dotted with dirt-smeared windows, there are doors on both walls about half way down the alley; an old skip raised on concrete blocks, sacks of rubbish overflowing, spilling onto the ground around it. I go back onto the street, wait by the shop front.
A taxi pulls up. Raven, Tim and Spooky get out and join me.
"Hi guys, what kept you?"
Raven ignores me, peers down the alley.
"How do you want to do this Shira?"
"As you can see, we've got 2 doors, can you tell which might have been used last?"
"Hard to tell, maybe the lef-"
Just then a brick explodes by her head and things get a little indistinct.

Big Tim's rattling off 12 mill. from his Power Reaper, laying down suppressing fire on the far wall, Raven's moving up to the door on the left wall, I'm covering her while Spooky watches for snipers. As she reaches for it the door pops open and bodies spill out -
Spooky, watch those windows! Tim, move up - go to the door on the right wall
- two of the men take on Raven, the third sprints for cover to the right, Raven goes down under their attack:
Snikt - the first attacker staggers back, gurgling, trying to scream through the mess that was his throat, the second she kicks high in the head - he falls; I'm covering the third guy, he's on Raven's blind side and is taking aim, he hasn't seen me - Bam - I put a 12 point 7 millimetre into his head. Things start to speed up, losing definition; I see Tim taking fire, can't tell where from, he seems to shrug off the light CAF rounds that are hitting him he reaches out tears the door from the wall reaches his arms moving so fast I see a man fly through the air screaming his guts falling from his torn stomach Tim bites a man's head off the blood fountaining, suddenly I'm falling backwards then BANG I hit the ground on my back - someone switches the sound back on, I see Raven's legs kicking as she crawls into cover beneath a skip puffs of cement rising around her
Spooky, waste that son-of-a-bitch!!!
heavy automatic fire is tearing the far wall apart am I hit am I hurt! I do a quick check my hands trembling I can't feel anything wrong but there is such a thing as shock you know - no, it seems that my Deathsuit has done it's job again - thank you Dark Lament -
Shira, Raven, I'm going in through Tim's door
Roj. Spooky, you get that? lay down suppressing fire then follow, I'll cover when I'm in there
no need to wait for an affirm, I know Spooky'll do his job properly, I'm up and sprinting for the doorway Big Tim's in the shadows opening up with his Reaper I duck under him lean into a puddle of darkness, Raven's covering the corridor.
Spooky, to us, Big Tim's covering. Raven, what've you got?
Even though she's only 3 feet away there's no way I can communicate with her without our headsets, the noise from Tim's Reaper is stunning, with her augmented senses covering our front and Tim and Spooky behind I start to feel confident again.
Looks clear. I've got nothing on audio, infra-red or motion. There's a light switch above you - why don't you turn it on?
'lo Shira, Big Tim, Mr Spooky's behind me wha' you want me to do?
I hit the switch and flickering neon reveals a corridor, lots of pipes in the walls, with a solid-looking door at the far end. Tim's looming over me with a goofy grin on his face, he'd look cute were it not for the blood caking his mouth
Ok Tim, I'd like you to stay here while we go down and see what's behind that door, kill anyone who tries to come past you, and don't take any risks - that means no going out into the alley 'cos you're bored, alright?
Right Team we've got to go through that door 'cos I'm not too keen on going back out into that alley just this mo' and we know that some of the bad guys came from here - any ideas how we're going to do this?
Mr Spooky?
...
O-kay ... Rave?
Fuck knows Shi? Could be anything behind that door, from a psycho in Dogeybone to a fire bucket, first thing should be to check it out don't you think?
Alright then, let's you and me have a look - keep your 'phones cranked up and if you hear anything let me know - Spooky cover us and if you see us drop flat open up
Slow and cautious - at any second I expect the door to disappear in a blaze of white light that will be the last thing we'll see in this life. Raven nuzzles into my head
One of these days I'm going to kick Tarrant's ass you know?
I think you'd have to join a queue - Rave, why are you whispering?
She looks at me for a second, I can only see her eyes through her helmet and yet I swear she's blushing!
Shira, didn't anyone ever teach you that it's rude to laugh at a lady?? Stop giggling you bastard
I wink.
We get to the door. Once upon a time, a very long time ago, someone had painted it white; now there's more rust on it than paint. Raven spreads her palm out upon it.
Yeah, those guys that Tim iced came through here. I don't think there's anyone on the other side of this thing - after you Shira...
I give her a look
I thought it was ladies first...
and see her eyes light up as she smiles.
Step back Rave, ok, on three, 1 - 2 - 3 -
It has an old-fashioned latch handle. I lay my hands upon it stepping to the side; Raven is crouching down behind covering me with her Blitzer. I thrust the bar down giving the door a kick as I fling my self to the side.
Looks and sounds clear. It's the foot of a stairwell.
I notice that Spooky has come up to join us, he looks at me then glances significantly at the staircase.
Alright, you're on point. Raven you follow, I'll bring up the rear. Spooky, we need someone alive...
Spooky seems to glide up the stairs, his head constantly moving, probing every shadow. We are on a landing when Raven stops dead, that instant I feel it too: a feeling of pure terror, helplessness, dread, isolation
You get that Shira?
Yeah, she was an Ebon - felt young. It was recent, not more than a day ago
. What have we got here?
We pass old doors that must once have opened out onto other floors. Now they are rusted shut and neglected. The stairs lead up and up and then we are standing on a landing, weak light spilling from a door in front of us. Before I can say anything Spooky has gone through the doorway his gun up before him. Raven and I are hurrying to catch up with him when there is a burst of small-arms fire followed by a single shot from Spooky's rifle. Raven somersaults into the room Blitzer coming up as I follow. We are in a large room that once must have been someone's flat. From the remains of the decoration on the walls the owner must have been wealthy but that was some time ago. The walls are smashed and pockmarked by rounds, the windows blown in from when Spooky opened up earlier. Under one of them is the remains of a man, next to him a rifle - scratch one sniper. Spooky is standing over a young man who is moaning and clutching at the remains of his left knee, he turns his head to look at me and then stares into one of the corners. It's dark over there and I can't see much but Raven gives a gasp and runs into the corner. I walk after her and find her cradling the body of a young Ebon girl, her hands are bound, her skin bruised and bloodied. She was pretty once...
"She can't have been more than thirteen or fourteen..."
I leave Raven where she is and walk over to the man on the floor, it's my friend from the street market, he sees the look on my face and tries to crawl away gasping at the pain from his knee. I crouch down by him.
"You piece of SHIT!"
It's Raven. As I jerk my head up Spooky's hand is already closing on her arm, pulling the Blitzer away from her grasp.
"Get off me, get your fucking hand off me! Leave me alone"
She runs back over into the corner where the dead girl lies, sobbing. Bending down she holds the body against her, stroking her hair.
I turn back to the man on the floor.
"Well, human, I could ask you a lot of questions now but you'd probably lie and besides, I can't really be bothered - instead let me introduce you to Mr Mindfuck..."
He tries to turn his head away but I grasp his jaw, pulling his head round to face me letting my eyes meet his, going into his eyes, going behind...
Shadows. Pain. Fear. He's trying to block me. I tear through his blocks, ripping into him, ripping into his mind. Images. Flashes of thought: words, pictures. He's sobbing now, whimpering, he can feel me in there and I am cold, so cold...
I see the woman from outside the toyshop Jenny a conversation just forget it you asshole you make sure my money's there on time more pictures: he's climbing into a truck in the back a row of boys and girls drugged he looks at them a face catches his eye the face of the girl in the corner this building and a club a table beer a man I hear his voice dry face in shadow Whisper he's frightened of this man the club is called The Highlife later with his gang I see faces around him recognise one of them from in the alley the man flying through the air his guts exposed counting money takeout food in this room the girl being led up the stairs a present for you that voice rasping in the club anticipation the girl on the ground his turn leave some for me you bastards - Enough.
The human is whimpering, rocking back and forwards, in his fright he has peed himself the smell rising from him. I stand, raise my Blitzer, his face comes up he is crying now his voice high
"Please -"
The gun kicks in my hand the report loud in the room, startling Raven from her sobbing, the round kicking his body over tumbling it into a bundle of limbs and cloth. I go over to Raven and give her my hand to help her up
"Come on Tracey, we'll let the Shivers do the forensics in here"
she puts her head on my shoulder and says in a quiet voice
"My name's Raven, Shira, you know that..."
I put my arm around her and we leave the room.

"Take us to The Highlife"
Wait One - Checking... - Hey man, that's Downtown!
"So...?"
Tha's fine - jus' so long as you know...

Downtown has a smell, a taste in the mind that only an Ebon can know. Forget about the reports that fill Third Eye about the urban renewal and unemployment projects that are supposed to be going on - that's purely for the benefit of the surburban dwellers who work in the offices of SLA. The Shivers, the unemployed and those who prey upon them know the true story down here... Downtown is Mr SLA's favourite playground - and he isn't about to do anything to change that.
I know Raven's not too keen on this place - too many childhood memories; last I heard Jordan was tied in with Dark Night on one of the lower sectors and that's one childhood memory of my own I don't want to come across tonight.
The taxi pulls up by the side of a set of steps going down beneath the pavement above which a red neon sign flickers THE HIGHLIFE with an arrow sloping downwards.
Someone has a sense of humour
Yeah?
Alright Rave, remember we're looking for this Whisper character, I'll question the barman, you watch my back.
Are you sure we shouldn't bring Tim or Spooky in on this?
No. Look; I'm not expecting trouble and I don't want to run the risk of those two starting something - besides, if we do get into the shit far better to let the bad guys think it's just the two of us.
Cosy...
She gives me one of her looks.
At the foot of the steps in front of a black plastic door stands the human equivalent of a Stormer, he wears Blocker armour that's been made to look like a suit and is in possession of one of the ugliest faces I've ever seen. He looks at the two of us and grunts, putting up a huge fist in front of me.
"We don't take freaks here."
Polite
Take it easy Shira...
I look at him; look him in the eye...
What's the problem friend..?
No problem - but...
No problem
No problem...
He stands back, looking at the two of us; he smiles (an ugly face made uglier) and holds the door open pumping loud, harsh music into the night and the rain.
After you...
Shira - I'm warning you...
I laugh, letting her hear the sound in her head.
It's dark in here. I let my eyes get accustomed to the gloom. In front of us more steps lead down to an open doorway, a flickering strobe light playing across the foot of the steps. I go through the doorway some distance in front of me is a dancefloor with a pair of humans dancing slow, booths line the walls some filled, have to watch those, at the bar a few humans and single bartender. The music is brutal, rhythmic, filling my head forcing me to pause for a moment, heads at the bar turn in my direction, conversations stop.
I'm going to the bar, Rave watch the booths
This is really bad Shira...
Yeah...
A space at the bar opens before me and I'm facing the bartender; he's bald and greasy-looking, trying to outstare me and failing.
"We don't serve your kind in here"
"What kind is that?"
"Freaks - non-human scu -"
Shira, on your right!
I've caught the movement, one of the men on my right has reached inside his coat comes out holding a pistol my hand closes over his bending his wrist back the crack loud as it breaks. He screams, drops his gun, I spin back to face the barman - blink - my Blitzer in my hand pointing straight into his coarse human face...
"I'd think about it..."
He freezes, his hands reaching beneath the counter, his mouth slack
How's it going Rave?
I'm covering two here Shira
If they move cap them
You fuckhead Shira! I told you we needed hel-
Relax Rave, everything's under control, just calm down. Ok?
...
Tracey?
Yeah, alright Shira.
Trust me. I'm going to find out all I want to know from this one and then we'll just walk out of here. We go out the front door and then blink back to my apartment. Ok?
...
Alright.
The barman is frozen into the same stupid pose, I'm staring straight into his eyes, wonder what he's thinking
"Bring your hands up and place them flat on the bar, then straighten up"
he does so, his face hardening, every eye in the place is turned to us - watching - the music thumping away unheeded yet between the two of us a stillness, calm, the eye of a hurricane - no-one else exists, the music seems to fade away, becoming distant, only his eyes staring into mine...
"Ok, now this is how it's going to happen. I ask you the questions - you give me the answers: if you tell me the truth you live; if you lie you die." I smile.
"Some days ago two men, one young one old, were in here; they sat at one of the booths behind me and talked. I know they are involved in The Skin Trade. The younger man was excited, the older was not interested in attracting attention. I know about the youth, tell me about the older man."
He stares into my eyes
"I don't know who you mean"
"That is a wrong answer - "
I take a firmer grip upon my Blitzer
" - the man I want to find speaks in a whisper."
his eyes widen, slide from mine, look from side to side - he hesitates
"Have you ever seen what happens to a man's head when it takes a Blitzer round point blank..? If you lie I will know, believe me, now - the man I want to find speaks in a whisper..."
and, finding himself trapped, breaks -
"Look, I don't know this guy, I only know him as Whisper - right? he comes in here sometimes, sits in the corner; sometimes he sees other people, they talk and then leave. That's it."
"Not good enough. Where does he come from? Who are these other people?"
"I don't know, I don't know for fuck's sake! He hangs out with a woman, dark hair, I've seen her about, think she's a pro' - Jenny something or other - and that's all I know..!"
"This woman - she got a street-name?"
"Yeah, calls herself Do-Nut, lives somewhere in Trash Town"
"Trash Town - which Sector's that?"
"Fuck knows - why don't you get yoursel' an A to Zee -"
I look at him, there's nothing more to be said - he isn't lying, he doesn't know any more - my finger begins to tighten on the trigger just as Raven breaks into my thoughts
Happy?
Ecstatic.
Just thought I'd let you know that his friends here are getting mighty restless...
Alright...Let's go Rave - you first, I'll cover you.
I feel her step back and away towards the foot of the stairs. I follow, my back to her, covering the room with my Blitzer, no-one moves to come after us but I know that'll change when we're out of sight. Her heels tap their way up the stair behind me, a last look at the room and I'm after her, we clear the front door, past the doorman who's still in a daze and blink my face is getting slapped -
"You fucking asshole! What were you trying to do - get us both killed!?"
"Ow, that hurt..."
I pout, assume my hurt puppy face
"Hurt?! Jesus-shit Shira..!"
She shakes her head, goes over to sit on my sofa, looks out of the window at the rain
"I wish it would stop raining - just for a little while..."
I squat down on my heels in front of her, take her hands in mine.
"Shira, what we did tonight was so dumb - we could have been killed"
"Yes. I know..."
"Do you?"
She looks at me, shakes her head softly.
"What's happened to us; to you? You've turned this into a crusade - Shira Corson White Knight - you're not like that. Fuck - out of the two of us it's always been me that chases after rainbows, not you...You've become obsessed - chasing down this man Whisper for whatever reason -"
"He kills our own, Tracey"
"He kills our own - listen to yourself Shira... You know how many feral Ebons die each day on those streets out there? Do you remember the first thing they taught us back at the Academy? Never get involved - never get too close that you lose sight of what you're pursuing - you've got too close Shira; you've let it touch you... Christ! You were ready to kill that barman just 'cos he'd seen that Whisper guy-"
"He was scum"
"Yeah, he was racist filth - so??? I think you should do some thinking Shira... get some sleep... I'll call you in the morning"
She stands up, takes my face in her hands, looks at me for a long moment then kisses me, steps back -
"Trace-"
Blink - she's gone...
I'm standing at the windows, looking into the night, watching the rain as it dribbles down the panes... and I'm crying...

Cortez is a fine example of the sort of human who thrives in Downtown: onetime numbers runner with The Storytellers, pimp and dealer he's a walking database of slime and corruption - where Tarrant deals in the rarified atmospheres of Uptown, Cortez is my link to the backside of Mort Central. I've arranged to meet him to discuss Jenny Something that our friend the barman mentioned.
"Shira"
He steps out of the alleyway, his voice falling from the shadows, a tall fair-faced man the shabby top hat he wears tilted at a rakish angle, beads and feathers dangling in his greasy hair.
"Did you get what I wanted?"
"Do-Nut - yeah..."
"Well..?"
"She lived in a flat in Sector 7 4-1 - that in Trash Town - you know it? Mid-twenties, she lived there for the last two years - alone - then about 6 months ago she gone for a few weeks and turns up again with this tall dude. You know she a pro' yeah? well, seem she was into the kinky side of the market - specialised in working with kids; anyway after this dude turn up that's out o' the window. The other girls in the block reckon he her pimp and has gotten her a more seelect client-base than street trade so a couple o' them try to sign up with him - nothin' doin' - apparently he wa'n't interested in what they had to offer - scared the shit out o' them too - something about his voice and his eyes, like talking to a dead man one said... So - she disappear a week ago and no-one's the least bit surprised; maybe she turn up again but I wouldn't put any money down if you know what I mean..."
"This man - he still around?"
"Nah, he disappear when she did"
"Her place, is it occupied now?"
"Nope"
"Fine..."
I pass him his money, he ruffles his finger through the sheaf of Uni bills, tucks it away in a pocket - "Look after yourself"
"You know it"

You! Get the fuck away from that corner! You tired of living or what?!
Chief - the fire's got too tight a hold: there's no way we can save it.
Roj. Alpha squad pull back. We've lost this one... What was the name of this place anyway?
Supposed to be a club - Comp. has it down as The Highlife
Well I hope there was no-one in it 'cos they're toast now.
The flames roar out of the stairwell turning the rain to steam - the heat so intense the Shivers can feel it inside their body armour...

The light-gantry over what was the dancefloor still glows in places, the air is hazy with smoke, the walls stained; a forensics team is crouched over the shrouded bodies on the floor, zipping them one by one into body bags.
Twelve...
Forensics reckon they were still alive when the place was torched, the doors were locked so they couldn't get out.
What do you reckon - rival gang?
Definitely killed as a warning - but to whom? We haven't got this place down as a meeting point for any gang and besides this isn't gang turf, the nearest territory's 4 klicks away
New gang?
No - it just doesn't feel right. I think we'll have to issue a BPN on this one.

The phone rings -
"Mr Corson? I believe you're looking for a gentleman by the name of Whisper..?"
"Who is this?"
"Do you know a club called The Zone? Meet me there tonight, say 3 o'clock?"
"Who is this?"
"Bring money - 500 Credits and I'll tell you about Whisper... See you later Mr Corson-"
"How will I know how to spot you?"
"You won't have to Mr Corson, I know what you look like..."
He hangs up. I punch out a few numbers.
"Rave?"
"..."
"Speak to me Tracey"
"Do you know what time it is Shira?"
"I've just had a phone call -"
"That's nice for you..."
" - from someone who says he'll tell me about Mr Whisper"
"..."
"Rave?"
"What do you want to do about it"
"Go and meet him"
"Where?"
"The Zone at 3"
"Give me 1/2 an hour and I'll be with you"
"No Raven, I'll go on my own for this one -"
"Are you kidding?!"
"It'll be alright Tracey, I'll call you."
"Shira? Shira..? Shit!"

"Shira? This is Tarrant - if you're there pick up the phone."
"Tarrant?"
"What the fuck is going on Shira? I give you a BPN to check up on a missing child, now I hear that the club you and Raven went to has been burnt to the ground and a BPN issued to find out who and why - "
"It wasn't us"
"Yeah, I guessed that, thing is it was torched when it was filled with people - word is someone was making a statement - Shira, how close are you to tying up this one?"
"Hard to tell"
"Perhaps you should think about pulling out -"
"I don't think so"
"Shira, listen to me, I don't believe in coincidence - what if this was a warning to you - "
"Don't worry about it Tarrant"
"Shira - you're hunting someone - what if they're hunting you..."

It's 2.55. I'm sitting in a corner booth watching the bar. The club is getting busy, starting to fill. The Zone is one of the bars that caters to those who have a rather eclectic taste - I used to come here myself a few years ago, before I went into therapy to lose those tastes... One thing that it does offer is privacy; whoever called me up knows that we won't be disturbed. Perhaps it's a bad move coming here by myself, then again - it's not the sort of place in which Big Tim or Spooky could just fade into the background - the only one I could bring here would be Raven and she's still a little flaky after our visit to The Highlife. This case is affecting us badly - I've never known her to be so nervous - and she's right, I've become too attached to it; I keep seeing that dead girl's face and I know she's having nightmares about her too.
Someone coughs delicately, I look up. A tall Ebon woman is standing before me, she has long blond hair and is wearing a grey silk sheath dress, she is very beautiful - I wonder what kinks she's into? - and looks me straight in the eye, moistening her lips
"Mr Corson"
Ah...
She sits opposite me, crosses her legs
"I believe you are looking for a party by the name of Whisper?"
"Who are you?"
"My name isn't important Mr Corson. Did you bring the money?"
"I spoke to a man on the phone"
"Yes"
"Why isn't he here?"
"That's not important Mr Corson; I believe the sum discussed was 500 credits?"
I put the bundle of notes upon the table top in front of me, she looks at it
"If I may..?"
I slide it over to her she picks it up and puts the money in her clutch bag
"Don't you want to count it?"
she smiles, thinly.
"Room 208, The Jefferson Hotel in Downtown Sector 1 - Delta 3-3; the room is registered under the name of Henry Williams."
"And he's there huh?"
"Room 208, The Jefferson Hotel in Downtown Sector 1, Mr Corson."
She gets up, turns back to face me for a moment
"You might like to take care when you go down there - someone has put a price on your head. Goodbye Mr Corson, don't try to follow me..."
and turns away. I sit and watch the movement of her hips as she walks out of the club.

"We're back on track Tracey; I've got two addresses - one for Whisper, one for Jenny Something - get Big Tim and Mr Spooky and we'll do some investigating..."
Tracey is a little miffed - I've blinked into her apartment (well, her bedroom actually) just as she's putting on her make-up - one shriek and lipstick line along her cheekbone later and I'm trying very hard not to laugh. She stands there, stunned for a moment, then throws her lipstick at me.
"You are a bastard Shira! First you phone me up in the middle of the night then you switch your phone off so I can't call you then you disappear then I get a phone call from Tarrant 'cos you've pissed him off - no-one can find you and now Ping like the good fairy you come along and scare the crap out of me!"
At this point she catches a glimpse of her face in the mirror (oh-oh...) and lets out another shriek. "And look what you've done to my face!!"

Jenny Something's apartment block is a prime candidate for Urban Renewal - it's dark, grimy, the pavements outside are covered in rubbish and the lifts don't work. This is not a good part of town; the taxi driver gave us a look as he drove off as if to say well, good luck...
"This is the right place?"
"Yeah"
"Ok, which apartment did she live in"
"Don't know that - we'll have to ask someone"
"Shira - sometimes you amaze me..."
I don't think she means this as a compliment.
"Shal I knok on one o' the doors Shira?"
"No, that's alright Tim, I'll find another way"
I know that the inhabitants of Downtown are a little tougher than their Uptown cousins but even they might be a little perturbed by Big Tim's goofy face leering down at them. On the corner, standing in a pool of streetlight, are a group of women: they posture and pout at the passing traffic, as I watch a taxi pulls up and one of them gets in. Aha...
"Ok Rave I'll go over and ask the ladies - you look after the boys here; make sure they don't get up to any mischief"
She pokes her tongue out at me.
As I walk up to them one notices me, says something to her companions, this stops their soliciting of the passing cars and they stand, a silent mob, appraising me...
"Well, well - and aren't you the pretty one - we don't get many of your sort down here."
"Good evening ladies-"
"Ladies is it - and what would Mr Slayer be wanting with us ladies..?"
Sarcastic laughter, a couple of women turn their attention back to the traffic. I pull a 10-cred note from my coat pocket, the girl facing me looks at it, licks her lips
"I wonder which one of you knows where Do-Nut lives?"
"Hey man, you botherin' my girls?"
The girl turns her head towards the new voice, steps back into the shadows. A man has stepped into the light - he is tall for a human, his face badly pockmarked by acne scars; the girls step back from him as he approaches as if he carried a contagious disease. He stops in front of me, looks me up and down and spits on the pavement by my feet
"Nice boots"
he leers, reaches into a pocket pulls out a cigarette, lights it.
"I'm looking for a woman called Do-Nut, she lives around here"
"You a friend of hers..?"
I hold the 10C note between my fingers, he looks at it stares me in the face,
"Flat 26"
he plucks the note and stuffs it in his pocket, spins on his heel and he is gone; back into the shadows...
The girls stand silent, preoccupied with the pavement, no-one looks at me; I turn and walk back to where I left the others.
"Get what you wanted?"
"Flat 26"
"Uh-huh."
"Ok, Spooky - you're on point. Rave, you follow; Big Tim you bring up the rear. Right - I don't want any shooting - we're just hear to check out her flat; you got that Tim, Spooky? Lets go" The stairs are deserted as we go up to the second floor, a rat scuttles under a pile of boxes and we can hear Shiver sirens some way off in the distance.
"Does anyone live in this place"
A SCAF bike flashes by low overhead, its spotlight plays over the walkway illuminates Spooky's face for a second then is gone.
Flat 26. The overhead lights in this part of the walkway are out. The rain splashes down through a hole above us. Spooky stands by the door, his rifle pointing towards the floor, he looks at Raven and me
What have you got Rave?
Nothing from inside the flat. Few TV sets on in the surrounding flats, a couple of stereos - that's about it, I had some interference a little while ago but its cleared up, must have been atmospherics...
Let me know if it happens again.
Okey-dokey
I nod to Spooky, he touches the door with a long claw and it swings inward. The smell of cat pee rushes out to meet us. The interior of the flat looks very dark.
Anyone got a torch?
Thank you Tracey...
There is a light switch on the wall just in from the doorway, I switch it on.
Someone's been here before us...
The interior of the flat is a mess, we step over piles of cat- and dog-shit in the hall, someone has sprayed a clown's face on one of the walls signed it with Kev Is A Wanker in red paint. The lounge has been trashed, the sofa torn up, a few music slugs and a lot of beer cans lie on the floor - no stereo, no tv. BOD is written in purple paint on one wall.
"Check out the bedroom Rave, I'll do the kitchen - Spooky watch the corridor with Big Tim"
The fridge has been cleaned out, the microwave gone, there're more beer cans on the floor and someone has vomitted in the sink. Nothing remains to tell me about Jenny Something. Shit.
Raven meets me in the lounge, she's carrying a small black case in her hands, she looks at me and smiles.
"There's nothing in the bedroom 'cept more graffiti so I thought I'd look in the bathroom and bingo-"
"Where'd you find it?"
"In the toilet cistern."
"Uh-huh..."
She hands it to me, it's quite heavy. I place it on the sofa, unzip it.
"Something tells me she was more than your average hooker..."
The case contains a bundle of 100 credit bills, 2 phials of colourless liquid and a pistol. I pick up the bundle of bills, hand it to Raven to count while I examine the pistol.
"There must be about 3000 Cees here"
"That's a lot for a working girl to save"
"Yeah and this pistol, it isn't CAF and it's not FEN or GA -"
I eject the magazine
"- this looks like 10 mill. to me"
We look at each other
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"Uh-huh..."
"Where'd you say this Whisper character lived?"
"Room 20- hang on, what's this..?"
Hidden beneath the pistol, tucked into a flap in the case is a white card. I pull it out.
"What's it say?"
"It's a business card for Bingham Towers - Executive Housing in Uptown 3"
"What's that written on the back Shi?"
I turn it over, in one corner someone has written W - 502

The phone is answered on the third ring
"Yes?"
"You were right - he's been asking about her"
"Did he fit my description?"
"Ebon, white deathsuit, black hair - yeah, it was him alright"
"You gave him the address?"
"Flat 26? - yeah - he's in there now"
"That's fine"
"You want I should arrange a reception for him for when he comes out"
"No, it's all under control"
"Are you sure?"
There is a slight pause, no more than a second or two, and when the voice answers it has the same dry, whispering, tone - yet the air of menace is palpable...
"Quite sure"
"Hey, you know, no offence, like I was only saying..."
but he is speaking to empty air, the phone is dead in his hand. The man looks at it for a second as if it were some kind of poisonous insect then fumbles in his pocket for a cigarette, lights it and walks away from the phone booth; he walks only in the puddles of light from the infrequent streetlights. Avoiding the shadows, from time to time he looks back over his shoulder checking that the darkness isn't closing in.

"What do you reckon - Room 502?"
"Could well be -"
"and W stands for Whisper..?"
"Worth checking at least..."
"Ok - we're leaving; first we check out The Jefferson Hotel then we try this Bingham Towers, agreed..?"
"Ok Shira. You going to tell Tarrant what we've found?"
"Any reason why I should?"
"He was pretty pissed off with you..."
"Ok Rave - if it'll make you feel happier - and it can't hurt can it?"

The taxi pulls up and we find it's the same driver that brought us here; when we tell him where we want to go I catch his eyes in the rearview mirror and smile - he wears a long-suffering look and seems to be cursing all SLA-Ops
"It's ok - this is the last place we want to go to"
Tracey looks at me quizzically
Our friend the taxi driver's not too keen on our Downtown Excursions
Ah... I see...
she too turns a smile on him.
I feel a lot happier now and I know she feels the same - we're close to Whisper and he's the key; whether we take him alive or not is irrelevant... Whisper has become more than the motive player of this case - he's become a shadow, like when you're a kid and you fear to look under your bed or in the wardrobe because you know the monster's hiding there... It'll be good to turn the lights on again.
We pull up at The Jefferson Hotel. This part of Downtown isn't as seedy or as rough as the area we've come from. From the looks of it The Jefferson caters to second-rate salesmen and their like - people who move from place to place, who pay their rent by the day rather than by week or month. The Night Clerk looks up in surprise when we walk in through the door, Spooky immediately moves to cover the lift, Rave and I put on our most charming smiles
"Wha -"
"Good evening, we're from the Department of Investigation and we'd like to talk to a Mr Williams - I believe he's living here?"
"Er -"
"That's fine, if I may just look at your register -"
I turn the terminal round to face me
"that's strange, there doesn't seem to be any record of him here; perhaps you could have a look for me?"
The clerk looks nervously away from Big Tim's face and turns to me, I smile reassuringly and nod towards his key pad, he looks down and taps at it.
"Here we are, Mr H. Williams, Room 208 - checked in a month ago, paid cash, checked out 2 days ago"
the clerk ventures a smile in my direction.
Raven looks at me
Wha -?
It's cool, don't worry about it
"Has anyone stayed in that room since then?"
"Er, yeah... um - we've had ... 2 guests booked in since - currently there's Mr Thompson and he's due to check out tomorrow morning..."
At that moment Raven turns to cover the door, a couple have just walked in off the street: he looks like your standard shabby second-rate salesman type and the woman is pretty obviously a prostitute; they stop dead the moment they see Tim and Spooky, turn round and walk back out into the street. I look at the clerk, turn the terminal round to face me again, pick the keypad up and tap a few commands - over 2/3rds of the rooms are registered to single females who pay by the month. "...2 guests since then eh?"
Fuck it!
Shira smile - you're scaring him
Raven bends over the desk, runs a finger over the clerk's cheek
"Thanks for your time - you've been awfully sweet..."
The clerk glances from her to me, he looks more scared than ever
Come on, let's go - there'll be no point looking for clues in his room now - fuck knows how many have really been in and out of there since -
Uptown it is then
Yeah
Well - at least the taxi driver will be happy
We get back into the taxi, the driver looks at me quizzically, Raven tells him where we want to go, he nods, speaks into his radio and we pull off.
"Cheer up Shira"
"I expected to find him"
"Yeah, I know - but at least we've got another lead"
I lean forward towards the driver
"How long will it take us to get there?"
he taps something into his computer, tilts his head in my direction
"About 40 minutes"
I look at my watch, look up and meet Raven's eyes - she yawns theatrically; Tim is watching the passing traffic from one of the taxi's windows; Spooky is leaning back against his seat, his eyes are closed. The driver appears to be having a conversation with his controller I can't hear him through the screen but I catch his eyes in his mirror, he smiles and I shrug.
Any idea how we're going to take him
Don't know yet - if he is Dark Night I'm not certain we should even try
Hmmm - bit late to fill out the warrant now...
Yeah
Oh well, I'm sure you'll think of something before we get there...
Thanks
That's ok Shira, you know I have every faith in your abilities...
This time I give her a look - she giggles, concentrates on the passing traffic.

"They're on their way"
"Right"
"Thought you'd like the chance to prepare a surprise"
"Yes..."

"I think I need a holiday"
"Hmmm?"
"Yes. I definitely feel in need of a break".
"Where'd you like to go Raven?"
"Ohhh I don't know - somewhere where it isn't raining all the time, somewhere where the sun shines. I want to laze on a beach and wiggle my toes in the water..."
I sigh. I can just imagine the kind of holiday she means: I won't hear anything from her for a week, she'll have a few romances and if I'm lucky she'll bring me back some tourist junk and expect me to be overjoyed.
There's no enthusiasm in my voice when I say
"Well you'd better look up a Travel Agent then"
She looks at me for a few moments then moves closer to me on the seat, presses her thigh into mine
"I thought perhaps we could visit a couple of Travel Agents..."
I look at her. She smiles shyly.
"I love you Raven"
She takes my hand in hers, brings it up to her lips, kisses it.
"You know my name's Tracey, Shira..."

The man sits in a darkened room, the TV flickers its images across his dead eyes his voice, when it speaks, is dry and husky with no trace of inflection - lifeless
"Initiate Sign-Off Programme, Authorisation Delta-November-5-0-2"
Voice Authorisation confirmed
he gets up and puts on a long coat, reaches down, picks up a case. From his coat he pulls out a 'phone, speaks into it.

"Do you feel like a holiday Tim?"
The taxi's slowing down. I look at my watch - we must be almost there. The taxi stops. The night is very dark out there, pressing in upon the windows of the taxi.
"This doesn't look like Bingham Towers - why have you stopped?"
The response, from the taxi's speaker grill, comes as a little surprise:
If you will just step out of the car Mr Corson
"What the fu-"
We just want to talk to you Mr Corson, step out of the car with your hands away from your body and no-one need get hurt
Raven, Tim and Spooky are looking at me
It is in everyone's best interests if you do as we say Mr Corson
If we all go at once Shira-
I look out of the windows. The woman from The Zone is standing in our headlights, she is flanked by 4 men in Crackshot armour, behind us another 2 take up positions covering the car. When I turn to the front again I see she has been joined by another suit.
"Ok everyone let's be cool about this - and that means you Tim - I'll do as they ask; no-one do anything unless you see me do it first..."
You're not going out there alone.
Wrong Rave, I am going out there - alone - you are staying here. It'll be alright, you'll see... but if it isn't get yourself out of here - I mean far far away; you understand?
Shira-
No!
I look Spooky in the eye, wink and step out of the taxi. The rain is cold upon my face a fresh wind picking the drops up, throwing them at me. I let the door shut. Across the way the lights of Uptown beckon, I can hear the sound of traffic from here. Above the muted roar of the traffic I can pick out the faint whine of a Kilcopter's turbines - looking up I see it hanging there like some gross insect, suddenly I'm surrounded by the harsh white glare of its spotlights. I put my hand up to shield my eyes but all I can see for awhile are afterimages and when they clear the woman from The Zone is standing in front of me.
"Well Mr Corson, we meet again..."
"And good evening to you Ms...?"
"I've told you before Mr Corson- my name's not important; all that you need to know is that you may consider your BPN to have been completed successfully and you are free to leave this part of Uptown -"
"Wha-"
"- your personal SCL increases have been authorised and payment has already been transferred to your various accounts. You are free to go home Mr Corson."
"Wait a minute, hang on now - you're telling me everything's over, just like that"
"Yes Mr Corson - as you succinctly put it, just like that..."
"How the fuck can you do this, I haven't even filed a report yet! - who the fuck are you people??"
"I think if you contact your agent - a Mr Tarrant I believe? - you will find he has filed a report on your behalf; this report, and your actions detailed therein, has been approved and your BPN considered to be satisfactorily concluded - in addition your enthusiasm in fulfilling the requirements of this BPN and looking after the interests of SLA Industries has been noted. ...As to who we are Mr Corson you do not need to know that, in fact all you need to know is that your presence is no longer required in this part of Uptown and that any further inquiries into the individual you know as Whisper will be viewed with deep suspicion... Goodbye Mr Corson - the taxi will take you wherever you wish to go..."
With a wave of her hand she draws the troopers to her. I stand there watching as the Kilcopter lands and takes them aboard and then lifts off and vanishes into the night, its navigation lights winking, as it heads towards Uptown and, I know, Bingham Towers. I remember the look on the taxi driver's face when he dropped us off in Downtown
"Yeah... and good luck..."
"What's that Shira?"
"Hmmm?"
I turn round to face her, touch her cheek - she looks at me concernedly, as if I were an injured pet; behind her Spooky leans against the door of the taxi, Tim poking his head out from beneath Spooky's arm.
"Ok everyone, the job's finished, let's go home"
Tim smiles and puts his head back inside the taxi, Spooky looks at me until I nod and then he too gets back inside the car, only Raven remains outside with me
And what about Whisper?
We've been told not to worry about him
And are you ok with that?
Does it matter - ?
It matters...
I smile, hold her eyes in mine
"I'll get over it. Come on, you're getting wet..."
The taxi pulls off into the night. I lean forward to talk to the driver
"We weren't expected to get this far were we? Where was it supposed to happen - back there in Downtown?"
We believed that Whisper had planned a surprise for you at the girl's apartment
"And The Jefferson?"
That was a dead end - it was supposed to make you think the trail had gone cold
"And we'd just give up huh?"
Yes
"And now..?"
Now? Now I take you wherever you want to go.
"Anywhere but Bingham Towers eh?"
Uh-huh - so where do you want to go?
"Well I imagine these two will want to hit a bar whereas we -"
I look at Raven, she has pulled her legs up onto the seat and tucked them beneath her, she is looking up at me expectantly when suddenly the interior of the taxi is lit up for a second - our faces drawn in stark black-and-white. I look back over my shoulder and see a ball of flame rising from one of the towers of Uptown 3. Turning back I see that our driver's face bears a frown of concern.
"- I think we'll look up a good Travel Agents..."