Prison of Blood and Lies

Nineteen

I should have known that the demon wouldn’t want only a cookie. It was a newspaper this time. I ran my fingers through my red hair and sank down into the mattress of my bed. Was a newspaper a big deal? Didn’t prisoners in human jail get to watch the news and go to the library? I’d be doing it a kindness. Besides, I couldn’t stop my hunt over a newspaper.

I drifted off to sleep. Instead of my usual nightmare, I dreamed of Vance and our perfect life before everything was ripped away from us.

I awoke with tears streaming down my face and clutching my babies to my stomach. I pushed the pain from my mind and readied myself for the night.

I walked past Gemba’s office and toward the exit. As I passed, he called out to me.

“Hey, Alice.” He waved me into his office.

“Hi Gemba,” I said.

He smiled at me from across the desk. As always, he dressed in an expensive suit and looked ready to go to a fancy evening event at any moment. I leaned against the door frame.

“Did you find your evening fruitful?”

“It was good. The wolf wasn’t much help. Or maybe I asked him the wrong questions. The only useful thing he had was that he knew where to find Tucker. I’ll need to come back to him when I have better information and can ask better questions.”

“Excellent. We can use that to track Tucker down. Were you able to interrogate the demon?”

I wouldn’t call it interrogation. I couldn’t use my normal technique. It was more like a conversation, but I felt uneasy about informing Gemba of that fact. Best to keep that to myself, I decided.

“The demon does have connections, just like you said.”

“What did you learn?”

I thought about it for a moment before replying.

“It mentioned that my husband might still be alive. I don’t know what to make of that.”

“I warned you that it twists words. Your husband can’t possibly be alive. It doesn’t fit the style for these types of criminals. Witnesses are eliminated.”

“I’m going back this evening. I think it has more to share.”

“Very good. Did you learn anything else?”

He narrowed his eyes at me like he was trying to read my expression.

“It said you were a fallen angel. Is that true?”

He scoffed. “Even if it were true, I’d say that’s my business, wouldn’t you? Do be mindful of where your questions with the demon lead. Poisoning people is its game.” His eyes shifted to the side when he spoke.

“Poisoning?”

“Yes. It seeks to poison your opinion of me. It wants to create a weakness and an opportunity to escape.”

I shook my head. “I won’t let that happen.”

He gave me a gentle smile. “I know you won’t. Anyway, I have an assignment for you.”

“Alright. What is it?”

“Another Void peddler. They keep springing up. We need to find the source.”

“It sounds like Tucker is involved in buying it from the information I gathered from Mack. Maybe it’s time we find Tucker. This time, I won’t let him slip away.”

“That’s exactly where I was going. Smart. I knew I could rely on you. You’re ready. Just remember, be smarter than him. He’s not a run of the mill drug dealer or pimp like you’ve managed so far.”

“I look forward to seeing the look on that s**t’s face when he sees me again.”

“Call me when you have him subdued.”

Going out on this mission would give a perfect opportunity to get the newspaper for Zen. I needed to know more from the demon. I felt like Gemba had only been sharing half-truths. I needed to find out for myself.

The bridge on the east side of town is what Mack had recommended. That’s where I’d wait for Tucker. I didn’t know how long I’d need to wait, but I was prepared to wait for as long as it took.

I bought a newspaper from one of the newspaper kiosks that take change. I slipped the paper in my messenger bag and called a taxi. To walk there would take too much time and I wasn’t willing to possibly risk missing my chance.

The cab dropped me off a few blocks away and I walked the rest of the distance. The sound of the rushing river drowned out many of the ambient city noises. Tucker had made mention of my smell the last time I encountered him. I found a tree downwind of the bridge to wait. My smell wouldn’t announce my presence this time. No, he wouldn’t know I was there until I was ready for him.

The city lights danced on the river’s surface. I never made it out after dark to just sit and observe the water. Watching the water and the small boats used to be one of my favorite ways to unwind after a long day. I’d never bask in the sun’s rays ever again. Since my escape. I’d been too singularly focused on revenge to sit at the water’s edge. Even if Tucker didn’t show, my time was worthwhile. The night could be just as beautiful as the day.

The slamming of a car door from what must have been a block or two away broke my attention away from the water. After a short while, a shadowy figure walked on the sidewalk that ran along the river’s edge until it disappeared into the darkness under the bridge.

I sat, ready to move, for a few moments, waiting to see if the figure would appear on the other side. Only a few breaths later, another figure. No two figures disappeared under the bridge. I crept closer, staying downwind and out of sight.

Two male voices spoke.

“She’s a runaway and wants to make some extra cash. I told her that I know just who could help her out. So, here she is.” The first voice was deep but it didn’t seem like he made any effort to control his volume. From about twenty feet away, I could hear him as if he stood right next to me.

“You did well. Tell me, my dear, does anyone know you’re here?” I recognized that voice. Tucker. Found him.

“N-no. I should call my roommate. Hang on,” a female voice said. She sounded nervous.

“That won’t be necessary. We’ll take care of you. Go ahead and give me a spin, darling. Let me see what we’re working with.”

She giggled.

I’d heard enough.

I stepped into view.

“Girl, run! Run now,” I shouted. All three of them spun to face me. I crouched and pounced on Tucker, knocking him on his back.

The girl screamed and ran. The other man cursed and ran the opposite direction.

I put my face close to Tucker’s.

“Hello again.”