Reapers by Bryan Davis

Author:Bryan Davis [Davis, Bryan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scrub Jay Journeys
Published: 2014-02-04T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

I landed on the alley floor and ran toward the street. When I reached the corner, I stopped and peeked around it. Sing stood in front of her apartment building’s door talking to Alex, who had her back toward me. I turned the opposite way and jogged silently until I found a side street to dash into.

From there, I chose a path that stayed clear of the main thoroughfare and sprinted toward the camp. Fewer streetlamps dotted the side roads. No matter. I again ran at a fast enough clip to discourage bandits.

When I neared the camp, I stopped behind a car and caught my breath. Sweat dripped everywhere, dampening my clothes from top to bottom. I mopped my brow with a sleeve. A few streetlamps and the camp’s searchlights illuminated the Hilton’s rear entry. The same lanky guard leaned against the wall, smoking a cigarette.

A few steps away from the guard, Tori bounced on her toes, apparently in her invisible state. When she saw me, she ran to the car, walked right through it, and stood at my side. “Shanghai can’t come. Alex put a guard in your hall.”

“She’s tightening the screws. I’ll have to come up with a new plan.” I plugged my cloak into my valve. When it energized, I whispered, “Crandyke, do you have any info on the Hilton’s guard at the back door? He’s tall and thin. Chain smokes. About forty years old. Maybe six foot two.”

“Have you been swimming? It’s itchy in here.”

“Just sweating. I’ll be dry soon. Now pay attention. Do you know the guy?”

“All right, but try not to sweat so much.” Crandyke sighed. “He’s probably Herman Stanskey. Only smoker I know in the guard detail.”

“Got anything on him I can use for leverage?”

“He’s clean as a whistle, a by-the-book guy, if you catch my meaning.”

“High morals, huh?”

“Not really. Just scared to death of getting in trouble. He lost a security-guard position at the phone company for sleeping on the job, but we gave him a chance. He’s supposed to be assigned to posts where he’s not allowed to sit.”

“That could be helpful.” I crouched next to Tori. “Just stay close to me. I might need you again when we get back to my room.”

She nodded. “I will.”

After waiting for one of the searchlights to sweep past the guard, I walked straight toward the Hilton’s rear entrance. When the guard caught sight of me, he nodded. “May I help you, young man?”

I stopped in front of him and read his name tag—Stanskey. “My name is Phoenix. I’m in residence here for the reapings.”

“Ah! So you’re the one.”

I tried to read the guard’s tone—a bit irritated. The trouble had begun.

He withdrew a miniature tablet from his pocket and read a message on the screen, too small for me to make out. “Alex said to watch for you.” He talked with the cigarette in his mouth, making ashes fly. “She’s been delayed, or she’d be here herself. She said to escort you to the dining room.

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