The Ten of Spades by Patricia Loofbourrow

Author:Patricia Loofbourrow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: private eye, renegade army, traitors, domed city, gun battle, true identity, crime families, sci fi noir, neo victorian, steampunk noir
Publisher: Patricia Loofbourrow

The Code

Cold air spilled down my neck as the small window behind me opened. "We know where this High-Low Split gang hides out," Blitz said. "We don't know they're the same."

Sawbuck glared at him, and the window shut.

I remembered what Benji just said. "They're allied. The leader of the High-Low Split is a woman! She consorts with Frank Pagliacci and is the one who shot Marja."

Sawbuck's eyes widened. "Is that so?

"Mrs. Clubb has a witness. This woman is the Black Maria you're searching for."

Sawbuck leaned back, crossing his ankle over his knee, his arm along the back of the bench. "And yet you've taken money from Maria Athena Spade's mother to find her."

"I don't think that this girl is Black Maria. I think that either the Spadros rogues or the Red Dog Gang have taken her to lure us into a trap." It certainly fit the pattern the Red Dog Gang's leader had followed so far.

He put both feet on the floor. "Then you need to stop. We need to figure out what their trap is before doing anything else. These are dangerous people. You can't just go charging into their stronghold without being sure."

"I ran in the High-Low Split as a child. These are people I grew up with! I don't believe they'll harm me." I searched around for something to sway him. "I promised this woman's mother I'd find her. She's spent a great deal of money already. I know where Black Maria is. I believe that's where we'll find Maria Athena as well."

"And if you're wrong, you could be killed, or worse, captured, used as a discard in whatever game they're playing." He leaned forward, eyes fierce. "I won't have him put between two terrors!"

Everything came back to Tony and his fear. Fear of me coming to harm, or fear of defying Roy. If faced with both, I wasn't sure which would win.

Just one of many reasons I walked away.

Having Family resources and connections was an advantage, but my business had to stay separate from the Spadros Family. "There is no 'we,' Ten. This family lives on Market Center for a reason. I won't jeopardize their well-being because my husband feels anxious!"

"What will it take for you to understand?"

"This is the Pot. It's the High-Low Split." How did he not grasp what I said? "You grew up there. You never ran with us?"

"Aunt Molly took me from there to spare me that life."

I stared at Sawbuck as if seeing him for the first time. He wasn't really from the Pot at all, not in his mind. My mother-in-law Molly grew up in the Pot. Why would she take him from his people? Never teach him our way? "Pot rags don't hurt other Pot rags, Ten."

A scoff burst from him. "They don't hurt children. But you're a full woman. You're the Lady of Spadros. Do you not understand the danger you put yourself in?"

When Tim testified at my trial, he had it right: these quadrant-folk were all soft, frightened of their own shadows.

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