Magnus Nights by Bryn Smith

Author:Bryn Smith
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hawkeye Publishing Pty Ltd
Published: 2021-09-22T16:00:00+00:00

15

CRADDOCK pulled a pair of handcuffs from his belt. ‘Put your hands out.’

‘Uh-uh.’ The woman wagged a finger. ‘If you arrest me, I’ll make bail and you’ll never see me again. But I am glad you got my message.’

‘How did you find me?’

‘Psychic powers,’ the woman answered. She laughed at Craddock’s expression. ‘You showed me your ident and gave me your comm number. It wasn’t difficult.’

‘And your accent?’

‘Well, a bit of acting is necessary in my work.’

Craddock scowled at her. The woman refused to break his gaze. ‘Look, just enjoy the drink and hear what I have to say. Have you had dinner? This place does an excellent charcuterie platter.’

She turned and waved at the bartender. He nodded and came out from behind the bar with a long tray and placed it on the table. Sliced herb loaf, cheeses, vegetables, fruit.

Cured meats.

Craddock’s stomach churned. ‘I’m not hungry,’ he said. ‘And you almost got me and my boss killed.’

‘You didn’t need me.’ She smeared soft cheese on a slice of bread. ‘The two of you walked away just fine.’

‘There were eleven people who didn’t.’

The woman glared as she popped the bread and cheese in her mouth and gestured for more whiskey. The bartender walked over.

‘Leave the bottle,’ she said, her mouth still half full of food.

‘Ma’am, the bottle’s worth—’

‘It’s fine,’ she said curtly. The bartender placed the bottle on the table and left.

Craddock watched the woman pour herself a generous portion. Finally, a crack in the armour.

‘How are you handling it?’ she asked. ‘A fycon, still on probation. I imagine that was your first gunfight. Have you started experiencing acute stress symptoms?’

Blackened flesh. Smoke curling up from charred clothes.

‘I’m fine.’

‘Hmph. Sure.’

Craddock responded by draining his whiskey.

‘You’re supposed to sip that.’

‘I’ve had a long week.’ Craddock poured himself another whiskey and grabbed a piece of fruit from the platter. ‘How about we cut the shit and you tell me who you are and what you want.’

The woman sighed. ‘My name’s Nancy. And I want your help.’

‘Need more bait?’

‘If I’m going to be civil then so are you,’ Nancy said sharply. ‘And no, I don’t need more bait. I need you to keep investigating the plasmas.’

Craddock thought about the Helios records back at the office and the hundreds of Taskforce Bloodhound detectives out across Magnus. ‘We’re doing that already.’

‘You misunderstand, Mr Craddock.’ Nancy pointed an elegant finger at him. ‘I need you, personally, to keep investigating the plasmas.’

‘Why me?’

‘Because you’re trouble. And I need more of that.’

‘For what?’

Nancy leaned back in her chair. ‘Do you know why the undercity is being showered with plasmas?’

‘I have theories.’

‘So, you don’t know,’ Nancy said. ‘Here’s the thing: I don’t know either, and I’ve spent weeks working with the company that’s sending the plasmas down and the gang that’s distributing them.’

Craddock reached for his handcuffs again.

Nancy shook her head. ‘Uh-uh. Remember the deal.’

‘Deal’s off. I could be charged as an accessory for having this conversation. We need to take you in for questioning and get a statement.’

‘What do you think this is?’ she asked.

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