was nearly empty. Good.
“Afternoon, Tom.” I nodded to our dead visitor. “Can I help you, Mr….?”
“Kitsune. Kit-SOO-neh,” he said, grinning cheerfully and offering his hand. “I was hoping to speak to Blackstone, but I don’t have an appointment.”
We shook. Warm grip, pulse, all good. And nothing was going to start up here. I made myself smile back. “I’m afraid they gave you the wrong badge. Tom, may we have a gold one?” Can I take this obvious but unknown superhuman downstairs?
“Of course, ma’am,” he said, handing our guest a new one and accepting the one he’d clipped to his tie.
“Thanks Tom. If you could let Blackstone know we’re coming, I’d appreciate it.”
“Of course. Have a nice day.”
I walked Mr. Kitsune to the elevators, ushered him, in and hit the Lobby button. “Shelly,” I said as the doors closed. “Lockdown, please.”
“Going down.” We dropped fast as I counted to five and Mr. Kitsune’s eyes widened. Our hard-stop brought him to his knees, and the shaft rang as the titanium hatch above us slammed shut. Extending a hand, I helped him up.
“Lockdown, Mr. Kitsune, means we’re at the bottom of the shaft, sealed in and not going anywhere without authorization from upstairs. You’re not getting an inch closer to Blackstone until I’m happy, and I’m pretty sure the worst bit is this damn elevator music.” I didn’t mention all of the ways the elevator could neutralize its occupants—some of which could incapacitate me.
He nodded. “I can see that, and it’s not ‘mister.’ Kitsune is Japanese for fox or fox-spirit.” His face changed, and for a second she was the woman who walked out of the vault. Then she was a younger, red-headed girl with bright almond eyes. “And aren’t you worried that I’m an inch away from you?”
“Nope. Barlow’s Guide to Superhumans: physical shapeshifting is almost always a solitary power. You can bleed on me if you’re really determined.”
“There are other dangers,” she said. And suddenly she was Mom.
Her eyes flew wide when my left hand closed around her neck and squeezed gently. “Hope…” Shelly whispered, barely heard over the blood pounding in my ears.
“I know I look like Barbie’s kid sister,” I said softly, cold and hard as Artemis. “But I can squeeze until you pass out, and if you don’t change this freaking second I’m going to see what you look like unconscious.” I stopped talking, amazed I wasn’t screaming out the rush of sick rage gathering in my chest. Smile gone, she jerked a constricted nod and changed back into the half-Asian girl.
I forced myself to relax, loosening my grip till she gasped.
“You’re crazy!”
“And you just threatened my mother. Try again.”
“No! No! I didn’t mean anything by it!” Her voice shook, and suddenly I felt queasy. Cold, I dropped my hand. She took a gulping breath, backing up as far as the elevator car allowed.
“I just wanted to… it was stupid.”
“No kidding. Blackstone.”
She rubbed her throat. “He’s met me, but not this face. I passed him some information on the Outfit before I dropped by the bank last week. Look, they’re after me now—somehow they’re able to find me. But I can tell you all about them, who they’re working for, if you’ll protect me.”
I looked up at the ceiling. “Blackstone?”
“Indeed, my dear.” He sounded quite pleased. “I’m aware of the incident to which she’s referring, and by all means we need to speak.” I heard the pop as the shaft unsealed, and we started to rise. Then the lights turned red and siren-wails split the air.
“SECURITY BREACH IN DOME ATRIUM; INITIATING FULL LOCKDOWN AND EVACUATION.”
Chapter Twenty One
It’s not paranoia if they’re really out to get you.
Astra, Notes From a Life.
* * *
Multiple shocks announced the re-closing of the shaft above us as hatches sealed each level. No, No, No! The elevator doors opened onto the empty residence level, and I practically threw Kitsune out into the hall and the arms of a startled Willis as I mashed the ground-floor button.
“Damnit, let me up!”
“Astra,” Lei Zi called in my ear. “You are to secure Kitsune, exit through ET-3, then engage as you see fit. Understood?”
“Secure, Exit ET-3, engage, got it!”
“I can secure our guest, miss,” Willis offered. “You’ll be needing this?” He handed me a mob-kit and I laughed.
“Thanks Willis!” I called back as I flew down the hall. Right, left, right, pop hall-panel and crack hatch, down the tunnel and then straight up, ignoring the rungs. I grabbed the latch and twisted, blowing the seals, and popped out