it's right. If it isn't, I'll coordinate with you and the team to make sure we come up with a better rate the next time."
"You're sure we'll get a next time?"
"She won't leave Vegas for a week. She can't. That's why you, that's why now."
"What if I don't catch up to the Hua in a week?"
"Mr. Tarakona will not be pleased."
The way she said it made it clear what she meant. Failing to recover the Hua was equivalent to crossing him. I fought against both a cough and a cold shake.
"Get me the schematics and the intel, and I'll put together an inventory of things I'll need. What can I expect in terms of backup?"
"Backup?"
"A bruiser and a TK at a minimum on her six. I don't know if I can manage this as a one man show." Or two, if you counted one of my corpses. Vegas was a warm place during the day, which would limit them to night moves. Even so, I didn't think it would be enough.
Fran shrugged.
"Your job. Your team."
I gritted my teeth. I didn't have a team, and nobody wanted to work with a necromancer.
Well, almost nobody.
"You have an injector?"
"Already in the bedroom upstairs."
I reached into my pocket, wrapping my hand around the cigarette case that held the meds. It was a good thing I'd gotten used to shooting myself up. "Make sure there's a new cellphone waiting for me when I'm done with my beauty sleep."
"What for?"
"I don't trust that mine isn't tapped, and I need to call my team."
TWELVE
See you in Vegas.
"Are you fuckin' kidding me?" Amos asked, his voice booming on the other end of the connection.
"Would I call you just to mess with you?"
I didn't have any friends unless you counted Prithi, and she was more like a business partner or a marriage of convenience for both of us. Amos wasn't my friend either. We didn't even like each other that much. What we did have was a mutual tie in Dannie's memory, and a similar bad taste in our mouths from the way Jin had reneged on our deals.
If he knew what I had done to Dannie, the way I had brought her back against her wishes; I was certain he would kill me.
If he knew.
The fat Ghost was silent for a few seconds. "You know I'm retired, right Baldie?"
"I know you prefer to sit on your fat ass and watch home redecorating shows while you eat cheeseburgers. I thought you'd want in on a shot at getting back at Red, and I could use the help."
"I don't know. The last time I did a job with you, it worked out lousy. I'm not too eager to do that shit again."
"It won't be like that again. Tarakona is providing everything up front. All the resources, all the intel. There's no mad scramble, no crazy ferals coming out of left field. Besides, it's Vegas."
"Heh. The Vegas part is tempting. I been there a few times. The showgirls? Holy shit, the racks on them broads." He paused. "Look Baldie, I do want to get back at Red because she stiffed me on payment, and that's a serious no-no in this business. The thing is, fucking Jet? I've heard of him. You seen pictures? Get some video and watch how he walks. That's a guy that knows he can mess up anyone short of a full-frequency user."
"We've taken out full-frequency wizards before."
"You mean Veronica? She had the magic chops, but she was stupid. Jet is street-smart, and he doesn't need the TK to put the hurt on."
I was tempted to tell him to forget it and hang up. I was tempted to hang up without saying anything. I didn't. I needed him. He was a fat, racist, loudmouth. He was also a stone wall wrapped in steel and plated over in titanium. Indestructible. He had been one of Black's direct hires, once upon a time. I didn't think Jet could claim that.
"What do I have to do?" I asked. "What do I have to promise?"
"Ain't nothing you can do. I played the game one more time for Dannie's sake, and it got her killed and I ain't even seen a dime from it. Can't lose much worse than that."
The statement pissed me off. I don't know why? Guilt? "Dannie died because of the job, Amos. That's what happens to ghosts sometimes. It doesn't mean it doesn't hurt like hell, but it is what it is. We sacrificed her, and Red took the