“Sure thing,” JD said. He reached into his rucksack and found the LOX-Recess screwdriver he’d been given by Soo-hyun.
* * *
Hours later, JD made his way upstairs and into Enda’s apartment, his coveralls stained and fingernails black with grime. The blinds were open, and from that high vantage the city appeared freshly washed, pristine. It was utterly removed from the view on the street. So easy to forget the hardships of the masses when you soar above them.
Enda nodded when she saw JD and wiped her forehead with her sleeve. A disassembled gun was spread out on the table in front of her, pieces resting on an oil-stained tea towel. She began putting it back together—a jigsaw puzzle for killers. Crystal was behind her, cross-legged on the couch with her phone in her hands, busily working.
“How are things going downstairs?” Enda asked.
JD walked into the kitchen, took a bottle of orange juice from the fridge, and took a swig. “I got the dogs going again, but they won’t ever perform how they used to. Joints’ll seize up sooner rather than later.”
“Fine,” Enda said, “we only need them for a day.”
JD took another drink and returned the bottle to the fridge. “Mirae’s testing out the new bodies, but otherwise I think we’re good to go.”
“You ready to make the call?”
JD wiped his hands on the front of his clothes and nodded. He took out his phone, found Kali’s number, and hit dial. He held the phone to his ear, and Enda stood close and leaned in to listen.
“Finally realized you can’t hide from me forever?” Kali said, forgoing the usual formalities.
“Put Soo-hyun on.”
“No.”
“Let me talk to them,” JD demanded.
“You’ve been watching too many films, Julius. I don’t have them tied to a chair, gagged and squirming.”
“Where are they?”
Kali sighed, sounding bored by his concern. “Probably out with the cleanup crew.”
“They’re not answering their phone.”
“Perhaps they lost it in the flood,” Kali said. “Our community lost a lot, not that you would care. Food, clothing, bedding. But no lives. Not yet.” She let those words hang heavy between them. “I want the virus.”
“What’s to stop you from hurting Soo-hyun once I hand it over?”
“I don’t want to hurt them; they’re part of my inner circle.”
“Then let them go,” JD said.
“Go where? This is their home.”
“When I see them, I’ll tell them everything you said. Everything you threatened. I’ll make them hate you like I do.”
“They’ll never believe you, Julius. They love me. I think they may be in love with me. Isn’t that interesting? They don’t see any danger here, and they won’t, until it’s too late. Are you ready to trade?” Kali asked.
JD glanced to Enda, and let frustration into his voice. “Yes. Bring Soo-hyun to Troy’s apartment. Two hours.”
“I’m glad you’ve come to your senses.” Kali hung up.
JD clenched his fist around the phone, and fought the urge to throw it at the wall.
“You did good,” Enda said. “Now, let’s go get Soo-hyun back.” Enda collected her pistol from the table, slotted a magazine, and holstered it. “You want a gun?”
“Not even a little bit.”
“Good.”
Crystal got up from the couch, and rested her hands on Enda’s waist.
“Let me know where you’re going, okay? Just in case.”
Enda looked to JD. “Can you send her the address?”
“Sure thing,” JD said.
“Okay,” Crystal said, “I’ll see you soon.”
* * *
I climbed onto the bed of the auto-truck, along with the five other selves in the other dog bodies. We transferred encryption keys for secure communications and sat in silence, sending bits and bytes to one another to compare our rapidly altering senses of self. Enda and JD got into the truck’s cab, Enda behind the tethered wheel.
The engine started with a low rumble, and pulled out onto the street. Enda was intently watching her phone, but kept one hand on the frame around the steering wheel, as though she might need to take control at any moment—as though she’d be able to.
JD watched the city roll past the window. Eventually he asked: “Where are we going? Troy’s apartment is west.”
Enda glanced away from her phone. “Do you trust Kali?”
“No,” JD said.
“Neither do I. She’s a power-hungry egomaniac who already tried to kill us once. The apartment is a trap; Soo-hyun won’t be there.”
“What?”
“Soo-hyun is Kali’s only leverage. She’s not going to let them out of her sight.”
“If the apartment is a trap?…?you just told Crystal