He crawled over, grabbed his rifle, pulled his suitcase next to him and closed his good eye to rest it. From memory, he disa.s.sembled the weapon and put each piece carefully in its designated place inside the hard-sided case, including the shattered telescope. When he was done, he opened his eye again, got on his hands and knees and picked up every spent sh.e.l.l and every little bit of the shattered lens he could find and put them in his shirt pocket. He pulled on his jacket and removed sungla.s.ses from the inside pouch and slipped them on. It hurt, but the light was making everything hurt worse. From another compartment he pulled the ear nub for his cell phone and shoved it in his left ear. He decided that no matter how dumb it was, he couldn't handle the stairs. Since his first job, he'd taken the stairs whenever possible and crisscrossed from stairwell to stairwell on the way down, to avoid any pursuers. Today, he knew he couldn't handle forty flights of steps, so he stumbled toward the elevator.

68.

Garrett ran ahead of the group and into the parking garage to let Rivers and Rice know that the girls were on their way and prepared to cooperate. He hoped he was right. Harper seemed to be hanging on by a thread. He wasn't sure what her death would do to the deal they'd worked out and how it would affect Deena's temperament. "Let's not get too crazy about this," Garrett said. "Nice and easy. No need to scare anyone."

"Don't worry. I'm not going to upset the weirdo with scary powers, or any gangsters with automatic weapons. Not that stupid." Rivers put his hand on his gun and unsnapped the holster. "Think they'll actually show up, or try to make a run for it?" Rivers asked quietly.

Garrett was sure they were coming down the escalator to the lower level of the parking garage. They had little choice, with the condition that Harper was in. Pel could handle them and the deal made sense to everyone. It wasn't ideal, but it would do some good for everyone. "They're on their way. Pel's good with Deena."

"This better go well." Rivers stood with his arms folded the whole time. The only reason he'd gone along with the plan on the phone was that he saw some gain in bringing Deena in without a fight. At least not a fight that involved the FEI agents.

They stood in plain sight so the sisters could see there was no ambush. The agents soon heard voices coming nearer, talking low. Garrett could count four people coming up the ramp. "I wasn't sure you were coming back," he said. "You OK, Pel?"

"I'm fine, but we need an ambulance or something for Harper."

With a slight nudge, Harper pushed the agent away. "Actually, it just kind of stings." She pulled her hand away from her side and everyone saw that there was little more than a scratch where she'd been bleeding before. She looked concerned and turned to her sister. "What's happening?"

"I don't know. It just happens."

"Does anyone other than Agent Pellegrino still have a weapon? If so, drop the guns and kick them down the ramp." Rivers stared at them, and appeared fully prepared to shoot if they did anything he didn't like. Pel had her hand near her own weapon, but didn't pull it. Garrett and Pel had both been sure they were doing the right thing with Deena; it was her sister that was the variable in the situation. As he sized Harper up, he noticed she didn't seem to be carrying a gun.

"Whoa, whoa. Wait a minute." Stanley stepped between the two opposing groups. "Deena said you wanted to talk, let's talk. We were just coming to talk."

Garrett felt his finger twitch on the trigger. The accountant was harmless, but Rivers and Rice didn't know that. "Stanley, we'd be more inclined to believe you if you didn't have two guns tucked in your waistband."

Stanley looked more embarra.s.sed than scared. "Oh."

"Now everyone put your guns on the ground and kick them away," Rivers said. "We had a deal, Deena."

Everyone grew quiet but no one moved.

"And that deal is still in place?" Deena fought her instinct to fight and run away. It wouldn't work this time.

"Yes," Rivers said.

"We can take these guys," Harper whispered. Her hands balled into fists.

Garrett sighed. "I'm standing right here, Harper. I can hear you. Don't make any sudden moves or we'll shoot."

Harper turned slowly to Stanley. "You sure you trust these guys?"

"Yes, I trust these new guys, the other two are kind of d.i.c.ks," Stanley said. "But, at least I think these two have their hearts mostly in the right place."

"I can fix that," Harper said. "Where would you like their hearts? Floor? Ceiling?"

69.

Deena put her hand up to calm her sister. She'd never heard Harper get so aggressive. "We've talked to them. They're trying to help, that's all." Deena slowly bent down and placed her weapon on the ground, knowing full well she could defend herself without it. She kicked it lightly down the ramp.

Stanley did the same with his weapons.

Harper stood there for a moment, eyeing Garrett, and it was obvious that he felt uncomfortable, like maybe he didn't have the situation in hand the way he thought he did. His hand hovered near his holster.

"OK," Harper said. "Talk."

"All right, let's all head back to the office and we'll talk out the details," Garrett said.

"What's there to talk about?" Stanley looked over. "He's dead. Marsh is dead. The organization's done, right? I testify. They testify. Done."

"Not exactly. Someone else'll take over. They'll re-organize, move around. h.e.l.l, they may just take over Marsh's legal holdings and rebuild. They'll make things difficult for us. We might get a few of them here and there, but the bulk of the people will make it out unscathed."

"That's a b.i.t.c.h," Harper said.

"Well put," Pel agreed. "I managed to get a c.r.a.pload of dirt on Marsh's organization, but I don't think it'll be enough to really close the place down for good."

"So let's talk here." Harper folded her arms. "Otherwise, I guess we're going to have to renegotiate this deal."

Garrett looked around. "We can't do it here. I'm a.s.suming there are some very dead hit men on the premises, and that your gunfire has attracted the local police. Once they arrive, there's going to be a lot of explaining to do and I'm not sure I can keep this deal on the table."

"Then talk fast," Harper said.

"Deal? What the h.e.l.l is the deal you're talking about exactly? No one has had much time to elaborate," Stanley asked.

The deal the organization made was for Deena, and Deena alone. She knew that she was the one they wanted, in hopes that she could use the Shadow Energy to help track down others with her abilities. But now that Harper had it running through her as well, maybe it was time to renegotiate that deal.

Agent Rice b.u.t.ted in, obviously against Garrett's wishes. "They haven't explained yet? Agent Garrett wants you to come work for us."

"Work for you?" Stanley asked.

Garrett nodded. "We've worked out a deal. At least the start of one. Deena would help track down the less savory people with her kind of power."

"Got news for you, we are the less savory people," Harper said.

Everyone turned to look at Deena. Whether she liked it or not, she'd suddenly become the person in charge of the conversation, and she alone would dictate exactly what happened next. "So, what do you think?" Garrett asked, tilting his head to the side.

"If you're looking at me, I've already told you. I'll go along with it as long as it keeps us from being hunted like animals and experimented on like rats," Deena said. "But, things have changed for my sister. I think she may have the Shadow Energy in her as well now. The two of us can be more effective than I would be alone."

"Two Inks for the price of one? That might work," Rivers said.

There was silence as everyone started walking forward. Their footfalls echoed in the cavernous parking garage as they walked farther up the ramp.

"So, we'd be like s...o...b.. Doo and drive around solving crimes?" Stanley asked. He was smiling and trying to placate everyone around him. "Or more like the A-Team. They had guns and explosives and s.h.i.t."

Deena didn't like being the de facto leader, hated casting any sort of deciding vote. This whole thing had been her fault in many ways. No matter what had influenced her life and actions, she held the ultimate blame. If this was a way to free them from their past misdeeds, she couldn't refuse. "Either way, we'd have to get a kick-a.s.s van."

"I think that means we're in," Stanley said. "Either that or Deena has a van fetish."

"Whoa. Who said anything about Stanley being involved in this? He's a federal witness..." Garrett said.

"Stanley comes or we don't." If Stanley wanted to come along, Deena would fight for him. He'd taken steps to help Harper, steps that Deena couldn't have pulled off herself. "And we only work with Agents Pel and Garrett." Deena watched Garrett turn to stare at the other men in suits. The men's faces both twisted slightly, brows furrowing. One of them finally nodded.

"Just out of curiosity, what was going to happen if we said no and decided to kill you all and leave your bodies in this parking garage?" Harper looked at Rivers as if she was sizing him up.

Rivers stopped walking and raised his left hand.

The group was startled by the sudden clang of loud noises. On the level above them, heavily armed men stepped from behind cover, pointing their guns at the little group. A number of officers slid into position from hiding places behind pale concrete columns and vehicles, training their rifles on the girls. All of them were decked out in tactical gear and riot helmets, padded breastplates and visors. Most were holding automatic rifles, but a few held weapons Deena couldn't identify and didn't want to know what they did. A flower delivery truck pulled up in front of them, slid open its doors and released ten more men in the same light-blue armored suits. Deena calculated the odds of any of them surviving the first volley. Her math wasn't great, but the chances were not good. Even if she knew her body could heal after a single gunshot wound, she was less sure it could handle multiple shots.

"I'm sorry. Did I say anything about any of you having a choice? That's my fault, 'cause I sure didn't mean to." Rivers glared at Deena and Harper. "We made a deal. This is the deal."

"If they started shooting, you'd bite it too," Harper said.

Rivers shrugged. "Think so?"

"Let's find out," Harper grabbed Garrett and pulled him close.

Deena reached out, just as Rice pulled her away. She clenched her teeth, fighting to keep her power in check. If she hurt anyone, the whole deal would be off.

"Let go of him," Pel unholstered her weapon. "Let's not make this ugly."

Harper held tight to Garrett, and Deena could see her arms begin to undulate with black lines moving along her skin. Harper's face showed her confusion at what was happening to her body. Her grip on Garrett loosened, but he didn't move. "Deena? What's happening to me? What did you do?"

Deena held up her hands to try to let her know it was OK. "Just calm down. You have to calm down. Don't get too excited."

Harper had completely let go of Garrett, but Deena could tell the agent was staying in place to block anyone from shooting Harper. He moved as she moved, keeping anyone from taking a clear shot. But when Harper fell to the ground, looking at her hands, Rivers took the opportunity to shove his fellow agent out of the way and point his gun directly in Harper's face.

"I told you this was a bad idea," Rivers said. "There's no way to control these people."

"Don't shoot." Deena pulled against Rice's grip.

Rivers' hands shook just a little as he spoke. "Deal's off. We are packing these Inks up and taking them back to the holding area."

Deena watched as Harper's face went from frantic to strangely calm. Harper's body got still and she placed her hands on the concrete floor of the garage. The dark lines on her arms quickly congealed in her fingertips and Shadow Energy began to form a puddle under her palms, which snaked out slowly to form long, gnarled, root-like lines stretching out in all directions. Harper looked up at Rivers and the garage grew quiet.

Rice had raised his hand at some point, indicating the armed men in the building should hold their fire. Deena watched as his face showed his resolve was wavering. "Don't," Deena said. "This is over. She won't be a threat."

"How the h.e.l.l do you know that?" Rice asked.

From experience and from what she saw on Harper's face, Deena knew what was going on in Harper's mind. "Your agents told me what you found out about imprinting and what happens when the Energy first breaks the skin. It's like that matter has eyes and takes a good look at the first person nearby."

"And nothing before that? It lies dormant, just building itself up on aggression and adrenaline?" Pel asked.

Stanley couldn't take his eyes off Harper. "One of you makes it sound like a bug with eyes that look for a queen to follow, the other makes it sound like a cold or a cancer, growing stronger inside of her. Do any of you know what's going on? Really?"

Rivers looked like he wanted to respond, but didn't get the chance. Harper stood, and the tendrils reached out for him, stopping just short of his face. "I'm not going to hurt you. Just tell me what you want me to do."

"What?" Rivers asked.

"I get it now. I get the whole thing now, Deena. You weren't just being a selfish b.i.t.c.h. You had to do everything you did." Harper took a hard breath and the Shadow lines snapped back to her arms and disappeared completely except for a large blob on her forearm that resembled a fishhook.

His gun was still firmly pointed at Harper's head, but Rivers managed a cough. "What?"

Deena spoke up. "The thing inside her may have just chosen you as the person that Harper will follow blindly for the foreseeable future. She's certainly not going to hurt you now."

"You can put the gun down," Garrett said. "Before something happens. Something bad."

Stanley pushed forward. "About that van? It's sounding real good to me right now. I'm thinking all black with a red stripe. Maybe one of those stretch limo Hummers?" He grabbed Deena by the arm and forced her forward. She let him lead.

"So, we do these things for you and our slate gets wiped clean, we're good guys with no strikes against us when it's all over?" Harper asked. She hadn't started forward when Stanley had and neither did Rivers.

Rivers made a show of looking around at all the guns trained on them and raised his hands in demonstration. "Little girl, there's no slate. There's no 'When it's all over'." He laughed. "You take this generous offer, do everything that's asked of you, jump when we say jump, and you get to breathe lovely fresh air. "You don't do it, you screw up, you look at someone wrong and we take each of you to trial with what can only be described as a mountain of evidence against you."

Deena wanted to stop him from talking, but she knew Harper needed to hear it.

"Oh, I forgot option C," he pointed to the men around them with weapons. "There's always a bullet in your head. You guys are chock full of options, aren't you?"

"Agent Rivers, look..." Deena began.

"No. You look. If you all want to make this some kind of television fantasy or something fine. I'll buy you a Great Dane or I'll shave Stanley's head into a Mohawk myself." Stanley's hand immediately flew to his head to protect his hair. "But don't have any illusions as to what this is all about. You will work for us. You will hunt down more of these people and you will help us put them away until we can figure out what this s.h.i.t is inside of you."

It was quiet as the oversized white floral delivery van silently rolled closer. The side door slid methodically opened and Deena saw nothing but darkness inside. She looked to the side and noticed the others were staring at her, waiting for her to move. Her hand ached in the antic.i.p.ation of something.

She stole a glance at Agents Garrett and Pel but couldn't read their faces.

Deena Riordan a.n.a.lyzed the situation and wondered how stupid this all would look to her old self. Risking her life, her future, on the word of some government agents she had no reason to trust. She looked at her sister and thought about what she'd become and what awaited her down the road. There weren't a whole lot of logical options. Sometimes relatively smart people had no other recourse than to make stupid choices. She could read the looks of antic.i.p.ation and expectation on the faces of the people around her, just waiting for her lead.

Deena took a deep breath and stepped into the van.

70.