Mercenary Read online

  “The bad guys are dead, their compound won’t be used again for anything but a dumping ground, and we’ve salvaged a lot of stuff, which is now ours. We’re here to see that our pay is transferred, then we can talk about our future together as partners.

  “Your nephew Tooley will give you more details if you want them. He’s a good kid. Don’t spoil him. Give him a job and let him work his way up.”

  She paused, but Scarbach said nothing. “Get our creditmarks transferred. We’ve got other business today.”

  He shook his head. “You said you were coming tomorrow, so I don’t —”

  “Don’t bullshit us. Junior can kill you without a sound. Or just make you wish he had.”

  “Can I…” Scarbach motioned to the desk.

  Talice retrieved his phone and handed it to him. “I’m sure you have the latest in technology right here. You make the transfer, I’ll confirm it, and we’ll be done. Then we’ll talk.”

  Scarbach sighed, worked his phone, then Talice’s beeped at her hip. She gave it a glance. “Thanks. Now… what’s next?”

  Scarbach leaned into the chair. “I don’t have any more relatives needing rescue, if that’s what you mean. Dammit, Talice, I’m a businessman!”

  “But you’ve got contacts. Hostage-takers are getting bold again. Talk with your inner circle and let us know.”

  “If what you told me is true, they’ll think twice about it. A merc team like yours is something they might not have considered.”

  Talice glanced to Mac, then nodded. “The local authorities don’t have the firepower, if what we faced was typical. And the Services don’t want to get involved in civilian issues. Stalemate. So we become your only recourse. But if we’re too successful, the bad guys will find other income streams.” She mused for a moment. “Still… Okay, your point is taken. You’ve been thinking about this.”

  Scarbach shrugged. “Look, I’ll check around, but if I ask too many questions, people may start looking at me!” He pulled a kerchief and wiped perspiration from his forehead. “I funded this because of family. I’ll fund your team for the next ninety days, but if you don’t have more work after that, I’ll have to cut ties. If we’re partners, you find work for yourselves, I’ll fund you for my cut.”

  “… Alright. We’ll do that.” Talice rose, put her hand on Mac’s shoulder. “We’ll be in touch. Don’t do anything stupid.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like tell anyone about our arrangement. The next hostage might be you.”

  He shuddered. “Got it. Right. Now get out of here with your kid and let me get some work done.”

  Talice paused as she turned to leave, scowling at Scarbach. “He really is an assassin. Remember that.”

  * * *

  They parted at the walkway outside Scarbach’s building. “Call me,” Mac said, and Talice nodded.

  “Good job, Junior.” Talice gave him a quick hug, then he turned and disappeared in the late afternoon crowd. “I need rest, Mac. I’m starting to shake again.”

  “I know. Get your meds and give Babs a call for resupply. Want me to do it?”

  Talice shrugged. “I’ll be okay, just want a good night’s sleep. I’ll commtext you tomorrow. Maybe we’ll do lunch.”

  “Give yourself a day or two, then call. I’m checking in with the hospital tomorrow.”

  Talice gave her a look. “You okay? Anything I can do? Hold your hand? Call a medivan? Or the coroner?” She grinned.

  “Just a checkup on my DNA spectrum and some other things. They’re supposed to start growing my new legs in the next thirty days.”

  “Damn, Mac, the Marines were supposed to have done that two years ago!”

  Mac nodded. “Retired Marines don’t get the preferential treatment we once did. And after my discharge, I went to the bottom of the list.”

  “That stinks!”

  “Yes, but…” Mac’s voice trailed. “If it hadn’t happened this way, we might not have reconnected. Silver lining.”

  Talice gave a grudging smile and patted Mac’s shoulder. “You take care, then. Call if you need me, or anything. Please, I mean it.”

  “Will do. Get home and give your body a good hot bath.”

  “Oh, now I need a bath! Thanks!”

  They hugged and went opposite ways. When Talice looked back, she couldn’t see Mac and nearly ran into a street sign.

  * * *

  Talice closed her apartment door, not bothering to call for lights. She made her way in the dark to the bedroom, clicked on the nightlight, tucked her sidearm into the safe, and spun the old-fashioned rotary lock. She repeated the action with the second safe hidden under the vanity. That one held her clips of ammo.

  Then called for low lights, opened a bottle of S-H fluid and downed it, still standing in the bathroom. Made her way to the sitting area and dropped herself onto the couch.

  Exhausted. Damn bugs are eating me from the inside out, I can feel ’em. Over three years since Babs gave me the bad news, and I really don’t know if I’ll make it five. Just tired all the time. Weak. My pulse rifle recoil nearly broke my shoulder with those long bursts. Gotta keep that in mind. I’d get a carbine like Bělinka’s, but we need the firepower.

  She rolled aside, nearly gasping for breath. Still in her camis and half-asleep, she pecked out a quick message to Babs. Need to see you first thing in the morning for a resupply. Talice.

  She rose, stumbled back into the bath and shed her pants. She peeled off the spent C-12 patch. Flesh came with it, and she barley stifled a scream. What the hell?

  “Lights!”

  She held the patch up. Yes, there was flesh and dried blood embedded in the C-12 fibers, not the adhesive. “Holy fuck! What…”

  She hobbled back to the couch, picked up her wristcom from the floor and typed a frantic message. Babs! Trouble in Paradise! Call quick! Talice.

  Back to the bath, and she slapped another patch in place, not where the old one was, but lower on her inner thigh. She dressed the wounded area, applied a steri-pad, and taped it into place. These fucking things will peel me like a banana! What the hell is going on?

  She calmed as the C-12 flowed into her system. Her breathing slowed. She sat on the floor, searching for composure, finding very little. She glanced at her wristcom; no reply from Babs. Probably off duty and out partying. Don’t blame her. Seeing people all day shot up or sick or dying… like me…

  She slid her pants back on, grabbed a jacket and headed out the door. She had no idea where she was going, but she needed to move. Sitting alone isn’t good. Thinking about it isn’t good. Worrying is even worse. Babs will get it done. She’ll find a way. I’ll get through this. I always do.

  She hit the walkway, headed south, almost running, then slowed to a more leisurely pace, just moving with the crowd.

  Turned west. Then north. Found her way along the dock front and the clear, crisp ocean air. She paused, leaned on the rail, half-watching the ships come in for the night, half-wondering what the team was doing. Need to plan a dinner for everyone. Raise a glass. Tell some stupid stories. Bet Junior has a couple we haven’t heard. Bet we’ve got a hundred he hasn’t. She nodded to herself.

  “Nice night for a walk.”

  She started, looked to her left and saw a tall, skinny kid with hair nearly covering his eyes leaning on the rail beside her.

  “Yeah. Just needed to get away from my place for a while.”

  He nodded absently, looking over the harbor. “Haven’t seen you here. New in town?”

  Talice shrugged, saying nothing.

  “C’mon, Precious, tell us your name.” A voice from her right.

  He wasn’t there a minute ago. Damn… Talice stood a little straighter. “Not tonight boys, I have a headache.”

  The kid on her left edged closer, looked over Talice’s shoulder, and made eye-contact with the one on the right. “Bet we’ve got a cure for that, huh?”

  Talice looked around, seeing no one near. The closest boats were cov
ered and dark. One at the end of the pier had lights, but she saw no one on deck. “Look, guys, I’m here for the fresh air, nothing more. Plenty of railing down the way, so why don’t you move along?”

  The one on her right edged up against her hip. His hand touched her shoulder.

  Talice whipped around, backed away, and faced them both. “Don’t fuck with me. I’m a Marine.”

  The righty laughed. “Oh, a Marine! I haven’t had any Marine pussy in a long time!”

  “Problem here?”

  Talice turned, then back again to face the two kids. Her glance showed her a uniformed man, barrel-chested, a shockrod in his hands. That’s all she needed to know at the moment. He’d come out of nowhere, too.

  I’ve got to get my focus back!

  The kids slowly backed up the pier. “Un… no…” They turned and ran.

  Talice relaxed a bit as the guard watched the kids disappear. “Thanks. That could have been… bad.”

  The guard slipped the shockrod into his belt holster. “Yeah, we’ve had some trouble around the last few days. You a boat owner?”

  Talice shook her head. “Just out for some air. Been a long day.”

  The guard chuckled. “Tell me. I’m working two jobs, looking for a third.”

  Talice nodded to his uniform. “You’re ex-military? Private security?”

  “Private. Wasn’t in the Service, but thought about a city security job. Couldn’t pass the physical. Bad feet.”

  “They can cure that now, you know,” said Talice, starting up the pier to the walkway.

  The guard followed, trailing two or three steps behind her. “Sure, if you’ve got the creditmarks. It’s okay, this is a good post. Quiet usually, fresh air… pretty girls.”

  Talice let it go, but her internal alarms were sounding yellow. Shit, just what I need, a horny guard with a shockrod. Should have taken my chances with the kids.

  She turned, but kept backing up the pier. “Look, thanks officer, but I’ve got to get going. I appreciate your help.”

  He stepped closer. “How about a little personal thank you for a guy, hmm?”

  Talice stopped and cocked her head, glaring. “Not on your life. I’ll give you the same warning I gave them.”

  He chuckled again and patted the butt of his shockrod. “I heard your warning. Sure you want to try it this way?”

  Talice looked to her right; an alleyway stretched for a good fifty or sixty meters, but dark. A pile of flimsy, empty wooden crates leaned against the corner of an ancient brick building. She took a breath, held her hands before her as if to say, “hold it a minute”, then leapt, kicking at the crates. Wood shattered and splinters flew. She spun, jumped again, smashed another crate, picked one up and tossed it against the wall. She drove her bare fists into rough wood, screaming all the while, demolishing another crate, leapt once more, and drove her boot into the last intact one.

  She landed, spun facing the guard, and held her bloody fists toward his widened eyes.

  “Now,” she barked, “this is about the only way you’re gonna see me breathing hard. So if you want to go a round or two with your little joy stick, bring it on. And I’m not talking about your shockrod. But I swear, I’ll cram that thing up your ass and pull it out of your throat before I’m done. Now fuck off!”

  The guard swallowed hard, backed away, tripped and nearly fell. He turned, and in thirty seconds was gone.

  Talice backed against the rail and dropped her hands away. She licked salty sweat from her lips, wiped her forehead with the back of her hand, and showed a feral grin.

  Damn! Damn, that felt good! Damn, damn, damn! Great fucking damn, that felt so fucking good!!!

  She gathered herself after a few moments and headed for home, nearly skipping.

  She almost started singing, but knew she couldn’t carry a tune in a knapsack.

  * * *

  Talice woke to the sounds of rain beyond the window and her wristcom buzzing with messages. Her hands hurt. Her head hurt. She rolled over, focused on the half-empty wine bottle on the table and sighed. Two glasses of wine and I’m out like a light. Some party animal I am.

  She rose, made her way into the bath, and cleaned her knuckles, applied antiseptic and NUSkin, which stung like crazy for a moment. She showered, a real hot-water dousing, badly needed, then sat at the table with tea and muffins, and read her messages.

  Babs… good, she can see me at 1300. She clicked through a couple from her teammates and one from Mom, asking when she’d be home again. Then… Major Fawkes?

  Hi Talice. Heard you were back in town. If you’re not busy tonight, how about dinner? The Running Foxxe is pretty good, I hear. Meet me there at 2000 Hours? Fawkes.

  He said he’d be in touch. And he hinted at work for the team. We’re sure going to need it, if we want Scarbach to keep up with the funding. And where the hell is the Running Foxxe?

  She typed a reply. Great to hear from my old Major. Not that you’re old (smile). See you there. Thanks. Talice.

  She toweled her hair dry, downed another bottle of S-H, and checked her wound. Seems to be okay, not turning green or anything. It’s been about twelve hours since I put on another one… She dithered, biting her lower lip gently. Babs may want to check under the new one, so I’ll leave it for now. She glanced at the chrono. Yikes! Gotta get moving.

  She slid into fresh civies and grabbed her jacket, headed out the door, down the lift, and onto the walkway. The day was warming, with Laberos high in the bright blue sky and a breeze kicking up from the south. She waved at the neighborhood shop owners, calling greetings and jokes, but her mind was elsewhere.

  She caught the metrolink to Northland Station, offered her ident and a copy of Babs’s message, got her visiting badge, and grabbed a ride with a passing Jeepster, driven by a freckle-faced Private she had to remind where the infirmary was.

  She waved as he pulled away from dropping her at the entrance, squared her shoulders, and took a breath. This is gonna be okay. Geez, I hope it’s okay…

  She made her way through the entry hall. The duty nurse recognized her and buzzed her through the security doors, took her info, then had an orderly whisk her to a private exam room. Talice sat, and willed herself to calm.

  Babs entered only a moment later. “Talice Wyloh, you’re still alive! Well, glory be!”

  Talice couldn’t help but smile. “Am I glad to see you. It’s been a tough last few days. We gotta talk.”

  Babs nodded, set her SLATE aside, and leaned against a counter. “Take off your pants.”

  Talice chuckled. “Not even gonna buy me a drink?” She wriggled out of her civies.

  Babs laughed as she snapped on a pair of gloves. She slowly removed the steri-pad and tape Talice had applied to her leg the night before. It looked better than when Talice had peeled the C-12 patch away.

  Babs sighed. “Yeah, I was afraid of this. Okay, we’ve got some work to do.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Babs cleaned the wound as she talked. “The C-12 in your system is growing toxic. So now, you’ve got two things to fight. The bugs, and the C-12. Have you been more tired than usual lately?”

  Talice shrugged. “Hard to say. We just got back from a pretty stressful mission and I’ve had less than a day to rest. I took off the patch last night and thought I was gonna die.”

  “Not yet.” Babs wrapped a new steri-patch over the wound and sealed it with NUSkin. Then she gently removed the C-12 patch below the wound. “This one is okay, but I want to try something else.”

  “You’ve got something stronger than C-12?”

  Babs nodded. “C-12Plus. Higher dosage, but not as hard on your system. New stuff, still in Betas, but it looks like you get to be a test specimen now.”

  “So if I turn green and melt into a puddle, I should call, right?”

  “If you turn green and melt into a puddle, you probably can’t use the phone.” Talice only shook her head.

  Babs sat back. “Okay, I’ve had my way wit
h you. Put your pants back on and let’s take a look at those hands. Then you can talk to me.”

  Talice did as instructed, then sat again. Babs cleaned the debris still embedded in her knuckles, sprayed them down with antiseptic, and applied the NUSkin. Talice’s eyes were far away by the time she finished.

  “I’m scared, Babs. I don’t know what to do. I damn near got into a fight last night. Frustration, fear, anger, all the classic symptoms. What can I do?”

  Babs took Talice’s hands in hers, carefully. “Stay busy. Go see your family. Hang out with the guys in your team and laugh a lot. Exercise, but reasonably. Go for walks in the park.” She grinned again. “Have great sex.”

  Talice looked away, unsmiling. “Fuckin’ doctors, think you have all the answers.” She raised her face and winked.

  Babs stood and discarded her gloves, then handed Talice a box. “Here’s thirty days of the new patch. Stay on the S-H fluid. Watch your alcohol intake, because it just dries you out. Be happy. You’re still alive, and we’re making progress on this thing. Actually, we’re learning a lot.”

  “Yeah, you’ll be able to learn how it killed me when you do the autopsy, right?”

  Babs’s face became serious. “If we do, you will have provided a great service. You’re a Marine, right? You knew the risk when you signed up.”

  “I’m a former… damn it, Babs.” Talice held back a sigh. “Alright, doc, you’ve made your point. I’m hereby chastised roundly.”

  Babs held out her hand. Talice rose, and they embraced lightly.

  “Call me when you’re about out of the new patch, I’ll get you in here for another exam.”

  “Yeah, you just want me to take my pants off again.”

  Babs smiled. “Wow, is that an offer?”

  * * *

  Talice hadn’t shopped for evening wear in years. The best thing in her closet, other than her Dress Blues, was a black pantsuit five years out of style. She could still wriggle into it if she was careful, but she’d put on muscle, and it was really snug in… certain places. So shopping it was.

  That lasted about an hour.

  Talice had no patience for trying on multiple dresses, suits, or other accessories. She hated jewelry and never wore anything but a simple gold necklace with an Olde Earth Celtic knotwork design. She certainly wasn’t of Celtic descent, she just liked the look.