The fact that it was Trish, of all people, who’d sided with them. That burned deep down inside.
Talina strode angrily down the hallway; didn’t bother to knock on Raya’s door, but burst in, asking, “Tell me about Kylee. If she has to go home, what are her chances?”
Raya jumped, eyes gone wide. “Jesus.” She took a breath, collecting herself. “I mean, well, as long as there’s no post-operative infection, as long as she doesn’t reinjure the bones, she’d probably be fine. Why? What’s happened?”
“Bernie fucking Monson, clay miner extraordinaire, is standing outside the front door with an armed posse. He’s got a broken arm, he’s drunker than a lord, and he’s scared to set foot inside the hospital because he just knows Rocket is going to eat him.”
“An armed posse?”
“Hey, they’ve been waiting out there for days. People are getting tired of it.” Talina slapped a hand to the wall. “Damn it, if Rocket hasn’t caused trouble so far, why would they think he’s going to go berserk now?”
“Because Spiro is stirring things up. There were gunshots in the hospital. Someone blew up your house and murdered Felicity. Aguila’s operation is failing down south, and she’s in here, too. We’ve just learned what mobbers are, and what they can do. Folks are eventually wondering if they’re going to come here now that they’ve had a taste of human flesh. And, finally, there’s a quetzal in their hospital. It’s supposed to be a place of sanctuary. Work it out, Tal.”
Talina took a breath, feeling her own quetzal stirring. “And they’re blaming me. Say I’m infected with quetzal. That that’s why I’m protecting Rocket. The implication is that I can’t be trusted anymore.”
Raya’s knowing brown eyes softened. “Stressful times, huh? What do you want to do?”
“I said Rocket would be out of here tomorrow. I could deal with the hotheads like Monson and Vanveer. I can’t fight the families when it’s Sian, Amal, Friga and their like worrying about the safety of their kids and the rest of the children.”
Raya nodded. “My advice? Go tonight. Tomorrow would be like a circus show. Everyone’s going to want to watch Rocket the pet quetzal fly off in an aircar. No telling who might demonstrate an error in judgment that could turn catastrophic.”
“Yeah.” Talina accessed her com. “Two Spots? Patch me through to Trish.”
“Roger that.”
A second later. “Trish here. What’s up, Tal?”
“How’s the crowd out front?”
“Congratulating themselves. The women have left. My bet is that once Bernie’s arm’s set, most of them will go to Inga’s.”
“Okay, I’m sending Raya out to set that asshole’s arm.” Talina took a deep breath. “Look, it’s getting dark out there. I know it’s an imposition, but I need you to take an escort past the gate to the aircar field. My outfit, the one with the night vision gear, should be charged up. Drop it off at the hospital back door.”
“Tal, are you out of your mind? You’re flying that damn quetzal out tonight? Didn’t we decide night flying was a bad idea?”
“Hey, Trish. I just had my legs chopped out from under me. And you helped them do it. Remember? Since I’m on my own here, I’ll run it my way. Now, can you get my aircar to the back door, or should I go get it myself?” She regretted her tone of voice the moment she said it: bitter, pissed, and resentful.
“Go fuck yourself, Tal. I’ll have your damn aircar at the back door in fifteen minutes.”