Tracking down the boy, Young Tom, wasn’t as easy as Elena had expected. Maybe she was losing her talent for this kind of work? Or maybe it was the confusion and frustration still riling her up. Her father had killed Sabin, she was back with the Sisters of the Wind, and now she didn’t have a clue what would happen to Wicker City. Would it fall into a state of war, or would Kevin find some way to shore it up and take control? She wasn’t sure which would be worse.
For two days now she had been patrolling the streets and checking her usual haunts. She didn’t want to ask the Sisters for help yet, because while they were a cohesive group, she had just joined them again. Asking now would likely make her look weak.
The one spot she had any luck at all was her favorite bar, the Rusty Crow. A couple of people there had seen him around and didn’t have the nicest things to say about him either. Apparently, he had kind of betrayed them. Interesting.
When pushed to tell her where they had seen him, most of the talk revolved around Sabin’s base of operations, or with Kevin. So not much help there. She spied on Alex and Wendy more than once, but mostly saw them fighting. As for trying to see if the boy was with Kevin, no luck. Nobody knew exactly where Kevin was. Smart, that, because many in the city would have tried to take him out.
On the second night of searching, realizing she still hadn’t gotten any sleep, she found a nook on the building she crouched upon, which overlooked the main square. She curled up in there away from the wind. Going back to the Sisters made sense and she could have tried to keep watch from there, but here she had a better view.
Just a few minutes of sleep and she would be good, she told herself. Clanging metal woke her up and she pulled back, the gusts of wind sending chills through her coat. Judging by the moon’s high position in the sky, she had slept much more than a few minutes. The moon was visible as a glowing light blue behind the haze. A full moon at that.
Mind still groggy, she cursed her foolishness, realizing that if she was going to have any chance of influencing the state of this city, she needed to make things happen and soon.
She racked her mind for answers to what else she could be trying. Wendy and Alex’s situation was confusing and, now that she didn’t know if she could trust Wendy, not really her business. Whatever was going on with him and the Civilized Gentlemen, that was his business. It wasn’t like they had stuck their necks out to help her. If anything, they had only made her life more difficult. Plus, she had a feeling Wendy would rat her out to Kevin. Alex was just her patsy. Forget them.
What else, then? Kind eyes entered her mind, the strong form of Rodin. He had been Peter’s man once, then Sabin’s. Where did he stand on this new situation? She pushed herself up, deciding her questioning would start there.
The wind blew, whipping her coat around, nearly blowing her hat off, but she pulled it low, walking with one hand on it. She first went to the place where she had last spotted him with the others on the border between the north and south territories, but saw no sign of him. A man with a rifle eyed her with disdain, but indicated the food alley, saying Rodin was likely patrolling that side. Or would be, when he woke up.
She hated waiting, but since the streets that way were empty, she found herself an abandoned building and sat curled up against a wall, watching the city slowly come to life. The first signs of sunrise started spreading an orange glow and long shadows reached out across the streets.
He was one of the first to arrive. Not at the carts, but just past them and eyeing those who came and went. He smiled at first to see her, but quickly hid the smile. They stepped out of the main area, into the shadows of ruins nearby.
“It’s a shitstorm out there, Elena.” He took a step toward her, hand on her arm. “We have to look out for each other, and be ready when the shoe drops.”
“The what?”
“Me and mine, we only survive by going with whichever side wins. If Kevin takes power, he’s who I answer to.”
“And if it’s someone else?”
Damn, she didn’t like it, but couldn’t deny it was the way to survive in the city.
“What’ve you heard about his involvement?” she asked. “About why it went down?”
“Honestly, not much. Word on the street is you might have had something to do with it, though. I don’t buy it, of course.”
“Me?” She gulped, wondering if her dad had put that idea there. Damn, maybe that’s why the guy with the rifle had been glaring at her so fiercely. A glance around didn’t reveal anyone lurking, watching. “I was putting my life on the line to save him, Rodin. You have to believe me.”
“I do, and told my team not to buy into such talk. Doesn’t mean others will think the same, though.”
“She nodded. “I’ll take what I can get. Thanks. And… that boy he’s been seen with? Young Tom?”
“Ah, there I can help you.” Rodin glanced around, lowering his voice. “Check the east side. People are talking, thinking about bringing him in as a hostage against Kevin.”
“And you haven’t told Kevin or his men this?”
“Kevin can’t be found. Nobody knows jack.” Rodin grinned. “But even if he was, I don’t know. You’re his daughter, I’m not sure what I should say, or shouldn’t… but no. Haven’t said anything to anyone but you.”
“East side. Got it.” She looked down at his hand on her arm still, and he quickly pulled it back.
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be.” She reached out, took his hand, and gave it a bit of a squeeze. “If we both survive this thing, let’s… continue this conversation.”
His eyes went wide, clearly understanding her meaning. Which was something, since she wasn’t even sure she understood it, except that she wanted to stay in touch with him. At least on the surface, he seemed to be a port in the storm.
“Be careful out there,” he said. “I’ll keep an eye open.”
She gave him a nod, then went on her way. At the next corner, she paused, saw him watching, returned to him, and said, “I’m thinking the bike… will be too conspicuous. I’ll bring it by next time I have a chance.”
“Or just let me know where it is, and I’ll have it picked up.”
She told him where she had left it, near the Sisters’ base, and tossed him the key. “Thanks again.”
Wicker City wasn’t big enough that she couldn’t travel on foot, and if anyone actually thought she was responsible in any way for Sabin’s death, they would be gunning for her. She needed to keep a low profile.
Still, she missed that bike as she hiked over to the east side, at times wobbling with exhaustion. A little New Gold would do wonders, but she only had a pinch left, at most. Wasting it on a fix that coffee could as easily help with was foolish. She found another food cart along the way, asked for directions to one with caffeine, and was lucky to only have to go two blocks out of her way to find a cup of joe.
Nothing fancy, but the man running the cart started going on about how he roasted the beans to get the right amount of a tobacco flavor that some coffee lovers gushed over. It was a bit strong for her, but did the job. She paid him a token and was on her way, sipping it as she let her legs relax by strolling along the streets instead of jogging. That last sip of coffee was strong, and she tossed the cup before taking off in a jog again.
Finally, she reached an all-too-familiar spot. The east side, where among other groups, the Civilized Gentlemen had their base. She avoided the Orange Square this time, going a block south of it, and came to a stop where a line of homeless were sleeping or already starting to gather around smoking trash bins to stay warm.
It wasn’t so cold by her standards, though living in the Elsewhere had toughened her up to the weather. She approached them, asking around, and found one man who gave her a simple answer.
“That boy, Young Tom?” He grunted, rubbing his long, gnarly beard. “Shouldn’t be here, you ask me.”
“But he is.”
Crazy eyes met hers, and the man nodded. “Civilized in training. Boy hangs out with them too often, and I have half a mind to kill the summa-bitch. He either works for Kevin and is spying on them, or works for them and betraying Kevin. Either way, it’s right screwy.”
“Agreed,” Elena said, handing him a token and moving off toward the area belonging to the Civilized. She preferred not to part with the few tokens she had left, but information was information, and she wanted to keep people willing to speak with her happy to help again in the future.
She snuck into the ruins of an old apartment complex, moving through to get a view of the nearby streets and open walkway. One step into the last room of the building and where she planned on finding her spot to spy from, she froze. There he was, Young Tom, walking by with a girl, hand in hand.
The girl looked to be one of the Sisters of the Wind, and Elena had seen the boy with Kevin more than once, so knew it was him. No more than a few paces from the building she stood still watching.
She pressed herself against the wall, eyeing them, watching as the two continued on and entered the double doors to the base of the Civilized Gentlemen. Elena scratched at her neck, eyed those doors, and then let out a sigh.
If she was going to play this game, she had to do it right. On the one hand, she knew the Civilized could be dicks, but also that they stuck to their word. They made deals, and never went back on them. Her own father had betrayed her. Had killed Sabin without so much as a heads up. He hadn’t told her some sort of information he had that was presumably related to her exile or her mom’s death. As far as she knew, he would have her throat slit the first chance he got, too, if somehow that would ensure he didn’t look weak.
That wasn’t the type of person she could allow to rule Wicker City. Before she had been unsure, but now she was starting to come up with a plan, and there was an alternative. More than ever she was sure that he needed to be stopped.
So she stood, shoulders back, and made her way out of the building and over to the base of the Civilized Gentlemen. It was time to make a deal. Time to end this charade once and for all.
Time to take her father down.