“Talk to me.”
“He’s nowhere near anything at the moment,” she said. “Far side of the station is all I get.”
“Well, let’s perambulate.”
“Do you actually use words like that?”
“For emphasis.”
“Should I leave it open?”
“Can you keep it hot and stop the signal until we need it?”
“I already am.”
“Do that.”
“I already am.”
“Less talk, more walk,” I said, though I smiled.
We took the high speed slideway, which went around in quarters. From the low speed between gates, we took the midrange between termini, to the fast one, that even at twenty-five kilometers per hour was not fast enough for me.
We debarked at the quarter, stepping onto the deceleration ramp and then to solid deck. We moved to one side to avoid other travelers, and she brought the signal up again.
“About an eighth more. He’s taking a slow one.”
“So we’ll take this again.”
I was twitchy. This was it. It was probably far too public. Still, his retreats being limited was a good advantage. Or it was, until we finished the next leg.
“Pulled ahead. He’s on a fast one now,” she said.
“Are you sure? Can you read enough for station width?”
“No, I have to deduce. Too many echoes off these surfaces.”
“Dammit. I’ll go the other way. Slip me that item.”
Her eyebrows flared, but she bent down as I did, lowered a bag, fumbled with another, and when we stood we’d swapped nondescript personal bags. Mine had the disassembled stunner in it, of a sort.
I said, “Okay, I’ll catch you at the gate. Wait a moment.” Then I dragged her into a kiss. It was partly for show for cover, and partly because if I might be about to die, I wanted something to take with me. Her mouth was spicy, hot, fluttery sweet, and she played along almost too well.
I broke, waved and started quickly back. She waved with a sad smile.
Great. All I needed.
I wished we’d had time and resources for two weapons and two trackers, but each was a security risk. We’d have to make do. I got off the walk at the next terminus, went into a restroom and found a stall. I latched the door, hung the bag, ignored the huge, stinking grumbly someone had left that the system hadn’t flushed yet. Nothing here worked right. With my body shielding things, I reached into the bag, slipped several components together, and twisted the locking knob by hand. I had a two-shot, handheld flashbang, basically. It would crack, light off two thousand lumens, and direct forward in a large arc. All I had to do was blink as I shot. I figured more to use it to stun bystanders.
I got it into a pocket, made a show of reaching for my pants, said, “Ugh. Damn!” as I “noticed” the filth—always make use of free resources—and walked out of the stall. Checking my phone, I muttered and headed for the door quickly.
I didn’t know that they had cameras in there, but I was going to assume they did and protect myself accordingly.
Outside, I flipped a phone, called Silver’s code. She said, “Yes?” and I said, “Where?”
“Radius eight seven.”
I was at seventy-two.
I walked along next to the slides, ready to jump over the barrier when I saw him. Faces . . . rule out the females, the very short or tall, the young, quick scans of families, focus on the singles. Had I missed him?
I raised the phone. “Where?”
“Eight zero. I’m at one two zero.”
I was at seventy-nine.
He could have changed skin color, had minor surgery, be wearing makeup. I checked people with hats or keffiyeh.
I didn’t want to turn too soon, but I should be right on him. There were only a few people. None looked like him. Only five males, none a close match.
Had he passed the bags off on a shill?
I caught the buzz, raised phone, and said, “Yes.”
“He’s at seventy, slowed down, on foot now.”
“I didn’t see him. Seventy?”
“Yes, right at the gate for NRS.”
Dammit. Now he was going to board.
“Go there now.”
I started jogging, working the low G against the gentle arc of the deck for an efficient but quick gait.
There was a cluster of people boarding. They’d been boarding for an hour. We had only a little time left.
Silver came up behind me.
“Are we sure?” I asked.
“I don’t know. He could be lurking and waiting for us to board.”
She looked frightened.
I said, “Buy the tickets. If we have to fight our way off we can.”
She nodded, switched panes and pushed a button.
“Ready,” she said. She stepped over to a kiosk and pulled two keys from the printer.