Winter Halo (Outcast 2)

“Recruitment was our best bet, and that’s no longer a viable option. Sal’s partners are undoubtedly aware you were trying to access that way.”

“Which means we probably need to find someone whose identity I could take over.”

“Nuri is already looking into that prospect.”

“Good.” I finally glanced at him. “And I believe she was also going to find me a former employee to talk to.”

Amusement lurked briefly at the corners of his mouth and eyes. “I thought you didn’t want our help.”

“I don’t, but given

you’re obviously intent on ignoring what I want, I might as well put your presence to use. I’m practical, not stupid.”

“Stupidity is not a word I’d ever associate with you. Quite the opposite, in fact.”

I snorted softly. “Careful, Ranger, because that almost sounded like a compliment.”

“It’s not a compliment if it’s a simple truth.”

And Rhea forbid he actually toss a compliment my way. “Do you know where Keller lives?”

It was said more sharply than it should have been, and the amusement in his expression faded.

“He lives midpoint on Seventh. The Heldan Apartments, I believe.”

It wasn’t an address I knew, but it was one that would be easy enough to find given Central’s street system worked from Twelfth—which was the closest to the curtain wall—to First, the innermost street and one of the few fully circular ones. Victory Street—the only street that ran straight through the heart of the city—intersected each of these streets, which also acted as delineation between the twelve districts within Central. Those near the wall were the poorer sections; the closer you got to Central’s heart—where the main business district and government centers were situated, as well as the only green space available within the city—the more exclusive and richer the community. Seventh Street was a step up from the poorer districts but still considered a less desirable area than the Sixth and Fifth, which not only were considered the middle-class sector, but also held the technology district. Winter Halo held a prime spot on Sixth Street.

I had no idea what hours Keller worked, but given it had been evening when he met Sal and me at the restaurant, there was a fair chance he worked late most nights. If I got into the Central fairly quickly, I might be able to meet him coming out of Winter Halo itself.

“Is there a café or some other building nearby from where I can keep an eye on things without raising eyebrows?”

He hesitated. “There’s a place called Seven Sins close by.”

“Seven Sins?”

He smiled. “It’s a patisserie. I’m rather partial to their pistachio and raspberry macarons.”

Most shifters had sweet tooths thanks to their higher metabolic rate, but for some reason, I hadn’t expected it in Jonas. Maybe because of all the sour looks he kept throwing my way. “Are there enough credits on my RFID chip for me to buy anything at such a place?”

“Yes.”

Then I was definitely going to try one of those macarons. “How long do you think it will take to find someone working at Winter Halo whose position I can take?”

“We should have several possibilities available by midday tomorrow.”

“Then I shall meet you at the bunker.”

He frowned. “What are you doing tonight?”

“That, Ranger, is none of your business.” I sucked in the night and disappeared.

Cat and Bear chased me back to the museum exit, their laughter making me smile. Jonas hadn’t been pleased at my sudden disappearance, apparently. Once I’d made my way through the debris to tunnel D, I regained flesh and headed for the bunk rooms. While I’d worn my uniform into Central many times without problems, if I wanted any chance of gaining Keller’s attention, then I not only had to wear a different form, but also very different clothes. Thankfully, Nuri had given me a tunic that was more than suitable for seduction purposes. It was full-length, but split to the thigh along one side to allow easier movement, and made of soft gray wool that clung to rather than hid curves. I’d worn the same type of garment many times in the various camps I’d been assigned to during the war, and knew from experience they were not only extremely comfortable, but also sexy. Not that I intended to seduce, but he, at the very least, had to believe that was a distinct possibility for my seeking skills to be of any use.

“Cat and Bear, can you keep an eye on things for me here? Come find me if anything happens.”

Bear grumbled about being left behind again, even though he understood my reasons. The little ones had done a mighty job protecting this place against several vampire attacks, but I didn’t want to keep relying on them alone. They were young, and sooner or later an attack would come that would overwhelm them. Bear had at least gone through the initial stages of training. He might not be déchet skilled, but he could fight. And he was also canny enough to call in the help of the ninety-three fully trained déchet who haunted this place if necessary, whereas the little ones tended to be scared of the older ghosts and generally avoided them.

Once I’d said all my good-byes, I headed back through the mess of the old stairwell and out into the night. I made my way toward Central, aiming for a spot midway between the haphazard walls of Chaos and the drawbridge. Though Central was a city of never-ending daylight, on this side of the rusting metal wall, the shadows were deep and heavy. Even in Chaos, it was only the upper reaches that had any sort of continual light protection. Once I neared the wall’s massive footings, I surged upward, pressing close to the wall, my gaze on the flood of brightness high above me. But the closer I got to the top of the wall, the more the light of the UVs poured over it, and the more the shadows within me began to unravel. As my flesh form began to reinsert itself, I lunged for the top of the wall. My fingers caught the rough metal edge and for several seconds I just hung there, my heart going a million miles a minute as I sucked in air and tried not to look at the long drop below me. I hated heights, which was daft, considering that not only was there a lot of tiger DNA in me—meaning I generally landed feetfirst—but also that once I was beyond the wash of lights, the shadows in my soul would reassert themselves and halt my fall long before I ever hit the ground. But irrational fears were called that precisely because they didn’t actually make sense.