“Damnit,” Stardust cursed. “I thought for sure I’d be able to wear that guy down enough to hold him still and get some information out of him.” He stood there glaring in the direction the van had gone, fists clenched tight around the grips of his sai. After a moment, his shoulders lifted, held, and lowered with a long deep breath. He sheathed his sai before turning to their latest mugging victim.
“Are you okay?”
“Banged up and bruised but that bastard didn’t get my money,” she answered with her jaw jutting forward with stubborn pride.
Stardust nodded in approval at the woman’s tough response. “Good. Do you want to go to the medical center?”
“No, your partner already hooked me up with first-aid. I can take care of the rest at home with an ice pack and ibuprofen.”
That gold mask abruptly turned toward Mike, surprise showing in those tiger’s eyes before Stardust turned back to the woman.
“Okay, we’ll walk you to your car and you can get going.”
Mike retrieved the gun, and they took her two rows over to where she’d parked. She opened her car door, but paused before getting inside.
“Word is getting around about this asshole robbing and assaulting the Players. It’s nice to know that you guys are out here watching our backs.”
“Tell your co-workers to stay alert and be safe. We’ll do what we can to catch him.”
She thanked them again then got in the car and closed the door. Once she drove off, Stardust turned to Mike with his hands on his hips.
“Well, that answers one question.”
“What?”
“That this is more than some random guy on an anti-sex worker crusade. The matching all-white outfits, the getaway van, the weapon,” he said with a nod at the gun in Mike’s hands. “This is too coordinated. Something deeper is going on.”
Mike looked down at the weapon he held. It wasn’t like anything he’d seen in the military or as a civilian. “We’ll figure it out whatever it is.”
“We?”
“You might not like it, but we’re partners on this.” Mike raised his chin, daring Stardust to say he wasn’t a part of catching these people.
Stardust tilted his head to the side, his mask gleaming in the light as he studied Mike for a long moment. When he answered he skipped over acknowledging Mike’s declaration that they were partners. But he didn’t deny it either.
“Your plan worked out well.”
“Wasn’t so much a plan as a hold on for a second and look.”
Stardust rocked up on the balls of his feet. “Which is more than I ever do,” he said. He held out his hands for the gun. “May I?”
Mike passed it over. Stardust examined it carefully, muzzle down and finger away from the trigger.
“This is different from anything I’ve ever seen. One of the reasons Strong wanted to form the ACG was because of high tech weapons like this falling into the hands of the bad guys. He’ll want to know about this gun and Caleb will want to inspect it. We should get this to them tonight and let them know about the coordinated attack.” He looked up at Mike. “Are you okay with heading back to HQ?”
Now it was Mike’s turn to be surprised. “You’re askingmyopinion?”
“Yeah. And I’m already regretting it.”
“Well, since you asked. I think it’s a smartplan.”
Stardust rolled his eyes. “Whatever. Let’s go.”
∞ ∞ ∞
Aiden sat on his motorcycle, mask up, the gun they’d confiscated strapped to his back, waiting for Zielinski. He’d seen his gray SUV get caught behind a train, and had arrived at HQ a few minutes ahead of him as a result. Aiden could have gone inside and shown Caleb and the others the weapon Zielinski had managed to confiscate without waiting for him. But he wasn’t a complete dick. Zielinski had been the one to snatch the thing up. It was only right that he should be there to show it to the team, and get the credit for his quick thinking in grabbing it. So, he’d wait.
A minute later, Zielinski’s SUV pulled into the parking lot. Aiden swung his leg over his bike to dismount, pulling off his gloves and tucking them in his waistband as he walked to meet him halfway.
