Page 38 of Up in Smoke

I needed answers, and I cursed how a simple can of fire-roasted tomatoes could create a bucketload of problems for me.

“Understood, sir.”

“Spread word to the guards that she is to be protected. No accidents, and should anyone attempt to shoot her again, make it clear she is to get the best care the hospital can give. At this point, she is too valuable to waste. The people are too fixated on her general bravery, and there are many already upset she had been shot in the first place. Has there been any news on the shooter?”

“None, sir. It had to be someone from Asylum; we found where the bullets had come from, but we have not been able to identify who got a hold of the bullets or why they’d want to kill the vixen. It’s possible they wanted Moretti out of the city. If so, they accomplished their goal.”

“But to what end? We were fortunate and did not need Moretti’s skills, although we will soon. We’ll have to expand, especially if I want to efficiently continue the rest of my plans. Having his help will remove several years from the schedule.”

After witnessing what Sandro could do in the South, I understood Mansfield’s optimism.

More guards came into the room, carefully piling the goods from my cellar in every inch of available space. Mansfield stepped out of the way along with the woman.

“What would you have me do, sir?”

“Keep an eye on that vixen should she show up, and should anyone be giving her undue attention, tell me immediately. I need Moretti, and that means I need her. If you can, cultivate her.”

“And if I can’t?”

“Keep her out of trouble somehow.”

Monday, June 22, 2043.

Asylum, Oklahoma.

The Alley.

“Jade?”

I blinked, realized I stared blankly at a can of fire-roasted tomatoes, and debated what to do about what my magic had told me. “You need to go recite that poem outside.”

“You saw something.”

“Yes.” I handed him the can, although I doubted my magic would reactivate unless the can had witnessed something else of importance. “There’s a device outside, and he expects you to dismantle the ones inside. That it’s part of some game. He said he’d be impressed if you found it, and that considering that you do so much for his plans, he can live with one home being outside of his control.”

“Bastard,” Sandro grumbled. “But yes, I’ve been destroying his bugs since the day I first came here. Are you all right?”

I appreciated he cared more about me than what I’d learned. “I’m fine. It wasn’t a difficult working.” I told him everything I’d seen, why the entire cellar had been moved with care, and what my poor landlord had been doing for the ruler of Asylum. “To him, I only have value because of you.”

“I’d say we’ll make certain he realizes you’re the reason he falls, but honestly, I don’t care if he knows about it, and it’s better if he just takes the fall without realizing who has come for him. The real problem will be fully exposing his intentions. We’re going to have to look into the scryers, find out what happened to them, and locate proof.” Sandro rolled the can in his hands. “Do we need to keep this?”

“No. You need to turn it into salsa. I’ve gotten as much as I’m getting out of it. It tends to be a one and done sort of deal. But it was an excellent one and done sort of deal. I got lucky he’d picked up and looked at this can.”

“Well, it’s on top in one of the open boxes near the door, so it makes sense. And yes, I can make a good salsa for you out of this. If we can get our hands on some canned tomatillo and peppers, I can make you a decent batch. I stocked up on wheat and corn flour the last time I was here, so I can make you tortilla chips, too.”

“There’s no need for the courtesan system. All that’s needed to catch a vixen is some food.”

“Or some chocolate and a promise to require many condoms,” Sandro teased. “Had my mother just told me she wanted me to partner with a vixen, I would have gone the honey route rather than thinking about stealing my bounty route. Well, in your case, wet shirt and chocolate route.”

I wagged my tail and went to work searching through the canned goods in search of tomatillo and peppers. To my delight, I found both deeper in the same box. “This is a salsa box!”

Sandro joined me in checking out the goods, and he laughed after looking everything over. “He must have liked Mexican food. Most of the staples are in here. I’d have to go vegetarian for a lot of things, but there’s even some canned beef that’ll work in a pinch for some dishes. If Mansfield starts rationing supplies, we’ll be set for a while. It won’t help everyone in Asylum, but we can’t help anyone if we’re starving, too.”

“And starvation is a good way to keep people from rebelling as long as they’re getting enough food to think they’re going to survive,” I grumbled.

“It’s also a good way to earn gratitude when the problem is solved by the leadership.” Sandro set the can of tomatoes on top of one of the crates near the door. “There are a lot of possibilities, and the longer I think about it, the less I like it.” He went into the crate and pulled out some corn and a few other cans. “Well, I know what I’m making you for dinner tonight, and it involves salsa.”

I held out my arms to take the cans, which Sandro handed to me. “Show me the kitchen, and I’ll do anything you want, just please feed me salsa.”