Page 295 of Eight of Swords, Part Two

‘What’s your location?’ Lachlan asks, already on the move.

‘Posted outside Cascade’s door, Kestrel. Eyes on confirmed.’

But he’s not.

‘Is this a live feed? We’re not looped, right?’ he asks Rook, who toggles the sensor overlay on the screen focused on the three doors that make up the Cove.

Lachlan sees dust motes drifting.

‘No, we’re definitely live, and Strickland is right there,’ Rook adds, touching a different screen showing the woman making rounds outside November Sky. ‘Car seven’s tracking is disabled.’

Lachlan and Danya exchange looks before bursting into movement.

‘I’ll take the garage.’

‘Heard.’ Lachlan runs to the Cove.

Mimi first. There she is. Safe and sound in bed with Mari.

But there’s no one guarding the Cove.

‘Control, post three units outside the Cove and get Blaire in here with Shimmer.’

‘Heard, Kestrel.’

And Julian, when he opens the next bedroom door, is gone.

Window intact.

Pyjamas folded neatly on the bed.

‘Sapsan, status update?’ he asks Danya.

‘Kestrel, be advised Holtz is here and we have a problem,’ Danya responds promptly. ‘Get here now.’

‘Heard. En route.’

It takes less than a minute to run there.

He’s barely out of breath.

Holtz is by the outbound control booth, one hand resting on the barrier release. Danya has removed his radio and weapon. Nothing about the man appears visibly wrong. His pupils are even. His breathing is steady.

No blood, vomit or chemical residue.

He looks straight at Lachlan.

‘Eyes on Cascade, Kestrel. Eight bells,’ he recites.

It’s earnest, seemingly honest even.

‘You don’t have eyes on, Holtz,’ Lachlan tells him.

‘I know, but that’s what he told me to tell you. He said it’s not lying because Cascade is still in the room,’ Holtz explains with a bright smile. ‘His trackers.’

‘Fucking hell.’ Lachlan has no idea how Julian has pulled this off, what the fuck he’s even done to Holtz. ‘Who drove him?’

‘He drove himself.’