Chapter Fifteen
Thane hated to abandon the safety of the church, but they had no choice. Surt knew where they were, and no one was safe around them. They left in a flood of people after morning service and blended into the city with nothing but a duffle bag of clothes and a prayer.
It was early in the morning so he wouldn’t worry about where they’d sleep tonight until later. Right now, they were on a mission to get some movement on the maps.
“You’re sure this guy can help us?” Reya asked as they climbed into the rental.
Thane headed the car uptown to NYU. “If he can’t, no one can. The man is genius at GIS, works in IT and specializes in digital maps.”
“Ah,” she said. “And you know him?”
“We went to high school together.”
“I hope you’ve seen him since then,” she said.
“Once or twice. He’s a good guy. He’ll help out.”
They parked outside Astor Place and headed into the building. Thane found Jim in an office on the fourth floor. He shook their hands and clapped Thane on the back. “Where have you been? You don’t call. You don’t write.”
Thane grinned. Some people never changed. Jim was tall and pale, like someone who never stepped foot outside the computer room. His brown hair was cropped short, but otherwise, he looked the same as he did in high school. “Been saving the city. You?”
“Two kids, a dog, and a wife who expects me to do shit around the house.”
It had been almost twenty years, but it felt like only yesterday when they were sneaking out in their father’s cars with a case of beer and a pack of Camels. “Jim, this is Reya.”
Jim stretched out a hand to Reya. “Nice to meet you. Be careful with this guy.”
Reya flashed an amazing smile. “Thanks for the warning.”
“I need your expertise for an investigation,” Thane told Jim. “Off the record.”
Jim looked at Reya and back to Thane. “Sure, what can I do?”
Thane gave him a copy Stewart’s renderings. “We think they might be street maps or coordinates or something like that. But we don’t have any way of overlaying them onto existing maps to find out where.”
Jim studied the pictures. “Any idea what the scale is?”
“None,” Reya said. “It might be 3-D though. Can you help?”
“Sure,” Jim said. “I’ll scan them into a raster layer. Create a new vector point layer for each intersection on the images. Then georeference them to street maps and landmarks. Will that do?”
Thane had no idea, but it sounded good. “How long will it take you?”
Jim replied, “A few days, maybe less. It’s easy enough to do, just takes time to build the database and run through all the maps, you know?”
Reya gave Thane a concerned look. They might not have a few days.
“Thanks, Jim. I owe you a few parking tickets,” Thane said and shook Jim’s hand. “My cell phone number is on the back of the sheet. Call me when you’re ready.”
* * *
The rest of the day was consumed with avoiding crazy people listening to voices in the dark parts of the city and finding a safe place to hole up for a few days. Reya wasn’t thrilled about being in a hotel, but they had no choice. She didn’t want to go to another church. It would be too obvious. She settled for a hotel pressed up against a synagogue.
The room was a double-double with hotel fabric and wallpaper. The news was on the TV and muted. Looting and riots continued, albeit relegated to small pockets. It was the fear that worried her. She felt it everywhere and from everyone she encountered. The curfew had been all but abandoned—nearly impossible to enforce, but the city was on edge, restless and nervous. More than twenty people had now been torched and killed by Surt. His appetite seemed insatiable.
It was bad. Worse than anything she’d felt, and she’d felt a lot. Allowing her to recall some of her past lives was part of her redemption. It helped her lean on past wisdom. It also meant that she remembered the good and the bad. This was worse than any of it.
She sat on the edge of the bed while Thane was in the shower and ran her fingers across the crystal. It was smooth and warm, and it was the only thing keeping them alive, she was certain. Surt had pulled out all the stops—breaking the binds of dimensional physics to unleash his weapons. And he wasn’t done yet. One thing she’d learned about him—he was patient and relentless. A dangerous combination in an enemy.
On the other hand, so was she.
Thane seemed fine after his foray into Surt’s domain. It had to have something to do with his legacy, because no human body would have survived that otherwise. What other powers did he have? Sadly, she also wondered what he’d do with those powers if he knew about them.
Thane walked out of the bathroom, his hair wet from the shower. “Wow. That is not a happy face.”
She glanced up from the crystal. He looked good in a pair of jeans and nothing else. Her pulse sped up and highly inappropriate ideas followed. It was all she could do not to suggest he lose the jeans. What if that’s what he was waiting for, for her to ask? Then they were both idiots. “Thinking.”
“That sounds dangerous,” he said with all seriousness. “Anything I should know about?”
“Probably,” she said. “I hope Jim finds something.”
“He will,” Thane said and stared at the TV intently. “Turn up the volume.”
Reya found the remote and unmuted the sound.
An amateur video was playing on the news. It showed a man screaming as fire began to come out of his eyes. A second later, flames appeared all over his body. The videographer could be heard saying, “Oh my God, oh my God.”
People were running in terror. Then suddenly, a man in a suit appeared and grabbed the burning man. He held on to him, his voice calling out in anger to stop burning. Seconds later, the flames died out and the victim was left stunned but alive and unharmed.
“What the f*ck?” Thane muttered.
Reya’s hands trembled. Her heart was beating so fast it hurt.
The videographer ran up to the man in the suit and could be heard asking, “How did you do that?”
The savior turned to the camera, and Reya sucked in a breath. No. It couldn’t be.
He looked into the camera. “Where is God now? Why is he allowing this to happen? Where will it stop?”
People gathered around him as he preached to them, telling them that the problem was we believed that God would save, when in reality, God didn’t care. A crowd descended upon him rapidly, lapping up every word.
The news anchor came back on. “That was earlier today. Since then, the man who has been identified as Ronald Smith has since met with the mayor’s office and NYPD. We move now to a live press conference.”
The venue changed to a room with flags along the back wall. Officials lined up behind the mayor. Reporters filled the room in front of him, holding cameras and microphones.
The mayor held up his hand. “This will be quick. By now, you have all witnessed the video of a man being saved from the unexplained phenomenon sweeping this city. The incident has been confirmed by many witnesses.”
Questions arose quickly from the reporters, but the mayor waved them off. “We are happy to announce the Mr. Ronald Smith is working with us to stop the horror this city has been gripped by in recent days.”
Cameras flashed and journalists shouted questions, but the mayor ignored them. “Understand that I’m not saying that anyone should attempt to save burning people this way. But I guarantee we will find a way to end this madness. That is all.”
Then he left the room without further comment.
The anchor came back and said, “According to our sources, the mayor has put Ronald Smith in charge of a task group to look into the deaths.”
Reya felt her stomach turn over and ran for the bathroom. She vomited. Thane was there with a towel when she finally sat back on the cold tile floor. This couldn’t be happening. It was like a nightmare.
Thane gave her wet washcloth. “What is it? What did you see?”
She wiped her face and tears. How would this end? “Surt.”
Thane stood up suddenly. “You saw Surt? Where?”
Pain radiated across her chest. “We need to talk to Orson as soon as possible.”
She got to her feet in the small bathroom and took a big drink of water to rinse her mouth. “We need to get that map.”
Thane took her arm and gently swung her around to face him. His eyes were dark and full of concern. “Where is Surt?”
She closed her eyes. “He’s Ronald Smith.”
* * *
“How could this happen?” Thane asked Orson.
The old man just blinked at him. “Free will—”
“Don’t give me that crap,” Thane snapped. He was furious, and he had had it with Orson’s lack of cooperation. “He’s suckered everyone into believing he’s some kind of savior, and he’s the one causing all this.”
Reya was leaning against the dresser with her arms folded. “I’m with Thane on this one. You guys have lost control of this city, and you have no one to blame but yourselves. Sadly, it is the people of this city, and possibly this world, who will pay the price.”
Orson held up his hands. “I’m sure there’s an explanation.”
“I’d love to hear it,” Reya said, her voice firm. “Because these people cannot protect themselves against Surt. Only you have that power, and you’ve failed.”
Orson nodded. “I’ll talk to the council.”
“Why?” Thane said, pointing to the ceiling. “They won’t do anything to fix it. Because as far as I can see, you guys have all this power and do nothing with it but sit around and watch as we die. So you better hand over something worthwhile, or you can just stop showing up.”
Orson cast a glance at Reya. She held up her hand. “Don’t get me in the middle of this.”
Thane glared at Orson. “This isn’t happening anywhere else, is it?”
“No. This is one of the largest concentrations of people in a small area in the world. It would be an obvious choice due to the size of the collective consciousness.”
“And the collective consciousness powers the grid,” Thane said, shaking his head. “Great.”
“There are other more concentrated cities around the world,” Reya said. “Why this one?”
“I don’t know, but we think he’s planning something big,” Orson said.
Before Thane could make a comment about Orson’s gift for the obvious, Reya said, “He’s also buying time. Why?”
“We are working on that,” Orson said.
“Work faster,” Thane growled.
Orson glanced at Reya and faded away.
Thane grabbed his jacket and pulled it on. Reya eyed him. “Where are you going?”
“To see Martin,” Thane said. “I need a drink with someone who is really alive to talk to.”
Reya stepped up next him. “Is he speaking to you?”
She knew about their falling out, but she didn’t know how partners worked. “He will. We’re partners. That’s forever.”
She nodded. “Must be nice to have someone you can always trust to be there for you.”
There was a hint of envy in her voice. He realized she understood more than he thought. After everyone who’d betrayed her, she’d risked her life for his, taken care of him when he was dying, and told him the truth even when he didn’t understand it. That went beyond partner.
“Let me do the talking. Martin won’t buy any of this.”
Reya eyed him. “You might be surprised.”
* * *
It was loud and busy in the downtown bar at midnight. Martin was there all right. On speaking terms with Thane was another matter. Reya couldn’t really blame him since Thane had basically walked out on their partnership and his job.
They were huddled together in a booth in the back. Classic rock blared from speakers embedded in dark wood paneling. Sports channels played on flat-screen TVs mounted from the ceiling. Thane sat to her left and Martin to her right with her in the middle playing referee.
Martin glared at Thane over his beer. “You better have a f*cking good reason to call me down here.”
Thane leaned back in the booth. “Free beer?”
“Don’t,” Martin said and held up his hand. “I shouldn’t even be here. O’Brien would have my head. You are public enemy number one right now.”
“That’s my fault,” Reya said.
Martin frowned at her, but turned to Thane. “What is going on? And don’t lie to me. I’m right here, I can tell.”
Thane cut her a quick glance. “I know what’s going on. I know who is setting people on fire.”
Martin looked at him in surprise. “Who?”
“Ronald Smith,” Thane said.
For a moment, Martin didn’t move. Then he sat back in the booth and burst out laughing. “Are you kidding me? The man saving a human torch in the video that just went viral? The guy who just got the key of the city from our mayor? That guy?”
Thane leaned forward. “He’s not who you think he is.”
Martin smirked. “I don’t give a shit who he is as long as he can put a stop to the people hounding me for answers I don’t have.”
“You can’t trust him,” Thane said. “He is intent on taking down this city.”
“He can be f*cking king of Manhattan for all I care,” Martin said. “How could you not want his help? It’s not like you’re helping.”
Reya decided Thane had been right about Martin. Thane could do the talking. She was keeping her mouth shut.
“I’ve been to Hell and back, literally, trying to get a handle on this,” Thane said evenly. “I need to know everything about this guy. Where he works, where he lives, who he lives with, and anything in his past that you can find.”
Martin looked at him like he was nuts. “No. I’m not going to help you destroy the one guy who actually has a solution.”
“It’s not a solution,” Thane said. “He’s taking control. Getting a foothold.”
“For what purpose?” Martin asked.
Thane hesitated. “To control the energy grid.”
Oh shit, Reya thought. There goes everything.
For a long time, Martin just stared at Thane. Reya had a bad feeling that he wasn’t as open as she’d hoped.
Martin turned to her. “Who is this and what did you do with Thane?”
“He’s telling you the truth,” she said. “I know it sounds strange.”
“Strange?” Martin said. “No, strange is snow in the summer. Strange is growing a second head. This? This is f*cking crazy. You’re both crazy, and I’m going home.”
He started to stand up, and Thane grabbed his arm over the table. “Listen to me. Please.”
Martin gave a sigh and sat back down. “You have ten seconds to make me a believer.”
Thane looked at her. “Do your thing.”
She blinked, confused. “What thing?”
He lowered his voice. “Your disappearing thing.”
There were people everywhere. “Not here.”
Martin raised his hand. “Goodbye.”
“Fine,” she snapped. She allowed her body to fade, locking into the state of transparency. “Hit me.”
“What?” Martin asked, his expression frozen in utter surprise.
“Do it,” Thane told him.
“No,” he said.
“Then I will,” Thane said and took a swipe at her. His hand passed right through, and she felt nothing but a breeze.
Martin sat very still. Then he reached out a hand tentatively and tried to touch her. His fingers passed through, and he snatched them back. “Holy shit. What are you?”
She took a breath and solidified her body. “I’m an angel.”
Thane eyed her, and she ignored him. She didn’t feel like explaining the whole Redeemer thing when the preconceived idea of an angel was so much more convenient and so nicely laid out already.
Martin swallowed and was quiet for a moment. “Okay. So what does that have to do with anything?”
“Smith is like me. Only he’s from the other side,” she said. “He’s not here to serve and protect.”
“You’re the one killing people,” Martin noted, pointing at her.
“No, she’s not,” Thane said. “I know that firsthand.”
Martin appeared uncomfortable with the whole conversation. “Okay, fine. You’re an angel. That makes Smith, what? The devil?”
“Yes, a demon,” she said. “One of them anyway. He can do everything I can do. Disappear, see things, hear things, do things. Like set people on fire.”
“Jesus, I’m going to need another beer,” Martin muttered. “So you’re telling me that the guy we just gave full access to the city is the one who was killing people to begin with?”
“That’s why he’s able to stop it,” Thane said.
The server dropped off three fresh beers and took the empties. Martin leaned in. “How’s he going to go about controlling the city? People are scared, not morons.”
“We’re not sure yet,” Reya said. “We’re working on it.”
Martin nodded and drank his beer. “Great. That’s great.”
“Will you help?” Thane asked him. “Get us the info on him?”
“Sure,” Martin said, shaking his head. “What can it hurt?”
“Thank you,” Reya said.
He nodded and looked at Thane. “What are you going to do after you stop this guy? Cause if you actually stop this, they might, and I do mean might, let you come back.”
Reya waited for Thane’s answer. She’d wondered that herself. What would be left of him? Would he be able to go back to life as usual? He was able to see and hear things that other people couldn’t. What would that do to him? Where would he go? Because he couldn’t come with her.
Thane stared at his bottle. Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out his badge. He looked at it for a few moments before sliding across the table to Martin. Reya’s heart sank.
Martin sighed. “I didn’t ask for it.”
Thane shook his head. “O’Brien will though. You have no choice. I don’t want to take you down with me. You tell him I dropped it off at your house when you weren’t there. I’m keeping my gun though.”
Reya watched the exchange in silence, knowing this was Thane making his choice, a choice she had no right to interfere with even though it brought him one step closer to revenge. His destiny had just taken a stand.