Jeremy and Maddie talked and talked, to the point that he plugged in his phone just to make sure it wouldn't run dry in the middle of London. He went over everything he'd been through since leaving to pick up Kendra—from the angry crowds in Seattle to the sudden appearance of Lily, from the newly awakened Lani to Cinza's Greywood camp. Talking to his sister helped him steady himself, helped him focus. Jeremy needed focus if he was about to go into who-knew-what in the middle of the United Kingdom.

  "So, any tips on dealin' with the Brits?" he asked.

  "Fuck if I know," said Maddie. "I've never been on foreign relations or anything close to it. You're on your own."

  "Great help, Maddie."

  "Anytime, little bro."

  He groaned. "I'm taller than you."

  "You'll always be my little bro," she laughed.

  Jeremy sighed. "Maddie, I feel like a goddamn chess piece."

  Her tone fell, mirth instantly gone. She switched back to the caring sister in an instant. "What do you mean?"

  "My partner gets caught up in Rallsburg, and I happen to land the case. Then everybody from Grey-eyes to fuckin' Margaret Bensen picks me up and throws me wherever they damn well please. You remember how I got on this fuckin' plane, right?"

  "...I told you Kendra wanted your help with something," said Maddie slowly.

  "Bingo."

  "Jeremy, you aren't a chess piece."

  "No shit," said Jeremy, "but it'd be nice to feel like I'm not just gettin' used by everybody."

  "You aren't, and here's why: you chose to go after this case. You spotted Jackie's car in that video, you hunted down Rachel. You tracked Boris Morozov down in the middle of the damn forest in Canada."

  "So what you're sayin' is—"

  "You brought this on yourself," said Maddie cheerfully. "Suck it up and don't fuck it up."

  "Thanks."

  "This is the captain. We've been cleared to descend and begin our approach to London City Airport at this time. Please take your seats."

  "...Right into the thick of it, huh?" said Maddie.

  Jeremy sighed. "I'll call you later."

  "You must be in a rich people plane, if your phone worked all the way across the damn Atlantic."

  "It's got heated seats, beds and a full kitchen," said Jeremy. "And I spent most of it in the goddamn bathroom talkin' to you."

  "Eat anything good, at least?"

  Jeremy grinned. "Cinza ate some dry cereal straight out of the box mixed with olives from the damn mini-bar."

  "...Who the fuck is that girl?"

  "I'll tell you when I find out for myself." Jeremy got to his feet, stretching out. His shoulders and back were sore from sitting in such an awkwardly small space for so long. The bathroom on the jet was roomy, but even so. "Jesus, this was a bad idea."

  "I told you to move."

  "Can't get any damn privacy in a plane this tiny."

  Maddie laughed. "Get to work, Jere-bear. Call me later."

  "You got it."

  Jeremy went back into the main cabin. Cinza was fast asleep, curled up in her chair with her head on the armrest. Her hair was dark brown now, instead of the shining silver-grey Jeremy was used to. Makoto leaned against the far wall, watching out the window intently as they approached the London skyline. Jeremy nodded at her, but Makoto shook his head. "When it's time," he said quietly.

  "Who are you?" Jeremy asked, walking over to join the young Japanese lieutenant.

  He hesitated, still watching out the window. "Nobody who matters."

  "You're the right hand guy to a girl who just announced to the President of the United States that she's forming her own goddamn country inside their borders," said Jeremy. "I think you're gonna find you fuckin' matter now."

  Makoto shook his head. "We don't want that."

  "Pretty sure she does," said Jeremy, nodding at the sleeping Cinza again.

  "Why do you think that?"

  "'Cause she fuckin' did it." Jeremy shook his head in exasperation. "What else do you figure she meant by 'open relations with your government'?"

  "She knows what she's doing," he said firmly.

  Jeremy raised an eyebrow. "Sounds to me like she's makin' up the whole damn thing as she goes."

  "If she is, I trust her to find the right path."

  Fuckin' cults. The plane started to pitch forward. Jeremy and Makoto took the nearest seats and strapped themselves in. Cinza stirred after a particularly rough bump in the air. As she woke, her hair shifted back to silver once more, matching the robes she was currently using as a blanket. Her eyes blinked rapidly, finding Makoto's in no time.

  "Call Nikki," she said without hesitation. Jesus, I wish I could wake up that fast.

  Makoto nodded, pulling out his phone. "...They touched down as well. She says they're in London. She saw license plates and the river out the windows."

  Cinza nodded. "How long until we land?"

  The plane bumped onto the tarmac, as if to answer her question. A huge rushing sound of wind coupled with the skidding of tires filled the cabin as the jet screeched to a halt on the short London runway. Finally, they jerked to a halt. Cinza unstrapped herself before the pilot could get onto the intercom.

  "Ladies and gentlemen, we've touched down at London City Airport. I've been asked to inform you that Sir Thomas Laushire is awaiting your debarkation on the tarmac."

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  Jeremy glanced at Cinza. "...Well, now what?"

  Cinza shrugged. "We need someone to take care of Kendra while we track down her sister. Who better?"

  Makes sense… but you ain't gotta sound so fuckin' cold about it. Jeremy took a deep breath, getting to his feet. "Well… let's get this over with."

----------------------------------------

  Jeremy had no clue what they'd told the man. Sure, they'd arrived in the plane he sent across the world, but who was he expecting to see coming out of it? Certainly not the ragged band that emerged onto the stairwell.

  He took the lead, stomping down the stairs two at a time. Behind him, Cinza followed in boots, while Makoto was only a few steps behind. Thomas Laushire's eyes narrowed as he saw Jeremy—they'd parted on less-than-amicable terms, after all. Jeremy had been fairly close to punching the man in the face out of sheer irritation (and boredom).

  "Mr. Ashe," he said curtly. "I wasn't aware you were acquainted with Mr. Wilmore." Thomas frowned. "May I ask why you were on board my jet?"

  Jeremy's mouth fell open. He doesn't even know… the fuck? Well, no wonder his wife ain't here… "Look, Mr. Laushire…" he started, but Cinza cut in, stepping in front of him.

  "Thomas Laushire, correct?" she said, extending a hand. After a brief, confused moment, he shook it. "My name is Cinza." Thomas' eyes widened with recognition—between the name and the robes, it wasn't hard to put two-and-two together, after the media circus caused by Hailey and the Diaries. "I'm sorry, but we don't have a lot of time, so you'll need to accept certain facts as I explain them to you without question. Do you understand?"

  "...Excuse me?" He sounded affronted. "I beg your pard—"

  "You have it," Cinza interrupted. "And I beg yours for what I'm about to tell you." She glanced over her shoulder, where the EMTs were emerging, carrying a stretcher. "Thomas, those men are carrying your daughter. She's alive," Cinza added quickly, as Thomas' mouth fell open. "She's currently fighting to keep someone very dear to her alive as well. We've come to rescue that person—but to do this, we need to be sure Kendra is safe and cared for."

  "Oh my God…" Thomas murmured, as Kendra's face came into view. She still had an oxygen mask strapped to her face, and the EMTs had wrapped her in a blanket to help preserve some dignity as they carried her down—or to shield her from the goddamn winter. Jesus, it's cold out. "What… What happened to her?"

  "I don't have time to explain," said Cinza firmly. "You need to protect her at all costs, Thomas. Give us a car and a driver, and take her somewhere she will be safe and cared for. These men will accompany you—" She gestured to the two EMTs, who looked like they were sincerely regretting volunteering for this little excursion. "—while we track down the people responsible for this."

  "...Who?" Thomas asked, his voice weak and shaking. He picked up his daughter's limp hand, holding it tight to his chest. "Who did this?"

  "Cornelius Malton," said Cinza. Jeremy winced, but he couldn't exactly refute her—he was just as sure Malton was responsible. Talk about throwin' lighter fluid on the damn bonfire, though…

  Thomas' eyes widened. "Cornelius…? But… why—"

  "Thomas!" Cinza snapped. "A car and a driver!"

  "Jeremy! Cinza!" shouted a new voice. Jeremy turned around to see Lani waving from across the tarmac. Oh thank God, he got my message. "I've got a car! Let's go!"

  Cinza promptly turned back to Thomas. "On second thought, focus on your daughter." She nodded to Makoto, who sprinted away toward Lani. Cinza started hurrying away as well without another word, but Jeremy hesitated just a moment.

  "...Sorry about before," he muttered.

  Thomas looked around surprised, as if he'd forgotten Jeremy was even there. "I'm sorry?"

  "I was an asshole," Jeremy said more firmly. "I'm gonna make sure your daughter comes out of this. You keep her safe." Both of 'em. Or the same one twice. Fuck, I don't know. Whatever you want to call 'em.

  "...Thank you," said Thomas. Jeremy nodded, then sprinted away to join the others. As he ran, Thomas shouted one final question at him, one desperate cry from a confused father. "But which one of you is Wilmore?"

  "She is!" Jeremy shouted back, pointing at Kendra. He got one last glimpse of Thomas' dumbstruck face before he turned to follow Cinza.

  Cinza looked at Jeremy curiously as he caught up, but said nothing. Lani pulled up in a nice-looking car—'cause Lani always has to have the nicest wheels around...—with Makoto already in the passenger seat. Jeremy eyed him, and Makoto got the message right away. He scrambled to the back, and Jeremy sat down next to his partner.

  As soon as Cinza was on board, they shot off onto the narrow London streets. Jeremy sighed as Lani took them smoothly around corners and weaved through traffic like a professional. About time I had a real driver again. Makes me appreciate Jackie even more. I wonder what she's up to right now… Bet she's in even more shit than I am.

  "Two hours after I landed," said Lani, grinning. Jeremy rolled his eyes, but he had to admit he felt better already. "You missed me that much?"

  "You know the bullshit I've been through since you left?" Jeremy groaned.

  "Yeah, Makoto filled me in."

  "Everything happens when you ain't around, Lani," he sighed. "I'm never lettin' you out of my sight again."

  "I got shot with you," he pointed out.

  "Better you than me!"

  Lani laughed. "Where are we headed?"

  "I'm getting a location right now," Cinza reported, phone to her ear. "Nikki's casting the spell again."

  Jeremy frowned, gripping the armrest as the car darted around another corner. Lani was taking them out to a main street, where they could get to any part of the city without too much maneuvering around traffic. "So if distance matters so much with Kendra, how's a girl way back in Rallsburg gettin' locations for someone in fuckin' England?"

  "Knowledge magic doesn't seem to follow that rule," said Lani, twirling the steering wheel beneath his fingers. As motion sick as Jeremy got in helicopters and planes, he didn't feel a thing when Lani drove, for whatever reason. It was strangely comforting to be tossed around by someone he trusted—even if drivin' on the left is fuckin' bizarre. "Nobody knows why."

  "I don't know anythin'," Jeremy grumbled.

  Cinza tapped Makoto on the shoulder, who pulled out his own phone. She rattled off an address, and he soon had navigation open on an app. "Turn left up here," she said.

  Lani took them around the curve easily. "So… we're goin' after Malton," he said.

  ...He's way too fuckin' cheerful. Did Makoto not tell him…? "Kidnapped Lily Laushire," said Jeremy.

  "Wow…" Lani shook his head. "How's Kendra doing?"

  "Blacked out on the plane. We dropped her off with her dad."

  Lani grinned. "You dropped her off personally?"

  "I apologized."

  He glanced over at Jeremy. "No way."

  Jeremy rolled his eyes. "Shut up and drive."

  "Left again up here," said Cinza.

  They sped through the streets, Cinza reading off the directions and Lani taking them in turn. After twenty minutes or so, they got another location update from Nikki to confirm their target hadn't changed. Apparently the girl was getting exhausted from the magic, so they couldn't get too many more, but she was sticking it out as long as she could. Jeremy pulled out his pistol, double-checking the load just in case.

  "Lani, you good?" he asked.

  "Took mine at the gate, as usual," he sighed. Jeremy shook his head in disgust. He reached into his jacket and pulled out the spare he'd packed—way back when he'd set out to visit Kendra at her office.

  He handed the gun over. Lani stuck it into his holster. "Thanks."

  "We're two blocks away," Cinza reported.

  "Pull off here," said Jeremy. Lani did, and they got out. Jeremy shivered again in the winter chill, ducking into an alley and peering out around the corner of the building. The rest of the group piled up behind him, waiting for his next move. "It's that building?" he asked, pointing at a fairly unremarkable grey office building ahead. "You sure?"

  "Nikki saw that exact façade, and the street number," Cinza confirmed. "Lily should be inside, basement level. Two guards plus Riley."

  "Plus… what?" asked Lani, looking around. "They took Riley too?"

  Jeremy shook his head. Jesus… Lani, I'm so sorry… "No, man… Riley took her."

  "Riley… what?" Lani's eyes narrowed. He looked seriously pissed—more than Jeremy had ever seen in their whole partnership. "You're wrong."

  "I really wish I was."

  "You saw her?"

  Makoto put a hand on Lani's shoulder. "Her tracks, her jeep. Straight to the helicopter, and Nikki saw her on the plane."

  "...Maybe Nikki got it wrong," said Lani desperately.

  "She's never wrong," said Cinza softly.

  "Lani," said Jeremy forcefully. Lani glared at him, but didn't say a word. "Riley works for Malton. She took Lily. She lied to you, and lied to all of us too. She's in that buildin' right now. We're about to breach. Are you good?"

  Lani took a deep breath, though his glare didn't subside in the slightest. "...Yeah, I'm good," he said finally.

  Cinza looked at Jeremy, seeking confirmation. Like hell I'm going in there without my partner. Jeremy nodded, and she turned away, satisfied. Jeremy tapped Lani on the shoulder, leaning down next to him. "I'm with you," he murmured. "I got your back, no matter what."

  "...You know I hated being your partner this year?" said Lani quietly.

  "What?"

  "Got assigned to the most famous agent in our whole station, only to find out he's famous for being an asshole who never gets anything done." Lani glanced at him, a weak smile on his face. "Gotta say, they were totally wrong on the second half."

  Jeremy grinned. "That's Special Agent Asshole, motherfucker." He clapped Lani on the back, standing up straight again. "Let's do this."