19. Ezekiel
19
EZEKIEL
W e eventually make our way back to the house and I take Blue up to my room. Jericho s kept it as is, having it dusted regularly, the bed made up and ready. After a quick shower to warm up because the rain cooled the temperature, we climb into bed, Blue wearing one of my T-shirts.
What does he want with you? she asks when I think she s too tired to pursue questioning me. The Councilor I mean?
That has to do with what Robbie found on that drive. She tilts her head, which was resting on my chest, and looks up at me.
Which is?
Let s go to sleep. We ll talk tomorrow.
She touches the space between my eyebrows. You re worried. What s on the drive?
A ledger of Councilor Augustus accepting bribes, basically abusing his power as a Councilor of The Tribunal for payment. And it s not only him, but his father and grandfather as well.
She stares at me open-mouthed. I wonder if my father had any idea what he stole when he hacked his computer.
It was all buried deep within with the files of Tribunal cases, the sentences, the video footage. I think that s all extra. A bonus. I think what Girard wanted was that ledger because it will destroy Augustus. It will send him to the very cells beneath The Tribunal building that he now presides over. I lean up on my elbow to make sure I have her attention. Do you understand how dangerous that makes him?
Her forehead wrinkles. If we give it to him, will he leave us alone?
Blue, did you hear me?
Yes, but if he had it back?—
No. That s not likely. He s not a trustworthy man.
And if Antoine gets it?
I shake my head, unsure myself. They re both dangerous and neither is trustworthy. We re not giving it to either of them just now.
Do you think it was Antoine who got my father out on parole?
I stare up at the ceiling, not wanting to look at her as I omit the fact that her father is in town. That he d been to her apartment. I d guess so.
What are we going to do?
We re going to go to sleep now. We ll deal with it in the morning.
She quiets but I m pretty sure she won t sleep tonight. Me either. I lie there instead with Blue tucked into my side, her lashes tickling my chest with every blink. And I think.
The one thing I want I know she won t agree to. She won t let me send her away, hide her, while I clean up this mess. But she may not have a choice.
* * *
Sometime in the night, we both fall asleep, and when I wake in the morning, Blue is quietly snoring. It s cute. I watch her for a minute before kissing her forehead lightly and slipping out of bed. Quickly getting dressed in slacks and a button down, I go downstairs to the kitchen, the scent of freshly brewed coffee calling me.
Good morning, Cynthia says when she sees me. She s clearing dishes from breakfast, and I realize Angelique and Matty would be getting ready to go to school.
Morning, Cynthia.
How about an extra big cup of coffee? she asks. I must look a wreck.
That bad? I ask as she pours coffee into a mug.
About as good as your brother. He s in his office, she says, handing me the mug.
Thanks. I head to the office where I find the door slightly ajar. I enter to find Jericho talking to Dex.
Morning, he says when he sees me.
Morning, I say and enter, closing the door behind me.
The doorbell rings.
Jericho dismisses it. Carpool to school. Isabelle has something arranged with some of the moms. Did you have any epiphanies last night? he asks me.
I want to meet with Girard.
Jericho raises his eyebrows. You do that, and Augustus will assume you re working with the enemy.
I give Girard that flash drive and our problem is solved.
Not necessarily. Augustus can make Girard disappear. Hell, he might have done it already.
No way. Antoine Girard isn t going to go down that easy. He has years of hate to account for. Anyway, I wanted to talk to you about something else. I m thinking about sending Blue away.
The door opens then, and Angelique enters, her schoolbag on her back. We all turn, surprised, and Jericho raises his eyebrows. Haven t I taught you to knock before entering my office? he asks, but I notice my niece, who is usually smiling, isn t.
A big hand appears on top of the door and pushes it farther.
Jericho is on his feet in an instant, but before he can come around the desk, Angelique runs to me, wraps an arm around my leg and stares at the man entering.
Antoine Girard.
And three of his men.
What the hell do you think you re doing? Jericho demands.
Apologies. Didn t mean to scare your little girl. Antoine says casually, his gaze moving over the room, from Jericho, to me. Gates were open. Didn t think you d mind.
You didn t fu?—
Jericho, I start.
Girard grins. Just wanted to make sure I caught you both at home.
Angelique, go upstairs, Jericho says.
Girard turns to his men. You three are scaring the little thing. Get the hell out of the way, he tells his men, of which I see one more in the hallway. He brought four men with him. Four soldiers.
Lifting Angelique, I walk her out of the room and to the stairs.
Go upstairs. Tell everyone they have to stay up there. Blue is in my room. Tell her too. Understand? I whisper as I set her down.
She nods, eyes wide and wet. But I have to go to school.
It s okay. You ll go a little later today. Go on. Hurry.
I wait until she s all the way up the stairs before going back to the study, taking note of the man who makes Hoxton look small, standing just outside the still-open door. Inside, I find Jericho nose to nose with Antoine Girard. My brother is fuming. Girard s face looks like it s made of stone, eyes narrowed, one corner of his mouth curved upward.
What the fuck are you thinking walking into my home?
A tense moment passes and one of Girard s men steps toward them. Girard puts his hand up. I notice the other arm, the one without the hand, has a pinned sleeve tucked into his jacket pocket.
Let s all relax, shall we? he says. I mean no ill will toward your family. We simply have business between us. He takes a step backward then makes his way to the couch and sits dead center, testing the seat, stretching his arms out on either side of him. I d kill for a cup of coffee.
I m sure Councilor Augustus would be happy to serve it to you.
Girard s mouth tightens. He d happily lace it with arsenic, I m sure. You two are making me nervous. Sit with me. I m here to talk.
Jericho. Go get your kids to school. It s me he s here to see.
Girard gives an approving nod.
I don t think so, Jericho says. What the hell do you want?
I pick up my mug and move to a chair, crossing one ankle over the opposite knee, purposefully casual, and drinking my now lukewarm coffee like it s the most delicious thing on earth.
Ezekiel St. James. You have turned out to be a thorn in my side. Like that girlfriend of yours. Where is she? Maybe we can invite her in.
Your business is with me, not her. What do you want?
Her father did some work for me. Work I paid for, but, sadly, never received.
How is this my problem or hers for that matter?
Lucky went and got himself arrested before he could deliver, he continues as if I haven t spoken. But I always get what I pay for. One way or another. Lucky s in town, did I mention?
Yeah, he left his calling card.
I m not surprised. Discretion is certainly not his forte. That man has got some pent-up rage, let me tell you. If you ask me, he should talk to someone about it. It s not healthy.
What do you want, Girard?
Antoine, please. He smiles, runs his tongue over his teeth. You stop interrupting and I ll tell you.
I gesture for him to go on.
Now, Lucky is itching to see that blue-haired little girl of his. He mentioned she has a sister. Do you remember her name, Clyde? he asks one of his soldiers who shakes his head. Me either. Some sort of bird I think it was. My hand fists around my mug. Well, that s neither here nor there and I stray off track. We re talking about the one who has all her mental faculties. What I wanted to say is it d be a shame for him to get his hands on her. Sweet thing, from what I remember. I bet she s looking fine now. All grown up.
Hoxton thought she was a sweet thing, too. Didn t bother him she was a kid.
Unfortunately, I cannot speak to the morals of those who work… he pauses dramatically. Who worked , for me. But I will help that little girl because I don t like to see women brutalized.
How exactly will you help her?
I can make it so her father goes away. Forever. No skin off my nose. Wouldn t cost me an arm or a leg, he says, pointing his hand to the stump of his other arm and laughing a strange, cold laugh that turns my stomach. Forgive me. That was in poor taste. Although I m the butt of that joke, aren t I?
Jericho comes to sit down. What are you doing there, Girard? In Councilor Augustus s house? He did this to you. And from what I saw last night, you two haven t made up.
He shrugs a shoulder. Ever watch a cat with a mouse? Mean things, they are. One second, they re purring in your lap, sweet as can be, the next they ve got a tiny little mouse pinned by the tail and tormenting the creature. Playing with it before they finally kill it. It s not even for food much of the time. Did you know that?
I don t have a cat.
I have half a dozen. You should get one. For your little girl. Teaches them responsibility.
You have kids? I ask, knowing the answer. I am surprised to see the momentary downturn of his mouth.
No. There s a long pause and I get the feeling he has some regret. I truly am sorry for having scared your daughter. Like I said, I don t like to brutalize girls or women. Now my old friend, he starts, a smile he tries to play off casually turning ugly, his true face showing. His rage. He has no qualms about taking something beautiful and pure and crushing it. A flower in his hand would wilt. His lip curls and it takes him a long minute before he can continue. His power goes unchecked. Has for too long. You asked why I was here. I m here to right that wrong.
How will you do that? I ask.
By turning him in to The Tribunal, of course.
He is The Tribunal. And I m guessing you don t want to lose your other hand.
He looks down at the stump, closes his left hand around it. I still feel it, you know that? What a thing, phantom limb syndrome.
He looks up to meet my gaze and I study him, trying to understand him. I think, in some ways, I do. I think, to some extent, over the years he s gone a little mad.
He stands up, walks toward the desk and retrieves a business card from his pocket. He sets it down then goes to the door. One of his men opens it. I will guarantee the blue-haired girl s safety if you give me what I want.
I stand, too. Did you guarantee it when Hoxton had her strung up and whipped her? When he would have raped her had I not come?
Like I said, I can t speak to the morals of the men who worked for me.
I don t need you to keep her safe.
He walks to the door, pausing on his way to study a painting on the wall. You do need me, Ezekiel St. James. He faces me, that faux casual smile vanished from it, his true face on display. The coldness of it, the darkness in his eyes, it s something to see. I can be friend or foe. Your choice. Give me what I want, and I guarantee her safety. Don t, and, well, I guarantee the opposite.