Inner Workings

Inner Workings - Part 14

"Oh, yes," retorted Louis, looking up from his seat on his duffel bag. "Congratulations Will, someone surpassed you in the worst idea ever category."

Will kept his voice quiet, but tight with aversion. "They want the two of you inside? Now? After I nearly got blown apart by a bomb?"

"Apparently. And you weren't that close to the bomb, you whiner." Though it had been definitely too close for Louis' comfort.

"What the hell are they thinking?" said Will. "We don't have the gel, we don't have communicators so I can make sure you're alright—"

"And we don't have Rachel with her swizzle stick to get us out of you," snapped Louis. "Like I said, worst fuckin' idea ever."

"We need to do it."

Louis and Will looked slack-jawed at Massaru. The Indian doctor stood grim-faced.

"Sandra was sharp with numbers and had a lot of friends in bad places. She worked with Martin Zachs to fund Retten's experiments, so she knows I was the informant in Freewill. Once she starts something she rarely stops." He turned towards Will. "If the only way I can keep myself safe and catch her is to take a trip down your esophagus, then so be it."

Louis stood up. "It won't be easy. You weren't conscious the first time."

"And we don't even know what she wants with you," said Will.

"She wants to finish what Zachs started," said Massaru. "Get rid of me."

Will took a breath and nodded. "How do we want to do this?"

Louis unclenched his fists. Massaru made his decision while calm and composed. Louis wanted to punch something. He put his thoughts in order, mentally listing needed actions. Mission mode. On top of that list was not coffee.

Damn.

"First, we need to list our viable resources. Wallets out."

Between the three of them they had three hundred and some odd dollars, two credit cards not tied to the Watch, three guns, two boxes of bullets, a boot knife, three cell phones, Massaru's first aid kit, and, at Will's insistence, a ziplock back of non-dairy creamer.

"Okay. Wouldn't have minded some night vision goggles or a couple of walkie talkies, but we'll have to do."

"I was lucky to have brought the creamer."

"It still doesn't count as an incendiary." Louis put all the cash together in Will's wallet, which he expected back once their disaster was over. "According to Cetz, Sandra will be looking for any confirmation that Massaru is heading back to base. When she doesn't find any she'll know he's staying and will try to find him. All we need to do is stay in the area and look out for any sign of trouble until Watch can send someone after her. If we need to talk to Cetz or anyone else we use the number for the main Watch Switchboard and they'll patch us through to whoever we ask. That way Sandra can't track back the number through the Financial database for phone activity."

"We still need transportation," said Will. "I mean, I will need it. Could we rent another car as long as it's not on the same card as the first one?"

"No. If worse comes to worse you'd have to ditch it anyway. Take public transportation to get around the city; cabs, buses, or jack a car."

"I'm a bit rusty at jacking," admitted Will. "We should repack too. Put the important things in my suitcase; and then shrink yours and Massaru's luggage. That way I can carry all our stuff around in one bag."