Toys - A Novel Part 22

"Come on, honey. Who's more important-your wee child there, or some stranger who's actually a spy?"

A gray-haired woman-the oldest, and one who didn't seem the least bit afraid of him-stepped forward to face McGill.

"She's not covering for anybody-none of us are," the old bag said. "We didn't know who he was when he was here-and we haven't seen him since. I swear before G.o.d."

McGill raised his pistol and leveled it at the old shrew's beady eyes.

"Wrong answer, skunk," he said.

"How's this for the right answer?" a different voice said-someone behind him. "You're the only skunk here." the only skunk here."

Chapter 92 92.

AS MCGILL STARTED to spin around, a sharp sound-brak- rang out. Something smacked hard against his pistol, knocking it flying and making his hand sting furiously. rang out. Something smacked hard against his pistol, knocking it flying and making his hand sting furiously.

He stared at the woman now standing there with a gun in her hands.

A woman who was supposed to be dead. h.e.l.l, he had seen her burned to a crisp back at the Agency.

Except that she'd just shot the laser pistol out of his hand with one of the obsolete, bullet-shooting weapons that he'd sneered at an hour ago.

"You were blown to bits-incinerated with Jax Moore!" he yelled at her.

"Obviously not, you moron!" she yelled right back. "I'm right here-waiting for you. And obviously, these rusty old guns work pretty well," Lucy said coolly. "If you know how to shoot. If you've practiced every day since you were seven. If you really hate your target and turn all that venom into focus."

"So you weren't blown up?"

"I think we covered that part already."

McGill couldn't believe what he was seeing, but he really really couldn't believe what happened next. The blond girl tossed her pistol aside. couldn't believe what happened next. The blond girl tossed her pistol aside.

"But let's keep this fair," she said, as if that explained it.

His shock and rage exploded in a wild laugh. "Fair? Is that what you think is going to happen now? h.e.l.l, I'm going to rip your head apart and watch the very small brain fall out!" Is that what you think is going to happen now? h.e.l.l, I'm going to rip your head apart and watch the very small brain fall out!"

The blonde frowned thoughtfully and didn't seem afraid of him. "OK, that's a bet-my brain against yours."

"Smart-a.s.s b.i.t.c.h!" he yelled, lunging toward her. His ma.s.sive fist lashed out in a punch aimed to pulverize her face into b.l.o.o.d.y shreds and bone splinters.

But Lucy danced aside with professional boxing speed and agility. Then she rammed her own black-gloved fist into the pit of his belly. The strike was so hard he felt his gut crunch against his spine. Was that possible? Could she have hit him that hard?

McGill immediately doubled over, eyes bulging, and sucked for air like a beached fish on the riverbanks. He'd never been hit like that! What the h.e.l.l was going on? She was a woman, woman, not even half his size! Plus, he'd seen her blown to nothing with his own eyes. not even half his size! Plus, he'd seen her blown to nothing with his own eyes.

With great effort he wrenched his body upright and dove at her again, his huge hands outstretched to rip her apart. Again, she sidestepped him just when he was sure he had her nailed good.

As he stumbled past, he glimpsed her whirling in a reverse kick. Now what?

What was that her boot heel slammed into his ear, smas.h.i.+ng it and spinning him face-first into a stone wall. The impact hurt something fierce, and the wound was as much to his pride as to his hearing. was that her boot heel slammed into his ear, smas.h.i.+ng it and spinning him face-first into a stone wall. The impact hurt something fierce, and the wound was as much to his pride as to his hearing.

Snarling like the beast that he was, McGill fought harder. But this clever trickster of a woman was always just out of reach, stunning him with shots that hit like thrown bricks, one after the other.

As his body slowly broke down, an unbelievable reality struck him: for the first time in his life, he was facing someone faster and more powerful than he was. A woman! A human! A woman! A human! He couldn't believe it. She wouldn't die. He couldn't believe it. She wouldn't die. He couldn't even lay a finger on her. He couldn't even lay a finger on her.

One of her whipping kicks totally collapsed his left kneecap. With a howl of pain, he went all dizzy and crashed to the pavement. He was half-blinded by his own blood, but he could see her, looming above. She even had something to say.

"I don't feel bad about this," she whispered through clenched teeth. Then she broke McGill's neck. And then, Lucy really started to hurt the b.a.s.t.a.r.d.

Chapter 93 93.

I WALKED VERY quickly, then began to run through the mean streets of the human slums, making d.a.m.n sure d.a.m.n sure everyone saw me. There was no way I could find the human leaders in this vast, complex warren-I could only hope that they would find me. everyone saw me. There was no way I could find the human leaders in this vast, complex warren-I could only hope that they would find me.

And that they would accept my help before 7-4 started and all was lost.

My oversensitive hearing caught a pop pop off in the distance-a small, sharp explosion. Weird; it sounded like an old-fas.h.i.+oned gunshot to me. off in the distance-a small, sharp explosion. Weird; it sounded like an old-fas.h.i.+oned gunshot to me.

I calculated the shot to be 1.83 miles away-and the location clicked in my memory.

It was the warehouse where the girl Shanna lived with her ragged tribe-and where I'd helped deliver her baby, her very adorable baby, who I had promised to visit again.

Well, here I was.

I broke into a full-out sprint, racing through the crowds of startled slum dwellers, who cursed me instinctively but also shoved one another to get out of my way. They had to, since I was running at forty-plus miles an hour.

The narrow, murky alley that led to the warehouse was silent and seemed deserted at first look. There was no hint of where the gunshot might have come from.

But something something was lying on the broken pavement near the warehouse entrance, approximately fifty yards ahead. Most of the body was hidden by a building's corner-all I could see were the feet and toes, pointing up, still moving, quivering. was lying on the broken pavement near the warehouse entrance, approximately fifty yards ahead. Most of the body was hidden by a building's corner-all I could see were the feet and toes, pointing up, still moving, quivering.

I dropped to a tight combat crouch and edged forward through the shadows-tensed for any noise or movement, but especially a sudden attack.

With every step I took, a little more of the suspicious body came into view-legs, waist, a face.

Face? I haven't even gotten to the shoulders yet!

Face?

How is that- Finally, I stared in shock at what I saw. The body's head, torn from its neck, was actually sitting on top of the blood-soaked torso.

It held a most peculiar expression, like it was still trying to figure out what had gone so terribly wrong. But the real stunner came when I recognized who the big head belonged to.

Owen McGill.

Chapter 94 94.

I TOOK OFF again, running at half speed now, looking for anybody who might have witnessed the killing of my former partner, my former friend. The murder of an Elite agent was a serious, almost unprecedented crime punishable by slow death.

When I rounded the corner of the alley onto the next street, I spotted two women. They were a few blocks ahead, trying to hurry away. But they were slow, very slow. One was old-and the other was carrying a wee baby. I knew them.

"Shanna, Corliss," I called as I raced toward them. "I need to talk to you. It's Hays Baker. Remember me?"

I thought they'd welcome me, but I couldn't have been more wrong.

Shanna turned with a glare full of fear and fury. "I thought you were a friend!" she screamed. "You brought the cops."

I was stunned. Hadn't I helped deliver her child? "What are you talking about? That's crazy. Why would you say such a thing?"

"That agent was looking for you, you," Corliss said-calmer, but nearly as hostile. "He was going to kill us all. And there'll be more of them here now!" The two of them turned and hurried into nearby buildings.

"Leave us alone!" Corliss called back. "You're nothing but trouble. You'll get us killed."

I let them go, but pieces started clicking together in my mind. Not many people could have taken McGill down like that-only a few top Elite agents. But it was unthinkable that they'd ever turn on him. Most of them liked the c.o.c.ky lout-just as I once had.

So what enemy did he have who hated him that much? And who had the courage to fight him, the skill to beat him, the strength to rip him apart?

The question burned in my mind, but no answer came. I knew that even I couldn't have brought down McGill by myself.

Suddenly, I heard the low growl of a motorbike. It was coming in my direction, coming fast fast. I swung around to face whoever was roaring up behind me. This couldn't be good, had to be bad.

As the cycle streaked into sight, the rider hit the brakes and leaned into a long, controlled skid straight at me.

"Jesus, Lucy!"

She brought the bike to a sharp, precise stop, the front wheel nearly touching my boots. Her eyes were s.h.i.+ning, her hands were stained with what I a.s.sumed was Owen McGill's blood.

"Hays, you shouldn't be here" was her greeting.

Just this once, I shut her up. I kissed Lucy until she finally kissed me back.

Chapter 95 95.

"SO," I SAID as we finally parted lips. "You're a lover, not a fighter. And you sure have some explaining to do."

"One of two possibilities, Hays-you decide. Either a clone blew up at the Agency, or I'm a clone. Which is it? Quickly now."

I had to smile. "I just kissed the real Lucy. I'm sure of it."

"Good guess, but I'm a fighter fighter, Hays. And you shouldn't be here in the slums. Not unless you want to die for the cause. Which is what I plan to do. For real this time."

"Maybe I do," I told her. "What's going on with the resistance? What have you found out about 7-4?"

"You're the one married to Dr. Mengele," Lucy snapped. "What did you you find out?" find out?"

My ears perked up. The distant scream of police cars was stirring the night air, and reality came flooding back for both of us. The clock was on for the destruction of humankind, and we still didn't know what the Elites had planned. Neither of us did.

"I didn't find out anything useful, and I don't see how I can now-I'm on the run myself," I said. "Let's say-Lizbeth and I are separated separated. For good."

Lucy's eyes went soft, then suddenly fierce. "We have a last chance. Here's what we need you to do. Please, Hays. Don't fight me on this. You won't won't like it one bit." like it one bit."

In a few taut phrases, Lucy told me her plan. Her gaze never wavered. Neither did mine-although I was chilled to the core by what she was asking me to do.

"Ruthless, remember?" she said. "This is life or death-for an entire civilization."

"I know that. It's also betrayal-of the worst kind I could imagine," I said, and nodded grimly. "I'll do what you ask though."

"Good-bye, Hays," Lucy said. "I'm sorry I didn't meet you sooner." Then she kissed me again-not a clone kiss this time either. Finally, she jumped on her bike and sped away.

Chapter 96 96.

I WATCHED UNTIL Lucy disappeared, then I sprinted in the opposite direction, hopefully to stall the oncoming cops. I'd only have seconds to do it. As soon as they reported that I was here, they'd no doubt get orders to shoot me on sight.

Just then I spotted a couple of staggering Ghools.

They were so high on wyre they either didn't notice or didn't care about the police cars swarming into sight. I charged at the pair of punks and clamped a hand around each one's neck. Then I hoisted them high enough for the approaching cops to see.

The cars skidded to a halt and the troopers came streaming my way, guns out.

"Where the h.e.l.l have you been?" I yelled like I was still in charge. "What took you so long, you incompetents?"

The lead officer stammered out a few words. "We-we got here as fast as-"