BACKTRACKER by Milo Fowler (e book reader txt) 📕

Next, to the mandroid at the top of the stairs guarding the VIPsection, "The monk and the man with him who just passed you—escort them tomy private quarters. I will meet you there."

"Yes, Mr. Lennox."

"What are you doing?" the boy asked, his voice tight.

Lennox glanced over his shoulder and saw the giant sentinel takethe steps down two at a time in pursuit of the pair.

"Follow me." He took a moment to straighten the lapelsof his tuxedo, then made his way toward the stairs at a leisurely pace. Hedidn't need to look back to know the boy would tag along.

"Where are we going?"

We again. A good sign. I haven't scared him off yet."You're going to have to trust me, Harry. I think you'll like the way thisturns out." I'm certain I will.

"We're going after them?"

"Yes."

"But what about the other one? There were two guys inwhite."

Kuan Ti and Yeng Zhu would both be taken care of, either here orat The Pit. As would this stranger with Yeng. Lennox would find out how muchthey knew about Cyrus Horton's death, what exactly they had seen. He wouldweigh their value, determine what they had to offer. Then they would bedisposed of. The boy as well. And things would go back to the way they shouldhave been, before this rotten excuse for a night started. None would be thewiser.

"The only men we need to concern ourselves with are rightthere." He pointed toward the main floor as they reached the stairs.Already, the mandroid was nearly upon the monk and his escort as they weavedthrough the throng of tuxedos and dresses. "That other monk won't be anytrouble for us tonight."

"How do you know?"

Lennox paused to grace the boy with a smile he used to put othersat ease and affirm his control of the situation. "Trust me."

But his smile faltered when all the lights went out.

Screams of alarm filled The Pearl from top to bottom, due in partto the curtain of black that had fallen over everyone's senses, but also due tothe source of it all: a poorly dressed man on the main floor firing a handgun,hitting one of the mandroids dead-center at close range with multiple pulserounds. The robot froze in its tracks and shook violently, unable to continueits pursuit as a sizzling electrical current splashed across its frame injagged veins of white.

Muldoon gripped the gun in one hand and clamped down on Yeng'sforearm with the other, yanking him forward into the dark. "Thisway."

"I cannot see a thing!" the monk protested.

"That's the idea."

Bodies thrashed against them in a wild, blind panic, but he heldfast to the scrawny arm in his grip. A mass exodus surged toward the mainentrance, but for some reason the doors there were closing, shutting out thelight from the street beyond.

They're locking us in.

Good thing Muldoon knew another way out.

He tugged Yeng against the tide, shoving his way through at anangle off to the right. Toward the hallway that would take them to a wet alleyoutside.

"Where are we going?" Yeng stumbled.

"Shut up and keep walking."

"Do you know what you are doing? This is Gavin Lennoxyou are dealing with here. He will not let you escape!"

He owns this town. That was the subtext.

Muldoon gave the arm a vicious tug. The monk nearly cried out. "Rightnow I'm dealing with you."

Collisions with the floundering bodies decreased exponentially asthey forged ahead. Eventually, they were alone. Muldoon picked up the pace,dragging the monk along the vacant hallway. The alley door had been unlockedbefore. How long ago was that? He couldn't be sure, and in that momentof uncertainty, nausea swam through his bowels with the realization he'd losttrack of time, yet again.

"We are going the wrong way, if it is the boy youwant—"

Muldoon cursed him. Yeng took the cue to remain silent untilnotified otherwise.

Behind them, farther away with every moment and meter that passed,the band had long-since quit playing, and in its place there arose a roar ofdissonant voices shouting to be released from The Pearl. No doubt the mandroidshad their mechanical hands full with crowd control. Muldoon hoped there wouldbe no automations to spare, that the alley outside would be as empty as heremembered it. He gripped his gun and held it ready, just in case any of thesentinels with their glowing eyes had seen him and the monk head this waythrough the dark.

Reaching the alley door, Muldoon searched for a sensor plate onthe wall beside it, groping with his gun hand and coming up short. He cursed,his heart thumping with adrenaline-laced anxiety.

"Perhaps it would be better if you had the use of your otherhand." Yeng twisted his forearm in Muldoon's grip.

"Don't even think about calling for help."

"It had not crossed my mind. By now, Mr. Lennox must knowthat my brother and I are here with ulterior motives. I doubt I would be ingood standing with him at present."

"I really don't care." Muldoon crouched to feel alongthe doorframe for any kind of release that would slide the door aside. "Hecan kill you, as far as I'm concerned—after you tell me what you've donewith the kid."

"I have already explained to you, Mr. Muldoon, that I cannot.It has been my sworn duty for many years to keep him from you."

That again. "Because of some promise you made to mywife?"

"Correct."

Muldoon cursed, his throat constricting. "Doesn't make anydifference that she's dead, does it?"

Even worse: that she was never born.

Muldoon's knuckles bumped against a handle along the dark frame.The door gave way with a metallic creak, sliding to the side half a meter. Heshoved it the rest of the way with his elbow and braced it open. The downpourfrom outside splashed in, pelting the brim of his hat as he leaned out anddarted a glance in each direction.

The busy main street hummed with light and life and noise at oneend of the alley. A dark side street beyond the dumpster sat in silence at theother end.

Without a word to the monk, he dragged Yeng into the rain,slipping awkwardly behind him as bare feet made contact with slick pavement.Together, they headed straight for the