The Kill Society (Sandman Slim)(43)

I cock the Colt.

“Actually, I had a bigger body count than that in mind.”

He picks up his wine and takes a sip. Clears his throat.

“Let’s play another game,” he says.

I shoot the glass out of his hand. Someone tries to open the door, but it’s locked. They pound on it. From outside we hear, “Magistrate. Are you all right?”

It’s Wanuri.

“I’m fine. We are all fine,” he says. “Please wait outside while we conclude our business.”

He looks back at me.

“One more game,” he says. “Obviously, you can kill both of us, but where will that leave you?”

“It leaves me alive and driving this heap out of here.”

“And leave the father behind? I doubt that. Besides, unfortunately one of the battery cables has come loose. I doubt you could start the engine.”

Yeah. He has this scene figured probably more ways than I can count.

“Then I’ll just have to be satisfied with killing you and as many of the others as I can.”

“Or you can play the truth game with me one more time. Do it and I will guarantee your safety no matter what happens afterward.”

“How are you going to do that?”

He twines his fingers together.

“You’ll have to play to find out.”

I press the Colt into Daja’s ear.

“What do you think, boss? Kill everyone and die or take a chance on Zardoz over there?”

“You can’t do this. We’re on a holy crusade. God won’t let you,” she says.

She looks at the Magistrate.

“Will he?”

He ignores her.

“I will go first, Mr. Pitts. What you do after is your affair.”

I try to figure the angles, but I know he figured them before I walked in the room. I’m stuck, and I really don’t relish the look on Mason’s face when I pop into Tartarus.

I nod once. “Talk.”

“Here is my secret: Mimir said nothing about you to me. You were right the first time. She told me to pass the town by. I chose to ignore her and, sadly, we have all paid for my arrogance.”

“Here’s my secret,” I say. “I don’t believe you. You’re a student of psychology. I know we’re playing a game, but it’s not the one you said it is. What’s the real game we’re playing?”

He lays his hands flat on the table.

“You’re right. There is no secret game, that night in the desert or here now.”

“Then what’s going on?”

“You think I can read minds, don’t you? Or the idea has occurred to you. But you are wrong. Do you know how I know what people are thinking?”

My adrenaline is cutting through the laudanum and my side is burning. Plus, I had a little too much Aqua Regia. I say the first thing that comes into my head.

“It isn’t heartbeats. And souls mostly breathe out of habit. That means it’s got to be eyes. Micro-expressions.”

“Yes,” he says, and slaps the table. “I knew you knew the answer. And do you know how I knew?”

“Because I can do it, too.”

“Exactly. But you feel weak here, and lost. Why is that?”

Fuck. This guy knows everything. There’s no point lying.

“It’s harder to read the dead. Without real bodies, the signals aren’t there.”

“Yes they are,” he says. “You just have to recognize them. You have the talent. I can teach you the rest.”

“Two minutes ago, you were taking about killing me. Why should I trust you now?”

“Because I know how you really saved me, and I have kept your secret. And I will continue to do so. On this, you have my word.”

“What is going on?” says Daja. “Is he an enemy or not?”

“Which is it, Mr. Pitts? I cannot answer Daja’s question. You will have to.”

I think for a minute. Daja moves. I tighten my grip. Look at the Magistrate.

“Prove you know about me and that you’ve kept your mouth shut about it.”

“Of course,” he says. “Sub Rosa.”

The prick knows I can do hoodoo. He’s probably known all along.

“That thing earlier about Mimir telling you not to trust me. You wanted to see if I’d deny it.”

“Yes.”

“But if I denied it, I would be telling the truth.”

“Yes.”

“Then what would it tell you?”

“Enough.”

“That doesn’t even make sense.”

“Not to you, but to me, and that is sufficient for my purposes.”

I let the hammer down on the Colt, but I keep hold of Daja.

“Why would you keep my secret?”

“What’s Sub Rosa?” says Daja.

“Nothing you need to concern yourself with right now, my dear,” he says. “And please do not repeat the phrase to anybody outside this room.”

I’ve lost a lot of blood, enough that I’m not sure if I’m more relaxed with the situation or my blood pressure is dropping. Either way I say, “Even though you knew about me, you still weren’t sure about me. With all your tricks for reading the dead, you still weren’t sure.”