The Black Coats(14)
Their answers were varied: Mirabelle went first with a nasty grin, trying to conceal the embarrassment flushing across her cheeks. “I tackled him and dragged him in behind me.”
Casey barely looked up. “I punched him between the legs and then tripped him forward.”
Louise: “We fought hard, but eventually I was able to reach the handle.”
Thea added her own voice to the mix. “I basically ran through him.”
Nixon watched them each silently, perched on the back of a chair like some sort of glamorous gargoyle. “I’m glad you are all so proud of yourselves. However, the shortest time among the four of you was six minutes. Six long minutes to pass through a door guarded by a single unarmed male who was of smaller physical stature than some of you.” She nodded at Bea, who was staring at the floor and anxiously kneading her hands together. “Bea passed through the door in one hundred and sixty-two seconds, without anyone ever laying a finger on her.”
The others sat back in surprise, except Mirabelle, who glanced skeptically in Bea’s direction. Nixon tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Your team was carefully selected, with thought given to every weakness and strength. Right now you are utterly useless, but you won’t remain that way. Any in-team issues will be stopped short with immediate expulsion of all parties, is that understood?” Her eyes flitted to Mirabelle.
“Yes, ma’am,” replied Team Banner.
Their introduction continued. “I’m your president. There are two other teams of Black Coats: Team Emperor and Team Swallowtail. They are led by Presidents Kennedy and McKinley, respectively. You will have very little interaction with these other teams.” Nixon began passing out pieces of paper. “We are a new team, and you can expect there to be some animosity at that decision. As for all the papers, please know that we don’t use computers inside the Black Coats. Everything is handwritten or typed and then burned. Computers and the internet make it easy to leave a trail.”
Nixon opened a simple manila folder and slid a piece of pretty cream paper across Thea’s desk. “Here is a sample Balancing sheet. Your team will receive one of these when a Balancing is ordered by the luminaries. It can be once a month or three times a week, depending on the need. Thea, can you read for us?”
Thea’s voice caught in her throat as she read.
TEAM BANNER, CODE MORNING
TARGET NAME: John Doe
DATE OF BALANCING: June 24, 9:00 p.m.
OFFENSE: John Doe has been found guilty of constant sexual harassment of his female employees at White Dog Coffee Shop. Charges were pressed, but John Doe was let go on a technicality.
BALANCING: Threatening, blackmail, intimidation.
Thea’s heart pumped with exhilaration.
Nixon paced as she continued her lecture. “These sheets are printed specifically to help you understand the delicate system of Balancings. The punishment must fit the crime, and we must fill the void where law enforcement has failed. Thus: threatening, blackmail, and intimidation as listed.”
Louise’s hand popped up.
“Yes?”
Louise lowered her eyes in submission to Nixon. “Do you ever have women targets, ma’am?”
Nixon stopped moving and turned to face the girls. “Occasionally, we will have a woman target. There are, unfortunately, women who hurt women out there and they are owed justice just like any man. It’s rare, but it has happened. Men commit eighty percent of violent offenses in this country. The odds are in your favor that it won’t be a situation you will have to face. Does that answer your question?”
“Yes, ma’am,” exclaimed Louise.
“As you can see, the levels are represented by escalating times of the day.” Nixon resumed her pacing at the front of the room. “A Code Morning means no violence will be used. It represents a nonviolent offense—online bullying, sexual harassment, stalking, and blackmail. We will not lay a hand on our targets. We may have to touch them for one reason or another, but we do not harm them. Their solutions are simple, yet enough to ruin a life and change the behavior. It’s best to think of them as old-fashioned public shaming. Though violence is never used on this level, threatening it might be. The vast majority of your Balancings will be Code Mornings.”
At the word violence, Thea felt a shiver pass down her spine as a tendril of doubt whispered in her mind. Am I honestly ready to hurt people? Then she remembered the photographs in the domed room, and Natalie’s picture clipped to the easel. Hell yes, she could be ready.
Nixon stopped walking. “And then we have Code Evenings. A Code Evening is where violence will be repaid with violence, along with some of the punishments listed for the lighter transgressions. This is for cases of domestic violence, sexual assault, rape, and murder. I will be with you for your first Code Evening, and you won’t be sent on one until I feel you are ready. This is obviously a more complex Balancing, and it takes experience to know how much violence is enough.” Nixon paused, rocking on her heels. “This is why over the course of your training I will be picking a team leader. One of the most important jobs of the team leader is to know when to say enough.” The girl with the dark eye makeup slowly raised her hand. “Yes, Casey?” said Nixon.
Casey held Nixon’s gaze steady. “What about murderers? How do they get what they deserve?”
Nixon’s eyes went cold. “The Black Coats are interested in justice. We will repay these men for what they have done and, most important, make them so afraid of us that they will never do it again. We ruin their lives, but the Black Coats do not kill. You are not assassins, and murder is far too messy for this organization.” Thea turned this over in her mind, thinking about the implications for Natalie’s murderer. Nixon continued. “A Code Evening can never turn into hiding a dead body. Never. Are there any questions?” Stunned into terrified silence, Team Banner sat quietly, no girl daring to raise her hand.