Subject Seven

Chapter Twenty-four
Gene Rothstein

A limousine wasn’t exactly what Gene had been expecting. Then again, he hadn’t been prepared for any of this.

His parents had tried calling him a dozen times already, so many times, in fact, that he’d turned the phone off.

The other four people with him climbed in first, and despite himself he admired both of the girls as they entered. Tina, the shorter of the two, reminded him of his cousin Kelly: short and fierce and full of attitude, what his mom always called “full of piss and vinegar.” She was skinny, but he didn’t think she was the sort to starve herself on purpose. Kyrie was a different story. Muscular form, blonde hair-probably a drugstore dye-and a shapely body. She was also scared as a rabbit. He didn’t know what had happened to her, but she had the wide eyes of someone who’d recently been in a car wreck, and her posture said she was being defensive.

Hunter was quiet, and every move he made was careful and deliberate. Gene had no idea what was going through his head. Every expression, every move was thought out first. He was repressing his anger.

Cody? Cody was a geek, pure and simple. He looked at everything at once and at the same time he stared at the girls like he’d never seen one up close before. He was nervous and excited and trying his best to look as detached as Hunter. He might as well have had victim tattooed across his forehead. If asked to make a bet, Gene would pick Cody as the most likely to avoid climbing into the limo.

Still, he waited until everyone else was situated before he nodded to the chauffer and climbed inside the rental. It was definitely a rental. He knew the difference.

The driver climbed back in and started on the way, apparently with a destination already in mind. Gene leaned past Cody and Tina-who were sitting facing the back of the limo and as far apart from each other as possible-and called out to the driver, “Any idea where we’re going?”

Was it possible for a man to look less interested in the people he was hired to drive around? Gene doubted it. “Address I have is 357 Harper Street.”

“Know what’s there?”

The driver frowned as he thought. “Warehouses.”

“Swell.” Gene leaned back in his seat and stared at the small refrigerator. He looked at Hunter. “You think Joe Bronx is paying for all of this?”

Hunter nodded. “Probably.”

Gene opened the refrigerator and studied the contents. After a few seconds he pulled out a Coors beer and opened the tab. “Good. He can pay for this too.”

Hunter, Cody and Kyrie all stared at him like he’d grown a second nose. Tina leaned forward until she was almost rubbing against Gene and pulled out a second beer. “Sweet.”

The two of them looked at each other and lifted their beers in salute before tasting them. It was the first time Gene had ever tasted beer, and as far as he was concerned, it tasted like horse piss. Still, he wanted something to calm his nerves. Tina knocked her beer back like an old pro, downing the can in four fast gulps and then suppressing a volatile burp.

Cody stared at her with an expression of awe mixed with desire.

That boy has probably never met a girl that didn’t terrify him. He knew the thought was true, just as surely as he could have told any one of them that Kyrie had broken a few hearts without ever trying and that Hunter was close to the breaking point. Gene could read people. He’d always been good at it. By the time they’d gone four blocks from the hotel, he felt comfortable enough that he relaxed a little. The people with him were just as uncertain as he was, just as puzzled by everything happening. That was enough for him, for now.

Hunter spoke up as they crossed through an area of heavy construction. “Listen, I don’t know much of what’s going on here, but I’ve been dealing with this Joe Bronx asshole for a while now. It took me a few minutes, but I recognize all of your names. I just had to figure out where from. He had me doing research on you. All of you.”

“Come again?” That was Kyrie. She didn’t look at all happy about that idea.

“He had me looking into you, all of you and maybe a dozen more people. I checked on the Internet, did searches and stuff. Nothing huge, but I remember looking into you.” He nodded toward Cody. “Only child, honor student, fifteen years old.” He pointed his chin at Tina. “Only child, dad died ten years ago, mom unemployed, and most decidedly not an honor student.” He made no apology but merely moved on. His eyes locked with Gene’s. “Little brother, little sister, dad is in medicine. Mom’s a lawyer. Lots of money.” Lastly he looked toward Kyrie. “Three brothers and sisters, been in a couple of gymnastics and cheerleading competitions. Your team came in third in the west coast regionals.” Kyrie stared hard at him, but really, no harder than the rest of the group.

Cody shook his head. “Why are you telling us all of this?”

Hunter’s face tensed into an ugly expression. “Because I want you to know what it’s like. This guy you call Joe Bronx? He’s a dick. He’s made me do all sorts of stuff and promised me some answers. You shouldn’t trust him.”

Kyrie sneered at him, her pretty face made ugly by the expression. “What makes you think there’s a choice?”

“Maybe there isn’t.” Hunter stared at her but looked away before she did. “Maybe I just want you to be prepared.”

“Whatever. I think we’re almost there.” As she spoke, the limo slowed down and came to a stop. Gene looked past her to the building they were parked in front of. Two stories tall, it was a warehouse and not in very good shape. The walls were intact, but graffiti, gang slogans and obscene pictures covered the outside of the building. That was the case with most of the structures in the area.

The driver climbed out and opened the back door facing the building, waiting patiently for all of them to climb out. Gene sat where he was until all of the others had left the limo, with one thought going through his mind the entire time. He’s going to leave us here. The man is going to drop us off and go away and we’re going to be stuck here with whatever people live in old abandoned buildings. I should have stayed at home.

But despite his fear that they’d be left behind, Gene was glad they were there. He wanted answers. He needed to know who his real parents were and why he woke up in Brooklyn instead of his bed and And what happened to Uncle Robbie while you were dreaming about him, Gene? Do you want to know, really?

He shook the thought aside and slid across the plush leather seat until he could finally crawl from the vehicle.

While all of them were looking at the building, the chauffer climbed back into his ride and drove away.

None of them chased after it.

Whatever Joe Bronx was up to, he was the only one with any answers. That made this his show, whether or not anyone liked it.

Hunter could have told them that it always had been.