Toys

Chapter 83

The next morning-a whole lot worse for the wear and tear-I walked rather purposefully into Agency Headquarters for my “welcome back” meeting with Jax Moore. My step was springy, and I greeted my old coworkers cheerfully-fighting the urge to start shooting each and every one of them on sight. These heartless bastards were part of the brain trust behind a genocide plan. And so was my wife.

“It hasn’t been the same around here without you,” Moore said, welcoming me into his office with his usual ruggedly handsome smile and a handshake firm enough to break bones. I shook off the impulse to break all the bones in his face.

“I think we can get back on track pretty quick, boss,” I said crisply, lying through my teeth.

“Coffee, Agent Baker?” asked the familiar mechanized voice of the office’s built-in catering unit.

“The usual, thanks,” I said, since I was being careful to make sure that “the usual” was exactly the impression I made.

Within seconds, a robotic arm handed me a cup of delicious espresso, strong and bitter. At least this stuff wasn’t washed out like the no-calorie food served everywhere else in New Lake City.

Moore waved me to a leather easy chair and sat behind his all-glass desk. He lit up a stogie, and I kept imagining it blowing up in his face. Seriously blowing up.

“I’ve got a top-priority assignment,” he said. “I wanted to give you a little time to rest, but it can’t wait any longer. Hays, we need you. President Jacklin has asked for you personally. Are you feeling up to a little action?”

“One hundred percent,” I said.

“Good-you’re going to love this.” He touched a control, and a monitor screen blinked on.

It displayed a life-size image of Lucy’s face. I did, in fact, love it.

“Recognize her?” Moore said.

“She’s one of the terrorists-the ones who attacked Lizbeth and me when we were leaving the president’s party,” I said grimly, as if my hatred of her was still fresh in my mind. But my guts twisted as I guessed what was coming next.

“She goes by the code name Lucy, or sometimes Megwin. How folksy those humans are,” Moore said. “She’s very good at eluding surveillance, but now we’ve got her located and we’re ready to move on this worthless skunk bitch.”

I was seething with anger, but I had to say yes to my boss. Backing out would look suspicious, and besides, I’d rather go after Lucy myself than let someone like McGill get the assignment to kill her.

“You’re right I’d love it,” I said. “I want to take that one out myself.”

Moore smiled and relaxed back in his chair. “Hays, you’re sure you’ve never seen her, except that one time with Lizbeth?”

“Of course I’m sure,” I said, looking surprised at the question. “I’ll never forget that one.”

“Lizbeth said you were still confused from the anesthesia. If I’m going to put you out there, I want to be damned positive you’re at one hundred percent.”

“That was just one small glitch-right as I was waking up. There’s been nothing else since then. In fact, I feel perfectly rested and ready to go.”

“All right, but don’t get overconfident,” Moore warned. “She and her people have killed a lot of Elites, including those executives at the Baronville Toyz store.” A cruel look came into his eyes. “Hays, we want to take her alive. Her interrogation will be most entertaining. This Lucy/Megwin bitch has a lot of secrets we need to know.”