Grip (The Slip Trilogy Book 2) by David Estes Page B

fact, protecting a Slip—a Slip who turned out to be his own son. Mayor Strombaugh made the official appointment at a press conference in Saint Louis today, stating that “Corrigan Mars was the easiest appointment I’ve made in my career” and “I have the utmost confidence in the man who has shown his dedication to protecting our great city and country for almost two decades.”
     
    Corrigan Mars gave a brief speech after his appointment, promising that his first order of business would be to “bring the Saint Louis Slip, Benson Kelly, to justice.” When asked about the unconfirmed Slip sanctuary known simply as Refuge, Mars said, “If there is such a place, we will find it and destroy it.”
     
    Population Control pundits were abuzz with predictions as to how long it would take the new Pop Con chief to catch the Saint Louis Slip, with guesses ranging from a couple of days to several years.
     
    Have a comment on this article? Speak them into your holo-screen now. NOTE: All comments are subject to government screening. Those comments deemed to be inappropriate or treasonous in nature will be removed immediately and appropriate punishment issued.
     
    Comments:
    JasonWhat?: Kick some ass and take some names, Mars! We’re all rooting for you!
     
    AuthorizeMyChild: Comment removed and disciplinary action taken.
     
    CorriganMars: I want to thank Mayor Strombaugh, the city of Saint Louis, and all the citizens of RUSA for putting your faith in me. I won’t let you down.

Chapter Eight
     
    T he Destroyer had expected to be standing next to Corrigan Mars as he gave his speech. He’d expected to be officially recognized as his second-in-command. He’d expected to be asked questions, to have the spotlight shined on him.
    Instead, he was squirreled away in the hidden underground facility that created him, asked to rest his body and relax his mind and to prepare for his first mission.
    He didn’t rest his body.
    He didn’t relax his mind.
    He used his body to methodically smash a ring of holes in each of the four walls.
    He used his mind to curse Benson Kelly and his girlfriend for making him look like a fool and causing Corrigan Mars to lose faith in him.
    Because obviously that’s what happened. It’s the only explanation for Mars not including him in today’s announcement. He watched it all on the giant holo-screen. Saw himself standing beside Mars in spirit, invisible to the rest of the world.
    When it was over he punched a hole in the holo-screen so big he could almost have crawled into it.
    And then he sat in a corner and fumed.
    In fact, he’s still fuming, even when the door opens and Mars walks in, a triumphant smile on his face. A smile that disappears the moment he sees Domino Destovan bent in the corner. The Destroyer watches as his boss’s eyes roam the walls, taking in first the crumbling walls and then the destroyed holo-screen.
    “You’ve been busy,” he says.
    The Destroyer says nothing.
    Corrigan Mars crosses the room and stands before him. “Better now?”
    “Not really,” the Destroyer says. “You’re ashamed of me.”
    “I’m not,” Mars says.
    “Then why?” Why was I destroying this room while you were mugging for the cameras and shaking the mayor’s hand? is what he means by the question.
    Mars’s bland expression gives nothing away. “You didn’t want to be there,” he says.
    Dom stares at him. Blinks. “Yes I did.”
    “You think you did,” Mars says. “But trust me, you didn’t. Being the face of Pop Con is my job. It’s not a fun one. I have to be…political. Or dishonest, which is basically the same thing. I can’t say the things I really want to say. I can’t be the man I really want to be. I always have to be thinking about what the people want me to be. We don’t need two people wasting time on that stuff. So I’ll handle that part of our job. I want you to handle the important parts. The real parts. The mission to catch the Slip. After all, you’re my