Sullivan Saga 2: Sullivan's Wrath by Michael K. Rose Page B

I need to take what I can get.”
    “Good.”
    “What’s the target?”
    “You don’t need to know. I’ll be there to tell you what to do.”
    “That’s not how I work.”
    “It is if you want the money.”
    Brooks tapped the card on the bench. “All right. What’s the plan?”
    “I need to get inside a facility. But the timing has to be perfect, because there’s a man I need to be there, too.”
    “So what do I do?”
    “You need to infiltrate the facility, incapacitate the guards then help me apprehend the man when I lead him in.”
    “How well-guarded is this facility?”
    “I’m not sure. It’s a warehouse. They keep a man on the roof, and there are cameras everywhere.”
    “A warehouse? In the industrial sector?”
    “Yes.”
    “If you give me the block, I can arrange to have the power cut when we need to go in.”
    Allen pulled up a map of the city on his tablet. “This block.”
    Brooks nodded. “What else?”
    “That’s it. Cut the power, incapacitate the guards—I’d prefer it if you don’t kill them—and help me apprehend the man I’ll be leading into the warehouse.”
    “And how are you going to get this man to follow you in?”
    “He’s looking for me. He’ll follow.”
    Brooks grunted. “When?”
    “I don’t know yet. I’ll be in touch.” Allen stood up from the bench. “Arrange to cut the power, but don’t do it until I say so. You can be ready to go at a moment’s notice?”
    “Sure. Unless a better job comes along.”
    Allen nodded. “If it does, I need you to let me know as soon as possible.”
    As he walked away from Brooks, Allen again began to feel doubts. Of course, he’d give Brooks very careful instructions that Sullivan was not to be killed, but planning an ambush felt wrong. Sullivan was his best friend, after all. Hadn’t they been through too much together for a low act like this?
    Once again, Liz’s voice filled his mind. “So it’s all set, Frank?”
    “Yes. Brooks will be on call for when we need him.”
    “Good. I know you have doubts.”
    Allen stopped walking.
    “Frank, listen to me. This is more important than you realize.”
    “You keep saying that, but are you going to tell me why we need Sullivan? First you told me to get the ship so I could go into hyper-hyperspace and cross over to be with you. Now you say Sullivan needs to be on the ship. Tell me why, Liz.”
    “Not yet.”
    Allen clenched his fists and looked around him. He wanted to hit something, but he stood in the middle of a path running through the park. The nearest object was a cement trash bin. He took a few deep breaths. “Liz, it feels wrong to betray Rick like this.”
    “I know. But it must be done. Even he will see the need for it once it is revealed.”
    “Will there be any danger in it for him?”
    “There’s always danger, Frank.”
    Allen resumed walking.
    “Remember,” said Liz, “how it felt to touch me when you were in hyperspace, when you were on your way here?”
    Allen took another deep breath.
    “Remember how it felt to touch my skin, taste my lips? My warm breath on your body? My tongue? Do you remember, Frank?”
    Allen swallowed. “I remember, Liz.”
    “Just be patient. Do what needs to be done, and you can have that—you can have me—for eternity.”
    Allen nodded. He approached a group of men sitting on a bench. They recoiled slightly as he passed; they must have been watching him talk to himself. Allen quickened his pace, making his way out of the park.
     

14
     
    SULLIVAN WAS CAREFUL as he walked back to the hotel. The sun had set, and if the gangs were active in the daytime, it would only be worse at night.
    The people of Agrona seemed to know the danger: the streets were nearly deserted. Sullivan kept his head down and didn’t make eye contact with any of the few pedestrians he did encounter.
    It felt strange to be back in Agrona. He’d grown up here, and the last time he’d been in the city there had been a war. He certainly