Page 36 of Unexpected Redemption

I meet Shep’s gaze, my severe eyes questioning.

“That was Jonesy getting some of his frustrations out from all the jokes he’s endured since his ICU incident.”

“Nice.” I quash my jealousy over not witnessing it.

Or helping deliver the beating.

Several months ago, Jonesy was taken out of commission in the hospital when guarding a patient. Someone spiked his coffee with a lethal dose of fentanyl. Fortunately, a nurse saw him go down, and they saved him. Lenkov-related attack, naturally. I suppose that explains why Yuri knows about it.

At first, no one at Redleg teased Jonesy about the near-death experience. Over time, he’s become the butt of more than a few jokes.

Huh.

My eyes cut to Klein as I recall all the times they teased him about his name and music taste. And Shep over his infatuation with Kri.

And now I’m wondering why I always assumed I was the only one getting razzed. Is it possible I’m not as far on the outside as I always thought I was?

The click of the space bar recaptures my focus as Mia pauses the recording. “Just pointing out that what we just heard was Yuri’sfirstreference to knowing something, but it’s old news.” She restarts it.

The recording continues with the sound of Yuri’s ragged breathing as he tries to fight through the pain. “Yevdokim got too close to the uh... how you say?”

Shep’s groan sails through the speakers, and I hide my smile behind my cupped hand. He has less patience for Yuri’s bullshit than I do.

Yuri continues, finally finding the words. “Ah... yes. Too close to sun.”

After a two-second pause, Shep fumes, “Yev got too close to the sun? What the fuck are you talking about?”

“Shepherd,” Yuri drawls, condescension dripping from his tone. “You are smart man. Well-read man. Yes? Surely, you know this tale.”

“Icarus with the wax feathers, yeah. No shit. What’s that got to do with Yev abducting girls and working for Lenkov right under your fucking nose?”

Yuri’s response holds hints of agitation at Shep’s dismissal. “Not wax feathers, Shepherd. The waxholdsfeathers and threads together. Binds them. Can’t make feathers from wax.” His mocking laugh turns into a cough. The rattle from deep in his chest makes my stomach sour. “As legend say, King Minos believe Icarus and his father help enemy of crown escape from a great labyrinth. He imprisoned them for their crime. You remember this part?”

“It rings a bell,” Shep answers.

“The king is very important in tale. People forget him. But he was cause of much suffering. A horrid man.” There’s a weighted pause before he adds, “Much,muchmore to tale than Icarus’s wings. So much more. You should read it sometime. Very interesting.”

Jonesy speaks up for the first time. “The father built the wings for Icarus so he could escape from the imprisonment, right? His name was something with aD. Uh... Deadish, was it?” There’s a clicking sound. Snapping perhaps. Then he answers his own question, “Daedalus.”

“Is correct,” Yuri replies, a low rumble cushioning the words.

Reaching across to Mia’s keyboard, I tap the space bar to pause the recording. “Shep, I couldn’t tell by the sound of that. Was Yuri impressed?”

He rolls his eyes. “Yeah.”

Klein’s face lights up. “Look on the bright side, buddy. Maybe he’ll talk to Jonesy next time instead of you. Wouldn’t it be nice to sit a visit out?”

“Not likely, considering Jonesy broke his nose. Reset it. Then broke it again.”

Klein and I recoil, physically shirking away from the mental imagery.

Mia resumes the playback once more. “Listen up, guys. He’s about to ramble.”

As expected, Yuri continues spinning his yarn, making each point more theatrical than the last. “Daedalus was master craftsman who built inescapable labyrinth of Crete. They kept minotaur down there. Daedalus was excellent builder. Skilled inventor. And resourceful. You follow?” He pauses, the recording growing silent for a beat. “Because Daedalus and Icarus built labyrinth together, King Minos knew only they could have helped his enemy to escape.”

“Who was his enemy?” Shep asks.

“Some say he was King of Athens. Some say prince. Some say just a great warrior. Others say he half god and half man, like Hercules. His name was Theseus.”

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