Page 13 of Gates of Tartarus

“I’m sorry,” I say regretfully. “I really tried my best, but I couldn’t get anything.”

“I told you it was a fucking hoax,” one of the men behind her mumbles, and Walker bristles, like a dog about to attack. I reach back and grab his hand tightly, and the movement surprises him enough that he stays still.

“I’m sorry,” I say again, using Walker to help me surreptitiously to my feet. Chantalle is still watching Marco carefully, who now opens his eyes and levels a long, strange look at me. She slowly pushes themoney back across the table at me, but I shake my head.

“No thank you. I couldn’t... the wires are short circuiting maybe. So I can’t in good conscience accept that…”

Raising a disbelieving brow, she turns to Marco. “How are you feeling, Marco?”

Eyes still locked on me, he says, “The same. It’s bull.”

Chantalle huffs in exasperation. “Well, shit. It was worth a try.” Standing up, she stretches like a cat, and the collective inhale from the men around me makes her purr in satisfaction. Walking around the table, she gives me a small, awkward hug and laughs as I stand stone still, clearly uncomfortable, then moves on and fuckingwrapsherself around Walker.

“You’re both welcome back anytime. There are special rates for government employees,” she twinkles at Walker, eyes shining like a damn anime character.

He gently unwraps her and responds, “Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Oooo. He’s a grumpy one. I specialize in turning that frown upside down…” she offers and laughs at the expression on his face.

Walker and I make our escape and head to the car, after thanking them again. He starts the car but sits in silence for a moment before turning to me.

“You do something to help that kid?” he asks.

“I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I respond haughtily.

“Reed,” he snaps, clearly frustrated. “What’d you do to that kid?”

I shrug, not responding. He smooths his voice out, trying a different tack. “Why didn’t you take the money? 4k’s a lot of cash, and it was in the clear since it wasn’t tied to a case.”

I look at him, face incredulous, trying not to show how much he had hurt me. “You think I’d profit off people’s pain?” I ask slowly, trying to understand. “You think I’d use my... whatever… to benefit from other people’s pain?”

Walker sighs a little sadly. “I didn’t mean… Doctors do it… Why is this different?” He rubs his hand roughly over his head, frowning. When he next speaks, his voice is surprisingly hesitant. “I don’t want us to be like this anymore. Can we just… can we start ov–”

I fumble for a response when a knock at the window startles us. Walker has his gun out and pointed before I can blink. To Marco’s credit, he stands steady by the passenger-side window, not flinching, and Walker slowly lowers his gun.

I open the window cautiously, and Marco leans down, completely ignoring Walker, focusing entirely on me. “It was an older woman. Properly older. Shorter than you, on the roundish side. Guy was maybe six feet – that area. I couldn’t see features. The woman said CDS. Not CVS. And ‘Just take it back for testing’.”

I raise a brow and suck in a little air between my teeth, about to speak when Walker barrels through. “And you’re remembering this now? Why would you hide something that you’re not connected with?” His voice is heavy with suspicion, and Marco smirks, a dark humor lining his face.

“I’m guessing we all have things we need to hide for one reason or another. Right, Ms. Reed?”

We exchange a long look that Walker fumbles to interpret but fails to. “Marco…” I begin softly, but he shakes his head and replies, “You think I can’t tell a difference, Ms. Reed?”

Walker steamrolls over the thinly stretched silence. “You’ll tell us if you suddenly ‘remember’ anything else?” he says sarcastically.

Marco shakes his head. “Naw, man. I’ll tellherif I remember anything else.” He presses a paper into my hands. “Call me if you need help or something.” Shrugging slightly, he rubs his hand on the back of his neck awkwardly. “I’ll help if I can. Keep an ear out for things or something, yeah? And if you’re down in the bad areas...,” here he draws himself up to his full height, suddenly looking more man than boy, and very serious, “... you call me, yeah? I’ll tail you if I can. You shouldn’t be down there alone. No charge.”

Feeling absurdly touched, I reach out a hand and lay it on Marco’s. “Thank you. I’ll keep that in mind.”

Walker growls under his breath beside me and bites out, “She has a partner who watches out for her, you know.”

A sudden grin splits Marco’s face with a flash of bright white, and he shakes his head dismissively, then looks back to me. “You call a real man who’ll keep his eyes on you, yeah? Not some barmaid. Call me, yeah?”

Waving, he backs up, then turns to enter the bar. Walker stares after him with a dark expression, and I laugh.

“Ooooo. Someone packed theirangryeyes.”

He shakes his head, jaw still clenched. “Kid’s a buck fifty. What’s he gonna do, slap someone? Christ. You pick up admirers all over the fucking place, Reed.”

---