Page 27 of Etched in Stone
“Of course. I’m glad we could do business together in a more civilized manner.”
The elevator hit the second floor, and Jesse walked straight up to the doors. Slick as you please, she pulled out her taser and put a few volts into the bastard. It was so satisfying to watch him jiggle, jump and slump, it was nearly as good as actually killing him.
“You. Do not throw me off a roof again. Ever. Are we clear?”
Pablo could only manage a moan. The door opened and Jesse pushed the button to the top floor.
She stepped out, quickly and the doors closed. No one stopped her as she exited the building and swiftly walked around the corner where Ray joined her.
“He bugged my apartment. That’s the only way he could know. He was ready for us. Knew everything.”
“Did you tase him? Is that what I heard?”
“I was going to stab him, but I didn’t have any scissors handy.”
“Jesse. He’s dangerous. And now you’ve wounded his pride.”
Jesse stopped dead on the sidewalk and turned to glare at Ray.
“He tried to kill me then backtracked it. Seriously. He’s lucky I didn’t kick him in the balls while he was down.” Jesse thought about that a second more and restarted her walk. “Why the hell didn’t I kick him in the balls!”
Ray just sighed.
“You got some magic gizmo that can check for bugs, because I’m pretty sure my entire apartment is infested.”
“I have something, yes. But it’s not magic. It’s technology.”
“Magic, technology, I don't care as long as it works.”
“It should. But until then, I'll take you up to the safe house. It should be more secure.”
He gave her little warning before he scooped her up and with a flap and a flying leap, quickly took her high into the sky. Jesse wasn't sure how Lois Lane did it, got used to having a boyfriend who could grab her off the street and take her high into the air.
He put her down on top of the building that he'd taken her to right after he'd rescued her that first time. The one with the locked door. Ray put her down and then placed his hand on the door. It clicked open and he waved for her to enter.
As they entered, it lit up. Lights were necessary because there were no windows, and as Jesse scouted the place, no doors either. Otherwise, the place was cleanly furnished in mostly the color scheme of black and white. There was a bedroom that harkened back to an earlier time with a cream bedspread and a slightly girly finish, but it was generic enough that it probably hadn't belonged to a girl for long. There was a second room, originally intended as a bedroom, but now was stocked to the gills with canned and dry goods, a veritable bunker of food stuffs for a siege.
“You've created your own secret annex. Does one of those bookcases hide a stairway down?”
“No. I walled it all off years ago. The stairs below too. Completely sealed off from both ends.
The only way to get into this apartment is through that door, and the only way to get through that door is to fly. It was a lot more secure before they developed helicopters and drones, but it is better than nothing. That door is also biometrically sealed. I can add you to the configuration.
“You aren't going to leave me up here, are you?”
“Just until I can sweep your apartment.”
“And if you die, I won't be able to escape. I'll be stuck up here like Rapunzel.”
“If I die, you have a cell phone. Call the police or fire department. I'm sure they'll be able to locate the staircase and dig you out in a day or two. I'll bring your canvas up. You can paint while you wait. Does that sound nice?”
How could he sound so caring and condescending at the same time? “Ray.”
“I'll be right back.”
And with that, he had run up to the patio and jumped over the side of the building.
It was late, and she was getting grumpy. Ray by default had probably been nocturnal, but she needed her sleep. At least there was a bed here. She hadn't spotted one at his apartment, and her little twin bed wasn't going to fit the two of them. The double in the room was going to be a tight squeeze, but she was sure that they could manage.
