Page 78 of Skinwalker's Bane
Noa closed her eyes. Then she opened them again. “What are your commitments for today, both of you?” she asked, with a business-like tone.
“I’ve got something to do,” Haydn said. “Magorian asked me to take care of it because his guards are all working on Bishan, trying to make him crack. Adam can help me.”
“It’s Adam’s off-rotation,” Noa said shortly. “He should be resting.”
“Even if he was in bed with the lights off, he wouldn’t sleep right now,” Haydn said flatly. “Look at him.” He glanced at Adam. “No offense.”
Adam shrugged. “He’s right,” he told Noa.
“Okay,” Noa said easily. “Before you leave, Haydn, you need to sort out Corin’s crew—”
“Already done,” Haydn assured her.
“Very well. Peter, you’re grounded. Go home and get some sleep.”
Peter nodded. Then he gripped Adam’s elbow. “Does what the Dreamhawks did kill Devin’s chances at the general election?”
“She’s running for Captain?” Noa asked sharply, interest in her voice.
Adam nodded. “She says there’s no time to find another official sponsor and besides, all the tankball teams have their candidates now.”
“It’s a matter of credits, then?” Peter asked.
“It’s a bit more complicated than that,” Adam admitted. “Without a big name behind her, like the Dreamhawks, people won’t take her seriously.”
Peter’s shoulders fell. “Then giving her my savings won’t do her any good. Pity. After what she did last night, she can have every credit I’ve never spent.”
Adam stared at him, casting about for something to say. “You’d do that?” he said at last.
“Why not?” Peter grinned. “Shelistenswhen you talk. Haven’t you ever noticed that? I think she’d make a great Captain.”
“Having an Institute behind her won’t help, Adam?” Noa asked.
“Hey, you can’t just offer up the Institute,” Haydn said quickly.
“What Haydn said,” Adam answered. “Besides, no captain has ever been elected that wasn’t supported by a tankball team. It sucks, but there it is.”
“Statistics don’t lie until they do,” Haydn said shortly. “We have to put a peg in this conversation for now. Time is ticking. We’ll came back to it. Adam, you’re with me.” He bent and kissed Noa briefly. “A few hours, then I’ll sleep. I promise.”
“If you don’t, I’ll come hunt you down myself,” Noa said, waving him away.
Haydn stepped over the railing that marked off the edges of the Institute and walked down the long length of it. Adam fell in beside him. “Thanks for dragging me along,” he said. “I really need the distraction right now.”
“That’s probably a guarantee, today,” Haydn said. “Magorian has no Bridge Guards to spare, so we’re going to be doing some sneaking around.”
Adam looked at him, his brow lifted.
“We have a rat to catch in the act,” Haydn said.
Chapter Twenty
Haydn used a portable terminal to check in with someone as they walked through the Wall district, heading for the Aventine. “Still there, Debney?” he asked.
“Waiting. He hasn’t moved yet. It’s getting late, so he will soon. You’d better hurry. I should have been back on the Bridge forty minutes ago.”
“Magorian will understand,” Haydn assured Debney. “We’ll be there in ten.” He put the terminal back in his pocket.
“Who’s the rat?” Adam asked.
