Jack Thompson's Arc

Chapter 6 of 25

Jack sat across from 13 in the fort of shelves. The lamp light caught a small pin on the kid's jacket — a red moon, polished, quiet as a held breath. Jack had seen that mark before. Red Hounds. His hand drifted toward the shotgun. "Don't," 13 said, flat. He tugged the jacket open. A red feather was pinned beside the moon, sharp as a brand. "Sent to find you. That's the job." He shrugged like it was weather. "Don't much care about the job." Jack's jaw tightened. "Then walk." 13 tilted his head. "Can't. Got something in my skull. Friday. Scientist put it there — same one who marks his work with that feather. You help me find him, I lose your trail. Easy trade." "And if I say no?" Jack asked. 13's voice went quieter. Complete sentences now. The tell. "Then I let Friday off the leash. He meets that thing inside you. Blackjack, right?" He nodded slow. "Two of them in one street. Blood. Noise. Walls down. Kids under them." He looked at Jack steady. "You want that on your ledger?" Jack felt the thing inside him stir at the name, patient and pleased. He thought of three men on a dock. He thought of bystanders who hadn't asked for any of it. He set his palm flat on the table. "Fine," he said. "We find your scientist." 13 leaned back, almost smiling. The pin caught the light again. Jack had a partner now — and a leash on his own neck he hadn't agreed to wear.