“Eavesdropping is a bad habit Reece.” Bert said abruptly. “It
better not stick around. Is that clear?”
Reece froze. He dared not move, In case Bert was just
assuming and didn’t actually know where he was.
“Reece! Come out. I’m tired I want get some sleep.” Bert
said, beginning to grow aggravated.
Sighing Reece stepped out into the light and Bert gasped
slightly when he saw him.
“Oh… your actually there. I was just testing.” The middle
aged man looked a little startled, or maybe it was lack of sleep that
influenced his haggard expression. His hair was a mess and his eyes had dark
rings under them. He was however freshly shaven, no more contemplative beard
strokes then.
Reece swore. “What. Are you serious? I could’ve escaped
then.”
Bert burst out into peals of laughter that echoed throughout
the tunnels, if Reece wasn’t busy being angry at himself he would’ve worried
that his boss had woken some poor bastard up.
After Bert finally managed to calm down he motioned for
Reece to come inside and take a seat. “So what were you doing around the
corner? Just passing by perhaps?” Bert said, falling into his office chair, it
creaked under his weight.
“No I came to tell you my thoughts on the Vicar too but it
seems Maria beat me.” Reece failed to mention the conversation he had with the
priest. “I’m not as suspicious as Maria but I thinks its best that we keep a
close eye on him and his fellows.” Reece said, awkwardly sitting cross legged
on the floor. Chairs were a rare and valuable commodity.
“If that was so, then why did you stick around to
eavesdrop?” Bert asked.
“I don’t know.” Reece lied. He had hoped Maria and Bert were
going to be discussing something far less serious.
“I’m telling you, you need to break that habit of yours. For
starters its-”
“Yeah I know.” Reece cut him off before he began his
well-rehearsed lecture. “I agree about what you said. With the letting people
in. Soria would too, now she may not show it much but she’s grateful to be
here.”
Bert nodded. He then turned to the window and peered down at
the loading bay. “There’s been more and more Overflows as of late. I got word
from the Cluster that people are flocking there for safety. If there’s not
enough people in the citadels then the number of Overflows will continue to
increase. It’s just a big great mess really.”
“I’m going to interrogate the one in the handyman suit, I
need your permission.” Reece said.
“Who Fletcher? Why?”
“No the young guy, about my age. He’s down there in the
loading bay now, with the Reliant’s. His name is Quint.”
Bert frowned. “You don’t need my permission to make friends
you know. You’re an adult.”
“I said interrogate old man. He was having a rather fitful
sleep when I saw him last. And what Maria said about the concussion is worth
looking into.” Reece didn’t mention what Wilton had said about Quints
suspicious activity on the day of the Overflow. Deciding t
“Alright then, but don’t impose on his and their privacy. If
they ask you to back off then do so, I don’t want our citadel to look bad.”
Bert said. “We may be a small community but our responsibility is immeasurable.
No oil, no trade with the cluster. That would be bad for us. The branches or
Rail are growing more prominent and it would be in our best interest to have a
good word put in for us from the Reliant sect.”
“Alright then, boss.” With that Reece took his leave. As he
lay there on his bunk that night, he came up with a several strategies for
getting past Wilton and his followers. Assuming they wanted to stop him from
talking with Quin.
And even if they don’t
stop me, they may be doing so just to avoid suspicion, could they be holding
something over Quin’s head? He thought. The whole matter was confusing,
maybe Soria would have an idea of what to do? Finally satisfied with his plans
Reece let sleep take him.
***
“Soria!” Reece strolled over to her stall, it was late
afternoon and having finally completed all his tasks Reece had found the time
to bother Soria with his plans. The amber skinned Merchant woman stared blankly
at him, but he could see her brow furrow slightly and she grit her teeth.
Reece chuckled, she must be annoyed. A bunch of strangers
arrived taking all the attention, she was no longer the oddity. Children had
crowded around Wilton and his now conscious followers, listening to them talk
for hours. A few workers had forgone precious downtime to come investigate
these oddly dressed strangers and their equally odd religion as well.
“He was probably expecting a crowd.” Soria said suddenly.
“What was that?” Reece asked. Leaning against the wooden
stall that seemed so out of place surrounded by stone.
“The Vicar, Wilton. He probably expected a crowd to come
listen to him, and he would’ve saturated his stories with his preaching. That’s
how they do it those Reliant’s.”
“How do you know his name? Also how did you know he was a
reliant?” Reece asked, a little surprised but at the same time he felt like he
should’ve expected this. Soria was diligent in her information gathering.
“I have my contacts.” She stated, flicking her hair back.
Reece sighed, secretive and just a little arrogant as well, it seems.
“Maria?”
Soria froze. But before Reece could explain further, her arrogance
turned to anger. “Dammit I told that harlot to keep her mouth shut!”
Reece held up his palms in a peaceful gesture. “Whoa take it
easy. I found out last night. I Eavesdropped on her and boss last night.” Once
again Reece left out information, choosing not reveal that he also got the go
ahead form Bert to investigate Quin. She argued with him often, that his
loyalty to Bert, his boss, was foolish. Reece didn’t really wanted to get
berated by her for informing his boss of his plans.
But shortly after her lips curled into a slight smile. “My,
aren’t you ambitious? You really are my protégé. You’d make a fine
businessman.”
“Yep, I’m three steps ahead of you this time merchant. You
won’t leech every bit of information off these priests before I do.” Reece
said.
“We’ll see about that.” Soria said grinning, happy to have a
little rivalry. “You don’t have womanly charms to push things along.”
Reece snorted. “They’re priests Soria, Good luck.”
She shrugged. Leaning back in her chair she slid a ledger
out from under the stall and began to skim through it. “That guy in the
handyman jumpsuit isn’t a priest by the looks of it. He’s young too and not that
ugly either.” A sly smile crept onto Soria’s face. “Who’s behind now, Reece?”
“About that…” Reece said unfazed. “That guy, Quint’s his
name. I need to talk to you about him.”
“What. Why?” Soria looked horrified, probably from both
Reece knowing the guy’s name and offering her information. She probably thought
she was losing her touch, she would have to ‘practice’ on other poor saps
later.
“Listen, I don’t know how much you coaxed out of Maria but I
want you to listen up anyway.” Reece explained what he’d heard from Maria last
night and what he learned from Wilton. She was annoyed that he had gone
straight to Wilton but as Reece continued she became more and more subdued.
After explaining his plans to get Quint alone and interrogate him, Reece
stopped and watched Soria. Her brows had knitted together and he could almost
hear her brain tick.
“I see…” she said finally. “Yes I can see why you’d want to keep
that under wraps. But why tell me, I mean yeah this Quint guy is suspicious but
what do gain by telling me.” She looked at him curiously. Reece had expected
this but he hadn’t prepared for it. He didn’t really know why he told her,
she’s right he won’t gain anything from this.
Reece felt his face warm up a bit, alarmed he made an effort
to keep his voice steady. “Because… I trust you?”
Soria raised an eyebrow, it took several seconds for what he
said to process before she finally responded. “Yeah, bullshit.” She snorted.
Time to tell the truth
then. He thought.
“Okay then I’ll tell you.” Reece said. “I honestly think
this a little too big for me to handle alone. This isn’t some Refiner cheating
on his wife nor some mother worried about a teenager rendezvous. Whatever secrets
these priests and that supposed maintenance worker, may have hidden away could
mean some serious consequences. I’ve been playing the investigator with you
ever since you showed up five years ago, trying to outwit each other and dig up
dirt on other people. And I know for a fact that you’re better than me, I hate
to wound my pride but it’s true.”
Soria paused to consider and finally said. “So you’re saying
I’m better than you?”
Reece inwardly sighed, of course that’s what she would bring
up.
“…Yes” Reece replied quietly.
“Okay I’m in.” Soria scoffed. “At least you admit your
failures my friend. So what’s the plan, how are we going to get Quint alone?”
“Well that depends.” Reece said. “On how Wilton feels about
me questioning to him. I originally thought I could offer to teach him a few
handyman things, but if my suspicions are correct then they won’t want him out
of their sight.”
“Is that where I come in?” Soria interjected.
“Yeah I’ll need you too…” Reece’s eyes widened. He watched
Wilton and the small crowd of children. His three followers were all there
interacting with the crowd but Quin was nowhere in sight. “He isn’t there?”
“It would’ve been an effective plan I’m sure of it, if only
it actually needed to be executed.” Soria commented.
“Well then.” Reece said feeling a little embarrassed. “Shall
we go find this guy?”
“Lead the way subordinate.” Soria said. She gleefully sprang
out of her chair and rushed to get ahead of Reece, her dark hair flowing behind
her. Reece smiled, she sure was happy to be back in action. It had been three
years since Soria opened up to him and offered to teach him how to be a
competitive business person. Ever since then Reece had been learning under her.
It was originally just to get closer to her, but after a while Reece had found
a use for the skills he had learned. Even if he questioned why business in the
Cluster required so much blackmail and subterfuge.
He glanced up to ask Soria something, but she had already
disappeared from sight. Reece swore and looked around, he spotted her heading
through a corridor and quickly followed after her.
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