to because you were rudely pointing a gun at her husband.”
“And if I’d just walked up and been friendly as can be?”
“You’d probably still be tied to that chair, but wouldn’t have the headache.”
Sullivan chuckled. “First time I met Dan, I got tossed off a blimp. So in comparison, you got off easy.”
Hammer glared at him. “You’re a bastard.”
“So I been told. Start talking.”
She did. Hammer told them about being recruited to find him because she was a Justice. That piqued Sullivan’s scholarly interest, since he’d never actually had a confirmation that such Actives were real. Hopefully, if they ended up on speaking terms after this he’d have to interview her for his notes. She insisted that she’d been as surprised as he was about how the OCI had tried to shoot him, and how afterward she’d then been recruited by Crow.
“Why, after seeing what a shyster bunch they were, did you go along with that?”
“None of your damn business.”
Dan started to ask another question, but Sullivan held up one hand. He’d been forced to chose between working for J. Edgar Hoover or staying in Rockville. It wouldn’t surprise him in the least to see G-men using dirt on another Active to get their job done. Blackmail, threats, whatever, it was one more reason to tread extra carefully around Hammer. “It don’t matter. Go on.”
She told them a bit about how her Power worked, how she could follow someone and know which path they’d taken, and how that had led her to the ambassador’s mansion.
“Lucky that Brute didn’t eat you for breakfast.”
“Are you kidding? Toru was polite compared to you two. That’s a sad state of affairs when the Imperium are the hospitable ones of the bunch.”
“Oh, they’re all sorts of polite, until he found out you had a rare Power and kidnapped you for Unit 731 to experiment on.” Dan sounded bitter, the memory of Madi taking Jane still fresh in his mind.
“I didn’t say I wanted to start palling around with them. After that I tracked you into the country. Then Crow appeared out of thin air. I still haven’t figured out how he does that.”
“Near as we can figure, he’s a Summoner that possesses demons, like a Beastie controls animals.” Which was a fascinating concept, one that he’d never heard of before, or even considered possible. It was too bad he was probably going to have to kill Crow, because he would love to know how he’d accomplished such a feat.
Hammer appeared deep in thought. “That makes sense. He’s like a big bag of lies, and when I get a glimpse of the truth, it’s been too …”
“Weird?” Dan suggested.
“Alien. I’ve only talked to him a few times now, but each time it’s like talking to a different person.”
Sullivan’s guess was that was the different demons he was wearing. He’d have to update his notes on Actives, preferably after they’d put Crow in the ground. Whatever the hell he was, he was a danger first and foremost. “How’d he find you?”
“They carved a spell onto my car. I found it and wrecked it.”
Sullivan got up and went to the kitchen window. The woods were still and dark. “That could’ve been a decoy. There might be another.”
“Yeah, so I ditched that car and boosted a different one.”
He closed the curtain. “That’s not very nice.”
“You stole my new Ford!” Hammer sputtered.
“I left it someplace it would be found.”
“On its roof!”
Dan laughed at him. Sullivan folded his arms defensively and scowled at Dan. “It was on its wheels when I left it. My apologies. I’ll make it up to you and get you another. Those Hyperions are pricey though. It might take me awhile.”
“I can’t believe it.” She shook her head. “You’re telling the truth. You’re a real piece of work, aren’t you, Sullivan? Every lawman in the country has your picture on the wall and you’re worried about how you’re going to replace my car. We’ve got more important things to worry about.”
“So it’s we now?” Dan asked. “Lady, I don’t trust you as far as Jake could throw you. Why should I start now?”
She told them about the recording of Heinrich and Crow’s admission that he had proof, and how both were at OCI headquarters. That sounded a little too convenient for Sullivan. Yet, as Hammer talked, he studied her. She was tough, and she had an attitude about her, but if this was a trap it wasn’t her creation. Hammer seemed sincere… but then again, she’d played him like a fool the very first time they’d met. When she was done, she looked him square in the eye, and asked, “You believe me now?”
“I believed you were a redhead. Look where that got me.”
“That was business.” Hammer glowered at him. “It got you some exercise and a chance to talk to a ghost. Admit it, you’d do it again.”
She had him there. “All right. If you want me to trust you, why the change of heart?”
“It isn’t enough that I don’t want to see an innocent man hang? I’m putting myself in jeopardy by even talking to you! What do you think he’s going to do to me when Crow finds out? I’m risking my life. Isn’t that good enough?”
Sullivan shook his head.
“Fine…” Hammer hesitated. “Tell me about your rings.”
Dan covered his with his off hand. “What about them?”
“My father had a lot of respect for the men that wore those.”
“He was Grimnoir?” Sullivan asked.
“I don’t think so.”
“Hammer?” Dan leaned forward. “Married or maiden name?”
“Born with it. I’m single…” she answered. Sullivan looked at her funny. “What?”
“I was just going to say I could see why.” Hammer made an amusing face when she was angry. “You’re kind of pushy.”
Dan paid them no mind. “You’re a Texan?” Hammer nodded. “I’ve got an ear for accents. Was your father Lee Hammer?”
“You knew him?” Without another word, Dan stood up, pushed down Hammer’s free hand and twisted it down with wire. He then took Sullivan by the arm and guided him out of the kitchen. “Wait! What do you know?”
Once they were out of earshot in the hall, Dan began pacing and rubbing his face. “Hell, this is complicated.”
“What’s the deal, Dan?”
“Keep your voice down. Lee Hammer never took the oath. Lord knows Pershing asked him enough times. Said he’d already taken one as a marshal and didn’t ever want to have to choose between the two in case there was a conflict. But he helped us quite a few times. Pershing was a friend of his. They went after Pancho Villa together. I’ve heard stories about him, but never met the man.”
“So, she’s legit?”
“Maybe. Apples don’t fall far from the tree, but sometimes they bounce when they hit and roll a ways.”
Sullivan shrugged. His parents had been decent enough folks, but he had one brother that had been a murderous lunatic. “Yeah, I guess. So do you think she’s leading us into a trap or not?”
“Her? Maybe… Crow, definitely. I wish we had that tape so we could see if it’s really Heinrich’s voice or not.”
“If she’s a Justice, then she’d have known if it wasn’t him.”
“Only if she’s telling us the truth, which she might not be. I wish we had a Reader handy… This is complicated.”
“You’ve said that. What’s so complicated about it? She’s either on our side or she’s not.”
“Because she’d be right to hold a grudge.” Dan looked pained. “Look, I’ll explain later. She can’t force the truth out of you if you don’t know it.” He started to walk back to the kitchen but Sullivan stepped in front of him.
