“Oh, do you now? What are you basing your ‘score’ on? After all, what possible evidence could you have? Other than me being a bit tardy for our inspection at your precinct.”
“You killed those cops at Prince and Greene and others with your shells and your broadcast system. Not only that, but racketeering is still a federal offence, as is the extortion of an Upper City resident. Each of those alone is worth a hefty sentence. You won’t be getting out of prison until you’re a corpse.”
Masters chuckled, his gun still trained on me. “Who would believe you? Show me tangible proof that I did any of what you said. Sure, I might have covered up a crime scene that was under FBI jurisdiction, but I won’t answer to you for that. You’re barking up the wrong tree, Detective. What was your name again? Ronald? Ross?”
“It’s Roche, you fuck.”
He flinched, and I stepped forward, calling his bluff. He didn’t fire, which gave me confidence.
“Killing two cops —”
“Two dirty cops. You forgot that part, didn’t you? I’m sure you also forgot that there were three dead cops there. One who, unfortunately, got in the way. Convenient for you to forget about that third one and focus on your contrived faithfulness to the 5th. Then again, maybe that third cop from the 11th wasn’t there undercover. I dare you to point to a single cop in this city who isn’t a fucking rat. So, who bought you, huh? Gould? Maranzano?”
“The Eye of New York sees everything.”
He spat, his face twisting in disgust. “You … you’re her Iron Hand, huh? I’ve heard stories about you, but I didn’t take them seriously. If they’re true, then you’re a monster, plain and simple.”
“And you aren’t?” My raised voice spooked him, making him back up a bit. My gun was pointed downward, but my stance was intimidating enough. “You’re a sick fuck who hides behind bodies and shells. You don’t deserve to judge me.”
“I have every reason to judge you, Roche. You’re a criminal, plain and simple, stringing Robins along, making him think you’re loyal. I’ll be sure to relay this tidbit of information to my superiors as soon as I get back Plateside. Speak of the devil …” He looked up. A black Rotorbird was approaching, and it was definitely an FBI aircraft. Masters’s smug grin brought my blood to a boil. “You can’t touch me, and neither can she. I’m a federal agent. Even looking at me wrong is an offence. But I’ll keep your sentence light if you walk away right now. If you don’t, I promise nothing.”
“You won’t get very far.”
“Excuse me?” He cupped a hand around his ear, mocking me. “Say that a bit louder.”
“You won’t get very far, asshole.”
The beating of the air alerted us to a second Rotorbird approaching: Sinclair, prompt as always. His Rotorbird, loaded for bear, flew in front of the FBI aircraft. The speaker on the front of the machine blared out his words. “THIS IS A RESTRICTED AIRSPACE! WILL OPEN FIRE IF YOU DON’T PULL AWAY NOW.”
I knew he wasn’t bluffing.
The FBI craft circled, testing the waters, but quickly realized it was too dangerous to land. The Black Hats might oversee everything from up top, but they were bound by regulations. Namely, that any crime scene under investigation was under the direct jurisdiction of the nearest Lower City precinct, and only legitimate agents could supersede that. And we knew for a fact that there were no FBI agents who could fly a Rotorbird. Outside hires flew the brass around.
The pilot spun the bird around and headed back the way it had come. They might be planning to return, but there wouldn’t be anyone to pick up.
Masters turned to me, finally showing an emotion I was glad to see: nervousness. His gun wasn’t trained on me anymore, giving me a clear opening to fire a bullet of my own. A quick flick of my wrist put a round in his thigh, making him scream in agony and drop to the ground, gasping for breath. He released his hold on the gun and I kicked it away as soon as I got close, my barrel now held parallel to his gaze.
“You … fucker!”
“You’re scum, you know that?” I ground my teeth. “You won’t leave here alive. I’m here to maintain justice, no matter what. Those boys were dirty, but they were part of the 5th. And I don’t take kindly to cop killers.”
“I thought you of all people would understand the concept of the greater good. That’s why you work for Robins, isn’t it? You work both sides, and keep the peace. She worms out the smaller fish for the sharks, and the sharks leave her be. You’re keeping a dangerous balance. The longer she’s around, the more prepared she’ll be to take this city for herself. You’re fuelling a future war.”
“Better than what you were doing by starting one.”
“I was ending one!” He was surprisingly well spoken for a man with a bullet in his leg. “She can’t touch me unless she wants the entire Plate on her ass. I needed those smugglers to start fighting against her influence, knocking her down a few pegs, giving her a reason to worry. I was untouchable, and so were my people. If Belik ever bit it, I’d just find another, help them along, do what I could to get them into fighting shape. I’d cut her out of the market, drain her dry, and then we’d find a way to make her bleed. I was doing more to combat the Iron Hands than you ever did as a cop, and especially as a fucking lapdog!” He yelped in pain, clutching his leg.
“She’d find a way. She always does …”
“No excuses, Roche! You say you’re here for justice. Fine! I killed those two assholes because they would have ruined everything! If the Bureau ever found out, I’d be finished, and if the crime lords found out,
