Franks just glared at me but didn’t say anything. Probably because rampaging was tempting. Guards or not, Franks could have jumped through the window and squished Stricken before anybody here, other than maybe Heather, who wouldn’t be that motivated to stop him, would be able to do much about it. I’d only been joking about the kinder and gentler MCB, but there was actually something up with Franks. Maybe they had amended his mysterious contract after the whole Nemesis debacle to keep their attack dog on a shorter leash? He was being remarkably restrained all things considered.
Grant came into the room and handed me a T-shirt. “I figured you would want to look more presentable.”
My current attire was all torn up and bloody, so that was appreciated. “Thanks.” I pulled off my shirt, threw it in the nearby trash can, and took the offered replacement. Which was when I saw it had Trainee printed on it and had the MCB’s two-headed eagle seal on the back. “You asshole.”
Grant laughed. “Deal with it.”
I pulled the shirt on. Of course, it was way too small. Franks scowled at me. When we’d sewed him back together last time one of the arms had the MHI logo tattooed on it, so this wasn’t nearly as permanent.
“By the way, Pitt,” Beth said. “We’ve all been so distracted by the Stricken question, that you never said how MHI knew about the auction.”
“Nope. I didn’t.”
“Nor did you say anything about what the item was that was so important that both MHI and the reptoids chased the thief across the city to get it.”
“I already told Franks it was some dark magic stuff. I don’t know the details. Not my department. I’m just the accountant.”
“Uh-huh . . . ” Beth obviously wasn’t buying my BS. “Whatever the item is, it was important enough to Stricken to get him to risk showing his face in public. Having it in our possession might provide leverage. Heather, call your boyfriend.”
Heather groaned. “Do I have to?” Except she didn’t have to wait for her boss’s orders to know that her protest was in vain. “Fine. I know, I know. National security.” She got out her phone. “Mind if I do this in private? You know how Earl feels about this organization.”
“Put him on speaker,” Beth said, with just a hint of malicious glee. “I can stand my ground.”
Heather hit the call button. “This is a terrible idea.”
Earl picked up on the third ring. “Hey, Heather. What’s going on?”
“There’s something I needed to talk to you about.”
“Can I call you back?” From the background noise it sounded like he was in a moving car. “I’m kind of busy on a case right now.”
“You’re trying to find someone in Atlanta.”
“How’d you know? Wait . . . This personal, or business?”
“Hello, Mr. Harbinger,” said Beth. “You are on speaker.”
Earl was quiet for a moment. “Mrs. Flierl. To what do I owe this incredible annoyance? Let me guess, is this little thief I’m tracking one of your slaves?”
“No. She’s not one of mine, though I am very interested in speaking with her now. However, you need to get one thing straight. We’re under new management. I’m not like Stricken. My people are not slaves. They’re volunteers, willingly serving their country in exchange for the opportunity to earn their PUFF exemption.”
“Sure they are. I’ll be sure to pass that on to all my buddies who died in involuntary servitude while we were doing dirt for Uncle Sam . . . Dammit, Heather, it’s one thing for you to be soft-hearted enough to try and help their captives, but do not drag me back into their foolishness. I tried to warn you that you can’t trust these assholes. We can talk about this when you’re in Alabama again. I’m hanging up.”
“Wait, Earl, it’s important.”
Earl really must have loved Heather because he stuck around. “Damn it. Fine. Talk.”
“We’ve got Owen here. He’s safe.”
“Hey, Earl,” I said. “The government’s about to cut a deal with Stricken.”
“What?”
Heather covered her phone. “That’s not helping!”
“Have you people lost your gawdamned minds?” Earl bellowed. “That bastard let an entire hotel full of Hunters get sucked into nightmare world to justify a budget increase, and you’re cutting him a deal? What’s he get? Time served? Witness protection?”
“It’s complicated,” Heather said. “And it wasn’t our call. Stricken’s a bigger monster than any of the real monsters who worked for him, but there’s a lot going on I can’t tell you about yet. These are orders from on high. They think they need his expertise for something big. Just listen, please. It’s important. Did you catch the thief?”
“I don’t think I’d tell your boss even if I had.”
“What was Stricken trying to buy?”
“Sorry, babe. I ain’t saying nothing to Unicorn. So don’t even push, because me not answering will just piss us both off. If your boss wants anything else, she can get a warrant.”
Beth cut in. “There’s no time for that. Since I’m here at the MCB regional office with their director, how about instead I pressure him into yanking MHI’s charter, seizing your assets, and putting you out of business again?”
“Beth!” Heather exclaimed. “That’s not right!”
“No, but it will be necessary if Mr. Harbinger continues to put his pride ahead of the safety of this planet.”
“Oh, now you did it,” Heather warned her.
It was obvious that particular threat had really set Earl off. “Lady, who are you to judge the safety of jack shit? The guy who used to sit in your chair would’ve let loose a bunch of demons if it hadn’t been for Agent Franks having the balls to go to war with the entire government.”
I looked over at Franks as Earl said that, and I swear, maybe, just maybe, for a moment, Franks showed some small bit of pride at being recognized for that by someone like Harbinger. But then it was gone, and it was back to his regular old face of stone. I’d probably imagined it.
“Do you think I care about your threats right now?
