Read Online As Lie The Dead by Kelly Meding - Free Book Online Page B

didn’t exactly have a Batcave or headquarters, or a special place to record and read up on our citywide antics. I’m sure the brass had records up the wazoo, and more and more, I itched to get my hands on them.
    Something told me they’d be a fascinating read.
    I almost made it to the elevators unnoticed. Almost.
    “Evy, wait,” Wyatt shouted.
    Damn. I pressed the call button anyway, then turned around. Wyatt and Kismet sprinted down the corridor wearing identical expressions of confusion. The elevator still hadn’t come by the time they reached me.
    “Where are you going?” Kismet asked.
    “I have some things that need to get done,” I said. “And, as usual, my time is somewhat crunched.”
    “You weren’t going to wait?” Wyatt asked. The unsaid “for me” hung in the air, put there by the genuine hurt in his voice.
    “Rufus is one of ours,” Kismet said. “Whatever you’re planning, we want to help.”
    “Not if you want to keep your jobs, you don’t,” I said.
    Wyatt narrowed his eyes. “What did you say to Phineas?”
    “We made a little side deal. If I keep my end up, Rufus avoids their punishment.”
    “And if you don’t?”
    “I get one more notch in my belt of people I’ve failed.”
    Kismet said, “There’s got to be something we can do, Stone.”
    “There is. Do you trust your Hunters?”
    “With my life.” Not a second’s hesitation—good.
    “I need one of them to go back to my apartment with Wyatt.”
    “Screw that, Evy,” Wyatt said. “I’m staying with you.”
    “Wyatt—”
    “No.” He crossed his arms over his chest and glared at me, in full intimidation mode. He’d made up his mind. Damn the consequences and full steam ahead.
    “Fine,” I snapped. “Look, Kismet, I need one of your people to watch my apartment. I’ve got some precious goods hiding there for a while, and I can’t babysit and do this at the same time.”
    “I can reassign Felix to it,” she said. “How long?”
    “Probably for the day, but I’ll get in touch with you.”
    “I don’t suppose there’s any chance you’ll tell me what you’re up to next?”
    I shook my head, and the elevator dinged its arrival.“Definitely better if you don’t know. What’s that term for it?”
    “Plausible deniability,” Wyatt said.
    “Yeah, that.”
    “Anything else?” Kismet asked.
    Six people exited the elevator, leaving it empty for entering passengers. Turned out to be just me and Wyatt. He stepped halfway inside and held the door.
    “We need a car,” I said.
    Kismet produced a key ring and tossed it to me. Two keys and a remote on a plastic fob. “It’s in the garage, third level.”
    “Yours?”
    “Nope.”
    “Good.” I slipped into the elevator; Wyatt stepped back to join me. As the doors slid shut, I gave Kismet a sharp nod, which she returned.
    “So do I get to know the plan?” Wyatt asked once we were alone.
    “You’ll know it as soon as I know it,” I replied, pocketing the car keys.
    He groaned. “At least tell me our objective.”
    “Putting blame for the Owlkin massacre where it belongs.”
    He turned his body sideways, not quite confrontational but definitely cornering me. “You’re going to hunt down the brass?”
    “Yep.”
    “And then what? Make them volunteer to take responsibility for the order? You’ll never get that close, Evy.”
    “They’re not gods, Wyatt,” I said, frustrated.“They don’t sit in some temple, far beyond our reach. They are three human beings who work somewhere in this city, and someone has to know who they are. It’s about goddamn time they got their hands dirty, too.”
    “That’s why we exist, Evy, so they don’t have to.”
    “Well, things are changing, and I think it’s time we revised the system. If last night’s any indication, we won’t be able to hide the Dregs much longer, and what happens when that shit hits the fan? You want to rely on three nameless, faceless people to keep control of things when they