Page 4189

'It'll be a deep cover operation,' Ez went on. 'And even though you'll be on your own, you also won't be the only one out there.'

Hmm. 'Got a code phrase for me, at least?'

'Yes: "There's no use denying it. I can tell we're kindred spirits."'

'...Bit on the nose, don't you think?'

'Only if you start throwing it around like candy. Use good judgment.'

Yeah, yeah. What a pain. He didn't join Abolish in order to 'use good judgment.' But more and more, that seemed to be his role now. All the fun stuff went to the people with power like Karkash--or the moron who couldn't tell a fun mission from a suicidal one.

Eh, maybe he just needed to accept his lot in life. Stealth and deception could certainly be fun, too. There was nothing quite like lying to someone's face.

But still. The best part of killing was when the victim got to see it coming. Wasn't nearly as satisfying if he couldn't revel in it, at least a little.

They arrived at the parking lot, and apparently, Desmond had his pick of the vehicles. Ezmortig left him alone again while he decided, so he took his time with it, formulating entire identities in his mind to accompany each one. Cars told a story, after all. Overlooking them as mere tools would be missing a trick, he'd always felt.

Before he even made up his mind, however, Ezmortig returned with someone else in tow. A squirrelly-looking woman with a briefcase in one hand. Quite cute, too, in a strange sort of way. Not necessarily to his own tastes, but--

Oh shit, wait, wasn't that Jercash's personal secretary? Zenia?

Desmond corrected his posture as she approached. Now that he was getting a closer look, he wasn't deceived by the frazzled hair and modest stature. Those blue eyes of hers looked like they could cut through glass.

"Desmond Grantier?" she said in airy voice.

"That's me," he said. He'd seen other people saluting on occasion, but nah. That would be a bridge too far.

"Take these with you." She laid the briefcase on the hood of the convertible next to her, then unlocked it and opened it for him to see.

He scratched his chin with his thumb as he eyed its contents. A few different trinkets. A watch. A pair of glasses. And what was that? A metal orb?