Chapter 328
There was no immediate response. Only strained silence that stretched on for an eternity.
Then metal flashed in the waning light, and Miles was on him, driving a knee into his guts, sending the older unarmed man crumpling to the floor. The butt of his service weapon collided with Roderick's skull, splitting open a nasty gash on his forehead, the cry of alarm immediately silenced as the older man found himself staring down the barrel of the handgun.
Roderick's presence was meant to accomplish multiple objectives. Demonstrating the worth of what I was doing here, a quiet flex of the usefulness of my abilities, and a method of introducing doubt, making him question whatever assumptions and plans he'd already formed.
All too late, I realized I'd miscalculated. And that introducing the two of them within the quiet confines of the nursery had unintentionally given Miles a staging ground to carry out the vengeance he'd clearly intended from the beginning.
"What the fuck, Miles?"
The barrel of the weapon snapped up, pointing at me, even as Miles' other hand remained tightened on Roderick's throat. "Don't trot this fucker out like a lamb to slaughter and act like this wasn't exactly what you wanted." He glared at me, sight trembling from where it was aimed at my forehead, his face blank, eyes wild.
On the pavement, Roderick remained still, hands palms up. Considering how quickly things had gone from neutral to shit, he was holding up remarkably well. Not the first time he'd been under the gun. Then a glint of recognition crossed his face. "I know you. The government employee from the transposition. Department of sanitation, was it?"
"Shut up." The answering blow snapped Roderick's head to the side, blood from his mouth spraying the pavement.
Behind me, I heard movement as others from the nursery roused, drawn by the commotion.