Near 23rd, chugging noisily through the western edge of Empire territory, we were suddenly surrounded by sentinel patrol boats. I counted four making themselves known, each bearing the silvery Empire logo on its side. Super-high alert, but so neat, so precise. So . . . civilized.

Hannah whistled under her breath. “Must have their entire fleet in the water.”

Not really. Empire had twice as many.

The lead boat, a trim four-seater almost as sleek as Sea Sprite, pulled alongside, matching our slower speed. At the helm, a tough-looking older woman gave us the eye. Her hair was slicked back so smooth, it looked glued down. She wore what Jenn would have called designer fatigues and a side-arm holstered at her hip. The other boats held their distance—for now.

Daniel stood up, smiling a bland welcome. I wondered where he’d found it.

“So it’s you, Dan. Just come crosstown?”

“Heading for Unca Joe.”

“Big noise off west just a while ago.”

“Heard it myself.”

“Looks like you might’ve caught a bit of it.”

Daniel brushed at his T-shirt. The blood had mostly dried to black. “Some.”

The woman glanced toward our stern. “ZeRO, eh? Used to be an Adder boat.”

“Not anymore.”

She nodded, like her guess had been confirmed.

“Her name is Zephyr,” I muttered from the wheel. The old scow had saved my life. I wasn’t having her disrespected.

“The whole town’s going up in smoke. Plus this monster weather on the way.” The patrol leader sucked her teeth noisily. “Any idea what happened over there?”

Daniel shrugged. “I’d guess a bit of freelance demolition.”

The woman pursed her lips, resisting a sour grin. “I’d say about fucking time.”

The Adders weren’t going to get much sympathy.

“We’ve a bit of a medical emergency,” Daniel said. “Mind if we move on?”

Her cool gaze raked Zephyr dismissively, took in the wet red staining Poppy’s shin. “Tell you what. Share your info and I’ll speed her downtown myself. I’ve got some news to lay on Boss Rousseau.”

Hannah stirred. Poppy was leaning hard against her. “Soonest might be best, Dan.”

Daniel turned to help Poppy to her feet. “If you can fit me in, I’ll explain along the way.”

“Deal.”

Not the way Hannah wanted it to go, but she couldn’t very well object, with Poppy looking weaker every minute. “See you on the Melville soon as,” she told Daniel pointedly.

“Yep.” But it sounded like the last thing on his mind. He eased Poppy into the patrol boat’s back seat and settled in beside her.

“Dan . . .”

“I’ll be there.”

A sure way to avoid confrontation. Motor away from it. Maybe not in as big a rush to leave as his sister was?