“Yeah, Junie tells me you’re dodging her calls.”

He sighed. “I am. And I’ve shut down discussions with Scott, Top, and some others because I don’t care to explain my motivations. Rudy has already read me the comprehensive riot act for endangering Joe’s mental and physical health. And he’s not wrong. I am doing exactly that, but not from a lack of compassion.”

“No,” said Bug. “I get it. Even though we’re not really answerable to the UN or any world government, ever since Oslo, we’re pretty high profile. They’re expecting us to be the white knights here. We can’t put a foot wrong, because that ruins our credibility with governments from whom we’ll need to get permissions to operate within their borders. If they know that we let Joe bugfuck nuts Ledger off the leash deliberately, every door will be shut. And we won’t get stuff like this.” He pointed to the screen.

Church smiled faintly. “You understand me very well, Bug.”

“We’ve been family a long time.”

“We have.”

They sat in silence for a few moments. Church reached over and picked up a can of Red Bull, read the ingredients, and put it back.

“Share the data,” he said. “Tell Doc and Scott that it came from me via one of my contacts. They’ll know not to ask. Make sure Yoda and Nikki get the same story.”

“Will do.”

Church lingered. “What’s your theory on this?”

“Well, I’m still leaning toward this being Kuga and Santoro giving their Fixers a serious tech upgrade. Those cats, with bleeding-edge cybernetics and exoskeletons? And maybe some drug therapy to get them all juiced? Shit, boss, I think we’re in real trouble here.”

Church stood. “I think we’ve been in real trouble for some time and are only now beginning to see the shape and scope of it.”

He gave Bug’s shoulder a squeeze and went out.

CHAPTER 56

THE PAVILION

BLUE DIAMOND ELITE TRAINING CENTER

STEVENS COUNTY, WASHINGTON

Top and Bunny were taken to a commercial airport in Texas where John Saxon greeted them with travel documents and first-class seats for a direct flight to Washington State.

“If we’re going to Washington, why’d we need our passports?” asked Bunny.

Saxon smiled. “You’re going to Washington today. Other trips are possible, and we don’t want to waste time fussing over papers.”

Top nodded. “Yeah, okay … that makes sense.”

“You coming with us?” asked Bunny.

“Nah, I don’t think you fellows need me to hold your hands.”

He shook their hands, grinned, waved, and walked away out of the terminal building.

“Okay, then,” said Bunny. Forty minutes later, they were in the air.