Revenge (14 page)

‘That's a rock or something,' Ryan exclaimed. ‘Someone deliberately brought down your
hawk-moth
, Boges!'

‘Coffee?' Winter offered.

‘Yep, definitely.' I stood up and ran my hands through my hair a few times. We were all so tired, but had to work out what was going on. What did Sligo have in store for us tomorrow? Who was continuing to do his bidding, and why?

‘But everyone else is dead,' Cal called out over the hissing of the kettle. ‘Well, apart from Oriana—she's locked up. Hang on, what about Red Singlet?'

That was pretty much what I'd asked myself when Cal first disappeared.

‘That wasn't Red Singlet who we saw
creeping
in and out of the chamber,' said Winter. ‘I'd recognise his shape anywhere.'

‘Can we go over some of the stuff Sligo said in the chamber?' I suggested. ‘Maybe he let
something
slip. He said himself that he had someone “young” working for him. Was there anything else?'

We mulled over the scene that had played out underground. Sligo was pretty messed up towards the end, and so was I, so I hadn't paid that much attention to what he was saying. I was intent on finding the antidote amongst Sligo's things. The antidote that hadn't existed until Dr Leporello unexpectedly came to the rescue.

‘Let's see,' Ryan began. He rolled up the sleeves of his checked shirt and folded his arms. ‘He said something like “maybe I won't be able to show Cal dying”. And some sort of “pillars of society” rubbish. Then what did he say?'

‘But I'll still go out with a bang!'
I said, suddenly remembering those words as clear as crystal. ‘That's it!' I said, jumping up in panic. ‘He said he wanted to bring the house down!'

‘A
bomb
!' shouted Cal. ‘Sligo's going to blow up City Hall!'

Cal spoke slowly and calmly into his phone. He told the police we had reason to believe “
someone
” had set up a bomb inside City Hall and that their bomb squad should search the place from top to bottom.

After quite some time, he hung up and returned to us.

‘I think they made the Sligo connection so they're taking it seriously,' he said. ‘They've sent their bomb squad and specialist ops over there now to investigate.'

Winter stood up and hugged Cal. She pulled back. ‘What are we supposed to do in the meantime?'

‘Nothing,' he said. ‘Just sit tight. Maybe we should all get some sleep. I doubt any of us will want to go to school tomorrow anyway. Winter, is it OK if we all crash down here tonight?'

‘Sure, you guys can fight over the couches. I'll just go grab you some extra blankets.'

Ryan's snoring hummed from the couch on my right, while Cal slept soundlessly on the left. I'd happily taken the floor of Winter's living room—I knew I wasn't going to sleep.

Even if the police cleared City Hall for the auction, and decked the place out with security
and undercover officers, there was no way I was going, or letting my friends go, without being prepared. I crept away from the living room and headed for Winter's dining-room table. I flicked on a lamp and rifled through my stuff.

Lately I'd been buying up bags of electronic supplies and outdated technology to see what I could refashion into something new and
awesome
. But right now, I was looking for earpieces and audio equipment. If Cal was going up on stage while the three of us watched from the audience below, I wanted audio in Cal's ear and a mouthpiece on his collar.

‘Hey, you had any sleep at all?' Winter asked me, placing a warm hand on my shoulder and a mug of hot chocolate in front of me. I lifted my head—I must have fallen asleep. A pair of pliers was pressed into my cheek from where I'd slept on them. I peeled them off and cringed.

‘Any news?' I looked around the room for Cal. Both living room couches were empty.

‘Cal's just taken my bike and ducked home to see his mum and Gab off, and to pick up his clothes for tonight. He'll be back this afternoon. Ryan's also gone to get some clothes and stuff. The police rang about fifteen minutes ago. They
said the hall is secure. No trace of a bomb. They think the note is a hoax.'

I raised my eyebrows.

‘I know,' said Winter. ‘I'm not convinced either. But they're monitoring the premises today. They're saying we'll be safe tonight, that
everyone
will be.'

Sunlight was streaming in through the gaps in the blinds. I was going to have to go home to get my clothes too. Winter picked up one of my earpieces and turned it over in her fingers. ‘What are these?' she said, skimming the tabletop with her eyes. ‘There are four of them. Did you paint these to make them flesh coloured?'

I nodded. ‘We're all wearing them tonight, if the auction's still going ahead. These, too.' I emptied a small cardboard box, tipping out four silver swallows.

‘What? My earrings! You separated the birds! What's with you fashioning my jewellery into covert communication pieces?'

‘Sorry, but I needed something we could all wear as pins to function as mouthpieces and you left these with your keys over by the door. Two earrings, four silver birds … one problem solved.' I shrugged. I hoped she'd get over it.

‘Promise me you'll ask first next time?' she sighed.

I held out my hand. ‘Let's count on there not being a next time.'

Winter shook it. ‘Deal.'

Back home, Mum and Gran had looked at me like I was a stranger. I'd hardly spent any time with them lately. I hated disappointing them, but right now that seemed like all I could do. And all I could say to them was, ‘I'm sorry, I'll be home for dinner tomorrow, I promise', as I foraged through my wardrobe, looking for a decent shirt, tie and pants. They were dying to hear news about my NASA interview and I knew I'd have to tell them the truth about it, eventually. But not today.

In Winter's downstairs bathroom I threw on my clothes and realised I'd forgotten to grab some shoes.

Cal and Ryan looked cool. They were both wearing white shirts and thin ties. Cal's suit was black, Ryan's dark grey. Winter looked awesome. She was wearing an emerald green strapless dress and white heels. Her hair fell in big curls over her shoulders.

I grinned at Cal and he grinned back.

‘Everyone wired up?' I asked, checking my own swallow-pin mouthpiece and earpiece were working.

‘Yep,' everyone agreed.

‘And we all know how to work these things?'

‘Yep.'

‘Nice shoes,' added Winter, checking out my white Converse sneakers. I struck a serious model pose in reply, turning and looking over my shoulder intensely, pouting my lips as far as they'd go.

‘Pretty hot, right?'

Cal shook his head and smiled. ‘Let's get out of here,' he said, shoving me.

Winter's leg jiggled nervously beside mine. Ryan was edgy too. We were sitting at a round table close to the stage, waiting for the rest of the guests to arrive and take their seats. Cal was off with the museum curator, going over the night's proceedings. On our left, near the wall, stood a cop, decked out in black. He was like a statue, scanning the place with just a flick of his eyes. Opposite him, on the other side of the room like a mirror, stood another cop doing exactly the same. I'd counted six of them so far, placed strategically throughout the hall.