Broken Angel Read Online Free PDF Page A

please.”
    “First, you’re going to tell me how to bypass the software on your vidpod. Of course, we need to erase all of this.”
    Rankin closed his eyes, nodded as if defeated.
    Mason patted Rankin’s chest and found the vidpod. Rankin talked him through it, step by step.
    “Just so you know,” Mason said when he was satisfied the previous minutes of conversation were erased. He secured the thumbscrew on the little toes of Rankin’s right foot. “If our conversation does get back to Bar Elohim, I’ll hunt you down. Understand?”
    “Yes, yes,” Rankin said.
    It’s a cold, harsh world out from under Bar Elohim’s wings, isn’t it?
Mason thought.
    “We’re not finished. Confirm this for me. Bar Elohim intends to use the thermal imaging to get rid of the Clan.”
    “They’re like rats. We don’t know how many there are. They scurry back into hiding at the slightest sign of danger. Thermal imaging will give Bar Elohim an accurate idea of the count. And where they disappear to. Once they are gone, Appalachians will stop hoping there’s a way Outside.”
    Mason nodded, knowing it made sense. The Valley of the Clan was riddled with ancient coal mines. Only the Clan knew the secret entrances and the labyrinth of passageways between Appalachia and Outside.
    “This girl,” Mason said, “the fugitive’s daughter. Why is she so important that Outside will stop the Clan?”
    All these years, Outside had allowed the Clan to help Appalachians escape. It was almost official Outside policy. Now they were prepared to assist Bar Elohim?
    “You’ve got the canister.” A trace of Rankin’s former arrogance resurfaced. “And you’ve been given instructions. Surely you’ve been able to guess.”
    Mason blinked, his bad eye stinging. Rankin had essentially called him stupid. A mistake.
    Mason put the tape across Rankin’s mouth and tightened the thumbscrew until he heard bones break again. He left the thumbscrew in place and walked to the small bathroom. He relieved himself, then enjoyed a glass of water. He refilled his glass and took it back into the room.
    On his return to the chair, Mason saw Rankin arched in agony against the duct tape that held him in place. Mason smiled and sipped the water, watching Rankin watch him.
    Finally, Mason released the pressure of the thumbscrew. He knew from experience that if he pulled the duct tape now, Rankin would scream, no matter what threats Mason applied. So Mason let Rankin’s chest rise and fall until it seemed the man had control over himself.
    Mason removed the tape to resume their conversation.
    “I have been given a canister,” Mason said. It was the size of a quart jar. He’d been told that it had an inner sleeve, and that once it was opened, an ongoing chemical reaction would trigger a refrigeration effect between the outer sleeve and inner sleeve, with such perfect insulation that once the lid was tightened, the contents of the canister would be kept at a constant cold temperature for months. “I know what I’m supposed to do with it. But tell me why. And tell me why it’s so important to Outside.”
    Rankin continuously wept as he explained, and from his answers, Mason began to understand something very profound. That capturing the girl would give him everything he wanted. And that now wasn’t the time to reveal what he’d learned on the fugitive’s unregistered vidpod.
    “We’re finished.” Mason stood after Rankin’s explanation. “You may go. I wouldn’t see a doctor about your toes. There’s nothing they can do anyway. Tell people you dropped something on them and that will explain why you limp. If I hear that Bar Elohim has any questions about our meeting this morning…”
    As Mason peeled away the duct tape, Rankin sobbed harder. With gratitude, Mason supposed. As Rankin stood, he briefly draped his arms over Mason’s shoulders for support.
    Mason felt an unusual swell of affection for the man. After all, Mason owned him.

THREE
    I t was