Lafferty, Mur Read Online Free PDF Page B

real thing," Peter said. He winced at the memory. Clever Jack had a passive power much like Keepsie's. His incredible luck kept him alive in any circumstance, giving him the dexterity to dodge attacks and attempts to capture him. This power also allowed Clever Jack to be impossibly accurate with any weapon. Peter had seen him throw a steak knife and pin two police officer's hands to a wall, one on top of the other. He had escaped handcuffs without incident and gunfights without a scratch.
    How had Keepsie’s power caught him, then?
    "I think," Peter said, "you need to tell us what happened today, and what this mysterious item is."
    Keepsie sighed and told them the story of her capture, the drop Doodad had made, and her attempt to figure out what it was.
    She held her thumb and forefinger together to make a circle. "It's just a ball bearing about this big; no seams, no obvious use."
    "Doodad's mechanical power is probably what drives it, whatever it is,”
    Peter said. “Why did he plant it on you just to have Clever Jack steal it back?"
    "Hell if I know," Keepsie said. "Maybe they’re not working together after all. Maybe we should talk to him."
    They groaned.
    "I know, but we have to do something,” she said. “Besides, he asked for me." She stepped forward and put her hand on the kitchen door.
    Her friends remained motionless. Keepsie looked over her shoulder. "Are you coming?"

Chapter 4
     
    Keepsie took a deep breath. She'd had Patricia's sobering services before, but it was always disorienting to lose a good strong drunk in the span of two seconds. It was rather like a deep-sea diver surfacing too quickly, although there had been no apparent risk of catching the bends with sobering up in an instant.
    She had no idea what she would say to Clever Jack, but she pushed on the door and entered the kitchen.
    He sat exactly where her power had trapped him. His arm was stuck inside the Lost and Found box, and he looked up at her, smiling.
    "Ah, so you're Keepsie. I wasn't sure which one you were," he said. "I'd shake your hand, but you've already got it in a pretty tight grip."
    Keepsie didn't laugh. "Yeah, I was the one outside trying to enjoy a little celebration. What do you want?"
    "Hey, calm down, I’m not the enemy. My friend Doodad dropped something today, I’m just trying to get it back for him.” Damn, but he was friendly.
    Keepsie felt her friends' presence behind her and took a deep breath. "I don't think you understand me. I know what you're trying to steal, but what is it? What do you want with it?"
    Clever Jack looked at Keepsie as if she were slow. "Oh, that’s not important right now. The important thing is that you get me out of this box. I just need to get Doodad’s toy back and I’ll be on my way.” "So first I'm being used by the heroes, then the villains?" Keepsie frowned.
    Clever Jack looked offended. "Now why did you have to go and use that word for? I thought you had no love for those hero-types, and here you are putting down myself and my friend Doodad."
    "You're the one trying to steal from her, at least the heroes had the decency to ask first," Michelle said, stepping forward.
    Keepsie glared at her. "What?" Michelle whispered, looking wounded.
    "This is Keepsie’s show," Ian whispered to her. Michelle stepped back, glaring at Ian.
    "True, but it was never hers to begin with," Clever Jack said. "It was Doodad's. He loaned it to her."
     
    "Now that's where you're wrong," Keepsie said. "If he gives it to me, it’s mine. No takebacks." She thought for a moment. "So how did Doodad know about me, anyway? And how did the heroes find out that I had the-whatever it is?"
    "And what the hell is it, anyway?" Ian asked.
    Clever Jack smiled, his hair falling into his eyes. "I'll tell you if you free me."
    Ian snorted. "Dude, I've heard all sorts of stories about you and your power, you're like a god in some of the small towns around here. Fuckin' Robin Hood without the whole giving to the poor thing.