Free Ticker by Lisa Mantchev

with a surprising amount of sarcasm. Ill-advised, I’m sure, but the remaining vestiges of fear and adrenaline needed some outlet.
    “I’ve no polite answer for that question, Miss Farthing, and so I’ll refrain from saying anything.” Such formality made him sound older, but the exasperation behind the words betrayed him as he reached for the bag of Eidolachometer cards.
    I considered resisting and then thought better of it. Despite my irritation, some traitorous part of me was reassured by his presence. “You’re welcome.”
    “For what?” Marcus asked, never taking his gaze off me.
    “For retrieving the stolen property.” I scanned the alley until I spotted my Pixii in a heap of unidentifiable refuse. I retrieved it, wrinkling my nose and wiping off the device with my handkerchief. Depressing the resistance switch, I was gratified to see it still worked. “Isn’t that supposed to be your job? Shall I send you a bill?”
    “Not unless you want to explain to a judge why you undermined a covert operation.” Marcus closed the distance between us; another man would have done it in ten steps, but he did it in five. “I knew the thieves were in the catacombs. We were trying to catch the gang red-handed, but thanks to you, one seems to have escaped.”
    Startled by the note of anger, I looked up until my entire world consisted of dark wool and his broad shoulders. “I was only doing what was necessary—”
    “Wrong,” he said, interrupting me. “We’ve met three times today, Miss Farthing, and thrice your reactions have put me or one of my soldiers in jeopardy. I can’t guess how you’ll behave in anygiven situation, except I can bet money that you’ll conduct yourself poorly, and that makes you a liability.”
    “You certainly know how to turn a girl’s head with compliments, Mister Kingsley.” Cold fury iced over my Ticker, and slick silver needles coursed through my veins in place of blood. “Are you quite finished?”
    “Not even close. You’re going to have to explain to my satisfaction why every site of destruction and mayhem today has centered around your family and property.” Marcus tapped out a message on his RiPA.
    Violet emerged from the crawl space with Sebastian just behind.
    “Can the interrogation wait a few minutes?” Sebastian queried calmly. “We have three criminals tied up in the catacombs. It wouldn’t have taken us so long to meet up with you, but there’s precious little rope down there, and we had to improvise. Nic is sitting on them right now.”
    Marcus dispatched two officers with a flick of his finger just as a silver SkyDart landed a few feet away. Designed for swift transport to and from the Flying Fortress, the aircrafts were too new and too expensive for civilian ownership and certainly not yet for hire by the hour. I’d never actually seen one of them up close and tried not to stare at the sleek lines that reminded me of a crossbow bolt, the open cockpit, the tendrils of luminous smoke created by the air-breathing engines.
    “Just what is that thing for?” I asked.
    “That thing, Miss Farthing, is your ride. I’m taking you in for more questioning.”
    I took a step back and found myself up against the wall for the second time in as many minutes. “I’m not going anywhere with you, Marcus Kingsley. I won’t be treated like a criminal.”
    “I merely require a place of relative safety where I can offer you all due hospitality.” When Marcus took me by the elbow, my choice was to walk or be dragged.
    I chose the former, but not by a wide margin. “While you torture me within an inch of my life?”
    “While I take down your statement of this day’s events.” He unfolded the SkyDart’s metal stairs.
    Though I liked it not a whit, I knew I had to go with him. Marcus was in possession of the Eidolachometer cards, and they might be the only way to get my parents back. The short exchange of words with the burglar had planted seeds of ice and fear in my