Ace of Diamonds, The

6: The Bad Timing of a Suspicious Coincidence

  Setzer stared at the cards, his hand and fingers working them until they were bent and the edges tattered and worn. He didn’t even notice the loud sailors and rough-mouthed workers inhabiting the pub of Nikeah. All he could see were the cards and the memory of Marée’s bruised face lingering directly beyond. Setzer slammed the cards down on the table and leaned back in his chair, leaning his left elbow on the arm as his hand rubbed at his forehead.

  Zozo had been as sinister a place as ever. Reeking of plots and thievery, it had made his lip curl in a sneer of disdain and memories. He had entered the town cautious and alert, knowing that anything else would have seen him face down in a pool of his own blood. Seeing a quick flash of Marée’s face in that same position had turned his stomach, but he had pushed the fear aside and pressed onward in his search. She was a wonder of a woman, and the reminder of the way she’d clobbered Lahey hard enough to loose a tooth had been enough to ease his heart at the time.

  Now the nightmares had begun, fed by his fear that her rebellion against the person or person’s in control of her contract hadn’t taken too kindly to her independence. He’d spent the entire day and evening searching Zozo for her, even going so far as to buy into several poker games in order to try and procure some information. For the right price of course. Nothing. He came away a richer man, but what did he care about the gil that lined his pockets when Marée may have been dead or dying?

  One of the sailors laughed raucous and loud, and Setzer hurled a bladed card one inch above his head. The man fell silent, leaving the pub moments later. His buddies trailed behind several minutes after when other cards had been thrown their general direction. One had actually grazed a man’s cheek.

  Setzer grabbed at the deck splayed across the table and gave it a shuffle. When he retrieved the top card--Ace of Diamonds. Damn, woman! Tell me where you are! How could he rescue her if he didn’t know where to look? Yet the cards continued to plead with him to find her. Setzer swore, standing so sharply that the chair fell back. The pub went deathly still and silent as the men and women watched the gambler stride to the exit. A breath of relief sounded once the door had slammed behind him.

  Setzer strode from the pub to make his way toward the Falcon anchored just outside. I must try harder. Think it through, man, and find her! Setzer tossed the cards away. They fluttered on the breeze for several moments before falling to the ground. Did I miss something in Zozo? Some question waiting to ask? A specific person needed for the answer? He just had to find out which and ask them. Marée’s life depended on it.

  As Setzer approached the Falcon, he noticed a solitary figure running toward him. Her gait was lethargic and forced, as if she’d been running for a very long distance. Hair bedraggled and clothes tattered. A strong emotion of fear tightened his chest as he strode toward--Terra?

  Setzer’s frown instantly disappeared. He caught her in his arms just as her strength gave way. “Terra? What has happened?”

  “The children. They’re gone!”

  Setzer paled. “What?”

  Anything more was impossible to hear. Exhaustion had settled in. Setzer lifted Terra into his arms and carried her aboard ship.

  “E-Edgar . . . we must tell Edgar,” she stammered.

  “Keep still, Terra. Everything will be all right. Sleep. The Falcon will take us to Figaro.”

  Terra’s form relaxed against Setzer as he entered his ship and moved toward his private office. Then he carefully placed her on the couch and covered her with a blanket. Terra didn’t stir. Her yellowish face only twisted in a cacophony of misery and worry and dread, her pale green hair; matted with sweat and rain and tears. She mumbled something unintelligible in her fitful sleep, and he brushed a new tear from the corner of her eye before he stood.

  “Don’t worry,” he whispered. Setzer exited the office and made his way to the flight deck. “We will find your children, as well as those responsible for their abduction.”

  Setzer pushed the throttle forward and turned the Falcon toward Figaro, setting the terror for Marée carefully aside. He clenched his jaw and tightened his hold on the wheel as he imagined her hands again on his.