Read #2 Shades of Gray: From Moscow, With Love Page 17

  Chapter Sixteen

  The Request

  9:47 P.M...

  Thanatos the Dark Half's Regulator clicked on an incoming call, and an image of a man appeared on his hundred foot screen. The man's eyes were shadowed, but Thanatos recognized the mouth and chin.

  "Mr. Morta," Thanatos yelled over the loud metal music resonating through his domain. "It has been a while. You should call more often. I miss our chats."

  "And I dislike them."

  "And here I thought we were friends. I guess I was wrong. What can I do for the Council?"

  Mr. Morta scowled as he looked over the nipple pierced punk; he could barely hear Thanatos. He stated, "I wanted to personally confirm that the request for the Pandora Project's Open Closing has been canceled. We have no further need to have a bounty on its head."

  Thanatos pulled up the file, opened it on the lower part of the large screen, and replied, " The Closing and the bounty were canceled one minute ten seconds after your request." He scratched his eyebrow as he inquired, "Is there a problem?"

  "No," Mr. Morta answered.

  "I take it you have a real interest in this Pandora–" Thanatos yelled and glanced over the file. "–woman. Do not worry. Since the forging of the Assassins Guild, mistakes are rare." He typed in a command on the keyboard and turned down his music, and Thanatos stopped yelling. "Once a Closing is canceled, it is canceled. All Closers use H.H.Cs., and they know the moment a cancelation comes through. Pandora has nothing to fear from any Closer. She is free to do whatever projects do."

  Mr. Morta tapped his finger on the table, not amused with Thanatos and then spoke, "Perhaps you can help me with another matter. A Closer crossed paths with one of our projects. I would like to know their identity. I believe she performed the Topa Closing."

  Thanatos typed across the keyboard and pulled up more files. "Do you know the history of the Assassins Guild?"

  "Yes," Mr. Morta replied. "I do not need a lesson. Please give me the answer to my request."

  Thanatos gestured a bow with his hand and head as he began, "Great Council member..." A smile slithered across his face as he said, "If you know the history, you should also know I cannot tell you their identity. Part of my job is to protect their anonymity."

  Mr. Morta grumbled his irritation. "I have no further need to speak with you then."

  He ended the transmission. Thanatos drummed his fingers on the swivel keyboard, pushed it to the side till it aligned with the chair's arm, and leaned forward.

  "Phoenix..." He placed his palms together as if praying and questioned out loud, "What have you gotten yourself into?"