Part 40 (1/2)
”We're not lovers,” Annja said.
”Oh? And that dalliance by the waterfall? What was that?”
Had everyone in the world seen her make love to Ken? Annja sighed. ”I think we're still trying to work out exactly what that was. But neither of us is getting hung up on it.”
”Exactly,” Ken said.
”How nice you've got that understood,” Garin said. ”But I'll still kill him if you pull that blade out.”
”I'm not pulling it out. It's been acting funny anyway lately.”
Garin blanched. ”It has?”
”Yes.”
”I don't suppose you'd care to elaborate on how it's been acting funny, would you?”
Annja pointed. ”I don't suppose you'd care to toss the gun out of the window and act like a civilized person for a change?”
”I don't think so.”
Annja nodded. ”So, I guess this will be something I talk over with Roux, then. I'm sure he'll be most interested. Even more so when he finds out that he's got valuable information that you don't have.”
Garin frowned. ”That's not fair, Annja. I helped you acquire that sword.”
”I never wanted the sword. I was simply there at the right moment and you and Roux didn't have a chance to get your greedy mitts on it.”
”You're punis.h.i.+ng me.”
”Yes. And you're not going to get Ken's vajra vajra.”
Garin chewed his lip. ”You could be lying. Making the whole thing up. Just to protect your boyfriend here.”
”Yep,” Annja said. ”I could be. But you won't ever know, will you?”
Garin stayed quiet for a moment. Annja shook her head. ”Is this why you approached me in the hotel? When you tried to warn me about Ken? Planting all that stuff in my mind that he might not be who he said he was? Was it all for this? Just to get the vajra vajra?”
”Will you be mad if I say yes?”
Annja smirked. ”No. I'll chalk it up to you just being you. And to think I thought you were actually concerned about me. Well, at least until you went after that waitress.”
”I have needs,” Garin said. ”Don't begrudge me my primal desires.”
”Whatever.” Annja saw they were approaching the heart of Ueno. ”Were you on our tail ever since the hotel?”
”Yes.”
”And you saw, presumably, everything that happened?”
Garin shrugged. ”There were a few instances where you went to ground and I couldn't locate you. But I tagged your other interested parties, knowing they'd lead me back to you, and here I am now.”
”Thanks for all the help.”
”My pleasure.” Garin cleared his throat. ”You really won't tell me what's been going on, will you?”
”Not one word of information as long as you think about stealing the vajra vajra from Ken.” from Ken.”
”And if I play nice and let him keep it?”
”I might think about sitting you and Roux down and having a chat about what's been going on,” Annja said.