Chapter 15 · Undercity Broker - Chapter 15: Three Factions, Three Prices

Lin's hands were still shaking when he opened the ledger to the last page again.

His mother's name. Right there in faded ink. First creditor, it said. Zero interest. Zero collateral. Just her signature and a date from twenty years ago.

He didn't get time to think about what that meant because he heard boots on metal, coming from three different directions.

Shit.

Lin shoved the ledger inside his jacket and pressed his back against the shipping container. The undercity market was supposed to be empty this hour. He'd counted on that. Dr. An had bought him maybe thirty minutes before someone noticed the poisoned train car and the missing ledger.

Thirty minutes was up.

"Lin Mo." That was Lei's voice, echoing off the curved tunnel walls. Close. Maybe two rows of containers over. "We know you're here. Boss wants his book back."

Lin's arm burned where the Trade Curse lived under his skin. The tattoo writhed like it was listening.

Not now, he thought at it. I'm not trading anything right now.

But then he heard the second set of footsteps. Lighter. Faster.