City on Fire (Metropolitan 2) Read Online Free

thieves, that they wanted only enrichment and perquisites . . . the scope of larceny that they permitted, against their own metropolis, was irrational . The amount of plasm stolen is staggering. It constituted a vast plundering of their own power, a threat to the security of their own state of which they seemed unaware. Well.” He plants a fist on the table and looks at Aiah with a defiant glare. "Well, I am not so blind, not so unaware. The theft of this most singular public resource must stop. But what force do I have to enforce any new edicts—or even the old ones?”
    He shrugs, adjusts the position of one of the gold ashtrays, begins to pace again. “My soldiers are not suitable to police work. The local authorities are as corrupt as their former masters, and it is hopeless to expect anything from them until years of reform have done their work. For this purpose I must build my own police force, my own power base. But the New City movement here is limited to a few intellectuals, a few discussion groups—I have no cadre, no organized group of followers ready to step into place. And ...” He looks up at Aiah, eyes challenging hers, and she feels ice water flood her spine.
    “You,” he says. “You will build this force for me. You have found plasm thieves in the past, and in my service you were a plasm thief. I wish you to find these thieves and return their power to the service of the state.”
    Aiah blinks at him across the table. She doesn’t know whether to laugh or simply to be appalled by the suggestion.
    “Metropolitan?” she asks. “Are you sure it’s me you want?”
    Cold amusement enters his glance. “Of course,” he says. “Why not?”
    “I’m a foreigner, for one thing.”
    “That’s an advantage. It means you’re not part of the corrupt structure here in Caraqui.”
    “I’ve never done police work.”
    “ You will have people, qualified people, to do the work for you. But I want you in charge . I need someone I can trust heading the department.”
    “ I’m twenty-five years old!” she says. “I’ve never run anything like this in my life.”
    He gives her a sharp look. “You have worked within a government department concerned with plasm regulation. You know where it went right, went wrong. You studied administration at university.” He assesses her with his gold-flecked eyes, then nods. “And I have faith in your abilities, even if you do not. You have never disappointed me, Miss Aiah.”
    “I wouldn’t know where to start looking for plasm thieves.”
    Constantine bares his teeth. “Start looking in my office. My waiting room is full of people offering me bribes.” He smiles. “I will give you a list.”
    “I —”
    “ And the Specials— the old political police— their records should be valuable. The instant the fighting was over, Sorya led a flying squad to their headquarters to seize their files. The records belong to us now, and . . .” Constantine gives a feral smile. “They’re very useful.”
    Aiah’s spirit sinks at the thought of Sorya, Constantine’s lover— or rather, his official lover.
    “Would I have to work with Sorya?” she says. “Because...” Words fail her. “Well, I don’t think she likes me.”
    A touch of cold disdain twists Constantine’s mouth. "It is in both your interests," he says, “to cooperate on this project.”
    “Yes,” patiently, “I’m sure.”
    Constantine’s restless prowling has brought him around the table again, standing next to Aiah. He picks up one of the gold ashtrays, holds it in both hands. “The government will announce an amnesty for plasm thieves,” Constantine says. “A month or so. It will take at least that long for you and your team to set up operations, consolidate your files, make a few preliminary investigations. And after that—” He smiles down at her, suddenly warm. “You have always exceeded my expectations, Miss Aiah. I have no reason to believe this will be different.”
    Aiah sighs.