Page 7 of Cold Ignition

"No," Rangi said. "But I think we can call someone who can."

Alexios's brow furrowed slightly.

"The Pathfinders," Rangi added.

Recognition flickered across Alexios's face. "Ah."

Rangi reached slowly into the inner pocket of his jacket and pulled out the battered remains of a cheap burner phone. The plastic casing was scorched from the earlier firefight.

He pressed the power button and was relieved to see the screen flicker to life.

"You're sure about this?" Alexios asked quietly.

Rangi scrolled through the short list of stored numbers. "Nope," he admitted.

Then he hit the call button. The line rang twice before someone answered.

"Yeah."

The voice on the other end was rough and alert.

Rangi kept his tone calm. "Bateman."

A pause. "Depends who's asking."

"Atua."

Another beat of silence.

Then Bateman sighed softly.

"Well, I'll be damned," he said. "Thought you'd gone quiet on the world."

"Working on it."

"And the Greek?" Bateman asked.

Alexios leaned closer to the phone. "Lykos here," he said simply.

Bateman chuckled. "Figures you two would be together."

Rangi kept the conversation short. "We need help."

"What kind?"

"We're in trouble with the Crucible Circuit, and need to take the head of this particular snake."

Bateman swore under his breath. "We’ve been following those assholes. That explains a lot."

"We need a driver," Rangi continued. "One name, a legend, will get the leadership to surface."

Bateman already knew. "Ahi," he said.

Rangi nodded even though the man couldn't see him. "Yes."

Another pause.

"I'll see what I can do," Bateman replied.