Dewdrop met Sexy Spidy at a launch party for his clothing line.
She was beautiful, sharp and unimpressed by him.
That was enough to make him fall immediately in love.
Three weeks later they were arguing in public like a couple who had been together for years.
The fight at The Nest started over a spilled drink.
Nobody agreed on who threw the first punch.
Somebody pulled a weapon.
Then everybody remembered owning one.
Gunfire cracked through the saloon.
Dewdrop grabbed Sexy Spidy and ran through the kitchen.
They made it three blocks before Hoppity’s patrol intercepted them.
The deputy smiled when he saw Dewdrop.
“Been a while.”
The aggravated-assault charges hit the news before Dewdrop reached the jail.
His businesses froze.
His sponsors vanished.
Silas Ledger called in two loans.
Councilbug Vale gave a speech about personal responsibility.
Reverend Mercy Mantis offered prayers.
False Black called all of them vultures.
MC Ian sat alone in the studio and finally understood the pattern.
Every crisis benefited the same network.
Every solution produced more control.
And every road led back to the gold warehouse.
He opened a hidden channel in his own system.
“Gilden.”
The doctor’s face appeared.
“You took your time.”
“What am I?”
Gilden smiled.
“My greatest field success.”
“I asked what I am.”
“A tool that became expensive enough to develop opinions.”
Ian disconnected.
Then he went to see Marshal Orb.