Lessa is shaking their head. “I’m afraid she’s right. Stupid man. Before she had rights to him, but now, especially if he’s assaulted an inspector—”
“K8’s right. We need to start searching,” Jett suggests, cutting Lessa off before they can say any more damning words. K8 and Lessa nod their agreement. “This’ll be fun. We’re like detectives. Lessa, you start on the top floor. K8, you take the floors with public areas. I’ll start at two.” Jett squeezes her hand reassuringly. “We’ll find him.”
Lessa pulls her into an embrace. “Worrying is going to give you wrinkles.”
K8 tries not to giggle, but they are so ridiculous it’s impossible.
Then they separate. K8 tackles the ground floor first, pacing the expansive space, trying not to look as if she’s searching for anyone. An hour later, when she makes it to the twenty-fifth-floor fitness park, she’s surprised no one has reported that she’s the suspicious person. Because with her increasing panic, the way she’s wandering around with her darting stare, she’s certain she looks suspicious. She should have put on her black air control officer uniform. At least then she might appear official.
Perhaps a drink would help with her rising anxiety. And it would be rude not to offer her FRIENDS one after they’ve been searching so diligently on her behalf. She taps her m-volt to activate it, then thinks the command: Message Lessa and Jett,Meet me at Tower Bar.
A quick elevator ride takes her to the top floor. The doors open to the expansive lobby. To her right, penthouse units hover over the congested city. The left side hosts the bar and a sad excuse fora nightclub. Lessa is already there and halfway through a Bizzy-bee when she slides into the chair beside them. Jett is only a moment behind her.
“Great idea,” he says as Lessa slides them both a preordered drink.
K8 stirs the cocktail with the little metal stick. “I’m surprised we didn’t find him yet.”
“I know. I spoke with the section manager in the lobby on the first floor and she said it’s been quiet all afternoon. Do you think they took him to another tower before he escaped?” Jett rattles the ice in his glass as he looks over the rim.
“They must have. I made it through each shop and restaurant in my search.” K8’s eyes go wide as her stomach grumbles.
Then Lessa’s hand is in the air to flag down the bartender. “Some peppered pastry twists and the dressy eggs, please.” They turn to K8. “Can’t focus on searching if you’re hungry.”
What’s a man’s life when compared to dinner? They’re right, though. She is hungry.
The bartender delivers the food and another Bizzy-bee each. K8 is about to suggest they recommence the search, when Lessa gives a weary sigh. As if he knows what she’s going to say, Jett averts his gaze before he finally asks, “Won’t he try to go back to your unit?”
K8 pauses mid-sip. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
Jett’s device pings. He lifts it, scanning the message. “I know someone who works for the Information Distribution System. I asked them to message if anything comes through.”
K8 and Lessa lean closer.
Jett lowers his voice to a whisper. “They foundher.”
What? It was aher? As in a woman. So, not James? Not James.Not James. This is good, right? Or bad. If they returned him like they promised, he would have been back to her unit hours ago. Oh Zephyr, what was she doing running around like an unhinged person? Sitting at the bar worrying the night away. She always knew a manupartner would be nothing but trouble.
“The runaway was a woman?” Lessa asks.
“The initial report didn’t say. What a strange and misleading coincidence,” Jett says, then taps his device, presumably responding to his IDS contact.
“That might have been helpful to know earlier,” Lessa complains.
“I don’t think they knew, Stress-Les. GROW seems to be trying to make light of this,” Jett says.
And it’s true. The casual pretense of the press release surprised her. Retained memories is a gross understatement. GROW is bringing people from the past back to life. It’s unprecedented.
Lessa sighs, slinging an arm around K8’s shoulders. “What are you going to do now?”
What is she going to do? “I guess go back to my unit and hope James shows up.”
As the trio separate, Jett gives her a hug, saying he’s going to get more food at a higher quality establishment, but then he’ll be available afterward if she needs to talk.
Then K8 goes back downstairs to her unit, a little buzzed and, of course, alone.
17 – Kate Will Be So Pleased
James
