Page 31 of Spark Transform

Tōn Ko tapped his earwire and waited until Charrascos looked up. “Minan says it’s clear. She saw the professor and another woman walk in thirty minutes ago.”

Charrascos nodded. “No wonder I don’t have a ping from her yet.” She folded her tablet and stood, then tapped her own earwire. “Minan, did the other woman look like she’d bite my head off if I walked in unannounced?”

Minan chuckled. “I don’t know about that, but they both looked relaxed and cheerful.”

Charrascos tapped her earwire, then turned to Brenner. “I’d like to go, if you say it’s okay.”

He twitched a corner of his mouth. “It’s your head.”

Her wide grin said he’d just opened himself up for even more teasing from her, but he’d survive.

Following Minan’s instructions, they descended to street level and made their way to the building’s wide, transparent front doors.

Minan got up from the bench where she’d been seemingly engrossed in reading. “I didn’t see the professor leave, but she could have gone up top. The dome opens for flitter traffic.”

The building’s lobby didn’t have the usual automated kiosk. Instead, it had a desk, behind which sat a golden-skinned woman with frizzy brown hair. She glanced at them when they entered, but hunched over her horizontal display as they passed, clearly discouraging any interaction.

Minan glanced without turning her head as she led them to the lifts and used the wallcomp to call a capsule.

The lift let them out on the third floor. Minan walked confidently across the hall to a set of wide frosted-glass doors that glided open. Beyond was a lobby area. They all followed her lead and walked in.

A half-wall that displayed the charity’s name and logo appeared to serve as both a reception counter and a corral. The visitor side’s furniture had banks of chairs that looked like they’d been sourced from an old medical clinic waiting area.

On the other side of the wall, two men stood at the continuous counter, focused on a single large display with an opaque back.

The shorter one, pale as winter snow and looking absurdly young, looked at Charrascos. “I’m so sorry, but we’re closed.” His warm words oozed sympathetic apology.

Minan darted a glance at the still-open glass doors, but said nothing.

Charrascos nodded respectfully and pulled her scarf back. A lock of her white hair drooped over her forehead. “I had an appointment with a woman here. Professor Olavskaya.”

Renner hid his amusement at her ability to lie with the truth. She must have been around sifters.

The taller man in gray swiped fingers on the display. “Are you here for the emergency board meeting?” The accent sounded Latin.

As Charrascos started to respond, the interior door behind the two men irised open. A tall woman didn’t wait for the doors to finish opening before thrusting her head and shoulders through. “What’s the frellin’ holdu…” Her sharp words cut off when her eyes landed on Tōn Ko, then the rest of their party. “We’re closed.”

In his earwire, Minan’s voice whispered. “Three strikes. Dieven. Recommend retreat.”

Renner made a split-second decision and stepped closer to Charrascos. “Excuse me, but Dr. Bitehead wants you to come now.” He lifted his wrist briefly to indicate his percomp.

Charrascos froze for a microsecond, then threw her hands up in exasperation. “Oh, of course.” She waved imperiously toward the people behind the counter. “No, that’s not my meeting. I’ll reschedule.”

She spun on her heel and marched through the glass doors toward the lift. “The galaxy apparently spins at the exalted one’s whim.” Her fingers stabbed irritably at the lift controls. “We mere mortals must pay proper respect to majesty and money.” Her sarcastic litany continued under her breath as she crossed her arms and glared at the lift doors.

Tōn Ko caught up to them. Minan drifted right and subtly waved a thumb.

Her subvocalized words came over his earwire. “The other suite on this floor is empty. Stairs beyond it, marked emergency only. Probably alarmed and monitored.”

Renner could fix that if necessary, but it would expose his active talent. Fortunately, the lift doors opened a second later, and they stepped inside the capsule.

Charrascos kept the annoyed look until they all made it out of the building’s front doors and turned left toward the outdoor pedestrian lift.

N’Dwama’s tone and voice came over the earwire. “I heard your exit and freed the flitter. Want me to come to you?”

“No,” Renner subvocalized. “Walking is faster.”

For someone with short legs, Charrascos moved surprisingly quickly. He lengthened his stride and caught her attention. “Ears.”