Page 89 of Alien Burn

For once, Sereya did not rush to replace it.

She opened the suite door. The guard turned toward her, and beyond his shoulder the corridor was bright and occupied and blessedly ordinary.

“Sereya,” Roemary said behind her.

She knew that voice. She had answered it hundreds of times.

This time she stepped out into the corridor and let the door close.

13

DHOMHES

The packet looked disappointingly innocent.

Cream paper. Program seal. A slight dent at one corner where someone had pressed a thumb too hard. It lay on the examination table between Dhomhes and his operations lead, beside a report confirming it contained neither a device nor a hazardous substance.

“Where was it?” Dhomhes asked.

“Common table. Exactly where she said.”

“Any objection to collecting it?”

“The lady Roemary wanted a receipt.”

“Give her one.”

“She has one. She also wanted the name of whoever would open it.”

“Mine will do.”

His lead glanced up.

Dhomhes drew the chair closer. “We're checking every outgoing delivery. I am quite willing to be blamed for my own order.”

On the comm beside his hand, a new message appeared.

I'm in the room. The guard waited until the door locked.

Then, a moment later:

There is only one bedroom. I'm finding that an excellent feature.

He smiled before he could help it.

His lead looked at the comm, then very carefully at the packet.

“Have you something to say?” Dhomhes asked.

“About the seal, sir?”

“A wise choice.”

He answered Sereya first.

I'm glad. The packet has been collected. You don't need to do anything else with it.

He sent another question.