Page 11 of Perfection

“I second that,” York said, shoving his hands into his pockets. Had he misjudged her based on the speeches she’d given to the media? No, he didn’t think so. “You gave them a good one-two, though.”

She squinted at him, puzzled, then shook her head. “They aren’t going to listen. And if they don’t rethink their direction, then we’re heading for a major social disaster.”

He’d been saying that for years.

The door opened, and the chairman of the Committee stepped into the hall. “It’s a good thing our judgment isn’t based on feelings,” B-Cobb said. Kindra sprang from the wall and straightened her spine as he narrowed his eyes at York. “What are you doing here, Lieutenant?”

“Walk with us, Mr. Chairman, and I’ll explain.” York strode in the direction of Kindra’s office. Silence hung between them until they rounded the corner. In the empty hallway, he recounted the case to Chairman B-Cobb. Or what he knew of it, anyway. “The captain has ordered me to acquire Dr. B-Zaika to act as an advisor at the morgue.”

B-Cobb stopped at a fork in the corridor. “Why? What for?”

“It’s case-sensitive information, sir,” York said. At this point, the investigation was on a need-to-know basis.

B-Cobb puckered his lips. “Why am I only just now hearing about this?”

“Lieutenant Richmond arrived moments prior to my presentation,” Kindra explained. “I haven’t had the opportunity to get Director Isaac’s permission to assist.”

Chairman B-Cobb said nothing as he considered the situation. York watched Kindra’s rising tension as she skipped nervous fingers over her forearm.

Finally, B-Cobb said, “You may assist with the police investigation. I’ll inform the director. Please keep us plugged in, Doctor.”

She nodded. “I will.”

“Thank you, sir,” York said.

B-Cobb angled his head, a frown producing a rare wrinkle of imperfection on his GEI features. He strolled toward the hallway to the left. York tracked Kindra to the right.

“I need to gather some equipment before we leave,” she said, walking faster. The woman didn’t seem to slow down. He, on the other hand, was feeling the weight of being up all night.

In the lab, he fell in alongside her to help load a blood analyzer and a host of other things he couldn’t identify onto an air-dolly.

“I can’t stop thinking of the two-year-old.” She paused and swished a lock of hair behind her ear. “There has to be an explanation. Something specific tothischild.”

B-Gastion was very specific to the girl. He would check that lead out further to determine if anyone had a disagreement with the regional director, but there were other factors outside of his area of expertise. It was why he needed Kindra B-Zaika. But at the same time, he generally didn’t trust people to investigate and reveal their own mistakes.

“I hope so. If not…” He drilled her with his gaze, unwilling at first to voice the possibility, but not bothering to stifle his accusing tone. “Could the girl have acquired a major flaw?”

She gasped, stared right back at him, and straightened. “No. I can’t accept that.”

The worried look in her eyes was far from convincing.

He thumbed the raised insignia scar that ran along the pulse point of his left wrist. He’d had it etched into his skin on his son’s passing. He flicked a glance at her. Could he trust her opinion? Without a doubt, this case was different from his boy’s situation. It was GEI saving GEI—poles apart from his son’s circumstance. But something about her dignified authority inspired belief. Besides, taking action felt right. It sure as hell beat sitting on his ass behind a computer.

As the pile of equipment climbed higher, his tension eased. He found he enjoyed watching her.

“That will do,” she commented at last. Then she shot up an elegant finger. “Umm…one more item.” It was some sort of square box.

She removed her lab coat and set it on a hook by the door. Her pink lips pursed, and her eyes danced. It was the first impromptu move she’d made since he’d spotted her across the lab. It grabbed him with the force of a powerful magnet. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. He watched her bend to dig something from a bottom desk drawer. The magnet tugged harder. His vision hung for a long moment on the spot where the upper curve of her ass met her spine as her fitted shirt eased above dark-green leggings, revealing an inch of smooth honey-gold skin.

Dimples?he wondered, then came to his senses, grudgingly acknowledging that a man shouldn’t consider certain things when working a case. Instincts, however, acted according to intrinsic rules. He forced a swallow, irked because this woman fell into that untouchable category of Gen-Fairs. No, the fair generation of GEIs were not for him, or any Coder. He needed to be done with this case at rocket speed.

Her dazzling blue eyes flashed him a mischievous glance as she dropped a handheld scanner into a loaded bin. She tossed the air-dolly controller to him. “Here, be useful.”

He thrust his hand sideways, catching the tiny box. “Your transporter, mine, or the company’s, Doctor?”

“Yours. I don’t drive. And please, call me Kindra.”

He lifted a shoulder. Many people in Chicago took public transportation. He surmised she was one of them. “Guess that settles it. Follow me.”