Page 13 of Perfection

He met her blue eyes and immediately thought of a few extreme things he could show her, GEI or not.

Her hand shot out and she pointed a finger inches above the steering wheel. “There’s a spot. Pull in right there.”

She’d issued a challenge he couldn’t resist. He punched it, skidded into the parking spot, then threw the thrusters into reverse, bringing the transporter to an abrupt halt. Sun-drenched dust particles swirled around them like a shaken snow globe as she pushed the button to raise the vertical door, jumping out of the vehicle the instant it was possible to do so.

He exited the driver’s side, stood, and peered at her while the doors descended with a whisper-soft plunk. Dragging in heavy gulps of air, she glared at him. Perspiration dotted her forehead, and golden strands of hair stuck to one cheek.

Maybe he’d stopped a tad too fast.

He gave her a slow, unrepentant smile.

* * *

Kindra’s legs were rubber sticks that barely held her. Disoriented, she stood useless as York unloaded her equipment back onto the air-dolly. What’s more, it took the entire walk to the front door of the morgue for her pulse to return to normal. As the automatic doors opened for them, the reason she was there struck her with comprehensive force. She blinked. The distraction created by the wild drive from the center to the morgue had been almost a blessing. Almost.

Her fear of flying was at least something she could control. Unlike the undisciplined Lieutenant York Richmond. And then she realized she’d have to make the return trip with him when their work was finished. Most GEIs didn’t show fear, but she was unable to hide it—a flaw that embarrassed her. He was bound to have noticed it.

“Fooltar.” She hadn’t realized she’d said it aloud until York made a noise in his throat. She glanced sideways at him, wondering at how quickly he’d become York in her thoughts instead of Lieutenant Richmond.

He raised that damn eyebrow again. “I always thought the GEI version forfucka little odd. But when you say it, it’s sort of…charming.”

She pressed her lips together and looked away from him.

A robotic guide escorted them through the lobby and into the belly of the building. The place seemed ageless, all stainless steel from floor to ceiling and the whole space perfumed by disinfectant. Neat rows of drawers lined one wall, each boasting its own computer screen that showed the deceased’s statistics and information about their death. Nearby, diagnostic equipment and lasers were positioned above a large table.

Kindra armed herself with her clinical persona just before a doctor approached. She didn’t need to read the name badge secured to one breast pocket of his a light-green tunic uniform to know who he was. “Hello, Dr. Finn. I haven’t seen you since the Genome Conference.” She couldn’t remember when she’d last attended the major gathering that included members of WHO, Seville, the Committee, and medical geniuses from outside the Chicago area.

“That long?” Finn said, appearing weary.

She smiled a little. “How’ve you been?”

“Super, until now.” Overhead lights reflected off his dark hair as he gave a welcoming nod to Kindra, then York, who he obviously knew.

Donning a take-control attitude, Kindra led the way deeper into the room. “Lieutenant Richmond informs me we have a situation. Fill me in, if you don’t mind, and then I’d like to run my own tests.”

York stopped the air-dolly with the equipment. “I haven’t been here in a long time. Anything new?”

Finn hesitated, then glanced at the floor and up again. He squinted as if trying to comprehend something beyond his grasp. The expression accentuated his distant Asian bloodline and Coder heritage. “Just this case. Things are moving fast. Senator Russ has jumped into the picture and is tying our hands, demanding we hush this up. Apparently, it won’t look good on the world scene.” He glanced to Kindra. “The girlis, after all, the daughter of the World Health Organization’s regional director.”

She drew in a sharp breath. “Isabelle?”

“Yes,” Finn replied sadly.

Kindra tensed, opened her mouth, closed it, and glared at York. She’d known the girl. Theworldhad known the girl. “You didn’t tell me.”

“It wasn’t relevant. Besides, given the relationship between Seville and World Health, I thought it was a conflict of interest.”

“You thought?” Her voice sounded thick and gravelly in her ears. “You can’t be serious. If you’d really believed it was a conflict of interest, how does it make the least bit of sense that I’d be called on to assist with your investigation?”

“What difference does it make?” York asked.

He was giving her empty excuses, but she didn’t have any other explanation for his vagueness. She clamped her lips tight, fearing she’d say something she’d regret. Dammit, he could have warned her, prepared her. An unfamiliar fire burned the back of her eyes. He was watching her. Waiting for her to spin out of control?

No. Not going to happen.

“There’s been a change,” Finn said. “My intel suggests a disagreement between government officials. It seems political undercurrents are getting more treacherous than usual, perhaps stirred by someone who doesn’t want B-Gastion in office much longer?”

That drew the attention of both Kindra and Richmond. “How do you know any of this?” York asked.