Page 41 of Perfection

She began to weep brokenly.

“Okay, that’s enough,” B-Gastion said, indicating the interview was done. He pulled his wife to her feet and put his arm around her. “I’m sure you can find your own way out.” He gave them a nod of dismissal. “Lieutenant, Dr. B-Zaika.”

“Wait,” Kindra said. “When did her lack of communion begin?”

Isabelle’s mother sniffled and gathered her composure with obvious effort. “It was Tuesday.”

“Thank you,” York said. “We’ll get in touch if we need anything further.” At the regional director’s wince, York added, “The important thing is to press forward. Believe me.”

Outside, he opened the air-car’s door, then stopped as he felt the presence of watching eyes. He searched the shadows.

“What is it?” Kindra asked from the other side of the vehicle, noticing his hesitation.

“I’m not sure.” A series of gargoyle-like statues sat atop a fortress wall that cast a sable mantle over the grounds. But the spied-on feeling didn’t come from sculptures. Then he saw them: Tracers, gnat-like surveillance cameras, zigzagged from behind trees.

“Do you see something?” she asked.

York gave a nod and activated his communicator. “Captain, did you order Tracers?”

At the captain’s negative, York moved to the trunk and opened it. “Someone did.”

A hidden compartment rolled back to reveal an arsenal. He selected a catch gun. He’d snag the little flying surveillance devices with the nets.

“What are you doing?” Kindra asked.

“Going fishing.” He took aim at a buzzing object and, as if fly fishing, made his cast with the gun and netted a Tracer. He reeled it in, tossed it into the trunk, and cast another shot line.

“I’ll need to get these back to the e-lab to find out who sent them,” he said.

Kindra glanced at the darkening sky, then at her test kit. “Oh my goodness. What time is it?”

“Seven.” He shrugged. “Oh, right. Don’t you have an award ceremony to attend?”

“Yes. I am oh so excited,” she deadpanned.

York chuckled, dropped a final Tracer into the trunk, and slammed it shut. “Don’t worry. I’ll get you there on time.”

She groaned. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”

* * *

In the Seville lab, Kindra couldn’t help taking a few minutes to look over the latest computer results before she headed out again. She opened one of the incubator drawers, which were made up of small, individual compartments. She removed two trays, each holding over a hundred button-sized petri dishes containing genetic samples labeled with the names of the latest children to be tested. She replaced them with new trays. Standing beside the HERO computer screen, she inserted one tray into the sequencing equipment. The screen displayed extremely magnified samples of the genomes. Her hand shook as she came across Brianna’s name.

Footsteps clicked behind her. “Anything yet?” Director Isaac asked impatiently.

She jumped. “Nothing new.”

“Better head over for your award.”

She nodded reluctantly. “Yes, sir.”

She slipped into the bathroom and quickly changed into the navy blue, fitted dress she’d brought with her and matching heels. York was waiting out front to drive her to the ceremony. She hurried out to meet him. Like a stupid award mattered when children’s lives—herchild’s life—hung in the balance.

* * *

York was on his way to the precinct after dropping off Kindra when the growl of his stomach reminded him he hadn’t eaten since that slice of pizza at Vi’s. He swung his air-car into Nick’s Brew and Grill and grabbed a take-out sub.

At his desk, he made short work of the sub while he reviewed the evidence. He had several holoscreens open in front of him and flipped between them. He pored over B-Gastion’s enemy list and reviewed interviews conducted by the uniformed officers. He made notes next to the names of employees at Seville.