Page 44 of Perfection

“We have nothing conclusive,” Kindra told the reporter.

“Good job,” York said. “We don’t even have much info to give the parents yet.”

“It’s all right,” Avery said, glancing at York. “Do you think B-Gastion was targeted? Why not someone from the Committee? Why not a scientist?”

“I have no actual evidence yet. Just my gut. B-Gastion has enemies with money and power. And then there are those within the Coder community. Any one of them could have hired a professional. Someone with the genetic expertise to create the virus. I don’t know.”

“The regional director is up my butt to solve this quickly. Yes, he blames Seville, but that doesn’t give him the explanation he needs about how his daughter contracted a virus, to begin with. It just doesn’t happen in this day and age.”

“I know.

“Then find the evidence.” Avery twirled and swished a straw between his fingers.

“I’m working on it.”

Captain Avery stared at the holographic picture cube on his desk. Pictures flashed over it: a boy, a girl, then the captain’s family at a park. “Ok. Genetics is our only lead. Let’s convince the people at Seville to work with us.”

“They have been.”

“That was before the blame landed on their turf. People get nasty when they’re cornered,” Avery muttered. “A genetic mistake isn’t a crime, but it could quickly turn into a panic. We will monitor everything. I want you knocking on their door again and again.”

York nodded. He turned to exit.

“Hey.” Avery’s gruff tone made York glance over his shoulder. “Schedule a stop at Rejuv. This’ll be a twenty-four routine.”

He suppressed a groan and wondered just how bad he looked. The rejuvenation pods weren’t the most comfortable, but they got the job done, refreshing tired bones and muscles in a fraction of the time it would take naturally.

Avery asked, “Have you heard from Vi?”

“Not since yesterday. Why?”

“Neither has anyone else. She missed an appointment with Shishido.” With a lowered brow, Avery left his desk and went to the hologram display. York intercepted him.

“May I?” he asked the Captain, indicating the holo-computer.

“Go ahead.”

He touched the holoscreen and accessed Vi’s personal information. “Huh. Her LE shows she’s at home. I’ll check in on her next time I’m out.”

Avery nodded, then leaned forward. “I didn’t think to check her Life Endangerment sensor. Maybe I should swing by Rejuv, too. By the way, your brother called and I filled him in. He’s agreed to consult. Wouldn’t hurt to pick the brain of a special agent with Genetic Fraud.”

“Yeah, but this isn’t embryo counterfeiting and genetic black marketing.” Things were still strained between him and his brother after the way Cal broke it off with Vi. She deserved better than a Dear Jane letter. “Thanks for the heads-up.”

“He’ll be here tomorrow.”

“Got it.”

Avery bent his neck to the side, and bones cracked. “I told him to report to you.”

“Good.”Then I can send him right back home.

* * *

York spent the night sleeping in a chair in the precinct library room. His arms and feet hung over the cushions, but it was his favorite place to crash. It was away from the hustle of officers coming in and out and far better than being hooked up to the rejuvenation machines the captain had suggested. He wasn’t keen on being attached to any machine. Robotics, cyboids, cryogenics—technology kept advancing at an alarming rate. A shiver ran through him.

Just after dawn, York poured himself a cup of coffee in the police break room. He took a sip as Shishido dropped into a chair. He finished off some sort of muffin in a few bites and looked at York’s mug.

“Black? Ugh,” the forensics officer said with a shiver.