Page 54 of Anarchy Missing

The computer voice ends and I just stand there blinking for a moment before a laugh bursts out. “What kind of history lesson is that?”

“Not the kind you find in classrooms, Miss Lightly.”

“Obviously.”

“Can you find a way to amuse yourself with the interactive city and the refreshments? Or should I stay and keep you company? I don’t think Mr. Reider will be long.”

I turn away from the creepy map and find the refreshments he’s referring to on a low table in front of a slate-gray leather couch. “I’ll make do,” I say, wandering over to a spread of fruit, wine, and cheese.

“Very good,” Steve says, but he’s only a voice now. The flickering light body has disappeared. “If you need anything, just call for me.”

I remove my coat, drape it over a chair, drop my purse next to it, and take a seat on the couch to wait in silence for a few moments, straining to hear something. Anything. It’s so very, very quiet here. Not the corporate office I was expecting.

Once I’m convinced that the weird hologram butler isn’t watching me, I lean forward and pick up the wine.

“I hope you like the vintage,” Case says, walking into the office and pulling the huge double doors closed behind him.

Yes, I’m quite sure he has nooners here with women. It’s the perfect set-up. Then I look up at the little black boxes in the ceiling that project Steve and wonder if they’re cameras as well.

Maybe he’s kinky and likes to make sex tapes?

“Lulu?” Case says, dragging my attention back to him.

“Sorry,” I say, blushing. “Your… butler?”

“Yeah.” Case laughs. “He’s something, right?”

“Is he… real?” I ask, still trying to adjust to the newness of all this.

“If by real,” Case says, taking the wine from my hand and producing a corkscrew, “you mean intelligent? Well, sorta. He has about a quarter of the intelligence that Sheila has, but he’s still pretty useful.” Case pulls the cork out of the bottle and starts pouring wine into our glasses.

“Sheila?” I ask, totally off my game.

“Oh.” Case laughs. “My friend Lincoln programs them, you know? And I mass-produce the hardware.” He points to the ceiling where I was just looking. “So he’s got Sheila and I have Steve. But Sheila is… incredible. Nothing like Steve. Steve is just a hollow version. An automaton, if you will.”

Lincoln Wade. Snap out of it, Lulu. That’s the whole reason you’re here.

Well, not the whole reason.

“Lincoln Wade,” I say, like I’m trying out the name after not hearing it for a long time. “You guys were friends back when I knew you. I remember that.” I accept the glass that Case offers me and take a sip of wine to give him a moment to respond.

“Yeah, Linc and I go way back. Almost brothers, really. When we came back from… well, you know,” he says, not filling in the missing words, “he lived with me and my folks since his parents were dead.”

“Yeah.” I sigh, leaning back into the couch cushions. “You’ve lived quite a life. I’d forgotten all that about you while I was gone.”

“But not me, right?” Case winks. “You couldn’t possibly have forgotten me. Not after that incredible night we had at the ball.”

I blush. Furiously. He took my virginity that night. I practically forced him to do it.

“I’ve thought about you a lot, Lulu.” He takes a seat next to me. Kinda close, so our legs are touching.

I don’t want to look at him. I have no idea what to say. We fucked again last night. I haven’t seen him in over seven years and the first time we bump into each other, I let him have sex with me. Outside. Again.

Jesus.

“Are you OK?” Case asks, staring at me with a concerned look.

“Yeah, fine,” I say, clearing my throat. “It’s just been a very weird day. And I have to tell you, it’s only getting weirder.”