Part 17 (1/2)
”You didn't. It's just that a.s.sumption that someone has to have someone else to be a full person-well, it drives me crazy sometimes.”
”I was just trying to make conversation.”
She really didn't even hear him. ”If I have one regret, it's that I won't have anyone to pa.s.s my gifts to.”
The elevator door opened onto two imposing men in bodyguard yellow before Tony could continue digging into even more uncomfortable territory. One stood like a white, weathered mountain with an obvious Russie heritage, the other his polar opposite, slight and fast, with the cast of the southern Asians.
”Hi Greg, Tuan. We're here to see the Jamie.”
”You're supposed to come alone,” one barked. ”You know the rules.” The other guard stood at attention, holding his flechette gun in a perfect diagonal cross of his bare chest.
”Pish and tosh.” Only one as ma.s.sive and tall as Greg could stare down at Sonya. She locked eyes with him and didn't let them go. It took only a minute. She felt Greg must be slipping.
”Well, give us some warning next time,” the guard said finally, giving up the staring contest.
”If you didn't have us spotted at least ten minutes ago, I'd be surprised.”
”Whatever. Climb in,” he said, pointing at the portal of a scanning machine like they use at s.p.a.ceports for carry-on luggage. The entrance on this end fed into a blank wall and came out somewhere beyond. Sonya jumped up onto the conveyor belt and lay down without a second thought. She remembered her trepidation the first time and hoped Tony handled it well.
In the s.p.a.ce of seven deep breaths, practiced with a calm meditation of the soul, the makes.h.i.+ft scanner dribbled her back out into the light. She rolled off the end of the belt to her feet with the grace of one of her cats. Tony, carrying Cin in his arms, provided a new definition of gracelessness as he fell hard onto his backside, his legs flailing in the air. Adding insult to injury, his head flipped back and banged against the scanner supports, drawing a scathing oath in a language Sonya didn't know but determined by its invective. Cin, on the other hand, landed on all fours on Tony's stomach as if this happened daily.
Sonya silently offered Tony a hand up. As he took it, not without a scowl, Sonya took the opportunity to examine his head. Just enough blood leaked from the scalp to eventually create a scab. It wound up in the category of painful and annoying, but nothing more.
She registered the new rich red paint since her last visit. It flowed in with the rest of the decor. Real crown molding and wainscoting in a style not seen for nearly a century accentuated the dark green velvet and the carved marble columns in the corners. Few countries on Earth or its colony worlds could've afforded even two of the six Maxfield Parrish paintings mounted to the wall. Yet only the Mob's reputation, and a few bodyguards such as Greg and Tuan, protected the art.
Invariably, any newcomer found themselves in front of ”Daybreak.” Sonya, on the other hand, preferred to immerse herself in ”White Birches: Winter” at every opportunity. Placing Cin on his shoulders, Tony gawked at each painting in turn. Sonya sensed that Cin appreciated the works herself.
”Dian!” said a lean, red-headed woman in a long, blue velvet dressing gown to Sonya as she came into the room. Her long, well-toned legs, clad in stockings, garters and blue Pintera pumps, parted the gown and carried her over to Sonya. She gave her a pair of French-style air-kisses now regaining popularity with the effete. ”I see you brought a pair of toys with you.” The woman unabashedly examined Tony like a prize cow on the auction block, but with barely a fleck of interest in Cin.
”Jamie. Thank you for seeing me on such short notice.”
”Always a pleasure, for the right price, of course.”
”Naturally. Let me introduce Michael Durant, a new but very valuable member of my team.”
”Nice to meet you, Michael,” Jamie said, offering one of her manicured hands, complete with fingernails that changed color to contrast to whatever they lay against. Sonya watched Jamie's hard eyes, completely at odds with her pin-up body, as Jamie evaluated ”Michael's” response. He gallantly took her hand in his and bowed deeply over it, but didn't kiss it.
”Oh, I see Dian's already got you under her thumb, and other places,” the woman said with the faintest of smiles.
”No, not exactly, Jamie. I'm just not partial to redheads.”
Sonya flipped Tony a glittering stare. A short silence filled the room.
”Touche. Well played, Michael, or whatever your name is.”
Tony bowed again in acknowledgement.
”So enough games. Shall we sit and have some tea while we talk business?”
”Very well.” Jamie snapped her fingers, and a small army of servants brought in an antique double-trestle table carved from a solid piece of granite, plus matching chairs, a silver tea service, and scones, perfect for a midmorning snack. Just as quickly as the servants appeared, they disappeared. Jamie poured generous servings for each, even a small saucer of milk for Cin.
”Dian, I remember you like yours with just a touch of milk.”
”Yes, Jamie.”
”And you, Michael?”
”I like mine sweet.”
”Let's say two sugars, then. So what brings you here today,” Jamie asked, proffering each their refreshment in turn. Tony let Cin down onto the table at her dish. Cin sat patiently as Tony pinched a small blueberry scone from the tray.
Sonya sensed Tony's decision to remain quiet and be subservient. A good choice, as he didn't know why they were here. ”We're after a backdoor into any of these major corps' data-nets,” Sonya said, sliding a small sc.r.a.p of plastic onto the table. In one continued movement she lifted her cup and took a dainty sip.
Jamie didn't even bend over to look at the plastic or what it carried. ”Really? Sure you wouldn't like some SLSA rockets? Maybe some Gunnison gauss guns? We also just recently got a s.h.i.+pment of Black Marionettes.”
”Sorry, no. Information this time, not hardware.”
”What you're asking for isn't trivial. I honestly don't know if we can deliver to any kind of timeline.”
”What kind of price would be a.s.sociated with this?”
”I couldn't even apply a price to such information,” she said with the civility of a garden party. ”Probably more than you could afford. It would be well into the millions.”
”Please don't a.s.sume our financial status is burdened with the problems of the past.”
”There were words on the street to that effect, but one can't always believe what one hears.”
”Well, you can believe it this time.”
”In that case, how about I investigate and provide you with a quote and a timeline?”
”That would be perfectly acceptable. This is excellent tea.”
”Darjeeling. We have some being grown illegally in India and brought over. Another cup?”
Cin lifted her face from the bowl and proceeded to clean her face contentedly. ”No, thank you. We really must be moving on. We have many other stops to make.”
”Yes, we thank you for your hospitality,” Tony offered.
”Well, Michael, if I'm not stepping on Dian's toes, I'll offer you even more hospitality,” Jamie said in a voice both sultry and low.
Tony shook his head just a fraction. ”Thank you, no. We do really have to be going.”
”A shame. But come back any time.”
Fifteen silent minutes later, Tony and Sonya walked side by side, back to the decay that was ground level. Both tried to speak simultaneously.
”Why didn't you take her up on it?”