Chapter 657: Short Reunion (1/2)

”Still worried about the list?” Dex pushed back the chair to its fully reclined position, thankful to have enough legroom to stretch his legs.

Darsi spent the first half of the three flight trip staring out the window into the clouds. She hadn't said more than three or four words at a time, thankful that her partner knew when to leave her alone. ”I contacted a few of my friends before we left, just to let them know that we may require their services.”

”May I get you something to drink?” A flight attendant interrupted their conversation with a polite smile; when both of them shook their heads, she moved to the passengers behind them.

Instead of the commercial variety that most people used, the jet they were traveling in was a charter jet. It had twin engines and could seat up to twenty-five passengers; VR jumpers and a bar near the plane's rear were among the amenities.

Dex checked to make sure the attendant was gone before inquiring further. ”What sort of friends?”

”The kind that lends you a hand when the shit hits the fan. Our Yuli job is straightforward, but this whole business with Gladis gives me a bad feeling.” The blond squeezed his hand, suddenly realizing that she'd been holding it for the past few hours.

[0900 Local time, Geneva, Switzerland]

After arriving at noon on the day before, Darsi and Dex checked into the Hotel Spriztier before strolling casually through the Charmilles-Châtelaine-Servette district, near the H & F Bank. The streets were crowded with locals and tourists, seemingly unconcerned with the constant jostling and bumping associated with dense foot traffic.

Slipping on his glasses, Dex followed his partner into the front door of the H & F building.

[Gadget: We are in position and ready to back you up. Mongoose will handle everything in the appointment office while I mirror your positions.]

[Mongoose: Let's hope those glasses of yours don't trip security.]

Darsi glanced at her partner. He appeared to be wearing wire-framed glasses, a bit stylish but with no electronic parts. ”Looking sharp, Dex. Let's try and sell our product.” She spoke to quiet any further speaking, well aware that they were already being monitored.

Dex waved her ahead, adjusting his glasses on the bridge of his nose, a gesture that turned on its ultrasonic pulse emission.

[Gadget: Dextron turned on the device, I am not reading anything yet. ”Data feed is inactive... Is your shit broken?”]

Two offices away, Mongoose found their destination, a corner office with two mean seated behind an oversized desk. The older man was using a leather office chair while the younger perched on the room's open window ledge.

[Mongoose: This room has an active scanner running.]

Dex didn't comment; he followed a step behind his partner while she talked casually with the secretary escorting them. Ultrasonics wouldn't come up on an electronic scan because they registered as soundwaves when dialed down to the lowest level. Any active sensors would ignore it as standard ambient noise.

[Gadget: Nevermind! Everything is coming through at once, scrubbing our current building schematic to reflect new data.]

Darsi couldn't see Gadget mirroring their movements, but he would follow them until he reached Mongoose according to their plan.

Dex caught up to his partner with a long stride. ”We should hurry; our second appointment is right after this one.”

Darsi nodded in reply. This was Dex's reminder that his glasses would go dead in 10 minutes. Until then, it would burst ultrasonic echoes that would map object movements in real-time, the drawback with its one-meter range.

[Gadget: We're at the door, you're up Mongoose.]

Mongoose hovered upside-side within view of the desk's HUD. His priority was the access card and the day's code.

”Mr. Heltier, may I present Will Tyler and his associate, Gina Nixon.” The middle-aged secretary gestured toward Darsi and Dex.

The older man stood up from behind the desk and moved around it before extending his hand. ”Call me Jacob. This is my nephew Edward.”

The man on the window ledge didn't stand up but offered the two guests a polite nod.

Dex removed his glasses, rubbing his eyes with the back of the same hand before sitting them on the corner of the desk.

”Edward Heltier? I'm an admirer of your work.” Darsi's pretty face wore a wide smile.

The younger man, referred to as Ed, decided to stand. ”My work?”

Darsi nodded before continuing. ”Your dissertation regarding Electronic Banking and a common world currency.”

[Mongoose: That bullshit? He wants to create a 'World Dollar. Don't these idiots remember the Euro?]

Ed returned her smile, a flicker of interest igniting in his dark brown eyes. ”Thank you, Miss Nixon.”

Darsi accepted his handshake. ”Just call me Gina.”