Kenuda followed the A8 into a spacious, expensively furnished office. Elias dully listened to the tutorial on the duties of a Fifth Cousin, pleased he remembered all of them, serve, love, family, dangers of the ego , and settled behind his wide desk, twice the size of his old office. He pursed his lips sadly, then brushed aside all that crap and opened a new messaging account while the A8 watched with polite suspicion.
“I have a few questions.” Kenuda indicated the computer.
The A8 held up a small thumb drive. “The files are all here.”
“I need some specific answers.”
“You must first familiarize yourself with the entire area, Cousin. You should know…”
Kenuda slammed his fist onto the desk. “And you should appreciate the unusual request. I’ve shed my ego by going backwards. I don’t have time for this. Now answer these questions or I’ll send my own damn notifications.”
The A8 tipped slightly to the left, but remained quiet.
“Good. There’s a restaurant called Needleman’s on East 188th Street. Is it properly serving the community’s needs?”
The A8 blinked twice. “Since 2036.”
“How inclined is the personnel?”
“Quite. They’ve only changed staff once.”
Kenuda tensed. “When was the last time?”
“Fifteen days ago.”
“Why did the staff change?”
The A8 shook its head. “Codified.”
“Cousin Cheng must be careful.” Kenuda smiled faintly. “I’m in charge here now.”
“Not until I receive the official acknowledgement.”
“Which we understand is a formality since by my presence, I’m in temporary oversight. Cousins Code 340-A.”
“340-B,” the ‘bot said testily.
Kenuda tipped his head. “You will be invaluable. Did the restaffing have anything to do with the arrest of Dr. Pablo Diaz?”
The ‘bot’s eyes drooped in a frown. “The staff was changed before that.”
“And how was his case disposed?” Kenuda handed over the Mentoring report. “This supersedes…”
“I understand, sir. Evidence in that case is currently held at the Dead Past Warehouse.”
Kenuda broke another Cousins rule and ordered a private car. The bored young BT barely glanced at Kenuda’s papers, leading him through the dank corridors and into the stifling elevator of the warehouse.
“How’s it out there, sir?”
“Crazy.”
“Think it was the Allahs?”
“Pardon?”
“The Allahs posing as Miners. Set us against each other again and then they swoop in for the final invasion.” The BT stopped at a door. “Grandma wouldn’t sell us out, would she?”
Kenuda assured him such a notion was preposterous. They walked into a chilly, dank room with tall ceilings and exposed pipes running along the chipped, white walls. Cages of carefully packed evidence filled the room. The BT indicated the direction with a quick nod, slowing down suddenly.
Pablo sat on a stool in a cage. Reaching inside, the BT compared the ticket on the request with the yellow evidence tag around Pablo’s neck. Kenuda was appalled.
“Open the damn cage.”
“All right, all right, I ain’t got anything to do with this, sir.”
Kenuda pushed aside the BT and knelt by Pablo. “Dr. Diaz?”
Pablo’s eyes looked like they’d been bought at a novelty store.
“I been trying to feed him.” The BT picked up a plate with an untouched sandwich.
“Release this man.”
“It don’t say release.” The BT held up the consultative form issued by the A8.
“How will you explain him dying of malnutrition?” Kenuda rasped. The BT swallowed nervously. “Now take the damn cuffs off his leg.”
The BT resentfully unlocked the chain. “He ain’t shit or pissed since he been here, so watch for that.”
Kenuda slipped his arm around Pablo’s waist. The dentist’s knees buckled slightly.
“It’s okay, son. It’s okay.”
43
The area ten square miles around Grandma’s House was locked down. Tanks re-directed Puppy and Mooshie through two security checkpoints beneath the circling ‘copters they could see and rooftop snipers they couldn’t. Fighter jets flew freely and convoys of Army trucks thundered down Moshulu Parkway. No soldiers. All Black Tops. Tens of thousands, darkening the landscape with their sullen visors. America was on war footing.
The crowds were the real problem. When he’d gone over the ceremony with Ian last night over a pitcher of beer at Monroe’s, the director slyly mentioned yet another heated argument between Grandma and Cheng, as if there’d been many. He only spoke specifically about this one.
“The mother won’t talk to emptiness. Her words, not mine.” Ian made a face at the soggy chips. Monroe’s was empty; no one dared curfew for a drink. Jimmy diffidently wiped the bar over and over.
“How can we let anyone near her again?”
“Is the point.” Schrager held up a stubby finger. “All is well but don’t let my children see me?”
“Then all is well?”
Ian gestured for him to lean forward. “I hear there was a clash near Iceland.” Puppy frowned. “That’s north of here, green eyes. The Allahs have mobilized. Our air force is in the air and yes, we have one. Sneaky little bastards. Least we’ll go down humping. Or that could be shit. Also hear Grandma nearly ripped her pubic hair out when she heard we were on alert and made everyone stand down.”
“So you’re not sure of anything.” Puppy couldn’t resist a smirk.
“I’m sure I know what you and your pain in the ass fiancé are supposed to say and where the hell is she?”
She never showed for the pre-briefing. Mooshie drifted in and out, glazed like Ty and Mick. Worse, because they at least drank themselves into unconsciousness despite Puppy’s assurances they’d all have jobs. Or something. But Mooshie turned vapor-like, slipping into bed, a stone with short breaths, slipping back out and leaving the apartment. She answered no questions, asked no questions, where she went, he didn’t know.
At least Mooshie remembered the ceremony. Bright-eyed, up before the dawn, waiting for him to sleepily stumble into the living room.
“You wearing that crap?” She held out a steaming mug of coffee.
He stepped over Ty and Mick’s snoring bodies, knotting the tie for his best suit. Blue, Ian had warned. Nothing too somber. Grandma wants to be positive.
“What’re you wearing, snowflake?” He playfully tugged at her bathrobe.
“Something hot.” She grew abruptly serious. “I don’t want to go.”
“You got to, Moosh. I’m not comfortable with this
