“What is it?” Rix asks, rushing to my side.
“My measures to keep my stuff protected, it’s gone off, and… Fuck.” I close my eyes, and my shoulders slump.
“What is it?” Rix asks, his voice low, almost a growl.
“The levitation device… the prototype. It’s been stolen.”
17
Rix
It takes a moment for Ava’s words to sink in. “What do you mean it’s been stolen?”
“I mean it’s not there,” she snaps. She rubs her forehead. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to yell. I just… I can’t believe it.”
“Don’t worry. I promise you I will help you find it. We will recover it.”
She stares up at me, and the utter hopelessness on her face makes me want to punch the one responsible. I’ll tear him from limb to limb. I thought I hated that Paul bastard, but I hate this fucker even more.
I open my mouth, but my chip chirps, and I grimace.
I point to my ear. “I have a call coming in. I’m sorry.”
“You should take it,” she says, turning back to where the device had been. She glances all around, probably looking for any clues as to the identity of the thief.
I step away. “Hello?”
“Rix, how is it going?” the overlord asks smoothly. “I trust you’re making progress with Ava.”
“You’re asking for an update,” I say dryly.
"Yes. Why? Is there a holdup? I told you to do whatever was necessary including—"
It's wrong on so many levels, but I hang up on him and turn back to Ava. I'll have to face the consequences of that sooner or later, and I'm hoping later.
My chip chirps again and again, but I ignore the sound as much as I can.
Ava lets out a breath as I return to her side.
She looks up at me. “I think I know what happened,” she says slowly.
“Well? Don’t leave me in suspense.”
She grimaces. “A long time ago, I had a mentor. A man taught me some electronics, and he liked to invent too. One day, he lost all of his tech. The government just upped and took it, and Harry, that was his name, he couldn’t handle that. He stopped inventing and moved out west. I never heard from him again.”
“You think the government took it,” I say.
“Maybe they didn’t want to buy it from me because they just wanted to take it.”
“That’s not going to be easy to prove.”
“No, and if that is what happened, it’s going to be even harder to get it back.” Ava sets her jaw. “But I am going to get it back.”
“Yes, we are,” I say firmly.
She glances at me.
“We’ll get it back for you,” I stress.
“Hmm,” she says, but her lips have a slight curl to it.
It’s late, of course, far too late to try to call anyone, but in the morning, Ava calls and sets up a meeting with a local government official. To say I’m nervous about all of this is an understatement. If Ava accuses her government of taking her device and they didn’t… even if they did… and I’m there for it, it won’t help relations between Earthlings and Kurians, that’s for sure, but if the Earthling government is stealing its people’s property, that can’t be allowed. The people of Earth don’t deserve to have a corrupt government.
We sit and wait for about an hour before we’re called back for the meeting.
The government woman wears a black dress, her hair back in a tight bun, not a strand out of place.
“How can I help you?” she asks.
“It’s nice to meet you in person, Karen Yeardly,” Ava says coldly.
Karen purses her lips. “Do I know you?”
“We spoke on the phone, Karen.”
Her eyes narrow, and lines form around her pinched lips. “Ava.”
“Yes, I’m Ava Kyle.”
“You asked to speak with my supervisor,” Karen snaps. “I don’t have one.”
“Yes, and we didn’t get a chance to talk much, but that doesn’t mean that you didn’t hear from your friend the general about my device. My levitation device.”
“It’s possible I might or might not have heard about it. What if I did? What if I didn’t?”
“All I know is that someone stole my device,” Ava says firmly. “I want it back.”
“Why are you coming to me?” Karen holds out her hands before clasping them on her giant desk. “I’m not law enforcement. Maybe you should be talking to the general, although I don’t know how happy he’ll be about you stealing his phone.”
"The general and I will have words," Ava says in an even tone. "But I want to know if you were involved."
“Ava, Ava, Ava.” Karen sighs and shakes her head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t have time for your phone call, and I don’t have time for your nonsense now either. I’m a very busy woman, and I haven’t got all day. If you could leave now—”
“I don’t want to leave yet. I want to know if you had anything to do with my prototype being stolen.”
“What does it matter?” Karen grimaces. “You won’t believe me either way. I can tell you the truth, and I have. I’m busy. I don’t have time for this, and no, I didn’t ever see your device. I don’t know where it is or who might have stolen it. I don’t even know if it was stolen for that matter. You seem a bit high-strung, if I’m being honest, and you could very well be trying to make yourself look good or try to scam us. I don’t know what your intentions are, but coming here, demanding a meeting to accuse me of stealing your device… No. I won’t have that.”
Ava stands. “I… I believe you,” she mumbles.
Karen blinks. “About my being busy?”
"Yes, and that you didn't take it. I don't think you had anyone else take it for you either. You didn't want to even hear about my device."
“No. I will admit that it sounds impressive if it works,” Karen admits, “but I
