She was tapping on her com while she spoke, and in the three minutes that it took for the ambulance to arrive, the program had sent a collection vehicle.
Zera stopped the doctors at the hospital and transferred Susa to the dark vehicle the program had sent via the loading dock. One look at her credentials was enough to get the folk at the hospital to step back.
She entered their computer and created a fictional patient entry, pulling in scans from the ambulance and making the room Susa was supposedly in a janitor’s closet. Just in case someone tried to come in and finish what the mind-wiper had started. Once she had set things in motion, she headed down to the hire car bay and got a vehicle to take her home. Astel would figure things out, or he wouldn’t.
Hron called on her com. “What did you do with Astel?”
“Nothing. He gave me a lift to the hospital, and I had some administration to attend to. I have no idea where he is.” She sighed. “I am heading home to get a download of Susara’s files. I have to redact any information that involves my research projects.”
“Oh. Of course. Will we get a copy of that?”
“It will be provided to the teams. Yes. I should be done with it this afternoon.”
Hron’s voice was concerned. “How are you holding up?”
“Fairly well. We planned for this. There are contingencies in place.”
“You planned for Susa to die?”
“No. We planned for her murder. If you excuse me, I now need to get onto the next portion of the plan. I will address you when I have enough information for a substantial briefing.”
“We need to get on this. You know who her parents were.”
“I do. I called them aunt and uncle, and I was next to Susa at their funeral. Now I have to plan a third.”
“I am sorry, Zera.”
“I will speak to you when I have information, Hron.” She cut the call.
It was another ten minutes before she arrived at her house. She left the car and walked toward the home that was writhing with high-security personnel. She stopped in the yard and said, “I must retrieve personal and locked documents for examination by the project and teams. I require an observer to make sure that I do not remove unrecorded documentation from the house.”
She heard the landing before the hand was on her shoulder.
“I will accompany her inside.”
“Thank you, Astel.” She headed toward the house, put the covers on her shoes, and walked into her home.
One of the investigators whispered, “Should she be in here?”
Zera kept walking.
They started in Susara’s bedroom, where Zera downloaded her message centre and diary. Astel put his hand on her shoulder again. “You don’t have to do this. We can go through it for you.”
“You don’t know what to look for.”
She headed to her bedroom, where the techs were turning over her personal belongings. She ignored them and opened her tracking software. She downloaded it with Astel watching. “What is that?”
“We knew that she was in a dangerous situation, and we decided to take action. This is the action. She was tracked, her clothing was tracked, and her com was tracked. It also had an isotope bleed. I should still be able to find where they took her.”
“Wait. How do you have access to all this stuff? Why is Hron so friendly with you? Is that a box of sex toys?”
Astel was easy to distract. The tech had brought the box up and opened it, staring for a moment.
Zera got up, walked around, and closed the box. “Yes. That is what they are. They were a gift from a friend who thought that since I don’t get out, something should get in.”
The tech snorted. “The box is still sealed.”
“Nothing needed to get in.” She turned her back and took her tablet.
“Astel, can you bring me to the project facilities?”
He grimaced. “Are you going to ditch me again?”
“I did not ditch you at the hospital. We were not on a date. My friend is dying, and I was trying to get her to the proper care.” She sighed. “You can remain with me until your clearance runs out.”
He looked abashed. “Right. Sorry.”
She grabbed a bag, had him inspect it, and then, she went to her closet and took a change of clothing and got some underwear. “Do you have to inspect this as well?”
He looked at the undergarments and turned them over in his hands before returning them to her. “They are clear. Thank you for your cooperation.”
“I bet that you say that every time you are in a bedroom with a lady’s underthings in your hands.” She smiled as she left the room. “Your mother should be proud.”
“Researcher, you have a way of shoving me off balance.”
She chuckled. “That is what I do. It is why I am good at my job.”
She handed her bag and tablet over to the peacekeeper waiting on the outside of her house.
“Were you monitored the entire time?”
Astel nodded. “I kept Researcher Zera in my sight at all times. All downloads are what she said they are. The clothing is just a change of clothes while the investigation is ongoing.”
Zera sighed but kept her mouth shut. The clothing was just so that she could appear on the newsvids and other interview events, as well as give a briefing to the teams about who they were looking for.
Her bag was handed back, and she put it across her body. Astel extended his arm, and she stepped toward him. He took off gently and carried her across the city in fifteen minutes, holding her tight against him. His suit was too well insulated to give her any body heat, but she appreciated the gesture.
She was shivering when he set her down and rubbed her arms. “Why are you being so nice?”
“Your housemate and friend was attacked, possibly
