The three men sprang into action, and Torun was cuffed. The two fliers headed to the gate with him, and she and Tiyak slid down the exterior piping before sprinting toward the gate.
She staggered up an instant before Torun snapped the cuffs. He ruffled her hair. “Clever little minx.” He pulled her toward him. “I am going to hold you to that date.”
She chuckled. “Over my dead body.”
Susa got her passing grade with honours for doing what no other team had yet. Brought Torun to his knees.
She staggered out and past the incoming students and walked back toward the research lab. She turned off the monitors, draped Susa’s body over the bed, and went outside. She turned on the cameras and said, “Hey, Susa! How did the testing go? Susa! Susa!” She grabbed her sister in her arms and held her, rocking as the pain of loss ran through her.
The body was dead, but it had gone for its final ride. The test was done, and now, the hunt could begin.
Chapter Twelve
After Susara’s parents had died, both the girls had their own funerals arranged. They didn’t want to leave those decisions to their grieving survivors.
The autopsy showed that Susara’s body had suffered an aneurysm. Zera stood in the funeral home’s lobby and selected a coffin for her. Susara would go into her family crypt.
Standing there in black, she made the choices that she had to make. Susara had chosen her colour scheme, music, and even written her own final letter to be read out.
She would be interred in two days.
Zera couldn’t stand still. She paced while the undertaker walked off to check on the dress that Susa had picked out.
The door opened and closed, the bell chiming a whisper of sound. She poked her head out and stared as Torun came toward her, wearing a black shirt and trousers. He was dressed all normal, and it was for her.
He came into the room and held her. Just held her. “I am sorry that I wasn’t here sooner, Zera.”
“It’s fine. This wasn’t a surprise. I am just glad that I got her through the program.”
“You did good. Is she really venomous?”
“Yeah, she makes designer toxins, but she has to kiss you to administer them. And guys think that the teeth are the most dangerous part of a blowjob.” She spoke softly against his chest.
He chuckled, and when the undertaker came in, he paused. “Team Leader Torun. Please be welcome.”
“I am here for her. Continue on as needed.”
“Right. Ah, Ms. Zera, we have the dress, and it went on without any trouble. Would you like to see her again before the service?”
Zera nodded. “Yes, please. Is she ready?”
He nodded.
She pried herself off Torun’s chest. “I will be back in a moment.”
“I am coming with you.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and they walked to the prep room where Susa was cold and dressed in her favourite gauzy gown.
Zera pressed a kiss to her cold forehead. “I miss you so much, Dainty.”
The soft pastel hair didn’t move when she touched it. All signs of life were well and truly gone.
She stepped away, and they wheeled her off for storage until they put her in the coffin.
Zera felt Torun’s arm come around her, and he led her back to the office. He turned her toward him for another hug, and she stood there with tears wrecking his shirt. She lifted her head and brushed her hand across his chest. “Sorry. Here you dress up in a favourite fantasy of mine, and I get you all wet.”
He murmured, “Normally, I am the one getting you wet. Turnabout is fair play.”
She let out a startled giggle and a hiccup.
“Would you like to go somewhere and eat? We can get pancakes.” He pressed a kiss to her temple.
She swallowed and nodded. “I think that would be nice. There is a quiet place down the block.”
“Let’s not bother with quiet. I wanna go loud. If they don’t like that I am seeing you, they can tell me to my face. Before we were lovers, we were friends, and I want to be there for my friend.”
She smiled, finished paying for the added floral arrangements, and left the mortuary with her current best friend.
He wove his hand with hers, and they walked over to a local and popular pancake restaurant. They were quiet together until they were seated and coffee was on the way.
“Where are you staying?” He kept hold of her hands across the table.
“At the office. I am having trouble imagining a house without Susa in it.”
“Yes, it is a horrible thing that your house burned.”
She nodded. “Just a cumulation of a very bad week. If I was easy to break, that would have done it.”
“Have they found out what started it?”
“They have a preliminary guess of electrical. I am never very cautious with my power supplies.”
“Is insurance going to kick in?”
“Eventually. For now, I have to decide whether to build or just rent a place in a building somewhere.”
He raised her fingers to his lips. “A home is definitely in order. I have a nice secure place in the country just a few minutes outside of town.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Really? That is a little far for my purposes.”
“I have an express transport. It makes up for the difference in distance.”
“Good for you.”
He kissed the inside of her palm. “You could live with me if you liked.”
“You are really on your best behaviour, aren’t you?” She chuckled. “I have known you for six years, and this is the first time you have invited me to your home.”
“The timing has never been right, and you have never needed me.”
She smiled softly. “I have always needed you.”
Their pancakes arrived. She grinned. Torun had ordered for her, and the result was that three varieties of fruit were on top of her pancakes, covered with whipped cream. She did like them as
