Zera walked in and handed him a slip of paper and then walked out.
The examiner looked at the paper and then looked at Khytten. “Salat? The Demon Cat of Aksalla? He is your patron?”
She nodded.
He exhaled and made notes. “At least the massacre in the desert now makes sense. So, he found you and rescued you?”
“More or less. The criminals had made free with me while I was unconscious, and some items had to be removed. Then we negotiated the price of my freedom, and he still hasn’t told me what that is.”
“Perhaps he was joking, Miss.”
“That is doubtful. He does not joke when it comes to doing jobs. I was a job.”
“I don’t think that was the case, Miss.”
She snorted. “He also doesn’t like other people playing with his toys. That was probably it. Frankly. I blame his mother.”
Zera’s snort came from inside her office.
The examiner just looked at her, asked a few more questions, and made a hasty retreat.
* * * *
Salat finished listening to the interview in his audio implant, and he grinned as he lunged out to take care of another terrorist cell with hostages. His little kitten meeting his mother would be something to see. Bitter steel versus angry fluff. It was something he was going to make happen.
Chapter Fifteen
Zera breathed a sigh of relief that Khytten was back and safe. When the examiner left, Khytten looked around and winced. “Do you need any help in here?”
“Uh, if you have time.” Khytten said, “I am going to have to go down to the peacekeeper depot to get my com.”
“Why?”
“It is broken. They need to issue me a writ to get a new one.”
Zera looked at her warily. “That’s weird.”
“Is it? I know you are probably swamped, but can you come with me? In like, ten minutes.”
Khytten looked nervous, her fingers were tangled together, and she looked oddly embarrassed.
“Sure. Why ten... oh.” Khytten needed to make a withdrawal. “Take twenty. Keep the business suit, though. Folks are less likely to mess with you. High heels though. That keeps them from dismissing you. You want them to look.”
“Yes, Ma’am.” She left.
Fifteen minutes she was back wearing four-inch heels with her hair up in a twist and a curl cascading down her shoulder against her neck with very obvious bright dots visible.
Zera laughed. “He bit you?”
“Yeah. He doesn’t drink blood, so this was just for fun.” She grumbled. “I thought it might cement the idea that I have been engaged in frisky behaviour after my apartment blew up.”
“The examiner won’t be there.”
“I know, but it is in my file already. Peacekeepers gossip like teenagers. I saw the news. My connection to the Blind Date Corporation was already divulged based on information in my shattered com. They went through it and found everything they could. If I have to be an expensive escort, I am going to look like one.” She sighed. “I am going to have to go shopping. I hate shopping.”
Zera laughed at the disgust in her face. She opened a file. “Dainty drew these up for you, but we never had a client that would need them. What do you think?”
Khytten inhaled sharply. “Those are so pretty... and so slutty.” The woman drew her head back sharply. “He’s listening and talking. What do you mean you had it put in during the healing? I can so be trusted on my own.”
Zera snorted as she caught on to what the one-sided conversation indicated. “You have an implant.”
Khytten looked at her. “Apparently, and it contains a chatty fucker. Wait. Are you killing people while you are talking to me? No, I am not going to describe the clothes. No, I am not. Shut up now. The guy you just hit is gargling a lot. You might want to get on that. Okay. That’s better. Keep the eavesdropping to a minimum. No, I am not going to do that. No, it doesn’t count as a date. Go back to work.”
Zera laughed. “He had a live com implanted in you?”
She grimaced. “Apparently. Thank god he doesn’t have visuals.”
“Let’s go to the depot and get you back in touch with the normal world instead of your patron.”
Khytten held up a finger. “Yes, I know that the contract is waiting, and I am sure you were very generous. Yes, I will thank you properly when I see you.”
Zera snorted and got her jacket. “The transport is waiting.”
They left together and sat in the transport. When they arrived at the depot, Zera went first. Khytten walked with her, and Zera was happy when the woman introduced herself at the desk.
“Ah, Miss Danforth. Please, come this way.”
Zera moved to accompany Khytten, and when the desk officer stopped her, Zera said, “Pursuant to Code sixteen dash three, any citizen is entitled to a companion when dealing with the peacekeepers in a non-criminal capacity. You are not taking her anywhere alone.”
The officer blinked. “Yes, Ma’am.”
Zera walked with Khytten, and they went to the rear of the office where a captain’s private office waited for them. This was definitely unusual. They had just been walked past the entire shop. Khytten smiled politely. “Captain Minwell? I was told I needed to come here to get my shattered com and a writ that says it was broken while I was the victim of a criminal action.”
The captain leaned back and looked her over, and then, he looked to Zera. “Who are you?”
“Researcher Zera.”
He looked over her dismissively, and then, it struck him. “You are the one from the interview. The nympho who was on Torun.”
“Not a nympho; I just don’t have to play the monogamy game. It is rather refreshing. If you weren’t in a relationship, I would suggest that you try it yourself.” Zera smiled. “I am also the owner of Z-Tech, and I have made all the weapons in this building. I would watch your next words very carefully.”
The captain scowled. “This is a bit of paperwork. Please, have
