Gameprey

their way. That wasn’t an act.”

“Who knows? Maybe a game will sell better if there’s a body count attached.”

“Andy,” Catie cautioned.

“Actually,” Megan said, “Andy does have a point. A somewhat bloodthirsty one, but a point all the same.”

“Okay, I’ll take that for an answer now,” Maj said. “But the question remains about whether we should go to the banquet.”

Andy raised an eyebrow and smiled. “It’s your call, Cinderella. That’s your name on the tickets to the ball.”

“And two friends,” Maj said. “Want to escort me?”

“To a stuffed shirt convention?” Andy shook his head. “I’d rather have surgery to remove—”

Leif interrupted hastily, “I’d love to go with you, Maj.”

“Fine.”

“Count me in.” Megan looked around the room. “Unless someone else would rather go.”

“The three of you should be fine,” Matt said. “The convention’s going to be heavily guarded, physically as well as virtually, so I don’t think you’ll have any problems. In the meantime, Catie can hold down the fort here and work as a communications go-between while Mark, Andy, and I knock on a few doors to see what we can turn up.”

“What doors?” Maj asked.

“I’ll dig into the bio material you’ve archived on Peter,” Matt said. “I thought maybe Mark and Andy could check into some of the online gamesites, places where Peter has been known to hang out.”

“Now that,” Andy sang out, “is my kind of assignment.”

“I’ll work up a short list of places to start,” Mark said. “I’ve looked over some of Peter’s records. Andy and I will get right on it.”

Leif plucked a strawberry from the fruit bowl. “Then I’d say we’re adjourned here.” He checked the time. “We’ve got a little over an hour till the banquet.” He glanced at the two girls. “I don’t suppose you packed anything banquety?”

Megan launched a disgusted sigh. “Nope. I was expecting fun and frolic, and tons of games.”

Maj shook her head, thinking frantically.

“Then, if you’ll allow me,” Leif said, “might I suggest the little shop downstairs.”

Maj remembered the cocktail dresses she’d seen in the window of that shop. The price tags were obviously set by NASA. “That’s a little out of the budget. Cinderella may have to go as pre-fairy godmother Cinderella.”

“I took the liberty while we were talking,” Leif said, “of setting up an account for you at the shop. My dad’s picking up the tab for this little adventure in return for information I can give him concerning the gaming market. Especially the Peter Griffen situation. He’s got people ready to start investing in Eisenhower Productions, provided things don’t turn sour.”

“Gee,” Megan teased, “you don’t exactly look like the fairy godmother type. Never even saw the wand.”

Leif passed one of his hands over the other, making a rectangular piece of plastic appear. “Universal Credit Card. Don’t leave home without it.”

“Is this your first time at the game publishers’ banquet?”

Startled, Maj turned to face the man who’d suddenly appeared at her side. Is this the guy Mark saw? She studied him, looking for a clue.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to surprise you.” The man was in his early twenties, average height but narrow- shouldered and as compact as a rapier. His black skin glistened in the low light of the banquet room. His head was shaved as smooth as an egg. He wore a black tuxedo.

“It’s okay,” Maj said, and smiled. “I guess maybe I got a little caught up in playing who’s who.”

“Derek Sommers.” He held out his hand. The blue and white name badge on his jacket read DEREK.

“IPG Games,” Maj said, getting a little excited. “You created Banshee’s Curse.”

Derek smiled and bowed slightly. “That’s me.”

“I’ve played your game.”

“I kind of figured that. I hope you liked it.”

“Are you kidding? The game was a monster hit.”

Derek laughed. “Let’s hope we can say the same about the sequel.”

“You can’t miss,” Maj said, enjoying the moment. Banshee’s Curse was a favorite game. “I mean, the way you just leave the characters at the top of Carrig’s Tower, with the first piece of a treasure map they hadn’t expected to find, you can’t walk away from that.”

“Maybe I could get you to write a glowing review for the cover copy,” Derek said. “If I knew your name.”

“Oh, sorry.” Maj introduced herself. “And, yes, this is my first game publisher’s banquet.”

“Have you got something new coming out that I should be looking for?”

“Actually, I’m here trying to find a publisher for a flight-sim.” And trying to figure out what happened to Peter Griffen.

“Usually they only let game publishers in.”

Maj felt a little embarrassed, but the tickets had checked out good under the scanner the security people were using. If they were fakes, they were definitely top-of-the-line.

“Personally,” Derek said, “I’m glad to see somebody who likes my game instead of hearing someone talk about theirs.”

Maj grinned, but inside she was still feeling intense. “Well, this year they seem to have added something new. Kidnapping.”

Swirling his glass of champagne, Derek shrugged. “If you believe what you see.”

“You don’t sound like you do.” Maj glanced around the room again, taking in the ornate splendor of the huge chandelier hanging from the ceiling, the painted vases, and the way the low walls crammed with plants broke the floor into almost private sections. Trees at the corners of the walls helped carry out the illusion. Still, there were large gathering places near the room’s three open bars. A heavily laden banquet table filled the center of the room.

“I guess maybe I’ve been around too many marketing people,” Derek admitted. “They’ll use anything they can to hype a product and get it out into the hands of consumers.”

“Surely they’d stop at kidnapping.”

“Marketing people,” Derek said seriously, “don’t stop at anything. Trust me.”

“I thought that was one of their standard lines.”

Derek’s grin was even broader. “A girl with a sense of humor. I like that, Maj Green.”

Maj enjoyed Derek’s attention. The shimmering dark red cocktail dress she wore made her feel as elegant as anyone in the room. And Derek’s attention didn’t come across as flirty, just as fun. “So you think Eisenhower Productions and Peter Griffen are in on the kidnapping together?”

“I can see it happening. In fact, I was even thinking of it as a game hook.”

The suggestion caught Maj’s attention immediately. “How?”

“You’ve got Peter Griffen out here introducing what looks a killer game,” Derek said. “Only in the middle of everything, he disappears. At least, that’s what we’re told. I could see marketing coming up with a contest: Enter Realm of the Bright Waters, fight evil wizards, ride flying dragons, and find Peter Griffen to win a million bucks.” He raised an eyebrow. “Think that would get the gaming community’s attention?”

“Yes.” It’s definitely got mine. Maj ran the scenario through her mind, trusting her instincts. She remembered how sincere Peter had looked as he discussed his game. No way could she imagine him faking his own kidnapping to build up game sales. Then again, Leif did mention that Eisenhower Productions had been looking for a solid hit for a few years. Maybe they weren’t the only ones.

“Everyone knows,” Derek said, “if you get an interested gaming community, you’ve got an inflated profit. I believe Peter’s disappearance has got dollar signs tied to it. Something like this is worth millions in advertising alone. And that’s being conservative.”

“Do you know anyone at Eisenhower Productions?” Maj asked.

“Acquaintances.” Derek glanced around the room. “Nobody I do business with.”

Maj had already noticed the table reserved for the Eisenhower Productions crew. Peter Griffen’s place card