#2 Shades of Gray: From Moscow, With Love
Page 20
Chapter Eighteen
Who's In Charge Now?
12:47 A.M...
Hellenistic Sector, Trade Vicinage...
Outside the new manager's office at the Factory...
The stench of dead bodies clung to the air, and it would have been a repulsive odor to any normal person. The Rogue detected the smell and processed it as any other data it acquired; it and the sight of the decaying bodies had no effect on it. For the Rogue, it was business as usual as it dragged a body of a man down a corridor and into a food court and then dropped the body in the center of the room among hundreds of other corpses. It was fortunate that the Council's S.C.Ms. had not cleared the area. It could dispose of the body there. Mr. Monrow's name was no longer on the paperwork. Mr. Pinchbeck's was and there couldn't be two managers. It finished hiding the body among the others and started out. It was fortunate that the Rogue was able to have the limo driver pick him up, that way no one saw Mr. Monrow when he came in. The Rogue merely told the S.C.Ms. at the gate to expect the limo and let the vehicle through without stopping it. The Rogue removed a plastic card from its business suit. It was another good thing it thought to process a corporate card in Mr. Pinchbeck's name; the Rogue didn't need a trail leading to it from Mr. Bygone.
The S.C.Ms. protecting the new manager entered and looked around the area.
"There you are, Mr. Pinchbeck," a female soldier said. "We wondered where you went. You must remember to let us escort you. The Factory hasn't been secured. There could be Un-Men about."
"I understand, it will not happen again." The Rogue hid a smirk and then it asked, "Did you need something?"
"Lieutenant Walters has informed us more of your people have arrived, and they're waiting in one of the secured conference rooms."
"Excellent, lead on." The Rogue followed the S.C.Ms., paused at the exit, and turned, motioning to the corpses. "Oh, and do make sure you tell Walters this food court needs to be cleared out as soon as possible. We will have some hungry workers to feed."
She said, "I'll inform him right away."