Perfection

by Larissa Emerald

  Shishido nodded. “Got it.”

  When York climbed into his seat, he glanced over his shoulder at Brianna. “You choose. Should we drive through traffic or fly?”

  “Fly, of course.”

  “That’s my favorite, too.”

  Kindra groaned. “Oh, please, God.”

  * * *

  Kindra fastened her seatbelt and checked to see that Brianna did, also.

  “I need to make a quick stop by my place first then we’ll head to a safe house,” he said.

  She gave a nod and looked at the window.

  York lived in Lincoln Park on the opposite side of town, but it didn’t take long to get there when winging above the skyscrapers. Unlike her home, his was a sprawling, old-fashioned single residence constructed of brick. The garage door rolled upward on the street side upon their approach and then trundled down behind them.

  Kindra listened to the banter between Brianna and York. It was so sweet the way he interacted with her.

  “Oh, boss!” Brianna exclaimed.

  He peered at Kindra. “She’s two?”

  She shrugged. “With an extremely advanced grasp of language.”

  He shook his head. Once everyone was ready to go inside the house, he hesitated. His mouth turned hard, then eased into a lopsided grin. “My place is as different from yours as California is from New York City.” He straightened. “You may come right in or wait here while I clear a few things.”

  “That doesn’t matter,” Kindra said. “I appreciate how you are looking after us.”

  He chuckled. “Remember that when you get inside.”

  Brianna tugged her mother down to say something in her ear. “I have to go the bathroom,” she whispered.

  York met Kindra’s eyes over the girl’s head. “Okay. You’ve been warned.”

  He opened the door and allowed them to enter before him. As the lights automatically brightened, Kindra’s chin dropped to her chest. Air rushed into her mouth as she inhaled. “Oh my. Where did you get all this…stuff?” Her gaze swept from corner to corner, up and down. Every wall, table, desk, shelf, and decorative stand was occupied by something. “This is more like a museum than a home.”

  “I mentioned I collect antiques, didn’t I?”

  “No. I don’t think so.”

  Brianna scooted over to an arcade game that turned on as she approached. “Are you ready to play?” the game asked.

  “Not now,” York interrupted. Animated figures brandished swords and paraded round within a 3D holographic set. They froze in fighting stances.

  “Oh, please,” Brianna begged.

  Kindra said, “You need to go to the bathroom, remember?”

  “Down the hall on the left,” York instructed. “I’ll get a few things.”

  They parted ways as Brianna found the bathroom, York headed up a lovely flowing staircase, and she stayed in the hall. She walked further into the house while she waited. The main living areas were spacious with sleek lines and large, upscale furniture. Where she could see through doorways, she viewed rooms full of older furniture and items.

  The next thing she knew, Brianna was staring into a room. “What is it?” she asked, indicating a tall box in the corner.

  “It’s a phone booth from the nineteen-eighties,” he said, returning with a small suitcase.

  “Oh,” Brianna said. “I like your house.”

  “Thank you. It was the home I grew up in. It belonged to my grandparents.”

  “Impressive,” Kindra added.

  “Ready?”

  * * *

  Forty-five minutes later, he held the door open to the condo building the department kept for out-of-town guests, surveillance, and undercover usage. His home away from home. “It’s a three bedroom, two bath. Nothing fancy, but it will keep you safe.”

  Brianna looked around. “I like your home better,” she announced, her big blue eyes staring up at him.

  “Well, thank you,” he said with a chuckle.

  “Nanny, you can remain in the room with Brianna,” Kindra instructed.

  “That’s a good idea,” the robot replied, giving a commonly prescribed answer.

  Kindra went to the first bedroom and placed Brianna’s overnight satchel inside. “I like this room,” Brianna said, then ran over and jumped up onto the bed. “Good night!”

  In the kitchen, York went to the InstaCafé and ordered a cup of coffee and a slice of chocolate cake. One of the great perks of the place was it was always well stocked with a variety of food. He set his computer on the end table in the living area and took his bag to the back bedroom. On his return, he paused in the first bedroom doorway while Kindra tucked in her daughter. His heart grew heavy as he watched, recalling those early years. It seemed like a lifetime ago. He sighed.

  He and Kindra went out into the hall, and she closed the door behind them.

  “Will she be okay? She isn’t frightened, is she?”

  She shook her head. “No. She sleeps well.”

  “My son used to have night terrors,” he said by way of explanation. He swallowed quickly and turned away. “Your room is next door.”

  “Good. I’d like to stay close to her. Thank you.”

  His eyes held hers for an awkward second, and then she seemed to pay particular attention to his mouth. “Okay, good night.”

  “I’m having a snack. Would you like something?”

  “I don’t think so. Good night.”

  As he strolled back to the living room, he imagined what it would feel like to languish on the sofa and hold her in his arms.

  Instead, he sat and dug into the chocolate cake, sipping coffee. He needed to go over his notes. What was he missing? He downloaded Vi’s notes and combed over them. She had found a connection to one of the tracers. It belonged to a small media center, Hometown News and a reporter by the name of Gina Walls. There were also some shots of Gina at the Mall’s doll store.

  At eleven o’clock, he reached for the doorknob to his room and glanced down the hall. He could see her bedroom door and, unfortunately, she wasn’t standing in it. Otherwise, he just might have suggested she sleep in his room, share his bed.

  No, that was his hormones talking. He went inside and closed himself in, away from her and temptation. She was a GEI. Forbidden. He knew that, but he struggled to resist her.

  He stripped, showered, and climbed beneath the covers. His breathing grew shallow as he listened for any sign of her, his heart rate accelerated, a hard-on swelled in false anticipation. Knowing Kindra was nearby was sheer torture. He reclined with arms extended over his head, staring at the dark ceiling. When this case was over, maybe he should find a compatible woman and perhaps try marriage again.

  He hated the uncertainty, the not knowing, the not being accepted for who and what he was—a Coder.

  He didn’t think he’d fall asleep, but when he finally did, it was with dreams of a beauty with blond hair and aqua-blue eyes, a woman who opened her heart and life to him.

  He woke abruptly at two in the morning thinking of Kindra. Knowing full well that sleep would be impossible, he got up and padded downstairs to the basement workroom. The light came on automatically as he entered. It wasn’t just his stuff here, many of the detectives kept projects to pass the time when they were holed up for days or weeks with a case. Most were computer generated, games and such. His were hands-on tinkering stuff. He liked fixing things. His small cabinet set in the corner was stocked with his latest projects, abandoned when duty called. He opened the double doors above the desk cabinet and picked up where he’d left off, soldering an automatic cooling system. He hadn’t touched the project in months.

  Time could be a fickle mistress. He’d been on this case for a week. Had it been that long since he’d become embroiled in this genetic mess? Or since he’d first laid eyes on Kindra B-Zaika? His heart did a stupid flip-flop at the thought of her perfect figure and flawless rosy cheeks.

  Returning to his work, he applied flux onto the solder joi
nts and positioned the soldering iron, allowing the solder to heat the joints. The hot smell of melted flux and molten solder wafted around him. He soldered a few more joints, then sat back to inspect his work. Behind him, he heard the soft sound of footfalls. He glanced around.

  “What are you doing?” Kindra asked.

  “Working on a project. I’m fixing an old circuit board. Go back to bed.”

  “You’re not sleeping,” she countered.

  “I have too much on my mind.” It was the truth. Of course, he wasn’t about to share the fact that she occupied a vital part of his thoughts.

  She sauntered over to prop a hip on an adjoining worktable.

  “Careful. This stuff will burn your skin off.”

  She inched back a little. He continued to work, even with her watching him. “You have strong hands,” she said.

  “Compared to what?” He caught her movement from the corner of his eye. A shrug, he thought.

  “I don’t know. GEI men, I guess. I haven’t been around many men like you.”

  “Coders, you mean.”

  “I suppose. I’d never given it much thought.”

  He clamped his mouth shut, not saying more. Nor saying what he really thought about GEI-Coder relationships. It wasn’t relevant anyway. When this case was over, she’d go her way and he’d go his. Life would go back to normal.

  “Back to bed. You need your rest,” he said again.

  With a huff of irritation, she rose and left him alone.

  Just the way he liked it.

  By morning, he’d finished the project. He stood and stretched, but the thought of Kindra remained, along with her bothersome effect on him. It appeared he would require a long cold shower simply to be able to leave his room.

  After he dressed, he went downstairs to the silent kitchen. He felt like making an old-fashioned breakfast, like the kind his grandmother used to make. With a strong cup of coffee to fortify him, he set to work. He didn’t know if Kindra and Brianna preferred eggs scrambled or poached or over easy, so he made a few of each, along with bacon and sausage.

  “You cook?” Kindra asked from the doorway.

  He turned to face her, hands on hips. “Yes. The house is equipped with top-notch computer communication equipment. That’s about it. And a basic InstaCafé.”

  “Hmm. No extra’s like robotics?”

  Brianna skipped past her mother. “May I look around at all your magnificent things, Mr. York?”

  “Brianna, that’s rude,” Kindra scolded.

  He gave her a look that said it was all right. “Yes, sweetie, go right ahead.”

  She dashed from the room, and Kindra raised an eyebrow at him. “Don’t allow her to impose on you. She has to learn control.”

  He smiled. “She’s sweet.”

  Kindra walked farther into the kitchen. “This is so different from what I have at my place, where everything is hidden and automatic.”

  “At my home, I cook or I eat out at someplace where other people cook. No machines. But here, they at least have an InstaCafé.” He shrugged. “The other detectives like all the modern conveniences, even if I don’t.”

  “Sorry about the pancakes the other day, then.”

  “I survived,” he said with a laugh. “I’m not a purist. But it’s pretty much how I choose to live.”

  “I can respect that. Many times people live the way they were raised. My father likes all the conveniences science has to offer. My mother spends most of her time off-planet in a space community. So I enjoyed every kind of technology. Otherwise, I didn’t eat.” She gave an uneasy laugh.

  “Just like our genes, our childhoods and pasts were different.”

  And incompatible, the voice in his head added.

  Brianna came dancing back into the room. “Do you have any games?”

  “I do. I’ll show you after you eat,” York said.

  The child wrinkled her nose. “I’m not hungry.”

  Kindra pulled out a chair at the table. “Well, try to eat a little something. You will have all day for games.”

  Her daughter reluctantly slipped onto the seat. “Just a few bites.”

  “If you don’t like it, you don’t have to eat it,” York said.

  The little girl turned her big eyes upward and gaped at him, her adoration clear. “Okay.”

  He set two more plates on the table and sat. “The same goes for you.” He looked at Kindra. “I’m a huge breakfast fan myself, but I know not everyone is.”

  The conversation tapered off as they ate. York watched them intensely, and Kindra seemed genuinely uncomfortable. He wondered why.

  * * *

  “It’s delicious. Thank you,” she said, peering at him through lowered lashes.

  He nodded and shoveled forkfuls of scrambled eggs laced with Tabasco into his mouth. His manners were somewhat on the rough side. He ate with gusto, a look of sheer enjoyment on his face. The difference in GEI and Coder mannerisms was something she had not considered before. To be honest, she had not thought much about Coders at all. She watched him as unobtrusively as she could, fascinated.

  There was no control, no censorship, no judgment—at least not at this moment. His attitude was contagious, and she slowly adopted more enthusiasm for the taste and texture of the food, all more richly flavored than what would have been produced in her kitchen. The eggs were fluffier, the bacon crisper, the orange juice sweeter. Even Brianna’s zeal increased until her food was gone.

  Kindra followed his hand as he shook out more Tabasco. He caught her watching.

  “It’s hot sauce. Would you like to try some?”

  She sunk her teeth into her lip. “I’ve never…”

  He used his knife to push some of the seasoned eggs onto his fork, then held it inches from her mouth. “Here. Taste.”

  She hesitated. The idea of him feeding her was so shocking, she held his gaze. Something, though she didn’t know what, clicked inside her. It was a pleasant feeling. It was something like…freedom. She opened her mouth and took what he offered.

  She chewed, then swallowed. Immediately, she coughed, grabbed the glass of juice, and drank. “Hot.” She fanned her lips.

  “But good, eh?”

  “Yes.” She nodded along with her hoarse whisper. It was an invigorating taste, even if her tongue burned. It made her feel quite alive—more than she’d ever felt before.

  His gaze held hers as she licked her lips, drank, then licked them again. Abruptly, he stood and cleared the table.

  “I want to go back to Mr. York’s house,” Brianna said. “He has so many cool things.”

  Kindra looked to York. Good heavens, he’d had stuff everywhere. Who lived like that? Obviously, he did.

  “You are going to stay here with Nanny Sally while we go to work,” Kindra told her daughter. “Just like any other day.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Kindra followed York into the living area. “We should head to Seville.”

  He eyed her and shook his head. “No. After the scare you had last night, you need a break. HERO and Comp Nine are working the stats, and there haven’t been any more GEI cases in a few days. Even the Coder connection needs to be analyzed; that takes time. You can wait here just as well as you can in the office. Comp Nine will forward any updates, no matter your location. Okay?”

  She laced her fingers and nodded, thinking.

  “Good,” he said. “I’ll go follow up on my investigation and leave you alone.”

  “No. On second thought, I’m not going to allow last night to keep me from my work” She looked at Brianna, still seated at the table. “What if I take Brianna and Nanny Sally to the office? I really don’t want to leave her here.”

  “I’d prefer they stay completely out of sight.”

  Brianna left the table and came into the room. Where moments before she’d dug into York’s food, now she looked tired. Kindra’s heart beat faster. She tipped Brianna’s face up. Her cheeks appeared pale, her complexion pasty.

/>   “I feel funny.” Brianna’s eyelids dipped downward in a heavy sweep. “I’m going to rest.”

  York gave Kindra an anxious glance. “You don’t think…?”

  Together, they followed Brianna to her room. Nanny Sally picked up a brush, ready to tend to Brianna. “The child’s core temperature is 103 degrees.”

  Kindra fought a swell of panic. That could only mean one thing: Brianna had the virus.

  “Okay,” she said slowly, trying to allow logic to rule her emotions when all she wanted to do was cry and grab her daughter and hold on tight. She forced a smile for Brianna. “Looks like we’re going to have another adventure.”

  York placed a comforting hand on Kindra’s shoulder. Tension tightened her back muscles. A twinge of pain from the wound along her spine reminded her of her fear last night. It was nothing compared to the stabbing in her heart now. My God, she wasn’t used to either. She gave a long, controlled exhale. “I’m glad you’re here,” she whispered to him.

  “So am I.” He touched his lips to her temple. “Everything will be all right.”

  She tilted her head to the side, then nodded.

  “You need to test her, right?”

  “Yes, but I wish there was a way to take her directly to cryo.”

  “You have everything you need here. Go ahead and draw the blood samples. I’ll see to it that they are delivered to Seville right away.”

  “Are we going somewhere again?” Brianna asked drowsily.

  This time, Kindra bent and lifted her daughter into her arms. “Yes, you may have to take a nap in the cryo beds like the other D Generation children.”

  Her bright little girl looked at York and back to her mother. “I guess I have the virus, too.”

  “Perhaps. We’re going to find out.” Kindra tried to keep her voice even.

  York left the child’s room and returned with her medical bag. “Here you go,” he said, placing the bag before her.

  Kindra gathered a blood sample with the blood test strip. When she was finished, he placed it in a special box and attached it to a drone that would fly it to one of her scientists at Seville.