She wished Glynn were in here as well. With just the two agents inside the event, and a couple of hundred guests, she felt grossly outnumbered. But he was doing the best he could to feed them information from the discomfort of the DRT support vehicle, parked discreetly on the street opposite the main doors. She imagined him hunched in the back, eyes pouring over the different camera feeds from the event.
“Glynn, we’re waiting.”
A woman strolled in from the street outside, a man half her age pinned to her arm. OsMiTech security stepped in her path and inspected her invitation. Ruby noted a single security member in a tux, leaning nonchalantly against a pillar by the entrance. He hadn’t spoken to a single guest all the while she’d been there, and she knew why. The man was a snoop. One of OsMiTech’s telepaths, paid to scan those entering the building, seeking out any bad thoughts from the guests, anything that might indicate they’d be causing trouble. Illegal, of course. Rule one of the teep code was no unauthorised scanning without prior consent. OsMiTech would argue that by attending the event, implicit consent had been given, but then, as they helped write the Code they would say that.
Glynn came back on her earpiece. “I’m still processing faces. Matching up to known members of the league.”
Ruby sighed. They didn’t know what the rogue was planning to do at the event but their insider within the Anti-telepath League had been worried.
“If you don’t give us anything more soon, we might as well hand this over to the police. You’re wasting our time.” Nikoli was fed up.
“Take it easy,” she replied. “We’ll get him.”
“Assuming it is just the one guy we’re looking for. We don’t have the manpower to intercept more.”
Ruby sighed. “Could our informer have been wrong?”
“He’s your informer,” Glynn replied.
Thanks for reminding me.
A female guest knocked into her—too busy flirting with the man beside her. Instinctively, she checked her blocking patterns were cycling. Ruby threw the stranger an irritated smile and wondered how much longer she would have to be here, pretending she was one of the interested guests. She took a glass from a passing waiter and sipped at the champagne for appearance’s sake. She’d last tried champagne at Fiona’s wedding, but that had been an obvious fake. There might be a lot of fakes at this OsMiTech event, but the alcohol was the genuine article.
But, the drinking didn't interest Ruby. Her head was aching with the chattering guests, and tiresome orchestral music, and the effort required to smile whenever anyone made eye contact.
Nikoli was no longer alone. A young woman clung to his side, younger than Ruby, early twenties. Confused, Ruby leant on the stone bannister and tried to catch their conversation. But it proved impossible to filter out the background chatter. Nikoli joked and laughed with this other woman, leaning in a little too close to her neckline when talking. Nikoli was a married man, and this woman was so young. Ruby’s stomach curled. There was nothing coming over her earpiece despite Nikoli’s lips moving. He’d silenced his comms—poor protocol.
What the hell’s he playing at?
“Excuse me, Madam.”
Ruby opened her eyes. A young man in a black t-shirt, with the crescent OsMiTech logo on his chest, stood beside her. He proffered a tiny white bag on the end of his finger.
“Thank you,” she replied, gently tugging at her ear. “What…”
The greeter dipped his fingers into the bag and withdrew a band of chrome. “It’s the latest model.”
“Oh, wonderful,” she said, not feeling any wonder at the HALO she’d been offered. It looked identical to the second generation she was already wearing.
“Let me sort out the transfer for you.” He moved to take her existing ring from her finger but Ruby pulled her hand away.
“That won’t be necessary,” she replied, forcing a smile. “I’d prefer to keep this one.”
The greeter, surprised at the rejection, handed her the bag, “Well, perhaps you’d like to register it yourself later.”
Job done, he smiled and wandered off to find more recipients.
OsMiTech loved to bring out new devices, and no one seemed to mind paying for more stuff. From its infancy supplying innovative consumer tech to its meteoritic rise as the king of all things technological, everyone loved the company.
And then the telepaths came and changed things, and the country loved OsMiTech even more for saving them.
She stepped back, intending to move along to the next pillar to change her perspective but instead walked into someone crossing behind her. Ruby’s arm shot up and emptied the contents of her champagne glass all over the front of her dress.
“Oh, for the love of God,” she exclaimed.
Then she glanced up at the person she’d been so unaware of.
Devan Oster stood before her, a frown curving his arched eyebrows, making his birdlike obsidian eyes even more intense. The founder of OsMiTech, the reason they were all here tonight, the man she’d just walked into. Her brain took a moment to process all of this, and the realisation that the surrounding people on the balcony were looking at her, mild amusement on their faces. Her dress clung to her skin where she’d spilt the drink. Her face burned.
Beyond reason, a smile danced on his narrow lips.
“I’m so sorry,” Devan said, summoning a waiter with a flick of the finger.
“It’s not your fault. It was mine. Not looking where I was going.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
The waiter appeared with a cloth, and Devan offered it to Ruby. She gratefully took it and dabbed away at herself. “Thank you,” she said, focusing on the dress.
“Candice,” he called behind him softly. His voice was distinguished. The accent still carried the faint cadence of his Swedish origins. However integrated he’d become in this country, that would always remain.
A woman appeared at Devan’s side. Ruby saw with surprise that it was Nikoli’s woman. Standing this close, she caught the whiff of expensive perfume.
“Yes, Devan,” she replied. Her accent wasn’t local.
“I’ve been incredibly clumsy and spilt wine over this charming lady. Please, can you make sure she’s OK for the rest of the evening? Also, I think we owe her a replacement. Arrange a trip out for her to get a new wardrobe on the company’s account.” The corners of his eyes crinkled as he looked at Ruby.
“That’s really not necess—”
He raised a hand and Ruby fell silent. “No arguments.”
She felt a sudden warmth of gratitude to this man she’d only ever seen in media streams.
“Have a great evening.”
And then he was gone.
The surrounding crowd went back to their own conversations although many were quick to tap Devan on the arm as he passed and express their thanks for the event.
“Such a fabulous evening.”
“—wonderful food—”
“—so gracious—”
Devan shrugged off the comments and made his way through the crowd. Flashes centred on him as the press realised he’d entered the room.
“So, if you leave me your details I’ll have someone take you out.”
“Sorry,” Ruby asked.
“Your details?” Candice held out her hand.
“Oh.” Ruby tried not to think about how angry she was with this woman that was interfering in someone else’s marriage. She saw the class two tattoo on her forehead and wasn’t surprised. Most people working for Devan at OsMiTech were telepaths. They touched HALOs and exchanged details.
“No trouble. Do you need a hand with that?” Candice nodded at the stain on Ruby’s dress.
“No,” Ruby blurted, “I’m fine.”
And with a curt nod, Candice left her to her thoughts and hurried after her boss. Her HALO already to her ear, giving instructions to someone. Must be a tough life, working with a man like Devan. But, with all that going for her, why was she so engrossed with Nikoli?
“Still running facial recognition.”
“No one on the local ATL lists?”
“Nothing yet. Keep sharp.” Glynn paused. “I’m not getting anything from Nikoli. What’s up?”
Ruby looked but couldn’t see team mate anymore.
“No, I’ve lost him. Nikoli? Are you reading me?” She spoke quietly, not wanting to draw any undue attention her way. “I’ll find him. There might be a problem with his HALO.”
“Wait on that.” Excited beeps through her earpiece. “No facial matches, but a member of the serving staff was taken ill an hour before the event and has been swapped.”
Ruby froze. There were dozens of serving staff around them; they were as good as invisible.
“Any idea what he’s planning?”
“No. A weapon would be hard to get in.”
“But not impossible. He could have arranged this weeks ago.”
“I’ve got a name. Scott Logan.”
“Description?” A pause. Ruby's heart quickened. “Glynn,” she hissed. “I need information.”
Her eyes flicked around the waiting staff in her vicinity. Disregarding the women, she counted ten, three on the balcony level, seven down on the ground floor. “Nikoli, are you reading?” No response. She couldn’t see him either. “Glynn, Nikoli’s gone silent.”
A male server edged around her to pick up a pair of glasses left on the balcony railing. A second was ten metres to her left with a tray of crudites.
Where the hell was Nikoli?
Then she saw him. Everyone saw him.
“You’ve got to stop it, Devan. The Tombs are dangerous.”
A hush swept over the floor as guests angled their heads, turning their bodies to seek the disturbance.
Nikoli stood in the middle of the room, a glass of beer in his hand, and he was pointing at Devan Oster. Devan had stopped, everyone had stopped. A huddle of plain clothes security were standing out from the crowd, closing in on the pair of them. Devan raised a hand to pause them.
What the hell’s he doing?
“Glynn, we’re in trouble. Nikoli’s picked a fight with Devan Oster.”
“What?”
She could hear the confusion in his voice, but didn’t have time to explain. If she didn’t act, Nikoli would blow the whole operation, exposing Devan to risk and the whole team would come under fire for failing to execute its duty.
“I’ve got to stop him.”
But, as she moved to the stairwell, she realised Devan had reached Nikoli and was whispering in his ear. Nikoli’s face transformed—a white pallor dropped like a sheet over his features. Devan walked towards a pair of double doors. Nikoli hesitated a moment then followed like a well-trained puppy.
“Seems Devan has got it under control,” Ruby relayed to Glynn.
“You’ll have to fill me in later. We’ve still got Scott Logan to find.”
“A description yet?”
“Negative. His record is scrambled. I’m running through the camera logs, using facial recognition to eliminate the rest of the staff.”
Damn. Ruby considered just asking a member of staff to point out Scott to her and was ready to interrupt a waitress when she realised she’d lost track of one waiter on the balcony layer. Short. Five foot eight. Slim build. Hair thinning. In his thirties. A white towel over his wrist. Leaning against a column, looking down over the event below. He’d something in his hand.
“I’ve got him,” she whispered.
“Wait for Nikoli.”
“Nikoli’s gone.”
“Wait for backup. I’ve called the police.”
“No time.”
And then the man she knew to be Scott Logan turned in her direction, and their eyes met. She smiled, turned her head away, tried to make it look like she hadn’t been staring at him just a moment before.
But, he was smarter than that. He nodded, then headed for the back of the room and the doors the waiting staff had been using all evening.
“He’s leaving the party. In pursuit.”
“Ruby, stand down!”
But Ruby had done with listening. Ignoring the shrieks of polite alarm from both sides of her as she brushed through the crowd, she ran, bursting through the double doors into a temporary kitchen that had been set up to cater for the event. Glynn was still shouting instructions in her ear but she was done listening and filtered him out as she caught her bearings and ran after her quarry. She collided with a waiter hoisting up a laden tray of snacks to his shoulder, and the waiter, tray and food crashed to the floor. Ruby mumbled an apology as she skipped over his flailing form.
“What’s in the next room?” she shouted to Glynn.
“Corridors leading to office space.”
“Exits?”
“None from that direction.”
“He could be looking for a window or—”
“Ruby, stand down. I’m on my way.”
She would have to deal with Glynn’s disapproval later. One more rogue this month and she beat Nikoli’s record. She charged into the corridor beyond the kitchen and hunted for open doors, clues as to which way Logan had gone.
A right turn. Another short stretch of corridor, leading to more doors. Ruby ran through into a storage room. Boxes and crates were stacked high. Sheets covered larger exhibits. Lots of cover for someone to take advantage of. She slowed, her heart beating fast, eyes sharp.
Clang.
Ruby raced out of the storage space into another short stretch of corridor. A short flight of stairs led to an open door. A strong breeze tumbled down the steps.
“He’s on the roof.”
“Wait,” Glynn shouted. He was running, his breath was ragged.
She took the steps two at a time, again cursing her dress for being so restrictive and knocked aside the roof door that the wind was knocking back into place. In the open, she forced herself to slow down and focus. He had the advantage. He might have time to prepare. Ruby looked across the flat room, concerned by the large air conditioning units that were tall enough to hide behind. Besides that, there was a small base station unit with a dish aiming at the sky. The next building was dozens of metres away, he couldn’t have made it so far. Unless, he’d found the fire escape. Her eyes flicked around the environment, her mouth dry. In her ear, the heavy breathing of Glynn as he hurried to meet her.
Focus.
A body slammed into hers, crashing her to the ground where the asphalt surface grazed her bare arms and the wind was punched from her lungs. Bastard had been waiting behind the door for her.
He was on top of her, his sneering face inches from her own, spittle dropped onto her cheek. Time ambled, but her brain processed super efficiently as the adrenaline nudged her reflexes. Ruby drew her knee up and slammed it into Logan’s groin eliciting a moan of pain. She followed up with a shove and an elbow against his shoulder, driving him from off top of her.
Logan didn’t back off. He could have run, but he dove at her mid riff instead, no holding back. She slipped on loose gravel and he took her back, slamming her into an air conditioning unit. Her head knocked against the metal casing and her sight clouded. His hands found hers, and he grabbed a wrist, using it to twist her arm up her back and turn her body round.
Slam. This time her front smashed into the unit. Ruby raised an arm to lessen the impact but her cheek still stung with the force. She pushed back with her free hand, but an object was suddenly jammed into her back.
“I don’t want to kill you.”
“You might have to.”
A gasp of exasperation. He was new at this. First rule was never to engage with the enemy. She had a chance.
“You don’t understand what he’s doing.”
“Tell me.”
Glynn would be here soon. A minute more was surely all she needed.
Logan’s voice was young and full of anguish. A man at the end of his tether. “They threatened my family.”
“Who did?”
“They threatened to lock them up if I didn’t turn myself in.”
“Then turn yourself in.”
He laughed, a gutless sound like a dog yakking on a bone. “They’ll diminish me.”
“Are you prepared to run?” Ruby knew he wasn’t. “Whatever the ATL have promised you, they’re lying. There’s no way this can end with you walking away and heading back to a lifestyle of your choice. If you want your freedom, sign the register. If you don’t want to do that, you better start moving because my team aren’t going to let up.”
Thirty seconds. Keep him talking. Whilst he’s talking he’s not shooting.
“That’s not a choice.”
“Go to OsMiTech. Change happens within the system. You can’t fight it from the outside.”
“On the inside telepaths don’t always find their way back outside.”
A sound from behind, feet running up the stairs. The pressure on her back eased. It was all she needed.
She swept her leg behind her, simultaneously twisting her arm around and pulling down hard on his gun arm. Logan fell hard to the floor, the gun dropping. He yelled in pain.
Five seconds. She had no time to think before Glynn would be by her side. Her brain loved to work at this speed.
Logan was an unregistered telepath.
The event employed snoops.
He was supplied by the Anti-telepath League.
Ruby punched his windpipe and Logan’s fight was over. With light fingers, she patted down his trouser pockets and a second later pulled out a silver ampule. The blocking stim he’d used to get past security wore off quickly, and he’d have been sure to keep it on his person to top up every few minutes. It was the only way he would have got past the snoop.
The fire escape door opened and Glynn came running out onto the roof, fear melted into relief as he saw it was Ruby kneeling over the body of the waiter.
She smiled at her boss, palming the ampule in her hand. He didn’t need to know.
“You took your time,” she called. “I think that means I’ve beaten Nikoli now. You can buy me a drink to celebrate later.”
Let me know as soon as The Infinity Mainframe is released.
The Remnant Vault (Tombs Rising Book 2) Page 20
