Page 42 of Kiss of Fury

“The library network streams broadcasts from some planets—but not all. Which planet are you interested in?”

“Earth.”

“Go to those cubicles over there.” She pointed to a partitioned counter on a far wall. “You can watch the feeds on the screen. Enter the planet from the pull-down menu and follow the instructions. Just put on the headphones so the noise doesn’t disturb the other patrons.”

Other patrons? They were the only ones in the building. It was a workday, and the kids were in school. “Got it. Thanks!”

“Is Brody Vale your son?”

“Yes.”

“The books he ordered came in. I need an MCD to send them to.”

“You can send them to mine.” She gave the librarian her code. “Thanks!”

After some trial and error, she figured out how to navigate the library’s network and found a link to WLIE News. Every outlet reported on the Dorns, but Nancy and Hakeem had been WLIE’s darling.

She typedDorn custody suitinto the news agency’s search engine. A broadcast from a week ago popped up.

“WLIE News has an important update in the Nancy and Hakeem Dorn custody battle,” announced anchor Joy Blossom. “Family court today awarded the couple full custody of their grandson Brody, revoking the biological mother’s parental rights.”

If she’d needed confirmation she’d done the right thing joining Cosmic Mates and leaving Earth—but she didn’t—there it was.

“Verity Vale did not show up in court, having previously fled with the boy. A warrant for her arrest on charges of kidnapping has been issued,” Blossom said. Verity’s and Brody’s pictures appeared on the screen. “Anyone having any information about Vale’s whereabouts are urged to contact law enforcement at the number on the screen. The Dorns have posted a $2.5 million reward for anyone with information leading to the apprehension of Verity Vale and/or the safe return of the child. As a side matter, the Dorns have petitioned the court to change Brody Vale’s name to Kyle Dorn, Jr.”

“What the fuck!” She sprang out of the chair.

“Shh!” The two-headed librarian glowered.

“In other news…”

Verity silenced the newscaster, dropped into her chair, and fumed. The Dorns had turned her life into a living hell on Earth. They had intended—and would have succeeded—in stealing her son, but the name change rankled the most.They intend to erase all traces of me. Turn Brody into another Kyle.They were evil. Truly bad people. They had no conscience. No decency. Used to getting what they wanted when they wanted it, they didn’t care who they hurt.

She powered down the terminal, regretting she’d followed up. Ignorance was bliss. Sometimes you were better off not knowing the truth. So much for a peaceful afternoon to herself! She doubted she’d be able to concentrate on a book now.

On the subject of books…what had Brody requested?

In her MCD, she foundJack and the CyborgandCaptain Cyborg.

He was still on that kick. She loved that he was a curious, avid reader, and she was more than a little proud he read far above his grade level. She opened up each book to verify it was appropriate for a six-year-old. They were, but she recalled how her son had said cyborgs were responsible for a massacre. She didn’twish for him to believe cyborgs were heroic figures if they were mass murderers. Before she let him have the books, she’d better do her homework.

She booted up the system and returned to the WLIE site.

Massacre by cyborgs, she typed.

Two escaped cyborgs sought in Chicago massacre, dated three weeks ago, popped up.

Joy Blossom had the lowdown on that story, too. “In a shocking new twist, Solutions Incorporated today admitted thatthreecyborgs killed Chicago Mayor Tawny Lyttle, Illinois State Representative Marvin Whitmore, and twenty-three members of the mayor’s staff. Following the Chicago massacre, Solutions destroyed its entire cyborg line, but two of the three perpetrators escaped and are still at large.

“They are considered extremely dangerous. The public is advised to be on the watch for model C5-104, codename Steel, and C5-105, codename Fury and report any sightings to the authorities.”

Mike’s and Steel’s photos appeared behind Joy’s head.

Chapter Eighteen

“She’s not here?” Fury frowned.

“It’s been dead,” Dr. Twygg said, “no pun intended. I gave her the afternoon off.”

---