Page 96 of Night's Fall
She marked hisT-shirt with her ear and started purring.
Brazen little flirt.
“Are you all right?” the woman askedAleksei, not hiding her worry as she examined him so thoroughly, it was a surprise scan rays didn’t shoot from her eyes.
“I’m fine,Muriel,” he replied affectionately.Thenhe (withNova) guided me to the woman. “AndI’mdelighted to introduce you toLaura.”
Her warm brown eyes turned to me, and she smiled.Thatsmile was shaky, but she gave it her all.
“So very lovely to meet you,” she greeted.
“Same to you, thoughIwish we didn’t have to mess up your night with all of this.”
She nodded but didn’t reply to that.
“I’ll go see that the bots are taking care of everything,”Murielannounced to no one. “Excuseme.”
With that, she rushed to the stairs.
I started to go after her, because after all, it was my stuff, butAlekseiwaylaid me.
“She needs some space.”
I was a hint confused as to why she’d need space with my stuff, but replied, “Allright.”
“She’s been with me for seven years,” he explained. “Abouta year into her tenure, she lost her son in a craft collision.Somedrunk asshole overrode course approval and hitPaulgoing two-hundred-and-seventy-five knots.”
“Good gods,”Ibreathed.
“He was her only child.NowI’mher only child.Tonightwould trigger her, and it has.Therefore, she needs space.”
I bet she did.
I nodded. “Okay, honey.”
He (Nova) andIturned toAllain.
“Any status updates?”Alekseiasked.
“There was a fatality.”
“Outside the oneIkilled?”Alekseiinquired, not hiding his surprise.
“Yes.Afemale,”Allainanswered.
What?
Oh no!
How?
The only shot fired had gone wild.
“A half and half, demon/human female was found blasted in the face by aPR60on full-beast stun,”Allainreported. “CatTruelockhired her as an assistant associate about six weeks ago.Herjob tonight was to mind the artist.”
“Oh my gods,”Isaid, horrified.
I hadn’t even thought to wonder where she went for all the time she’d leftTerrinton.Certainly, it was plenty to be able to take care of bathroom business and return.
