Page 9 of Jump or Fall
“The cameras aren’t real and I have an override key.”
“What does that mean, the cameras aren’t real?”
“High-ranking Silvers like Knight keep their schedules unpredictable and avoid being on camera too often. It makes them harder to track. The false cameras give you the illusion of being watched—and the other tenants, the illusion of safety.”
“How do you know all this?”
“Expertise from a previous life.” He must have sensed her sudden apprehension because he added, “No, I have never been a Silver.”
Even if he had been, he couldn’t be anymore with that scar.
She grabbed a cracker and nibbled on the end. The whiskey was making her queasy.
“I don’t know how you know about me,” she muttered, “but I’m sure none of this is what you expected.”
“Information circulates about the Silvers’ dealings with Hyperion. But ultimately, you’re the Master Tailor, and your suits have been integral to their success. That’s known beyond the city walls.” He drained his glass, tilting his head slightly to the side as he swallowed. “As for what I expected, I had no real idea in mind.”
She rested her head in her hands, pressing her palms against her eyes. “Not trying to sound arrogant, but why not kill me to slow their advancement? I could be classified as a Silver spy. Taking out his propped-up whore would send quite the message.”
Silence.
She looked up, half hoping this was all some delirium and that the chair would be empty.
Instead, he was staring intently at her.
“You aren’t his anything.”
She stifled the urge to roll her eyes and sighed. “What’s this suit you need so badly?”
Clearing his throat, he pulled a tablet from his coat, swiped a few times, then set it on the coffee table.
She picked it up and skimmed through the specifications. A modified enforcer suit with additional panels on the gauntlets. The diagrams were filled with detailed notes on integration.
The mock-up was too accurate.
“Where did you get an enforcer suit?”
“Uh, there was an unfortunate accident last month. The opportunity arose to take one for research.”
Mara mentally sorted through recent reports involving enforcers. If one died or a suit was damaged beyond repair, Hyperion salvaged the materials. They were too costly to discard. An arson near the Outskirts had killed two enforcers and damaged the suit of a third. Only two suits had been recovered with the report stating the third was beyond salvageability.
Well, he proved his ability to exploit a flaw.
“What are these panels you’re trying to install?”
“Remote detonators and a screen I can program for various purposes.”
She set the tablet in her lap. “Remote detonators?”
“For explosives.”
“Aren’t you worried about hurting innocent people in all this?”
He shrugged. “We try to minimize the risk to the public, but sometimes it can’t be helped.”
She scratched her head and bit into another cracker. “One last thing—at least for now.”
“Payment?”
