Page 70 of Sky Song
“You used that code today?”
She shrugged. “Apparently, it still works.”
His smile was as ugly as it was blinding. “Oh, my skies, you’d make such a lovely little pirate.”
“I sincerely doubt it.”
Arriving at her neighborhood, they snuck into the house like thieves. Behind the wall, Hipper announced his awareness immediately.
“I still want to kill him,” Lyle muttered.
“You don’t mean it, Lyle.”
“Why would I open my mouth about something I don’t really mean? He’s a nuisance.”
“He can’t help it, he’s a mindless little critter. He’s kind of sweet, actually.”
“He’s ugly.”
Someone knocked on Cricket’s door.
“See? I should've killed him already.” Lyle palmed the gun.
“Lyle, no…”
“It’s me!” their visitor called from outside. “Paloma.”
Cricket shared a look with Lyle, who appeared as surprised as she.
Cautiously, she let Paloma in.
Whatever her neighbor was going to say died on her lips when she took the two of them in. “What’s this Kabuki theater? Are you into some doctor/nurse fetish? If I peek under your coats, will I find butt plugs?”
Frustrated, Cricket ripped off her face shield. “This is what I wear at work for protection.”
“Smart. And are you training him to process fecal samples, too?”
“What is she saying?” Lyle interrupted.
“She’s admiring your outfit.”
He spread out his arms, allowing Paloma to get a good look at the clothes.
Cricket started pulling the rest of the protective clothing off her body and stuffing the disposable scrubs into the trash bin while trying to decide if what Paloma saw created an additional complication to an already problematic sequence of events.
“I hate to not be able to continue this stimulating discussion, but I have to go back to the lab.”
Ignoring Lyle’s looming presence, Paloma crossed her arms. “Not until you explain what’s going on.”
“Explain?” Cricket hopped on one foot, removing the shoe covers. “Please first explain what you’re doing here. You told me to stay away, and first thing in the morning you knock on my door?”
“Well, you opened it!”
Cricket didn’t have time or energy to take on Paloma right now. She wadded up the shoe covers and pitched them in the can. “I have to go.”
“Listen, just a word.” Paloma glanced at Lyle and switched to her halting Universal. “I’m sorry I yelled at you last night. I was scared.”
Cricket took a deep breath. “What were you scared of?”
