Guise Read online

  As Darwin turned to leave, his eye was drawn to a garment draped half out of a box by the closet.

  “Is that …” he asked.

  “I would think you would know better than to go snooping through a girl’s things,” said Yoki, trying to drag him from the room.

  Darwin slid his arm free of hers and took a step to the open box. He picked up the heavy black canvas garment and held it up, turning toward her.

  “I can’t believe you still have this,” he commented.

  “I can’t believe you remember,” she said, taking the piece from him and thrusting it back into the box, folding the lid shut. She pushed him from the room.

  “It is a policy of mine to remember every instance of meeting someone sporting a straitjacket,” replied Darwin, loftily.

  “It was a Bedlam Ball,” responded Yoki, leading him toward the last room. “It seemed appropriate.”

  “If impractical.”

  “If my dickhead boyfriend at the time hadn’t gone off and left me, there wouldn’t have been an issue.”

  “As it was, I seem to recall someone having a very itchy nose and being unsuccessful in addressing that issue. Not to mention being hungry and thirsty.”

  “And I thanked you for handling that first issue promptly. As for the second and third, you didn’t seem to mind parading me around and feeding me for most of the night.”

  “I wouldn’t characterize helping out a damsel in distress as parading her around,” said Darwin defensively. “And it was only for thirty minutes until nature called, at which point you were promptly liberated.”

  “To the vocal disapproval of a majority of the other partiers,” laughed Yoki.

  The last room was the master suite. A mattress, box spring and bedframe leaned against the wall across from a dark wood dresser. More neatly labeled and arranged boxes squatted in the corners. Two doors at the far end of the room led to the walk-in closet and master bath.

  “Be a good boy and get me some food,” ordered Yoki, ushering Darwin from the room. “Now!”

  “Yes ma’am,” said Darwin to the closed door. Pulling out his cell phone, he called in a delivery. After that, he went and looked out the sliding glass door to the small balcony off the main room. The view was to a compact green space set between the buildings.

  As he stood watching a group of children play, he thought about how comfortable he felt around Yoki. Ordinarily, he was a little stiff around people. However, here he was, bantering with her like no time had passed at all. Just one more oddity in a day already filled with them.

  “You know you could have sat down.”

  Darwin turned to see Yoki padding toward him, drying the ends of her long chocolate brown hair. She had on a pair of black yoga pants and a dark green t-shirt with a Mad Cat ‘Mech on it. Her coppery skin gleamed.

  “Just admiring the view,” he answered, turning back to the window.

  “It is nice,” she said, joining him. “So, when do we eat? And what are you feeding me?”

  “Whoa. Aren’t I the guest here? Didn’t you invite me over?”

  “Is there no chivalry left in this world,” she asked dramatically, placing the back of her right hand to her forehead. “Here I am, slaving away all day, by myself, trying to establish a home. I am weak from hunger, and you, cruel man, make demands upon me in my diminished state, knowing I haven’t the strength to fight back.

  “Very well, I will dredge up the energy from somewhere to feed you ‘my lord’.”

  Just then, there was a knock on the front door.

  “Saved,” said Darwin, hustling toward the front door.

  “Think of it more as being reprieved,” said Yoki, putting her hair into a quick ponytail. The damp end reached to just above her waist. She walked into the kitchen.

  “So, what did you get?” she asked, head in the refrigerator.

  “We have a large pepperoni, sausage, chicken, beef, and ham; a large mushroom, onion, olive, peppers, and spinach; an order of cheesy breadsticks; a six-pack of Coke; and a terribly decadent chocolate fudge brownie pie – limited time only,” said Darwin, displaying the stack of boxes in one hand and the drinks in the other.

  “Fantastic,” said Yoki, snatching the boxes from him. “I don’t know what you are going to eat,” she continued, “but the Coke can wait. This is a celebration, which calls for something more festive than soda.”

  She indicated a bottle of chilled wine and a couple of glasses on the counter. The corkscrew rested next to them.

  She carried the boxes into the living room and set them down on a coffee table, which she dragged in front of the couch. Darwin placed the six-pack into the refrigerator and brought the open bottle of wine and glasses over to her. He poured them each a glass.

  “Welcome to the building,” he said, raising his glass to toast her.

  “Thanks,” she said, clinking the glasses together. “Now, if you are good, I can see my way clear to giving you a slice, but only if you are good.”

  “I am destined to starve,” lamented Darwin.

  The two laughed and dug into the food. A few minutes of silent eating took the edge off of their hunger, Yoki twisted in her seat to face Darwin.

  “I can’t believe you remembered,” she said, indicating the pizza.

  “We’re talking me,” he answered. “I have a head full of useless information.”

  She punched him on the arm.

  “Seriously though,” he said, refilling their glasses. “It would be tough to forget after having the same thing every Friday night for two years.”

  “Ah, but those were good years,” she said. “So, tell me. What have you been up to since I last saw you?”

  “Me? What about you?”

  “You first.”

  “Alright,” relented Darwin, remembering how determined Yoki could be if she put her mind to it. He leaned back, settling himself more comfortably. Yoki pulled her legs up and tucked them under her, leaning back as well.

  “Let's see. I graduated with my bachelor’s in computer science then got a job with Barstow Electronics Research, but it really wasn't for me, so I did some app development which sold surprisingly well.

  “I finally finished that book I was always working on and a publisher bought it. It did well enough that I am working on a sequel. Not only that, but a video game company bought the rights and are in the process of making a game out of it. I am working for them as a software test engineer and consultant.

  “That about sums things up. Now, what about you?”

  Yoki stared at Darwin a moment, before replying.

  “You don't honestly think I'm going to let you get away with that lame Reader's Digest version, do you?”

  Darwin fidgeted nervously, taking a sip of his wine to stall for time. He risked a glance at Yoki. Her full lips were compressed into a tight line. Her smooth brow was wrinkled, and her dark brown eyes showed disapproval. Just as Darwin was getting ready to apologize, Yoki broke out into laughter.

  “I'm kidding,” she managed to get out after her laughter had subsided. “I'll worm the details out of you once the food coma sets in.”

  “Okay, my turn,” she continued, sitting up straight with a small bounce. “I got my degrees in marketing and social engagement. I landed a job with Phoenix Concepts. I just got a promotion and a transfer out here. Not only that, but I get to handle an account all on my own!”

  “That's great,” said Darwin.

  “Better than you now,” continued Yoki, smiling broadly. “Guess what the account is?”

  Darwin looked at her blankly.

  “I have no idea.”

  “Think about it.”

  Darwin thought, but nothing was coming to mind. How was he to know what account she had? Yoki let him stew for a few seconds more, but when it became obvious that he wasn't going to make the connection, she told him.

  “I,” she said, holding up her drink as if making a toast, “a
m the person responsible for designing the ad campaign for your game.”

  Darwin looked at her, stunned.

  “You're kidding.”

  “Nope. Isn't this great! We'll be working together again.”

  The two continued their talk as they finished eating. Yoki pressed for and received a more detailed account of what Darwin had been doing. Darwin got to hear more about her advertising career. Yoki was astounded that little Otaku had grown into a large fluffy beast, and promised to come by and see him.

  The food disappeared and the conversation wandered, from talk about what they had been doing, to reminiscing about old times, to catching each other up on mutual acquaintances.

  The wine and food were long since finished when Darwin stifled a yawn. Checking his phone, he noticed it was well after midnight.

  “Yikes,” he said. “I didn't realize it was this late.”

  “What time is it?”

  “12:23. I should be going.”

  “I guess,” agreed Yoki reluctantly. “But before you do, can I get you to help me with one thing?”

  “If it is the remainder of the brownie pie, I am afraid you are on your own,” said Darwin chuckling.

  “Silly,” said Yoki, standing and heading towards the master bedroom. Darwin rose with a groan and followed her.

  “Help me set up the bed?” she pleaded. “I really don’t want to sleep on the couch or the floor.”

  “Okay,” agreed Darwin. “Never let it be said I contributed to the death of chivalry.”

  “Thanks,” said Yoki brightly. In no time they had the base of the bed frame assembled. As Darwin held the wrought iron headboard in place, Yoki bolted it to the base. Then they repeated the process with the footboard. Frame completed, the two manhandled the box spring and mattress into place.

  “Now all we need to do is make the bed and we’re done,” said Yoki, pulling a set of dark blue linens from a box next to the dresser. She tossed a corner of the fitted sheet to Darwin.

  “You know,” she said casually. “You never told me about your girlfriend.”

  Darwin looked at her in puzzlement.

  “Girlfriend?”

  “Well, I just assumed you and the girl you were with this morning …”

  Darwin blinked in surprise.

  “She's not my girlfriend. I don't even know her. Well, I mean I know her. That is, I just met her. It's kind of difficult to explain.”

  “I see,” said Yoki, handing him a pillow and pillowcase. “Then you're not involved with anyone?” she said, her voice taking on a husky seductive tone.

  “Not right now,” said Darwin slipping the pillow inside the case. Suddenly, the full impact of what they were talking about seeped into his brain. The pillow slipped from his grasp.

  Yoki set her pillow down and climbed atop the bed. She crawled forward, eyes twinkling as she smiled at his expression. She slowly laid down on the newly made bed, stretching languidly.

  “So,” she said, holding his gaze. “Do you really need to go?”

  Darwin swallowed convulsively.

  CHAPTER 07

  Patience pulled her car to a stop in front of her office as she drained the last bit of milkshake noisily through a straw. She carefully deposited the empty container in the large bag with wrappers from three burgers, a chicken sandwich, two large fries, and a second drink. While she could have eaten in the restaurant, past experience had taught her it was best to avoid consuming her recovery meals in public, if possible.

  The looks she got as she gorged to feed the healing process were not flattering, to put it mildly.

  Reaching under her shirt, she removed the crude bandage from her side. Crumpling the bloody mass in a fist, she added it to the bag. She scratched at the freshly healed wound.

  They always itched.

  A final scan of the police and emergency bands confirmed what she already knew: no one had heard anything of their altercation this morning. All she had to do now was clean up the mess. That, and hopefully get one step closer to her elusive quarry.

  Clutching the bag with the remains of her meal in one hand, Patience slid from the car. She paused by her office door and looked around one last time. Nothing. Not unusual. She opened the door and went inside.

  No sooner had she entered the office than she knew something was wrong.

  Something sharp slammed into her side as she was turning. A surge of dizziness washed over her, dropping her to her knees. Head spinning, she collapsed to the floor.

  She lay limply as her attacker walked over to her. They prodded her with a toe, rolling her onto her back. She stared up at a vaguely human-shaped blur that was all her eyes would resolve.

  “Still awake, eh?” rumbled a distant voice, barely audible over the roaring in her ears. “Guess we get to do this again.”

  The indistinct blur pointed a thick limb at her. Something sharp slammed into her once more, flooding her with more chemicals. She lost her fight to remain awake.

  --- o ---

  As consciousness began to seep back into her muddled mind, Patience took silent stock of her situation. According to her internal chronometer, only a handful of minutes had passed. However, those had been a productive few minutes for her attacker.

  She was no longer laying on the floor of her waiting room. Instead, she was propped up in a chair, presumably in the waiting room, but probably her office, based on the breeze she felt against her skin. She was bound at ankle, wrist, and elbow with what felt like cable ties, biting into her flesh. Presumably, another had been used to secure her wrists and ankles together.

  Her blouse was open and a couple of contact pads applied to her skin. Whether for monitoring her or torturing her, she didn’t know, but she expected to find out soon enough.

  There was only one person in the room with her.

  Head mostly clear of the debilitating chemicals, she opened her eyes, only to snap them shut once more as light speared into them, causing her stomach to roil. Prepared now, she opened her eyes again.

  “Welcome back, sweetheart,” drawled the man, reclining in her office chair behind her desk with his feet propped up. “Before ya get any fancy ideas, I’d like ta point out those two leads attached ta your quite lovely bosom. Ya cause me grief, I press the switch. Ya don’t cooperate, I press the switch. Ya lie, I press the switch. I think ya get the idea.

  “Now,” he continued, dropping his feet to the floor. “I doubt y’all believe me. No one does, so here’s a demonstration.”

  He depressed the push button on the switch in his hand. Current jolted through Patience, making her thrash. Moments later, he released the button, shutting off the current. Patience sagged in the chair, gasping. She shook her head, blinking at the pixelated data scrolling in her right eye.

  I need to get an upgrade.

  “I wouldn’t bother making any plans darlin’,” said the man, giving her a smile and a wink.

  Patience looked at him, eyes widening slightly.

  “Got it in one, girlie. Telepath. It does make these little talks so much more civilized.”

  “Not always,” she replied, giving him a pleasant smile. “If you're a telepath, why bother with all of this? Why not just pull what you want directly from my mind?”

  “Come on now. You know better than that. Don't insult my intelligence by pretending ignorance of how these things work. Or do ya need another lesson in manners.”

  He hovered his thumb over the button.

  “Translation - you're a weak telepath.”

  The man pushed the button.

  “Strong enough to pick your brains, bitch!” he snarled, letting Patience writhe in agony for a while before releasing the current. He set the control down and leaned back in his chair, tutting and looking at her.

  “Very good. They warned me about ya. Apparently, they didn't cover all your abilities. I do apologize for letting ma temper get the better of me.”

  “No worries,
” gasped Patience, getting her breathing under control. “Happens to the best of us. So, what can I do for you, mister …?”

  “I don’t think we need ta bring names inta this.”

  Patience looked at him.

  “That was unkind,” he said, shaking his head. “However, I will give you that one. Just the one,” he emphasized in a hard voice, holding up a finger.

  Patience’s hands and feet were starting to tingle. She knew she needed to get herself free soon, especially before her captor decided he was through with her. She straightened her right index finger, and concentrated. A slender blade extruded from her fingertip. She angled the sharp knife, and began sawing at her bonds.

  “What happened to your friends?” asked Patience, looking around the office. She noticed her weapons piled on the corner of her desk.

  “You mean afta you did?”

  She smiled innocently.

  “We look afta our own,” said the man with pride.

  “Not very well.”

  “They were lower tier. I'd wager ya wouldn't ‘av had such an easy time had a mid-tier been present.”

  “Like you?”

  The man sighed. Patience convulsed once more. When she recovered, the man continued.

  “Anyway,” he said conversationally. “That team did serve their purpose. They got ya ta lower your guard. Ya weren’t expectin’ anyone ta be here waitin’ for ya.”

  “I wasn’t expecting anyone at all, actually. Why not just send in the A-Team at the start? Skip all of this? Save yourselves a few lives?”

  “Unlike your masters, we don’t like ta go inta situations blind. We didn’t know what level a agent ya were. Now we do. Can’t say your masters are all that interested in keeping Darwin from us if they only assigned a level one ta protect him.”