Part 13 (1/2)

”Listen, when you get a chance, you see what your 'puter can tell you about her. Listen carefully. Then, oh, double what it told you cause I can tell you a lot about her ain't on the news. A whole lot.” Abby paused for a second. ”And I was there for most of it. Okay.”

The kids nodded, then raced for the exit as the familiar Ryes stop was called. Buying a computer with Bronc at your elbow had to be about the most fun Abby'd had with her clothes on in fifteen years. Only he didn't want to buy a computer.

He turned up his nose at the completed units...and headed for where they sold the components. Why was Abby not surprised.

He started with the box. They had everything, from tiny ear and gla.s.ses units to a few obsolete reader-type boxes. He picked the cheapest. It actually had a black-and-white screen.

”You don't have to go for the absolute bottom,” Abby said.

”I want a box so it's got plenty of room to add stuff. And I don't want it looking too fancy or, you know...”

”But color is nice to have when you need to read plans, stuff that's using color. You can always have black and white for your default,” Abby added.

Bronc didn't need more persuading.

He settled for a midlevel processor and storage. Abby bought him the high-end sniffer submodule. He grinned at that. ”I better not tell Mick I got that. He'll get jealous.”

All the parts in a bag, they were ready to check out and head for a pizza parlor the kids knew. There they'd find a quiet corner and put all the pieces together. But Cara pulled Abby aside. ”Could I have something?”

”What do you want?”

Cara led Abby to the jewelry counter...not the expensive end, but the counter with the cheap costume stuff. There, a fake, green emerald had an image of the Madonna and Child etched into it. On the other side, it was a full-function phone.

As much as Abby wanted to say ”sold,” she paused. ”You know this isn't just a phone. When you're carrying it...”

”They can track where you are without you knowing. They can turn it on and listen even if you don't have it on. Yeah, Bronc's told me. He also says he can fix it so it don't.”

Abby glanced at the boy. He nodded his head confidently.

”If Granny Ganna has security in her house, it will sniff this out even if you do squelch it.”

”So I don't take it home. I got a place I can hide it.”

Twelve years old and already briefed in on spying basics. Said something about the home she was brought up in. Abby would have to think about all that said about Momma Ganna, but for now she'd buy the bobble. She also needed to think about why a twelve-year-old kid was attracted to a picture of a mother cuddling her child close.

Bronc won a five-dollar bet with Abby. He had his machine up and running before the pizza arrived. ”The screen is up. I got a lot of stuff still to do, but it's awake and working.”

So Abby paid.

It was doing more before they finished the pizza. Abby paid for software downloads. She'd arrange for more later under special instruction. One thing she made sure of. She didn't leave until he'd squelched Cara's new commlink.

It was not yet dark when Abby paid their fare back to Five Corners. ”Don't tangle with a Longknife. And if you know anyone that you wouldn't like to get suddenly dead, tell them the same.”

”Don't worry about us, Auntie Abby. We know how to take care of ourselves,” they both answered.

They were so young. So confident.

If only Abby felt half so sure.

19.

Princess Kris Longknife wondered whose good day she was having. It couldn't be anything she deserved.

The morning started with a fine run with the Marines. Some Navy and Army personnel attached to the emba.s.sy jogged along with them. Even Chief Beni and Commander Malhoney were up early, leading a small detachment in a spirited walk. Strange what having a princess around did to middle-aged men.

And the business hagglers had finally talked themselves out. They settled within pennies of where Kris figured they would three days earlier. But they'd spent those days arriving at it, and both sides seemed delighted at how hard fought their victory had been. Their bosses would be so proud of them.

And there'd be no questioning that they'd earned their expense accounts.

You'd think they'd won a battle.

Kris did her best to join the victory spirit, including lunch at The Vault, one of the most expensive places Garden City had to offer.

It should have been a fabulous time. Four men paid court to her, each trying to outdo themselves in their wittiness and praise for their home planets and reasons Kris should visit. Two had sons her age she might enjoy meeting.

But Kris watched this three-martini lunch while drinking soda water. From that perspective, none of them were quite as witty as they thought.

She was saved from having to stay as lunch ran into happy hour, and maybe even supper, by a call from Inspector Johnson. ”Can we talk?”

Five minutes later, the inspector picked her up in front of The Vault. ”Do you lunch there often?” the inspector asked, giving her an investigative eye that would make even one of those Longknifes feel guilty. Maybe.

”We just finished bargaining for some of Eden's computer technology. Some real sharp types wanted to impress me with their expense accounts.”

”Did they?”

”Oh, they impressed me. Just not the way they figured.”

”Clearly, they haven't studied the reports on you. Money does not impress you.”

”What someone does with it might. Waving the raw stuff around...” Kris shrugged. ”Did you call me out here to discuss business ethics. I don't mind. I needed out of that lunch sometime between now and breakfast. Thank you.”

”Actually, I do have a reason for taking you off on this little drive.” Now Kris noticed that they were not heading back to the emba.s.sy. NELLY, ANY IDEA WHERE WE'RE GOING?

NOT A CLUE, KRIS. LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU FIND OUT.

It was bad enough when a computer wasn't helpful. But one that sa.s.sed you back to boot! Kris really needed to schedule some time with Trudy.

Kris edged around to face Johnson...and make it easier to reach for her automatic. She also rechecked the backseat of the sedan. It was empty.

The inspector must have felt the tension. ”No, I am not kidnapping you, poor fool who tries.”

”That's nice to hear. So, where are we going?”