Aphrodite's Tears by Andrew Vaillencourt

Author:Andrew Vaillencourt
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: military, cyberpunk, action, violent, mystery, detective
Publisher: Andrew Vaillencourt
Published: 2018-02-12T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

As the Alasdair Craddock meeting had lent itself to Roland’s crude tactics, it was universally agreed that meeting Lincoln Hardesty would be better accomplished with Lucia’s more polished style. Manny knew the man’s proclivities well enough to recommend taking Mindy. Hardesty was a man of appetites, and his penchant for stacked blonds was a known factor. When informed of her role, Mindy’s eyes narrowed and her face contorted into one of the most delightfully predatory grins Roland had ever seen. Making men do stupid things was her second-favorite hobby, and the opportunity to make Lincoln Hardesty look the fool warmed Mindy’s soul in a manner best not elaborated upon.

Manny’s task was simple enough for the experienced infiltrator. Break into Craddock’s records and steal everything not locked down. Special attention was to be paid to finding out who or what was financing high-end armatures for the low-rent denizens of the dome, but any good dirt would serve their purposes.

Roland’s role was more nuanced than he preferred. His formula since beginning his career as a fixer had always been fairly predictable. The steps were well-practiced and followed the same pattern for the most part:

Go talk to guy.

Guy chooses not to listen.

Hurt guy.

Guy listens.

Sometimes the order got mixed up. Sometimes a piece would be skipped or repeated. Nevertheless, for as long as he had adhered to this four-step dance he had enjoyed universal success. This time was different. He needed to go up to the RUC garrison and charm his way into their records. In all his years, the big cyborg had been called many things by many people. People had called him ‘Breach,’ ‘Tank,’ ‘Corporal,’ and a host of other names that polite company would never allow for. However, in his whole life no one had ever called him ‘charming,’ or any other word or words synonymous with it.

On the surface, his task was a simple thing, but every step on this path came with staggering consequences for failure.

He walked up to the RUC office at the security checkpoint, and asked the PFC at the desk to get him Sergeant Cummings. He assembled his features into the best, most comradely façade he knew how to do. Lucia had coached him on his demeanor, and Manny had explained how to use body language and inflection to disarm someone’s suspicions. Ever the soldier, Roland had listened faithfully and executed all of their instructions to the best of his limited ability. When the private fled his station as if Satan himself had poked him in the ass with a pitchfork, Roland knew that his instructors would not be pleased with his performance.

The familiar face of Cummings appeared in the doorway and Roland straightened. Again he beamed his most disarming expression at the man. Cummings just looked confused.

“You all right, man? You look like you’re about to puke.”

Roland stopped trying to smile. “Must be the food here, Sergeant.”

“It’ll do it to ya,” Cummings agreed. “What can I help you with, Corporal?”

Roland cast an evaluating eye over the PFC and the general bustle of the security office before responding.

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