Encounter: In Dying Starlight Book 10 by Emily McCosh

Author:Emily McCosh [McCosh, Emily]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Oceans in the Sky Press
Published: 2023-07-17T23:00:00+00:00

Ten

“These are not our visiting hours,” the woman says, staring directly at Yvonne and ignoring me. I’m doubly grateful for the glasses, even if they’re a little odd inside.

“Sorry,” Yvonne says. “The door was open. We’re actually looking for someone.”

The woman’s eyebrows twitch, but she doesn’t look at me even when Yvonne gestures vaguely in my direction. Great. Extra argumentative is always fun.

“I’m trying to find the records of a child who came from this planet. He was given over to Amerov in 5635 when the outbreak hit the hardest.”

Finally, her eyes slide in my direction. “How is that any of your business?”

I bite back the it’s not any of your business comments that spring to mind. I try to weigh which excuse would be better. That I’m hired to find out? Or that I have a personal investment in it? Hired out sounds more official, and this woman doesn’t give me the impression she’s going to be swayed by emotions.

“Hired by the family of the kid,” I say. “They’re trying to figure out what happened to their relative when he was strangely sent to Amerov and never returned.”

Her eyebrows furrow. The sketchy behavior is making her more suspicious than I believe she intends. She’s certainly old enough to have been here during those years. Was she working here at the time? Does she remember someone fitting the description? Even if she was the one who signed off on me—if it was me—being surrendered to Amerov, that wouldn’t make her guilty of anything. It was a perfectly legal thing to do. There’s always the most obvious option: she doesn’t like nosey, unregistered cyborgs around the kids she’s caring for.

When she doesn’t speak, I say, “I realize you don’t give out personal records, but I’m just looking for confirmation whether or not the kid was here and surrendered to Amerov. There’s nothing involving the law going on here.”

I say it to reassure her, but she seems more insulted than anything. “We’re not hiding anything from the authorities here, but I’m happy to call them myself if you don’t leave.”

I grimace, but Yvonne levels a glare at the side of the woman’s face. Taking off her glasses, she says, “We’re looking for a name, and no more than that, for a very upset family. The other places we’ve checked have been helpful, but we’re going to have to go back to the family and tell them we got answers from everywhere but your establishment. Seems a little suspicious, don’t you think?”

Slowly, the woman turns to match Yvonne’s glare. When did I become the good cop in the situation?

Without bothering to respond, the woman returns to me. “We don’t like your kind here.”

Huh, maybe she just hates Amerov as an entity. Maybe I should’ve mentioned I’m unregistered. If that were to help, it would be a first.

Bat sighs softly. Yvonne looks about ready to throw a punch, but I say, “Don’t worry, I don’t either. But I’m here on business.”

“You’re unregistered. You’re not on anyone’s business.

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