Husk by J. Kent Messum

Author:J. Kent Messum
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781405914277
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2015-05-30T04:00:00+00:00

19

The frozen gel pack pressed to my neck does little to ease the pain as I sync my Liaison to the HG in the living room. The balm Ryoko applied to the swelling before she left my apartment is making my face numb, but the cold feels comforting. I’ve spent the last few hours trying to find information on any of the three employees at Eternity Executive via the net, but have come up empty-handed. The curtains are drawn to every potential window into their lives, past and present. In a world where practically everyone’s existence is on record, the absence of theirs is concerning. The hollow feeling in my stomach is growing, slowly expanding into a miniature black hole, coring my guts and sucking everything I thought I once knew into oblivion. I wonder if this is what being shot in the stomach with a Rapier feels like, minus the unbearable pain.

Back at the wake, Clive came and went before Ryoko returned with the aspirin. She never saw him, and I didn’t mention his visit. My friend was adamant that I not tell a soul he was back in town, told me he wasn’t willing to face anyone until he’d at least got through a couple plastic surgeries. He said I owed him that much. I’d have to agree. Getting the guy to do some snooping for me at Eternity Executive after all he’s been through was a dick move on my part. Clive refused outright when I asked, but I leaned on him, harder than I should have, and the boy broke. Just minutes ago I got a message from him saying he scored some hits on the names Nikki supplied me. He’s included attachments on two of the former employees: Brad Garrison and Cameron Tate. According to Clive, no information is available on Kirk King.

I open the attachments, confidential company records, and examine Brad Garrison’s first. A holographic of the man in nothing but his underwear pops up. Even I’m surprised by his looks. Blue eyes, blond hair, freshly shaven face of a cherub. His body is absolutely ripped, a Husk of high quality indeed. All his information is there: age, attributes, employment history, nightclub and gym affiliations, hobbies and tastes. I read his arrest record, noting that he’d been busted for prostitution several times and drug possession twice when younger. That Baxter undoubtedly has similar files on all Solace Strategies employees is not lost on me.

I skim the records until I see something of interest: a log of requests and complaints from Garrison to the company directors. The dates on them are more than a couple years old now. All entries were logged over the course of several months, spaced a week or two apart.

Brad Garrison (314-A68):

Request full medical evaluation: Request granted.

Complaint filed: Abnormal post-session stress.

Request technical evaluation: Request granted.

Complaint filed: Unacceptable post-session injuries.

Complaint filed: TC-87 ‘Ouija’ malfunctioning (unconfirmed).

Request psyche evaluation: Request granted.

Request reassignment: Request denied.

Request additional personal days: Request denied.

Complaint filed: Abnormal post-session stress.

Request sick leave: Request denied.

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