TekWar 03 TekLab by William Shatner

Author:William Shatner [Shatner, William]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781453286791
Publisher: Open Road
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

21

“NOW HERE’S WHAT YOU do,” suggested Jake. “Very slowly and carefully, turn around. Then explain why the hell you’ve been tailing me.”

The pretty, auburn-haired young woman was smiling when she faced him. “I underestimated you,” she said, rubbing the toe of her boot across the imitation flagstones of the inn courtyard. “You’ll have to forgive me. I guess taking care of myself over in the gangzones has made me a trifle too confident.”

“You’re not with the police?”

“No, the Welfare Squad,” she explained. “I’m Marj Lofton.”

“Oh, so?”

“Beth Kittridge suggested that I look you up.”

“Really?”

“Didn’t she tell you about me? Beth implied that she had. We’re old friends from SoCal Tech days.”

In the stable one of the robot horses whinnied.

Jake took a careful step backwards, keeping his stungun aimed at her. “Show me your ID packet.”

“Sure.” She slid her hand into a jacket pocket. “I was going to introduce myself to you in a minute. Honest.”

He accepted the proffered IDs, glanced through them. “Why trail me at all?”

“Showing off. I was anxious to impress you.”

After handing the packet back, Jake slipped his gun away. “Why?”

Marj said, “Beth told me, when she called a couple hours ago, that she thought I might be able to help you. But she also warned me that you’re very independent, a true loner.”

Jake grinned. “Nope, I’m actually a team player from way back,” he assured the young woman. “Thing is, I have to be captain of the team and pick all my crew.”

“Fair enough,” Marj said. “Do you know for certain that your son’s over in gang territory?”

“There’s a very strong possibility,” he answered. “He’s trying to find his missing girlfriend and she’s supposed to be holed up with the Westminsters.”

Frowning, Marj shook her head. “A very rough bunch,” she observed. “Why’d the girl pick them?”

“A friend of hers apparently runs with the gang. Kid they call Silverhand Sally.”

“Yes, I know Sal. For a while I even thought she might be salvable.”

“You don’t think that anymore?”

“Oh, it’s still possible maybe, but the odds are getting longer.”

Jake said, “I’d like to go over there soon as I can.”

“Could you use a guide?”

“I could use a good one,” Jake told her. “But I don’t want anybody who’s trying too hard to impress me. Somebody who’s more interested in showboating than in getting the job done.”

“I’m sorry I stalked you,” she said. “Most days I’m not like that.”

“When can we leave?”

“I have to gather up some stuff for the trip,” Marj said. “Suppose I meet you at your hotel in two hours?”

“Okay, fine.” He held out his hand.

Shaking it, she said, “I really am pretty good.”

“I’m counting on that,” he said.

The Parisian night was crisp and clear. Hands in the pockets of the stylish thermocoat he’d purchased earlier in the day, Gomez was strolling along beside the dark Seine. He’d found over the years that solitary walks sometimes helped him think.

“Muy frio,” he remarked to himself. “Being a crackerjack international investigator has its disadvantages. One of which is frigid climes.”

On the night river a music barge was slowly sailing by.

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