The Weltall File by David Weber & Jacob Holo

Author:David Weber & Jacob Holo
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Hard Science Fiction, Time Travel, Action & Adventure, Fiction
ISBN: 9781982192655
Publisher: Baen
Published: 2023-06-06T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Isaac approached the receptionist’s desk in the Avalanche lobby. She wore a white business suit with a white scarf twinkling with hints of digital data. The company’s logo animated overhead as an avalanche of ones and zeros thundering down a mountainside to sweep through an unsuspecting town in the valley.

“Can I help you, sir?” the receptionist asked.

“Detective Cho, SysPol Themis.” He transmitted his badge. “We’re looking for Ian Zou.”

“Mister Zou?” Her eyes widened in surprise.

“Yes. Is that a problem?”

“Uh, no. Of course not,” she recovered, “but why would you need to see him, sir? Can I get someone else for you to speak with?”

“I’m afraid our business is with Mister Zou specifically.”

“And what business might that be?”

“I’m not at liberty to say.”

“I see, sir.” The receptionist frowned.

“Is he here? We tried calling ahead, but he didn’t answer.”

“Umm, let me look over the check-in log.” She pulled up a new interface and scrolled through it. “Yes, sir. He’s here. Checked in this morning, right on time. Should be at his desk. Would you like me to call him over? If you need to speak privately, we have a meeting room off the lobby you can use.”

A door split open along the side of the lobby, revealing a rectangular table surrounded by chairs. Rotating abstractions of Avalanche infosystem products covered the walls.

“That’ll work for us. We’ll wait there for him.”

Isaac and Susan walked in and picked their seats, the LENS floating in after them.

“She became nervous when you asked for Zou,” Susan noted once the door was closed, speaking in security chat.

“Mmhmm,” Isaac agreed. “Wonder why.”

The door split open again twelve minutes later, and a gaunt man with wispy white hair shuffled in. His face was somber and unfriendly with prominent bags under his eyes. He wore all black accented with a dynamic scarf roiling with dark thunderheads and held a Halley Water brand bottle in one hand.

“Yes?” he wheezed.

Isaac could almost picture dust puffing from his mouth. Or perhaps a moth flying free. The words “desiccated” and “embalmed” came to mind when gazing upon the man.

“Ian Zou, I presume?”

“That’s me.” He took hold of a chair with a skeletal hand, pulled it out, then dropped into it with a pained sigh. He took a swig from his water bottle and set it on the table. “Need something?”

“We’d like to ask you a few questions concerning your involvement with the Weltall Tournament.”

“Our last ActionStream job?” He nodded, then hacked up a few phlegm-rattling coughs into his fist. “What do you want to know?”

“Mister Zou, are you all right?” Isaac asked, genuinely concerned for the man’s health.

“I’ll transition when I’m damned well ready to!” he snapped with surprising energy. “You hear me? When I’m good and ready, and not a moment sooner!”

“I didn’t say anything about you transitioning.”

“But you were thinking it,” he accused, “weren’t you?”

“The thought may have crossed my—”

“You people are all the same! Did Jennifer put you up to this? I bet she did. Well, whatever she told you,

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