Wraith (Debt Collector 10) by Quinn Susan Kaye

Author:Quinn, Susan Kaye [Quinn, Susan Kaye]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, serial, future-noir, cyberpunk
Published: 2014-10-20T07:00:00+00:00

The defunct electronics store on the east side belongs to my father—it’s one of the many businesses left to ruin in the rapid expansion of Sterling. It doesn’t exactly stand out. The street is littered with the empty carcasses of businesses past. It took me more than half an hour to arrive, but when I swipe inside the back door, Jax is still waiting for me.

She’s leaning against a battered workbench, running some game on her screen. Her short gray hair is a wild poof around her head, and her brown trenchcoat and boots are covered with dust that looks too ingrained to have originated in the shop. Given I’m late, I opt not to harass her about her online gambling addiction. Besides, I’m the last person to talk about being an addict, and her need for cash is what keeps her in my employ.

“Thanks for waiting, Jax.” My bright red heels are a stark contrast to the accumulated grime and smog-filtered light that’s sucked all the color out of the room.

“Wraith,” Jax says in acknowledgment, but her gaze is glued to the screen. Her fingers flit rapidly over it. I wait while she finishes.

Jax’s real name is Joanka, and she’s a distant cousin of the east side mob bosses. She doesn’t strictly work for any of the three brothers, but she’s friendly enough with Emeryk that she has both protection and contacts when she needs them. Jax started working for my father when my mother was cashed out shortly after my birth. My father was convinced it was a revenge kill for his early anti-debt-collector activism, but it turned out to be simple bad records keeping. Jax stayed on retainer since my father’s activist work only increased afterward. She grew up around mob collectors and dirty justice, and even though she helped him keep tabs on the illegal life energy trades, she never seemed to judge any of it. When I found out what I was, she was literally the only person I could turn to. But I don’t remind her of that any more than I remind her of the fixing she’s already done for me.

We stick to business as much as possible.

And today, that’s finding me a payout I’m desperately in need of.

A trilling sound from the screen signals Jax’s defeat and probably a need for more debit cards from me. She snorts in disgust and tosses the screen onto the workbench, where it slides into a dust-covered can of micro-pliers. She crosses her arms as she leans back, then gives my attire a startled look, like she’s just noticed it.

“What’s with the costume?” she asks, her voice gravelly like she’s had too much wódka over her lifetime. I’m not quite sure of Jax’s other vices.

“I was in a hurry.” My leg itches again, and I glance down, but I’m not bleeding. “You said you had someone set up for me?”

Her face wrinkles up to show her age. “What happened to Madam A? Seemed like that was a sweet gig for you.

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