Archangel 01 - Archangel Protocol by Lyda Morehouse

Author:Lyda Morehouse [Morehouse, Lyda]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, Science Fiction, Adventure, General, Mystery & Detective, Internet, Women Sleuths
ISBN: 9780451458278
Publisher: ROC
Published: 2001-05-11T15:37:57+00:00

Chapter 14

He y, partner . . . it’s me. I jumped at the sound. I turned to look around the room, even though my brain instantly registered the voice as subvocal.

An image wavered into existence, like a ghost given form. His face, as always, looked as if it had run into too many fists over the course of his forty years. Wild black hair had been tamed by a prison buzz cut.

His features were thinner, hungrier, but his dark eyes still flashed with mischief. The smile he bore was the roguish grin of a wolf.

With a cluck of my tongue, I admired his craft. He had taken the time to construct an image, as well as preempt the LINK’S usual command routine. No incoming message warning, just Daniel, standing there like he’d never left. Although, not quite. The facial image was recent, as the buzz- cut attested, but it was evident he cobbled the body together. Crackling with energy, the picture refused to stay still beneath the perfectly replicated face. I imagined he hacked the image from the prison camera, maybe even during the breakout to cover his tracks.

Lagging behind, came the LINK’S response: MESSAGE, recorded 4:59 pm EST, source unknown.

“Some help you are,” I groused to the LINK. Smiling, in spite of myself, I added, “Anyway, I know who it is. Hi, Danny.”

The image of Daniel was frozen in space, waiting for a go-ahead command. I shook my head. Only a social miscreant like Daniel would program a message to appear without the usual warnings and then bother to have the politeness to wait for a response.

Go ahead, I sent, then added out loud, “You old fox. You’ve only gotten trickier with age.”

Sorry for the crudeness of this message, but I needed to get your attention, he said, his eyes apologetic. Friends of mine tell me you’re back on the LINK. I’d like to know how you’ve managed that, Dee. Maybe you could hustle me a reconnect after things settle down? Vm jones-ing bad.

I looked at the image of Daniel with renewed interest—he was hardwiring this? Not possible, I told myself, he wouldn’t have the time, and, besides, he could hardly run with a board and key-in at the same time. This was someone else’s LINK connection, then.

Anyway, the image continued, / hope the rumor is true; otherwise, I have no idea when you’ll get this message . . . It’s being transmitted through a friend’s access, and I don’t know how long he can keep it bouncing around. The image shrugged, sending the image of the body into a sizzling chaos.

If you haven’t already heard— I’m out. We need to meet, to put our heads together, like the old days. I’ve got some crazy ideas about Letourneau I need to bounce off your superior brain, old friend. Danny threw me a wink. Contact me any way you can. My friend will be listening for you.

The three-dimensional image became flat. The pixels separated, raining down to disappear into the floor.

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