The Aleph Extraction by Dan Moren

Author:Dan Moren
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780857668486
Publisher: Watkins Media
Published: 2020-06-14T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 17

What does one wear to a dinner with a notorious gangster?

Addy’s current attire, though it would probably pass muster, had the distinct disadvantage of being the same thing she had worn in her encounter with Xi earlier in the day. It would probably be polite to at least give the appearance of having freshened up.

But their stateroom had been seized in the wake of their funds being frozen, so all the other clothes that Kovalic’s tailor had made for her were under lock and key in a room being watched by ship security. And the lack of funds meant that buying new clothes was out of the question.

Like you’ve never stolen clothes before. But this wasn’t like when she’d been a teenager, nicking a new top to impress her compatriots.

No, this required a decidedly more delicate touch.

The stores on the esplanade ran the gamut from casual apparel all the way up to the most formal of wears. Addy picked one of the higher-end ones – the kind of place that catered to a demanding clientele – and swept in with her best aura of entitlement. She idly perused the racks until a clerk with a sunny disposition appeared next to her.

“Good day, ma’am. Can I help you find anything?”

“Oh, yes!” Addy said, injecting a note of breathlessness. “I have this tremendously important dinner tonight and simply nothing to wear!” She fluttered a smile.

“No problem at all,” the clerk assured her. “I’m sure we can put together an outfit in no time. What kind of dinner is it? Business? Pleasure?”

“I guess you could say starting as one and, hopefully, ending up as the other, if you know what I’m saying?”

The clerk gave a knowing smile. “I think we can find something. Give me just a moment.”

Five minutes later, Addy was ensconced in the dressing room with an armload of clothes. As she tried on the third dress, a flattering white and black number, she had to admit that the associate – Tess, her name tag said – had a good eye. All of the outfits she’d picked out were cut to flatter Addy’s figure.

Damn, if I’d had any of these back when I was running short cons on the streets, I could have waltzed my way into the fanciest restaurants in Salaam.

“Honestly, these are all marvelous,” said Addy, as she stepped into the hallway, her skirt swishing. “Thank you so much for your help.”

Tess looked her up and down thoughtfully. “We’ll take that one in a little bit at the waist, but it really shows off your arms, which you absolutely should.”

Addy flushed. All those push-ups in training counted for something, I guess.

“We can of course have these altered and delivered to your room,” said Tess. “I’ll just need your sleeve for payment.”

The moment of truth. “Of course!” said Addy. She started sifting through her bag. Letting a frown cross her face, her groping got more frantic, but she produced only a makeup compact, a hair tie, and a few sticks of chewing gum.

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