Chapter 35
Is he avoiding her? No, he’s busy. There’s a mountain of tasks to tackle that he’s trying to catch up on. He has candidates to interview. A meeting with Viper in half an hour. His absence is completely justifiable.
He scrolls down and does his best to focus on the figures before him.
Reviewing reports compiled by his staff is his least favorite aspect of running his business.
He loves the discovery of being a scientist. Getting in the lab and using the high-tech bio-equipment was the driving factor when he chose his profession.
The list of quantities is especially mind-numbing, explaining why his usually focused mind keeps wandering.
Considering Lextr’s recent theft, he should give it the attention it requires. Sighing, he focuses back on the list.
Perhaps he was a bit harsh calling their relationship a mistake. It is, but he can’t bring himself to regret it. What he regrets is her finding out about Jerme. He knew she would be upset and disgusted with him. That’s why he didn’t tell her.
Such a stubborn, foolish woman. No matter what he said, she wouldn’t acknowledge the risk she’s putting them in. All for her stupid column. He winces at the thought.
So you’re good enough for human love, but no one else is? Her words keep ringing in his mind. It’s no wonder he’s been staring at the same inventory reports for the last two hours.
He wasn’t lying when he suggested she doesn’t think he’s worthy of love. Hell, Jerme didn’t either. Love is a farce. Manupartners solved the problem. If anyone is a modern-day hero, it is him.
Human love.
Love.
He didn’t pick the word up during their argument, but he’s replayed it in his mind so many times now.
LOVE. It illuminates his mind like a neon sign.
Is that what’s between them? He drops his head into his hands.
Impossible. This wrecked feeling he gets when he thinks about having to face her certainly isn’t love. It’s something far worse.
Therefore, it’s best he gets on with his life and pretends like she never existed.
A knock sounds at his door, and his new employee Viper pokes his head inside. “Are you ready for our meeting?”
“Ah, yes. Please sit.” Res6 collects his tablet, giving the other man a moment to get settled in the chair across from his desk. “I’ve decided to approach an inspector I know about the information you shared with me.”
Viper’s brows lift. “What prompted that?”
To his mind, Electra already put them at risk with her column.
If he were to report GROW’s criminal activity, and the nature of Electra’s existence came to light, he could explain that she was a onetime mistake and show he has a track record of working transparently with NHOS, even going above and beyond to discover information that would help them with their reincarnate case.
For all they know, the physician Sable is the one creating reincarnates—and he wants to put a stop to that.
Electra’s voice sounds in his head. You’re an unbelievable hypocrite. Jerme is different, he reminds himself. He owes his brother a second chance.
“I’m concerned about consumer trust,” he answers, his tone brisk enough to broker no further questions.
“I see. What do you need from me?” Viper asks.
Res6 lifts his tablet. “I’d like to record your testimony so I can use it along with the video you sourced. Please start from the beginning.”
December 24, 2390.
When he got home the night before, Electra’s door was shut again.
He decided that a few days of space wasn’t a bad thing.
Not that he’s ready to face her. In the romance novels he loves, breakup scenes are common at the beginning of the third act, which easily explains the argument between him and the writer he may or may not be dating.
The problem is, the more he marinates on their argument, he isn’t sure which one of them is the hero.
She’s probably pegged him as the villain for attempting to bring Jerme back.
Her very own mad scientist. Except she doesn’t want him, does she?
If she did, she wouldn’t have walked away.
He picks up his Lase-Razor and runs it over his stubble. Does he look as tired as he feels? He forces himself to meet his own gaze in the mirror. The answer is yes. That’s what happens when you toss and turn all night. “How did you get yourself into this mess?”
The man in the mirror doesn’t answer. Thinking about her is the last thing he needs. Right before he left the office, he got a message from Inspector Wanda asking to meet first thing this morning. Apparently, her version of early is 06:30. Knowing he wouldn’t sleep, he agreed.
He needs to focus and give his company the best shot for when the world discovers Electra’s true identity.
He needs to get Inspector Wanda on his side and convince her they want the same things.
That being the proper control of manupartners, so NHOS won’t perceive them as a threat to their stable society and shut his stupid company down. Not him, as Electra so aptly put it.
When he finally gets to his office, the inspector is already waiting for him. “Good morning,” he says, pressing his palm to the pad outside his door.
“You said you had a lead on the reincarnate case?” Wanda says, following him inside and taking a seat.
“A possible lead,” he clarifies. “I’ve become aware of a physician at GROW using manupartners in an illegal fighting ring. I thought it might be connected.”
Wanda’s blonde brows shoot up. “Good. I wanted to meet early because there might be an opportunity, depending on what you have for me.”
Res6 pulls up the video and the audio file of Viper’s testimony. “Let me show you.”
Wanda listens as Viper details what he saw along with several extrapolations and a short extraneous rant about a woman named K8 who apparently embarrassed him with a vehement rejection in front of his coworkers, which explains his vendetta.
Occasionally, Wanda takes notes on her tablet. He plays the video next.
“Pause there,” Wanda says, getting up to get a better look.
“My source confirmed that is a manupartner called James. I’ve included his unit number in the package I’ve prepared.”
Wanda quickly taps her tablet and her eyes go distant for a moment, a sign she’s mentally dictating more notes. “And you say there’s a GROW physician involved?”
“Yes,” he says. “Her name is Sable. My source says she and the manupartner James are behind most of the big upsets at the club over the last month. Perhaps you could get—”
Wanda clears her throat. “Let me remind you, I know how to do my job.”
His gaze flicks to his hands. “Of course. My mistake.”
“The unauthorized use of manupartners draws scrutiny to your product. I’m sure you’re aware.”
“I am,” he says.
“Then explain your motivation in bringing me this, so I don’t think you’re trying to redirect my attention elsewhere. Considering the robbery, imagine how this looks from my perspective.” Her blue eyes are piercing as she meets his gaze.
She’s right to question his motivations.
After all, his intent is to bolster his favor with NHOS should Electra’s nature ever come to light.
But technically that isn’t a diversion. “Of course. That’s why I wanted to bring you this information.
Believe me,” he says, running a hand through his hair.
Zorg, could he be more suspicious? He leans back in his chair, trying to assume a relaxed position.
“The last thing I want is for NHOS to have a problem with my creation. That’s why I’ve made sure our product safety measures are unmatched across the industry.
I thought my aid and transparency would have reinforced my commitment to shutting down the reincarnate problem. ”
“Hmm . . . I suppose I’ll accept that. You’re so sure it’s limited to GROW. Why not ManuMATE or CheapDate? she asks, chewing the tip of her stylus.
His gaze attaches to the movement. Inspector Wanda is a beautiful woman, but his mind is full of Electra’s glossy lips.
He shoves the image out of his mind. “I almost have the full report of the scans ready to send. The reincarnates came from the GROW DNA catalogue you provided us, confirming what they told us in their interviews. Considering none of them are from one of my other competitors, the evidence points to them.”
He certainly isn’t going to tell her that the additional dozen reincarnates Tommy found on BLACKOUT are also from GROW, plus this IdenTECH company Electra found is solely using GROW’s logo in their marketing.
Better to minimize the problem for now until he can convince her that manupartners are not a threat.
“Or someone working for them,” the inspector agrees. “Unfortunately, the evidence so far is circumstantial. I’m not convinced this woman, Sable, is behind the reincarnates. You say she moonlights as a healer at the boxing ring.”
“That’s right.”
She sits there for a long moment, mulling it over. “While what they’re doing is illegal, my gut tells me she’s in it for the unicoin.”
He doesn’t want to contradict her and get scolded again. He clears his throat, gingerly offering, “Wouldn’t it be just as plausible that she’s making reincarnates for the unicoin too?”
“I suppose it’s possible. I could bring the people you’ve identified in for questioning, but I have a better idea. We need to act fast.”
An hour later, Res6, Viper, and Inspector Wanda, along with ten inspectors from her team, are standing in the lobby at GROW. She holds up her device, showing a digital badge. From the corner of his eye, Res6 sees her screen flash between documents.
“As you can see, I have an official mandatory injunction stating that you are to open your facilities to my people for inspection. I expect GROW is prepared for our visit.”
The panicky woman behind the counter keeps glancing between Wanda and Viper. “I’ll let my supervisor know you’re here.”