Paige Kennedy
No one else knew about the card other than Milo and of course that sleazy Agent Barrett of the FBI. Paige’s lips curled slightly at the thought of the man. Disgusting. He was on his way to take a shot at her career before Milo had caught him by surprise. Now the tables were turned and like the rest of the cabal he secretly belonged to, he wasn’t anywhere to be found. She had the State Police and SCPD watching LSF round the clock, but nothing had turned up. She knew there was at least one other key, she’d seen it used, but again, no one had turned up and trying to figure out what doors Barrett’s key would unlock was something like trying to find a needle in a haystack, in a maze, in the dark. Luna Sports Facility was nothing but doors. It was massive. Going back to CT in the Sol City lockup was her last play other than waiting for Nikki to make the next move, something she wasn’t going to risk.
CT was as haughty as usual and she could tell it irked him considerably to have to “recommend” someone else for dark computer work since he considered himself to be the best at everything. He was forthcoming though, knowing that she was the only person keeping him from being transferred to the Federal pen. The kid had a steady job, but made most of his money on the side through corporate espionage. Sensing himself in danger of possibly being replaced, CT had generously spilled everything he knew about Tao Jang including the codewords he used to set up face to face meetings with clients: something he rarely did. It was almost too easy, but despite CT’s eccentricities, his information was routinely solid- He really didn’t want to be transferred to Federal custody. Paige made the call as their cyber crimes tech recorded and traced the whole exchange. It didn’t matter that he used a burner phone or that it was illegal for them to record his voice. People operating on the wrong side of the law weren’t known for making appeals to justice.
Entering Swan Songs wearing her standard jeans, leather jacket and Converses, her gun and star were hidden slightly behind the jacket in her preferred fashion and her hair was up in its usual working ponytail. Her eyes scanned like a sentinel as she entered, already knowing the face of the person she was after, but she kept her demeanor level, almost approachable. It was a scenario she’d played in a hundred times at least and there was a certain swagger to her walk, like the old west, developed over years of being in the law. She liked the weight of her gun on her hip and the looks she got from people that noticed the star clipped to her belt.
Swan Songs was carrying a decent crowd for a Monday night. Ironically, the small record shop had been one of the catalysts for her arrival in Sol after the debacle of the much lauded karaoke night. Lupe and the rest of his crew were still on the lamb, but Bob had paid the price for the evening. None of them had been heard from since that night, but she knew it was only a matter of time before their names came up. If they were smart they would have got out of the country to somewhere with no extradition. She heard the Maldives were lovely.
It didn’t take long to find her mark awkwardly standing by the bar. He had the look of someone that had never been caught, which made it easy and his nervousness was evident, which made it even easier. She was confident that if he tried to bolt, she could easily run him down. Ambient chatter filled the air, but was not overbearing. It was still early. The small, arranged bar area was segregated from the record selection and the cramped stage where the first act was warming up. She deftly stepped in next to him, not making eye contact and nonchalantly ordered a drink. Turning around as she waited behind his field of vision, she glanced over at the stage, first catching a glimpse of Yoji, tall and easily recognizable; who she’d bought the handmade cups from and then Siobhan, who she could only see was wearing an awesome hat. They texted all the time and she told Sio she might be after a lead in the record shop. Keeping an eye on Tao, she pulled out her phone and sent a quick text to Sio: Spied You.
She smirked and hit send, glancing at the boy briefly from behind until her drink came up beside her on the counter. “Hello Tao” She said using his name. Seeing his attention turn she took a sip from the straw and moved the colorful cocktail umbrella out of the way. Her grin was something like the cat having found the mouse. She put the glass back down and drew her jacket back only slightly revealing her gun and star. “I like your Hawking quotes, but I think I prefer Asimov.” She said.
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