Page 19 of Perfection

“I told you, computers don’t blush, Nine,” she said.

“Sean was a twentieth-century Scottish actor. Double-oh-seven. Suave, savvy, liked by the ladies,” Comp Nine supplied.

“Oh, yes. I remember that from art history. How did you recognize it?” she asked York over her shoulder.

“I collect old things. So why a Scottish accent?”

“Comp Nine selected it. I suppose it may have something to do with my father. He was born in Scotland and works in London now.” Her voice trailed off as she concentrated on selecting the solutions she’d need, reticent to discuss her relationship with her dad.

Methodically, she positioned the samples acquired from Isabelle on the table in front of her. York moved in closer to stand behind her. When his forearm grazed her shoulder, she squeezed her eyes shut—and waited for another whispery brush to make her skin tingle. He leaned forward with his opposite hand against the desk, but there wasn’t physical contact this time. Part of her was foolishly disappointed. She opened her eyes. Her gaze stumbled over his splayed fingers with their dark sprigs of hair—nice hands. Except for the body hair.

She could feel his breath on her ear as he said, “Ah, that explains it.”

“Explains what?”

“Nine has a crush on you. Another case of machine-based intelligence claiming to be human. An AI indicator.”

“Artificial Intelligence. Don’t be absurd.” She twisted. “Can you give me more room please?”

He eased to the side. She could still feel him watching over her shoulder as she turned to insert samples into the analysis slots of the HERO computer.

“Is that connected to Nine or separate?” he asked.

“Separate. Nine handles the facility. HERO does all the complicated genetic work.”

“That’s one sophisticated computer.”

“One of only a handful that exists in the world, all located at creation facilities—here, London, Japan, Australia, and South America. The Human Engineered Rendering Operation Computer, or HERO Computer.”

“Extraordinary.” He propped a hip on the edge of an adjacent table.

Extraordinary? What galaxy was he from? She hadn’t heard that term in forever. She removed a heart tissue cell from a sample.

“Can you tell me what you’re doing?” he said.

She explained while she worked, glancing at him every so often. “Every genetic project ever done is stored in this computer, so there’s a massive amount of information available for comparison. I’m feeding cell samples into HERO, and it analyzes the chromosomes, DNA, and proteins for any abnormalities or disorders. The computer will look for mutations and DNA variations. Whole exome and whole genome sequences will be examined to determine if new genetic variations are associated with health conditions.”

“Got it. Thanks.” He held up a hand. “I’m sure you’re giving me the simplistic version.”

“Of course.” She continued to work analyzing the organ, blood, and tissue cells she’d taken from Isabelle’s body.

York lifted a bottle from the counter, read its label, and returned it to its position. He seized the next bottle.

“Leave it,” she said, trying to keep the irritation from her voice. His fiddling was driving her mad.

Moments later, his footsteps sounded a clipped rhythm as he paced behind her. When she heard him halt, she looked up from the computer. He had picked up a picture of her and Brianna on a boat. As he set it down, the hologram popped up to reveal the memory. He watched with interest as mother and daughter laughed.

“Must you touch everything?”

“I wouldn’t have expected sailing.”

She shrugged. Damn him for snooping. “My father and I used to sail the English Channel.”

Once, when she was about twelve, her father had given her the wheel of his sixty-five-foot schooner. The weather had been warm, the breeze mild, and the smell of the salt air made everything sparkle in her mind.

“Wake me when we’re in the inlet,” he said before he dropped to the bunk and shut his eyes, never once doubting she was capable of sailing the boat. Of course, it was decked out with state-of-the-art guidance equipment and autopilot if she needed it.

She sighed and fed the analyzer a sample of Isabelle’s brain cells. What kind of relationship hadthischild had with her dad?