Page 30 of Perfection

“Must have been a long night,” Vi said.

“Hmm.” She took another sip of coffee, her curiosity piqued. “Must’ve.”

* * *

York drew a deep breath, feeling both content and dissatisfied. He checked the clock on the dash. Eleven thirty. Almost committed to the intersection, he said to the autopilot computer in his air-car, “Take a right. I’m going to Vi’s.”

The air-car made a sharp turn. “It would be prudent if you gave me more notice next time,” the female voice purred from the dash speaker.

“Do I detect sarcasm?”

“I merely stated a fact.”

“Of course, but you mastered the tone perfectly.”

“Thank you.”

He pictured the computer as pleased if that were possible. Technology amazed him. Computers seemed so real, it was no wonder some people relied on them as friends.

The vehicle pulled to the curb and stopped. York stepped out. This part of the city was modern and sleek. Old buildings had been torn down and rebuilt. The stringent odor of steam coming from the tailpipe assailed him in a way it hadn’t yesterday, replacing the scent of Kindra. He was disappointed that the fragrance of flowers was gone.

He shook his head as he strode into the building.

Vi’s in-home computer must have informed her he was coming up because the door opened before he could knock. “Good morning,” she said from the other side of the threshold.

“Yeah right.” He entered, marched straight for the refrigerator, and opened it.

“That bad, huh?”

He grabbed a slice of pizza from the box in the fridge. “You’ve been holding out on me.”

Vi scrunched up her nose. “You’re the only person I know who eats pizza no matter what time it is.”

He stood at the counter and ate. “Isabelle died of a virus.”

Vi frowned. “What? No. How could that be?”

“Can you think of anyone who’d hate B-Gastion enough to do this? So far, I have everyone at Seville on my list.”

“Everyone?” Vi asked. “Even Dr. B-Zaika?”

There was a long pause. “Maybe.”

Vi collected a pair of dirty mugs from the counter. “A third of the Coders out there hate him.”

“True.” He finished the final bite of pizza, then licked his fingers, contemplated snagging another piece.

She made a disgusted face.

Shit, it wasn’t like germs were going to do anything to him. He glanced around, considering who could have used the second mug. Was Vi seeing someone she hadn’t told him about? His mother strolled from the bathroom.

He narrowed his eyes at his mother, tensing. “What’s she doing here?”

Amanda answered before his partner could. “I dropped by to visit Vi.”

“For…?” He doubted his mother’s timing was a coincidence. She always had an agenda when it came to anything GEI related.

“I don’t need a reason.”