Page 84 of Perfection

“What?”

“I know. Crazy, huh? I never cared for A-Isaac. There has always been something about him… We never jibed. But he says it’s not him, that it’s the Committee that’s behind this decision.”

“What now?”

“I’m going to Chairman B-Cobb to see if he will appeal to the Committee on my behalf.”

“Do you think he can help?”

“That’s the hope.”

They came to the set of doors that led to B-Cobb’s section of the building. Kindra pushed on the door. It didn’t open. The unexpected resistance caused her to slam into the metal door. Pain spread from her back and wound through her shoulder blades and chest. She gnashed her teeth and fisted her hands. “It’s locked.

“Nine,” she said, modulating her voice. “I need to speak with Chairman B-Cobb. Please locate him.”

“Unfortunately, I can’t honor your request. Your privileges have been revoked. You must leave the building.”

Cal’s gaze swept the area. He tipped his head close to hers, whispering, “Where are the stairs? Are there any adjacent offices?”

She understood the tactic he was subtly suggesting.If you can’t go through it, then find a way around.At Seville, it wasn’t that easy. Backtracking halfway down the hall, she came to the stairwell door. Cal tried to push it open, without success. From down the hallway, she saw two men approaching. One was B-Watson, no doubt here to escort them out.

She set her jaw and stared at her former assistant.

“You’re going the wrong way,” Harry said with a smirk.

For some reason, she was reminded of the game Last Man Standing. Today, that would be Harry B-Watson, and he gloated in the victory. She made a growling sound low in her throat, which surprised her with its intensity. It was so uncharacteristic of her. “B-Watson, this is ridiculous. I’m sure if I speak to Chairman B-Cobb, this can all be straightened out.”

“This way, Kindra. Or I’ll have to call more security,” Harry purred, gesturing at the guard beside him.

“Let’s just get out of here.” Again, Cal moved within earshot. “If you get arrested, then you won’t be able to help the kids.”

She hadn’t considered that. He was right. Security had jurisdiction over that kind of thing, and it would not be in the best interest of the children for her to be tied up in the judicial system. She needed to leave the premises and think things through from a distance.

“All right,” she said to B-Watson. “We’re leaving. But can I get my things first?”

Her lab assistant considered. “Yes. On our way out.”

As they stopped by her office, she raised a brow at Cal and jerked her head in B-Watson’s direction. She hoped Cal could read minds or at least pick up that she wanted him to distract the assistant.

To her relief, he got the message and engaged the man in conversation while she got her bag. With her back hiding her actions from the security cams, she slipped the most recent backup micro-dots into it.

She wasn’t sure what Cal had said, but B-Watson was all smiles as they exited. Or maybe that was because she would no longer be there and he could step into her shoes.

Whatever the reason, it didn’t matter because she’d gotten a copy of the files. That was a start.

* * *

Cal scowled as he escorted Kindra into the police station.

“What’s wrong?” York asked from his seat behind a desk.

“We have a serious problem,” Cal told him.

“I’ve been fired,” she said in a rush. “Banned from the facility.”

“What? Why?” York’s brow furrowed.

Her lips tugged sideways. “Because they had to blame someone.”