Page 92 of Perfection

“Okay. We’ll speak with Captain Avery and come up with a plan.” He leaned over and brushed his lips over hers.

She returned his kiss and then settled back in her chair. “Remember, we can’t let anyone know about this.” She waved a hand to indicate them.

“I know.”

“It can’t last.”

He nodded. “I know. But we both need some company right now.”

She gave a small chuckle. “This is more than company.”

“People have casual sex all the time.”

“But not GEIs and Coders.”

“Maybe, maybe not. I’ve never kept count. There’s no way to do that.”

She rose. “And I don’t want to. Come on, let’s get to work.”

* * *

By 8:00 a.m., they were at the precinct. And so was just about everyone else, ready to charge ahead. York cloistered Kindra in his office with Captain Avery. He presented the plan Kindra had suggested to pressure Seville with fines and unwanted attention in order to force them to do the right thing and help her find a cure for the children. He couldn’t understand what was behind their resistance.

“We’ll give Seville a chance to comply first,” Avery said. “I’ll have our legal team draw up the necessary documents.”

“It doesn’t have to be fancy, just effective,” York said. “Every minute’s delay is another minute a child could be contracting this disease. And we already don’t have any more cryo pods to work with. As it is, we’re putting two children per unit.”

“Sir, be prepared. The Committee is not going to accept an order easily, even from a judge,” Kindra said. “They will do everything they can to avoid more negative publicity.”

Avery nodded. “If they don’t oblige, then it’s on to plan B.”

When they were done laying out the plan, York walked Kindra back to her makeshift lab. “I’m going to meet up with Cal and see if there’s anything I can do there. And maybe work on Vi’s case.”

“Will you check in on Brianna for me?” she asked.

“Of course.” There was no touch or special look between them. There couldn’t be. Despite the way she made his pulse race like crazy, he knew last night had not been wise. He’d allowed his heart to rule his head.

But the best things in life were worth the risk, were worth letting go for and soaring into the unknown.

* * *

York passed his mother on his way into the cryo center. She was doing what she did best: protesting. At least she was here instead of at Seville or the courthouse.

“Are they giving equal treatment to the Coder children?” she asked right away.

“Yes, Mom. It’s hard to favor one kid over another when they’re both two years old.”

He left her to her signs, intending to spend the remainder of the day in the cryo center with his brother. He and Cal hadn’t hung out in the same room in ages. At least not for more than an hour or so. Cal the Adventurer couldn’t be tied down that long. As a boy, he had been good-natured, resourceful, and curious. Cal and Vi’s relationship had been on-again-off-again for years.

York entered the cryo chamber. The open space and high ceilings caused his footfalls to echo eerily. He wanted to get Cal’s take on Kindra’s plan so they’d be ready to roll once they got the all clear. He forgot about strategizing when he discovered Cal sitting beside a cryo unit reading to the child sleeping within.

He silently approached and waited, not wanting to interrupt. As he watched and listened, a lump formed in his throat. He swallowed. At the end of the story, Cal looked up.

“I’ll have to let Mom know that all that money spent on tutors paid off,” York teased.

Cal grumbled something under his breath. He stood and moved to the next unit, selecting a different story. York shuffled over. “Great idea. Do you have another?” He held his hand out for a book. Cal gave him one from the top of the stack. “Thanks.”

York went into the adjacent room where Brianna’s unit was kept. He began with her.

Sitting and reading weren’t what he’d had in mind when he’d come to Foster Cryo, but he was amazed at how much good it did his heart. They kept it up for an hour, and when Cal headed for the break room, York followed. He bought a drink from the machine, waving his thumbprint over the dot reader to pay. “Want one?”

“Please,” Cal replied.

He set the bottle on the table and plopped into a chair opposite Cal. He opened his drink. “Captain Avery is going to push Seville for cooperation in finding a cure for this. They’re not going to be allowed to drag their feet. As soon as we get the word, Kindra and I are going in and retrieving everything we need for her to continue her work. Maybe having someone on their tail might put a fire under them.” York made eye contact with his brother. “I’d like for you to come with us to watch our backs.”

Cal nodded. “Sure thing.”

“What’s happening at Seville may not seem like a big deal, but there’s still a killer out there.”