Laura almost dropped her handbag when she saw Bill Taggart walking towards her in the public section of the ESC. Gilchrist must have called him in. Was the investigation on Exilon 5 over?
Gilchrist had told her to be a team player. Her thoughts shot to the letters and their secret words, hidden in her apartment. She could be one.
Pushing down her nerves, Laura flashed the investigator a warning look. But all Bill Taggart did was respond with a tight nod before walking to the turbo lift. She searched for the roving cameras she knew operated in this part of the ESC. But the place was too packed with people for her to find them. Quickening her pace, she exited the building.
Laura didn’t know how long her fists had been clenched by her sides. She unfurled them and shook out her fear at what was to come. Haymarket wasn’t far from the ESC, but her shock at seeing the investigator had slowed her walk. It wasn’t until she’d reached the outer door to her block that she heard movement behind her.
The grey skies and dark streets added to her fear. She drew on her limited strength to not turn around. Instead, she fumbled around in her bag for an object that could double up as a weapon.
Groping for anything weapon-like, she calculated the time she’d need to activate the lock on the outer door. It would take her thumbprint to open it, but the delay would give the advantage back to her pursuer. Her skin tingled, as though the person was to near.
Damn, nothing in my bag. Her racing mind scrambled for a plan B; her body braced for an attack from her pursuer.
She turned partially, stopping when a cold hand touched her shoulder.
Her voice shook. ‘Don’t try anything. I’m armed and dangerous.’
Gathering up her remaining courage, she turned around. A gasp caught in her throat when she saw who stood inches from her face.
‘Wh... What do you want from me?’ The Indigene, named as Stephen in her files, stood before her,
His face was covered by the rim of a Stetson, but it was definitely him.
The Indigene, taller than she’d expected, loomed over her. ‘I wouldn’t be here if I had another choice. I saw you acknowledge Bill Taggart just now. Please, I need to speak with him urgently. Can you help me?’