Terry looked down her snub nose at Vee. “Okay, but I get an extra interview for this.”
“Done.”
Vee rose, pasted her best sunny, vapid smile on her face, and slipped over to where Helen Failia stood talking with Philip. Vee waited for a pause in the conversation and then strode forward, timing her attack.
One, two, three, she pauses for breath and…
“Dr. Failia, good, you’re still here.”
Helen turned toward Vee, all solicitous. “What can I do for you, Dr. Hatch?”
“Well”—Vee folded her hands in front of her—“I hadn’t realized Dr. Kenyon was going to be on base. I thought he was still on his Earthside swing.”
Helen’s expression went slightly rigid as she held back some impolite emotion. “Ah, you know Dr. Kenyon?”
“By reputation. I’ve read his work.” She glanced across at Josh and let her smile grow even happier. “I’m so glad he’ll be with us. I don’t mind telling you.” Vee leaned forward confidentially. As she did, she saw Terry coming into range on the very edge of Helen’s field of view. “I’m excited about this opportunity, but my lab work was all done a long time ago. Without someone who’s in better practice, I’m afraid I might make a mess of things.” She laughed lightly. Dr. Failia looked gratifyingly disconcerted.
“I’m sorry.” Vee pulled back and blinked rapidly a few times. “He is coming down with us, isn’t he? His help would be utterly invaluable to me.” Come on, there’s the camera, you see it. You aren’t going to admit you’re sending down a half-assed team, are you?
Helen Failia didn’t even hesitate. “If you feel Dr. Kenyon can be of assistance, of course he will be included in the investigative roster.” Only a slight darkness in Helen’s clear eyes told Vee that she did not think this was an excellent idea.
“Marvelous.” Vee beamed. “Thank you so much.” For good measure, she shook Dr. Failia’s hand before she turned away and strode out the door.
“That was pretty shameless,” murmured Terry behind her.
“You should see me when I’m trying.” Vee turned, and her smile was feral. “Thanks. Contact me when you’re ready for that interview.”
“Never fear.” Terry’s face grew thoughtful. “You should be careful about getting to like this too much, Dr. Hatch.”
“You know, I’ve got a friend back home who says the same thing.” Vee felt her face soften. “You’re probably both right too.”
Terry gave her one more thoughtful look Sizing me up, thought Vee. For what? “I’ve got to get back,” was all Terry said. “See you tomorrow.”
“Bye.”
Vee let her go and started walking down the corridor, suddenly both tired and frustrated. Hope this doesn’t get you in any kind of trouble, Josh, but I was not, I was not, going to let her get away with this. You and I. She paused before the elevator. We’re going to make something of this, and Dr. Failia can just sit back and watch us.
Kevin Cusmanos hated accounting. Especially late at night after an evening spent smiling and chatting with a glass of wine in his hand when what he really wanted was a beer. He hated staring at the rows of figures in their little boxes and checking them on a split screen against the individual logs where everyone was supposed to enter all their individual orders and purchases but never did.
However, it came with the job. So he sat in his office with coffee steaming in a plastic mug, ancient Afro-Country playing over the speakers, and a burgeoning dislike of Shelby Kray, one of the new guys who could not seem to get the hang of keeping track of his money.
The door, which Kevin never locked, swished open. Kevin glanced up briefly and saw Derek framed in the threshold.
“Hey,” said Derek, a little tentatively. He still had his party clothes on—black slacks, red tunic, and cap.
Now’s not a great time, little brother, thought Kevin, but all he said was, “Hey.”
Derek wandered in and dropped down on the stiff sofa Kevin kept for visitors. Most offices had chairs, but Kevin insisted that it was traditional for a mechanic to have a rundown sofa, so a sofa he would have.
“So, when they dropping you down?” asked Derek.
Kevin eyed him, trying to see what he had really come in for. “Couple of days. Gotta get at least some training into the tourists first.”
Derek tapped the back of the sofa, sort of in time with the music. “They’re going to be sending Josh Kenyon down with you. Did you know that?”
“Yes.” Derek still wouldn’t look at him. “Ben let me know at the end of the reception. Said it was Dr. Hatch’s idea.” Come on, Derek, say it, whatever it is. It’s just you and me here.