Price of a Bounty - By S. L. Wallace Page 0,29

my high heels into the pack with the rest of my belongings.

I saved my few remaining gats and began the long walk back to Cole’s.

-Guy-

A Meeting with Scott

Board meetings, lunch meetings, endless meetings! Pushing gats this way and that, back and forth among the rich – never in the right direction. That was all life at the firm ever was and ever would be.

Before I’d always had the Resistance to give balance and meaning to my life. Now, only two thoughts kept running through my mind. One was Elaine Ramsey. Was she still a threat? And what about Keira? Where was she? Was she safe?

The morning after she left, I instructed Eberhardt to drive around the city searching for her. After four days with no leads, I called Scott to arrange a lunch meeting. Our cover, as usual, was to discuss his portfolio.

“Hello, how have you been?” I placed a cloth napkin on my lap. Scott sat opposite me in a fancy restaurant just off the base.

“I’ve been better. You?” His voice was like ice. I’d never heard him sound quite like that before.

“I’ve been better too,” I confided. A waitress arrived to take our orders. As soon as she left, I said, “Keira is missing, and I’m worried sick.”

“She’s not with you then?”

Was that why he was angry with me? Because he thought she was with me, and I hadn’t told him?

“No, she’s not.”

“And you don’t know where she is.” It wasn’t a question.

“No, I don’t.”

“So that’s why you didn’t call.” His voice had a warmer tone now. “But, you do know what happened to her apartment, right?”

“Yes, I know, but she wasn’t there when it…happened. You don’t know where she is either?”

“She doesn’t want to be found, but I’ll be seeing her in a couple of days.”

“You’ve been in contact with her! Is she all right?”

“I didn’t say that. I haven’t spoken with her yet. She’s playing this her way. I’m surprised she didn’t go to you though. If there was ever a time for her to turn to the Resistance for help, this was it!”

I dropped my gaze, too ashamed to tell him what had really happened.

“What is it?”

“She came to me, but I pushed her away. It wasn’t my intention,” I quickly added. If I hadn’t walked out of the bedroom that night…if I had instead…she definitely would have stayed. “Do you think I can convince her to come back?”

“I’ll talk with her, but I can’t promise anything.”

We sat quietly, lost in thought, until our food arrived.

After a few bites, Scott looked at me and said, “How do you feel about her?”

I looked right back. “Isn’t it obvious?” I heard the intake of his breath.

“I have an idea, something that may help.”

“What do you have in mind?” I asked.

“I’ll encourage Keira to see you, and I have something I’d like you to give her. But if she decides not to see you, I’ll want it back.” He reached into his bag and retrieved a thin book. “This belonged to our father. It’s a book of poetry. It was a gift from our mother. Each of us took something to remember them by. The locket Keira had and some musical recordings that our mother loved…well, she always kept them safe in her apartment. Anyway, I’d like for her to have this book. I think she may need it more than I do right now.”

“You could give it to her yourself.”

“That was the plan, but I think it may mean more coming from you.” He handed me the book, and I gratefully accepted it.

“I have something else.” He reached into his pocket and took out a slip of paper with an address on it and a key. “I have a week on holiday coming up. I was planning to go with…a friend, but I’d rather you took Keira there instead, if she’ll let you. She’s never been on holiday.” He tried to hand me the address and key, but I waved them away.

“Well, then it’s about time, but you should keep your week on holiday. I can afford to take Keira anywhere she’d like to go.”

“I know you can, but I insist that you take her here.” Again he held out the key and address. “We’re partners, aren’t we? Equals?”

“We always have been,” I assured him as I accepted his gift. “Thank you.”

When I climbed into the car a half hour later, Eberhardt asked, “Did we find her?”

“No, but Scott said she’s all right.” Then I hesitated. Scott