Free The Devil's Eye by Jack McDevitt

interest and laughed. "Sorry," he said. "It's hard to concentrate here."

SEVEN
Do not let them mislead you. Your fate is indeed written in the stars.
    - Wish You Were Here
    The Mainline Distribution Services not only saw that Vicki Greene's work was made available, but they also handled the public relations. Its head-quarters operated out of a gleaming structure that soared into a steeple, located in a park complex that it shared with IQ, Inc., which sold, serviced, reprogramed, and replaced AIs. (And claimed to be run by AIs.) Cirilla Kopaleski occupied a suite near the top. We were ushered in by an impeccably dressed young man who smiled too much. Kopaleski was seated on a long, lush sofa, looking through a folder. She glanced up as we entered, raised a hand inviting us to be patient, turned another page, made a face, and closed the folder. "Sorry," she said. "It seems as if we can never get things right the first time around." She was a tall, stately woman with gray hair, a trim body, and the presence of a queen. She put the folder down with a resigned sigh. "Come in," she said. "Please make yourselves comfortable. You're here about Vicki Greene?" She shook her head sadly. "Can I get you something to drink?" "Sure," Alex said. I decided to try something called a carolla . She pushed a tab and relayed the request. "So tell me what happened," she said. Alex gave what had now become our standard answer: "That's what we're trying to find out." "We're going to miss her," she said. "And not only because it will hit us in the pocketbook, but she was genuinely likable. I can't understand it. She had everything to live for. Whatever could have possessed her?" "Ms. Kopaleski, it might help if you tell us what you can about her visit. When did she first contact you?" "I knew in advance she was coming." "You mean to Salud Afar?" "Yes." She was wearing an emerald-colored blouse and white slacks. "She let me know before she left Rimway." "Had you met her before?" "No." She shook her head sadly. "We connected right away. She went to dinner with us, with me and my husband. She was a good woman. Not often you meet someone that talented who hasn't let it go to her head." The drinks arrived. We were in a place where everything was unfamiliar. I had no idea what was in the glass, so I took it cautiously. It was okay, but I decided I wouldn't have any more. Kopaleski picked up her glass, sipped from it, studied it in the daylight that fell through a set of blinds. "It's a disaster." Alex bowed slightly. "For everyone concerned," he said. "May I ask what services Mainline provides for its writers?" "We handle distribution and publicity, arrange their appearances, and so on. And, if they wish, arrange quarters." "Did you do that for Vicki?" "Yes. I set her up at the Schuyler Inn." "That's here in Marinopolis?" "Yes." "How long did she stay? In town?" "I can check. But I think she was here only two or three days." She consulted a display and nodded. "Three days." She gave us the dates, which, since they were expressed in the local calendar, meant nothing to me. But apparently Alex had done his homework. "That would have been immediately after her arrival from Rimway," he said. "That's correct. I'd set everything up in advance." "Did you see her the first night?"
    "The second." "How did she look?" "How do you mean?" "Did she seem upset? Depressed? Bothered by anything?" She shook her head. "She seemed perfectly fine to me. I don't know if you've ever met her, but she's very energetic. Laughs all the time. She certainly seemed to be looking forward to her stay." "Did she tell you why she'd come?" "She said she'd never been to Salud Afar, and she wanted to do some touring." "That's it? Nothing more?" "That's all I can recall. Why? Do you think what she did to herself is connected with her visit here?" "I don't know, Ms. Kopaleski. Did you have any contact with her after she'd left?" "I got a posting from her several days later. She said she was