Free Kaleidocide by Dave Swavely Page A

I said, and nodded to Min, who I knew would initiate a thorough combing of the net. “As for what I remember about Terrey … he was loyal to the king, if not to the entire chain of command, and he was loyal to me personally, especially after I did him a big favor. He talked a lot about money, how his only goal was to be rich.” I thought some more. “But there seemed to be more to him, though he didn’t want to admit it. I once referred to him as ‘a man of principle in disguise,’ something like that. But it could have been wishful thinking on my part. I’ve had experiences with other friends from my younger days, where I had idealized them, only to be sorely disappointed later.”
    I had little more to say about this, and I felt the urgency to do everything I could about the imminent threat to my life. In fact, I had to admit, despite my considerable experience with almost dying, I felt more fear now than any other time I could remember. This puzzled me, but perhaps it was because of Lynley, the little baby girl inside Lynn’s belly, which I found myself staring at presently. She was our “replacement” for little Lynette, who had died a year previous, in violent circumstances like the one we were facing now. I hadn’t known much about fear since I entered the military at age eighteen, half my life ago, but I knew enough that I didn’t want to go through anything like that again.
    â€œMy instinct is to trust him,” I said, looking back up at Lynn’s face. “And I think we need his help.” I shrugged and turned to Min. “What did you find?”
    â€œNothing very alarming,” he answered. “His communications are hidden under an extreme amount of ice, which would be unheard of for an average person, but not too surprising considering his vocation.” He looked at Lynn. “Hotel and other rental records show that he has had numerous female friends in various places around the world, but his only visible bank account is cosigned by one particular woman. It has to be publicly accessible for her sake, presumably.”
    â€œHmmm, one true love, though a ladies’ man?” I said. “That’s the kind of disguise I was talking about. Bit of an enigma.” I looked purposefully at Min. “What do you think?”
    The big brown man was silent for a long time, perhaps finishing a sweep of the net.
    â€œI agree that we need all the help we can get,” he finally said. “From my knowledge of the resources and forces arrayed against you, I am surprised that he was able to expose and eliminate the assault team so quickly. I would be comfortable with hiring him, as long as we run a perpetual analysis. If he does happen to love money as much as he said, he has a good reason to do his best for you. But he could also be bought by someone else.” He paused to change gears. “But what would really satisfy me is some time alone with the triplets.”
    â€œReally, Min?” I looked at Lynn, and we both laughed. “You’re hoping for some cyborg ‘fourplay’?” I couldn’t resist the joke, even though I knew that the same injuries that had resulted in Min’s cyberization had also rendered him unable to enjoy that part of life. He was like the eunuchs who long ago served in the palaces of royalty—in more ways than one.
    â€œA poor choice of words,” he said with a rare smile. “The triplets are undoubtedly the ones who conceal Mr. Thorn’s communications and accounts so well, so they must be his confidantes. I would like to understand their perspectives and motives better. Perhaps I could ask them some questions while you take the call you have received from Stanford Glenn.”
    â€œOh, my glasses,” I said, instinctively patting my belt and pockets. “I left them in the bedroom, in all the excitement earlier.” I looked at Lynn and winked. “And I