Free Looking at Trouble by Viola Grace Page B

scanner away and chuckled as he left, “Like anyone is ever ready for you.”
    She grinned as he disappeared into the crowd. Officer Na was more affectionate, but Meeja was no-nonsense and by the book. That he would make a quip like that was a good sign.
    Reeda sold six more scarves in the next hour; each customer wanted to know about the attempted robbery and how she had thwarted it. Each client walked away with a scarf and a completely different story. The truth wasn’t inside any of the tales, and it amused Reeda’s neighbours to listen in.
    At the hour, she locked up the kiosk again and headed the six blocks to the peacekeeper station.
    A long line had formed outside the doors, but she headed to the central archway and scanned herself inside. She had been to the station often enough that her talent code opened the security doors.
    Officers were managing the crowd, but she slipped past those who were waiting in line so that she could register at the desk.
    “Hello, Officer Korad.” She smiled brightly.
    He smiled at her with his savagely pointed teeth. “What happened today, Reeda?”
    “One injury, one fatality.” She shrugged.
    “Your abdomen looks a little scorched.”
    “No worse than a sunburn. My mom will web it over when I go home. It will be healed in no time.”
    “We will call you when your turn comes up. You know the procedure.” He grinned again.
    “Yes, yes, I do.” She headed to the bench and took a seat.
    The line moved slowly forward, and Reeda noticed that most—if not all—of those in line had talent-code markings.
    Her name was called, and she got to her feet, smiling at the officer who escorted her to an interview room.
    She waved at a few officers that had interviewed her in the past before she was settled in the room with the interview officer across from her.
    He spoke into the recorder. “Officer Quiddad interviewing Reeda Rrkra.”
    He took her through the morning from the first call to the last moments with the Krigat before the medical staff took him.
    “Ms. Rrkra, do you feel that your talent was used in a controlled manner that benefited the maximum amount of citizens?”
    She blinked. No one had asked her that question before. “I do believe that my talent was used to not only keep my personal form safe but that of the person who had called me for help.”
    “Could you have avoided the fatality?”
    “I could have, but I would then have become the fatality. The woman was determined to kill someone today. She was watching Liimar for an excuse. If I had not acted as I did, I would have been the first casualty and Liimar would have been the second. They would have succeeded in their theft, and the peacekeepers would have arrived far too late.”
    He nodded. “How far into the future can you look?”
    “I can only see violent action or approaching danger. I can feel a hostile environment passively and seek out the specific trouble with my talent. It isn’t a matter of time; it is a matter of the situation.”
    He nodded and made more notes. “Right. Please wait here.”
    Reeda sat quietly, not sure what was happening next, but her senses didn’t alert her to an issue, so she remained where she was. Trouble wasn’t on the way, so she just needed patience.
     

Chapter Two
     
     
    When the officer escorted a woman in a tight bodysuit and wide hooded robes into the room, Reeda knew something was up.
    Officer Quiddad made the introductions. “Miss Rrkra, this is Recruiter Ambroth of the Citadel.”
    Reeda nodded and fell back on her manners. “Pleased to meet you.”
    “And I you. You may have noticed the group of folk lined up outside.” The recruiter took a seat.
    “I did.”
    “Well, we are running a recruitment here today, and we are looking at local talents to determine which of you might have a fate beckoning in the stars.”
    Reeda nodded. “I understand.”
    “Yes. Would you be interested in a more detailed interview? The application of your talent is