Free Headspace by Calinda B

persistent. He has loads of money.”
    “One moment. Checking.”
    You could just ask me, Nigel communicates, purring loudly.
    Right.
    Seriously. I’ve got great instincts. How could I be such a good hunter without good instincts ?He stands up, arches his back, and settles back down on the arm of the couch.
    Thanks for the offer but I need to know about him before he enters my Headspace again, not after.
    I’m just offering.
    Thanks .
    “We’ve traced the call. It came from an area outside of our jurisdiction.”
    “What are you talking about? The world and beyond is in your jurisdiction. It says so on your marketing material.”
    “This came from a remote location, outside of our jurisdiction.”
    “How is that possible? You have access to everywhere.” The drone-like voice starts to repeat the same information, but I cut it off. “Never mind. Just tell me what you found out.”
    “The individual in question resides in a remote location outside of our jurisdiction.”
    “Okay, okay with the ‘outside your jurisdiction’ bit. Can you just tell me what you found out?”
    “The individual in question resides in a remote location outside of our jurisdiction.”
    I sigh. “Go on.”
    “The location is known as the Shiver Strip.”
    “Well, that’s provocative at least.”
    “It’s a small chain of islands in the southern Indian Ocean. It is only accessible via remote boat echoing. The tides must be perfect to get there, so access is limited.”
    “Remote boat echoing, huh? That’s not used much. That’s a pretty advanced technology.” If Himeros used RemBoats to find his home, he’d also have to be highly skilled to manage to get there. “I picked up that he has a few wives. Do you see that as well?”
    “The individual in question has wives in other parts of the world.”
    “How is that possible? If it’s so hard to get there, how can he get off the Shiver Strip?” Saying that phrase makes me smile.
    “While we don’t have access to the person in question, due to his residing outside of our jurisdiction, we do show traces of his movement outside of the scope of the unreachable location.”
    “And? Criminal record? History of psychosis? Anything?”
    “Since the individual in question is outside of our jurisdiction, we show no records of such conduct but that may be because he resides—”
    “Outside of your jurisdiction. I know, I know.” This is starting to feel like a fruitless endeavor. “Can you tell me anything more? Anything at all?”
    “One moment. Checking.”
    More whirrs and clicks greet my ears. I tap my fingernails on the sofa, staring out my sunshield window.
    “The person in question is known to have a fondness for cattle.”
    “Cattle? What does that have to do with anything? For what with cattle?”
    “That’s all I can tell you. He’s restored an endangered species of cattle. The person in question is…”
    I disconnect before I have to hear what jurisdiction he’s immune from. This is a mystery. The guy lives in a remote location. At least that explains one thing—he can’t know anything about me… can he? How can he even access Headspace? Where would he have received his headpiece ?An island chain outside of the reach of Insight would hardly be able to get shipments—of anything. How does he live? Where does he get his food? From his interest in cattle ?Areas severely ravaged by the destruction are seldom fit for even insect life.
    Since it’s not my problem or concern, I’ll let it go and focus on other things—like the elusive orgasm and how I can get my friend back. He can keep dating the bitch queen. He does not get to cast me aside without a fight.

Chapter Eleven
    Magicka alerts the door-pulse twenty minutes after he said he would be here.
    “Girl, the traffic! I tell you what. I almost broke a nail getting here.”
    I scan his attire up and down. “Turn around.”
    He pivots in a slow circle.
    Today he’s divided his hair into quarters. He’s got