Infinity Beach - Jack McDevitt [73]
They fast-forwarded. Kane used two hours to make his repairs. Then he alerted the others they were ready to go, and they began the acceleration toward the jump. Twenty-five minutes later they slipped uneventfully back into hyperspace and started the long journey to Sky Harbor.
The eastern sky was beginning to brighten, and a brisk wind rattled the windows. “I just don’t believe it,” she said.
He shut off the computer, glanced meaningfully at her, slid back on the sofa, and closed his eyes. “Looks like it was all a false alarm,” he said.
Her commlink woke her. “Kim?” It was Matt’s voice. Flat. That set off alarms. “Where are you?”
“In Salonika,” she said.
“Were you planning on checking in any time soon?”
“I assumed you’d call if you needed me, Matt.” She kept it on audio.
“I need you.”
She sighed. “Okay. What are we doing?”
“A delegation of physicians and surgeons is coming in tomorrow. We’ve offered them a tour of the Institute.”
“Okay. I’ll be there. What time?”
“Ten.”
“I’m on my way.”
“It’s an opportunity to do some good public relations. Media will be here. And Johnson.”
World’s leading cosmologist. Guarantees lots of attention.
“We’re going to spring for lunch. I’d like you to accompany the tour and talk to them over the salad.”
She listened, said she’d take care of it, and started to disconnect.
“I’m not through yet.”
“What’s wrong, Matt?”
Solly knocked softly and stuck his head into the room. She waved him in.
“Have you been nosing around Sara Baines? Asking questions?”
“Sara Baines? Who’s Sara Baines?” She looked desperately at Solly.
His lips formed the words Deny everything.
“Tripley’s grandmother, for God’s sake. We got another complaint from him. Says somebody was out to interview his grandmother for a book. She can’t remember the title. But I don’t guess Tripley trusts you very much. He showed her your picture.”
“And?”
“She says no. But Tripley thinks it was you. Was it?”
“I guess I did it, Matt.”
She heard him let out his breath. “Kim, what am I going to do with you? Are you determined to lose your job? We’ve been through this before, and it’s not going to happen again. You will keep away from Tripley. Do you understand me?”
“I understand you.”
“Don’t take that tone with me. This is your career you’re playing with. If there’s a third round of this nonsense, I’m going to be forced to put you out on the street.”
“Matt, I don’t really have a choice—”
“You damned well do, Kim. I don’t mean to sound unsympathetic, but your sister’s a long time gone. Ease up, okay? For everybody’s sake.”
She was staring up at the imager. “Matt, we may have found one of Yoshi’s shoes in Tripley’s villa. At Severin.”
That got a long pause. Then: “You got a DNA match?”
“No. All we have is that it’s her size. But it’s a grip shoe.”
She could hear Matt thinking it over. “That sounds like lawsuit country. Kim, we’re talking about something that happened a long time ago. You’re grasping at straws.”
“I know,” she said. “See you tomorrow.”
“He’s right,” Solly said.
She looked at him. “We need to find the body,” she said.
“Yoshi’s? How do you plan to do that?”
“It might not be all that hard. She wore gold.”
12
And I would have, now love is over,
An end to all, an end:
I cannot, having been your lover,
Stoop to become your friend!
—ARTHUR SYMONS, “After Love,” 1910 C.E.
Kim caught the red-eye back to Seabright and addressed the physicians and surgeons at the Institute breakfast. That went well, but Matt remarked quietly that it was good to see her again. His tone was simultaneously worried and accusing. He was always good at making her feel guilty. She explained that life had got hectic, and got away before he could press her. Afterward she went directly to the station and took the first train to Wakonda, home of the University of Amberlain. Solly was waiting for