Myer

ouse elevator, watching the brushed steel doors s

he luggage into the trunk of a plain black

gine, and drove up the ramp into the morning rus

ivate apartment building on the edge of the tech district

minimalist apartment, breathing deeply in a room that had

I sat down on the small sofa and

s Consortium had set up for me after our wedding

red Frazier's personal main account number, typed "Severa

the screen, I clicked to permanently close the trust

and opened the clock app, where an alarm labeled

call to check on her health and gland developm

r two seconds before I swiped left

, I raised both hands to the matte silver

feeling the tiny mechanical gears click against my seventh cervic

steel blue for laboratories, and Level VI deep indigo, before

uff does not simpl

d for the first eight seconds it hurts in a way that has no vocabulary - not pain exactly, more like b

he new plaster in the hallway and the rain comin

rank, no status, no threat

o seal off every trace of scent, and I let out a slo

reasons are printed on the back of the permit: medical, surgical, bereavement, or threat. Mine said threat, and

been a very good liar

arp black business suit, and pinned my blonde hair into a

woman staring back had cold eyes and not a tra

ation letter and project handover lists, I opened the apartmen

r Hodg

in The Concord, I watched the nurse remove the IV needl

door, the way they always do - a color-coded chair,

om in a building full of frightened people is a room where somebody's heat ge

e placards. Everybody

d glanced at the time-3:15 PM-frowning w

, Dagny had not called at three

nto my pocket, figuring she was still sulking o

paper cup of hot coffee and held

night watching over Grayce. D

ether at the overly sweet, milky taste that was nothing li

ide table without taking a se

ank

s and sat up in bed, holding her arms

l forehead and lo

t call today. D

ffed out her cheeks a

ust nags me about taking bitter supp

eve and tugged, her eye

r strawberry ice cream when I get out! Let's g

's face stirred a strange, brief irritation in my ches

rig