Simulation: A Pop Travel Novel Read online

  “I’m on that joint committee. I guess I’ll be seeing more of you then, Congressman.”

  Wells gave Dawson a better smile on his third try. “Yes, sir.” He was probably happy to know he would see a friendly face there.

  The Colonel nodded his approval at his pet for responding correctly without needing to be coaxed. He began to lead Wells away, then paused to bid farewell to Cooper as an afterthought.

  “It was nice to meet you too, detective. We will be in touch the next time we need some dirt scraped up.” He gave Cooper a wicked smile that looked more like a sneer.

  “Of course.” I’ll wait by the phone. Cooper chuckled to himself, turning it into a cough, returning the Colonel’s insincerity. That old fossil had been in this business a long time.

  “Thanks for stopping by, Colonel. Nice to meet you, Congressman. See you in the dugout.” Dawson showed off his famous winning grin and reached up to pat Wells on the shoulder.

  The giant startled at the unexpected touch, but the Colonel pacified him by patting his arm.

  “Thank you, sir.” McFarland Wells needed several more social lessons if he wanted to make it as a politician. Much too timid around strangers. Politics was a social game of deception where the players were aggressively innocent and preachy in public, while stabbing each other in the back when no one was looking. Cooper got the impression Wells earnestly wanted to be somewhere else, like a boy dragged to his sister’s birthday party and fawned over by all her friends.

  Watching the Colonel lead Wells away, guiding him like an invalid and waving at many of the other patrons on his way out, Cooper shook his head. As soon as they were out of earshot, he pounced on Dawson, eager to rib him about the old guy.

  “Who is that caveman and his pet T-Rex?”

  Dawson hid a smirk with his napkin. “Been holding that in? Careful, Coop. These walls have sensitive ears. The Colonel is the most reputable campaign manager in D.C. He’s never lost a race. Plus he’s a rich old hound with tons of connections and countless outstanding favors to call in.”

  Cooper chuckled and pointed his thumb over his shoulder. “Well, I think he bit off more than he can chew with that brute.”

  “You’d be surprised. He knows all the ins and outs and the who, what, where’s.”

  “Isn’t that a line from Dr. Seuss?” They both laughed that time, but Cooper wasn’t finished, “And what’s the Android Protection Committee?” Cooper rolled his eyes off to the side. “Androids need protecting? What next? Will I be arrested for kicking my autovac? Yet another waste of taxpayer money.”

  Dawson gave him a chuckle and shook his head. “Not us protecting androids, androids protecting us. It’s a proposal for androids to join the ranks of police officers. I’ve taken a stand against it, since that’s how my constituents feel, and I agree with them. It’s complicated. Hey, how ‘bout I show you the exclusive Senator’s-behind-the-scenes tour?”

  “Sure. I’ve always wanted to see the famous cloak room.” Cooper was happier not knowing more about the politics of politics. Sightseeing with his brother as a guide would be a great conclusion to his little respite from his boring, isolated life in Atlanta. He wouldn’t mind settling down again someday, but he was too old for the chase. He’d let fate decide his future for him, come what may. Some might call that laziness, but he called it patience.

  While Cooper let Dawson handle the check, he strolled over to the wall of windows by the front door.

  The Colonel was yucking it up on the sidewalk outside with another pair of politicians in the shadow of his gentle giant. As Cooper watched the Colonel rub his chin throughout the conversation, his BS alarm went off. Being in D.C., he didn’t find that unusual, but the Colonel’s façade was a little over-anxious, bordering on desperate. Based on what Dawson told him, Cooper sensed the Colonel was at the end of a long, distinguished career and would hate to go out on a loss. He needed Wells to win and win big.

  Nudging his baby roc into the conversation, the Colonel’s eyes bulged, as if telepathically willing the men to accept and adore his prodigy. The older man bordered on creepy, like Dr. Frankenstein, hunched over, rubbing his hands in anticipation of the monster coming to life, rather than an elderly mentor promoting his protégé. With the Colonel’s reputation, Cooper would hate to be an obstacle in his path as he dashed for the finish line.

  And he’d be happy if he never bumped into either of them again.

  Atlanta, GA

  Wednesday, June 10, 2082

  fter three days of surveillance kinked up in an extra-small mini e-car, Geri released her pent-up aggression by tackling the coward she’d been watching. Once he finally emerged, she wrestled him to the ground and shoved his face in the grass. How’s that taste, a-hole?

  Geri beamed, proud to have all the evidence on the perp she needed to put him away for a long time. No international, underage pimping operations in my town!

  The bleached blond European sleaze ball squirmed under her as she sat on him and roughly cuffed his wrists. She smiled as her earpiece translated his Hungarian cursing for her.

  “Nice job, Red.” Lenza stood over her and chuckled. “You know you could’ve just stunned him.”

  Spitting an auburn strand of hair out of her mouth, Geri looked up over her shoulder at her wise guy partner, Agent Bobby Lenza.

  “This was much more satisfying.”

  “Uh huh.” He smirked. The six-foot-tall, olive-skinned Greek god was the epitome of a macho meathead. As he stood there watching her struggle with the perp, two nearly naked teenage hookers ran out of the ratty old house and latched onto Lenza’s brawny arms. He always claimed he was a chick magnet. Now this little display would inflate his already bursting ego as their backup finally arrived to witness his victory. How the dimwit had so many people fooled amazed Geri. The cocky moron repulsed her.

  “You look like you have things under control. I’ll just take these girls’ statements and get them checked out.” Lenza had no problem letting Geri do all the work, while claiming most of the glory and belittling her in the process. Such a pig.

  Geri sighed and yanked on her prisoner, helping him stand up. Oh, how she wished to work alone. She had reapplied for undercover ops several times, but ever since she’d blown her cover on her very first assignment, no one wanted to take a chance she might go rogue again. Even though it had been the right thing to do at the time, and she’d exposed a massive cover-up.

  Damn Cooper.

  Back at FBI headquarters, Geri let Lenza book their prisoner and went upstairs to shower in the locker room.

  She also hated Cooper for letting her leave him. He hadn’t even tried to stop her so they could work things out. He just let her walk away. They had been so good together until he got lazy. Cooper just sat around playing on the Qnet, ignoring her. She’d hoped her leaving would wake him up and make him realize he needed to pay more attention to her, but it didn’t. Maybe she should’ve sent him a video-gram with instructions. Too late now.

  Slamming her locker shut, she shook her head and walked into the showers, letting the steamy, refreshing water clear her head. She had to forget the past and move on. If she kept pestering her superiors, they’d come around. To prove herself, she would keep her chin up, persevere, and deal with whatever crap they served her. Then they’d promote her again. They had to.

  The shower gave her renewed energy. Plus, it helped to get away from Lenza for a few minutes. After rubbing her hair with her towel, she flipped it up into a turban and was startled to see the big idiot leering at her. Luckily she had another towel draped around her body. Geri hated the coed locker rooms and the man who instituted them, daring women join in their fun or quit. Men are a-holes. She waited for the day the universe would prove her wrong.

  “Hey, Red, the chief has a new assignment for you. You should put on some clothes and get that pretty little butt upstairs.”

  “Thanks.” Jerk. How did that guy get a job in the FBI? How did guys like that still exist? And wh
o liked that kind of attention? So twentieth century! As he left, what he said dawned on her.

  “Hold on, machismo. Did you say an assignment for me? Just me? Not us?”

  “Yeah. You got water in your ears?” He chuckled to himself and walked out.

  Just me! She wanted to do a flip. In less than five minutes, she threw some clothes on and was waiting for the elevator, tapping her foot. It couldn’t arrive fast enough. She admired her reflection in the mirrored doors while she waited. Her field attire was not only functional, it flowed with her, giving her comfort as well as style. The black, faux-leather laser-cut jacket she wore over a black t-shirt and matching leggings were all micro-armor-lined and shockproof. With her favorite black boots perfecting the ensemble, she was a complete knockout.

  The ride to the top floor took ages. She couldn’t keep still, raising and dropping her shoulders, anticipating what the assignment would be. A high profile murder? A kidnapping scandal? Stolen government secrets? The possibilities were endless. When she stepped out, she could feel herself glowing and waved at Mr. Taylor’s admin.

  “Nice to see you, Geri. You can go ahead in.”

  “Thanks!” She knew she looked like a grinning fool, but she couldn’t help it.

  Stopping at the door, she straightened her jacket and ran a hand through her damp, wavy hair. With great effort, she put her geeked-out smile away and took a deep breath. Then she opened the door and peeked inside.

  “You wanted to see me, Mr. Taylor?”

  Across the broad penthouse office sat Axel Taylor, the highest-ranking FBI official in the southeast. He was concentrating on a file projected above his desk from his compucenter. When Geri stepped in, he closed the imager with a wave of his hand and stood up to greet her.

  “Geri, my girl! Come on over and have a seat. How’ve you been?” The older man gave off an air of a friendly, yet stern, grandfather. He had crisp white hair, a crisp white shirt, and a crisp, tight attitude. With the highest of expectations, he offered onerous assignments, but made agents feel proud to be chosen for them. Like handing out sour candy: though no one liked the taste, they felt special receiving it.

  “I’m well, sir. Thank you for asking.” Geri walked over and shook his outstretched hand. She held immense respect for the head of the Atlanta Bureau, but she was too excited to sit just yet. Wriggling her fingers at her sides and rocking from her heels to her toes and back, she had to concentrate on keeping herself from shouting, What’s my new assignment, boss? Huh? Huh? Mine, all mine!

  When she saw him glance at her, then at the chair in front of his desk and wait, she gave in and sat down.

  He smiled and took his seat as well. “Of course. Now. I’ve had your requests at the top of my list for several weeks. I know how eager you are to get back undercover.”

  “Yes, sir.” No, I don’t think you do.

  “And I must commend you on how well you’ve handled Agent Lenza. Finding him a suitable partner who doesn’t put in for a transfer after the first assignment has been quite a challenge.”

  “Yes, sir.” I bet. Geri couldn’t hold back her grin any longer, so she let it loose and nodded.

  “Though it will be difficult to replace you, I believe you have suffered enough.”

  Hallelujah! Freedom! Geri leaned forward in her seat. Any further and she’d fall out of it.

  “So for your next assignment, we have found you a new partner.”

  “Thank you, sir. I…” Wait. What? Geri straightened her back and her smile faded into confusion and disappointment. “A new partner? I thought…” No! Not another partner. Not fair! She’d been saddled with horrible sidekicks for the past year, always demonstrating herself to be the better agent by far. What did she have to do to prove herself?

  “I realize you would like to fly solo, but you are still on probation. You will take the lead on this one, and it will give you the opportunity to assure us you will follow through with your assignment even if it goes against your intuition. This is an important case, and I believe Agent Boscowicz will be a great asset to you on it.”

  “Yes, sir,” Geri said through gritted teeth. The name alone produced images of another dumb mammoth with all his brains in his muscles. But this time, shorter and blonder.

  “If any trouble arises, you report it. No second-guessing your orders or skimping on protocol. Understood?”

  She nodded. Inside, she wished everyone would stop bringing up that stupid pop travel case. She’d been right. And she’d been deceived by her own boss. How well she learned when someone doesn’t follow protocol in the FBI, she is marked for life. Even when protocol wasn’t the right thing to do. She frowned at the floor, her tone sour with disappointment.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Geri, we need you on this case. Trust me. Handle it well and we’ll see what we can do about upgrading your status. The file has been sent to you.”

  She should’ve known better than to get her hopes up so high. Now she needed a crane to lift her chin off the floor. She searched Mr. Taylor’s eyes for a glimpse of hope, for something to motivate her not to give up.

  He nodded. The this hurts me more than it hurts you look in his eyes was clear and gave her a smidge of comfort.

  Heaving a sigh, she felt she could trust him. After all, he was the only one who still had faith in her. He kept her on as an agent when the rest of the bureau wanted her kicked out and her memory erased. She had to live with the consequences of her choices. One more partner. Then that would be it.

  “Yes, sir. I will do my best, sir.” She squeaked out a smile for him.

  Mr. Taylor smiled back. “Good. You’re dismissed.” He put out his hand to show her the door.

  Geri rose to leave and silently walked out. She refrained from sulking and stomping like a two-year-old about her continued punishment. At least until she got outside his office. Briskly walking past the admin to avoid small talk, she glowered at the floor. At the elevator, she smacked the wall in frustration. Geri hated all the bureaucratic BS! Pacing and ranting to herself the whole way down, she considered quitting. By the time she reached her office floor, she resigned herself to take it like a woman.

  Unfortunately, Lenza and his buddies were hanging out by his desk, three over from hers, ready to test her resolve, judging by the smirks on their faces. He probably knew she was getting a new partner. She didn’t know which irked her more, that he lied to her or that he knew first. And to add to the challenge, a young girl stood waiting at Geri’s desk. Geri looked to the ceiling. Go ahead, keep piling it on.

  Ignoring the snickering idiots, Geri sat down and spoke her compucenter to life. What were those morons snickering about, anyway? She shot them a glare.

  Quickly scrolling through her qmail and swiping most of it into the trash, Geri was eager to read her new assignment. She completely forgot about the girl standing there.

  “Um…”

  Maybe Lenza sent this girl as some kind of primitive joke she wouldn’t understand.

  “Can I help you?” Geri asked without looking at her. Then she paused and her eyes flashed wide. A chill flew up her spine, straightening her back. Slowly turning, Geri took a good look at the girl through her imager. She had fair, freckled skin, shoulder-length white-blonde hair, and almond-shaped brown eyes. Geri reassessed her age to early twenties. She was pretty, perky, and… Oh, no.

  “Please don’t tell me you’re…”

  The boys’ club busted out laughing.

  “Agent Aimee Boscowicz. I’m your new partner.” The girl stuck out her hand for Geri to shake.

  Geri rolled her eyes, but stopped herself from smacking her forehead. She was showing an immense amount of self-control today. After inspecting the girl’s hand, she sneered over at the laughing morons again. She reached deep, pulling out a big, fat smile, and shook the waiting hand. What else could she do?

  “Geri Harper.”

  “It’s an honor to meet you, Ms. Harper. You’re a legend at the Academy.”

&nb
sp; A legend was old. Or dead. Geri didn’t want to be a legend yet.

  “Thanks. Do you have a copy of the case file?”

  “Yes.” She nodded like a bobblehead on a rollercoaster. Way too eager. The wisp of a girl had on black leggings, a short gray skort and matching, A-line jacket with a glinting, metallic shirt underneath. Is that what they were wearing now?

  Geri closed her eyes and shook her head. Not only another partner, but a young, inexperienced, bubbly partner. She went from stupid and annoying to enthusiastic and annoying. Nothing was ever easy.

  But that’s not why she joined the FBI. After blowing out a sigh, she opened her eyes and accepted the challenge.

  “Good. Let’s get out of here.”

  Standing up, Geri took off for the door at a brisk pace. She wasn’t about to give the boys a view of the torture she was about to endure getting to know this redshirt.

  “Good luck, Geri!” Lenza yelled as they walked away.

  Holding the door open for her new partner, Geri flipped Lenza the finger behind the girl’s back and followed her out. At least she was through with that buffoon.

  “Great idea, Ms. Harper. We should go to the APD crime lab and question them.”

  “Crime lab? Sure. Of course. Stacee, why don’t you bring me up to speed?” Geri didn’t get a chance to read more than the subject line of the case. “And call me Geri.”

  “Thank you. Geri. And my name is Aimee.” The girl blushed.

  “Sorry, Aimee.” Geri sighed again and led her little newb down to the garage. She needed to practice being nice and not act like the pigs upstairs. Aimee hadn’t done anything to deserve Geri’s wrath. Yet.

  Aimee smiled and filled her in.

  “A finger was discovered at the De Soto Recycling Plant south of the Atlanta Travelport. When the police arrived, they were unable to identify it right away. They claimed something was wrong with the DNA because their scanners brought up several possible subjects, but no exact matches. In the lab, they worked on cleaning up the data, but finally resorted to the print on the finger to pinpoint the person’s actual identity.”