Broken Protocols 1-3 Read online

  No.

  On the table. What the heck? She hurried closer. It appeared to be another computer of some kind. “What is this?” she asked.

  Milo lifted his head to stare at her, but his eyes appeared unfocused.

  She switched her gaze to his brother. “Levi?”

  “It’s a new tracking system we’ve been working on for military applications.” He grimaced. “Technically, you’re not cleared to see this.”

  “Oh fun. The problem is, I already have.” She sat down beside him on the bench and grinned when it widened to give them more space. “I do love the future, especially the decorating system you have in this place. Although why you haven’t changed all the rest,” she waved her hand outward to encompass the kitchen, “I don’t know.”

  “Milo doesn’t like change. Or rather, we can’t agree on a change that suits us both.”

  Milo turned to stare at him. “I’m not a kid anymore. If you want to redecorate, go for it.”

  “We tried it once, remember?”

  “Hey, you wanted the place to look like some creepy haunted house and I wanted it to look like a science fiction flying ship.” He shrugged. “So we did nothing.”

  Her jaw dropped. With difficulty, she managed to pull herself together. “You can do that?”

  “Well, you have to pay for it, but the motto of today’s world is that everything is available – for a price.”

  “Wow. Okay, things have really changed.” She nodded to the table that wasn’t a table. “Did you guys design this table, too?”

  Milo frowned. “Why would I care about designing furniture? That’s so old hat. Anyone can do that.”

  “So this isn’t a table – you just designed the computer that sits on top of it.”

  “Ah, you mean the fact that it’s part of the table. Today, you can place computers on any kind of hardware.” Levi started manipulating his side of the 3D image again.

  “What are you looking for?”

  “The missing lawyer. She’s the key to this mess. If we could talk to her…” Levi trailed off.

  She frowned. “Didn’t Charmin find her?

  “Yes, but she’s dropped off the grid again. We tracked her until she just…disappeared.”

  The big screen on the side wall opened up, and John appeared to step through. “Levi, are you receiving calls?”

  Levi pushed his chair back and walked over. “John. What did you find out?”

  “There’s no sign of Lina,” he said nervously. “We’ve tried everywhere and nothing. Her mother hasn’t heard from her either.”

  John’s face twisted as he said the last part.

  Dani stood. John turned to look at her. “I think the answer lies with your wife, Levi. Maybe if I could ask her some questions.”

  Levi immediately shook his head. “You can give me your questions and I’ll see about asking her, but she’s not the problem – Lina is.”

  Milo nudged Dani off to the side. He lowered his head and whispered, “He can’t see you here. If you stand in that square,” and he motioned to where she’d been on the line, “he can see you.”

  “Oh sorry. I didn’t know.” She lowered her voice, “Can he hear us, too?”

  “Only if you are in that box.”

  “Wow.” She could imagine the technology being very helpful in many cases, but it sure seemed like an invasion of privacy to her. Or was it? John had asked if Levi was receiving calls. Maybe that was the same as asking permission. “Does Lina live with her mother?”

  Milo shrugged. “No idea.”

  “Maybe we should find out. After all, if she does and she hasn’t heard from her, maybe something bad has happened to Lina. Maybe she didn’t run off. Maybe she was punished for failing to grab me.”

  He cocked his head to the side then reached into his back pocket and pulled out his weird fingerboard computer. After tapping on the silver machine for a few moments, he smiled and said, “She does live with her mother.”

  Levi, distracted by Milo, turned to look at them. “Does that matter?”

  “Depends if she’s in trouble with whoever she was to deliver Dani to. Chances are, failure is unacceptable.”

  Levi’s jaw clenched. “John, have you checked the hospitals for a woman fitting her description, either dead or alive?”

  “Oh dear.” John’s face twisted up.

  Dani thought maybe it was because of the unpleasant media attention his firm might receive if that were the case. Then her attitude toward all lawyers was awful since she worked with Lawrence, the king of all asshole lawyers.

  She sighed and tried to remind herself that John was likely a very nice man. Just because Lawrence and Lina weren’t didn’t mean all lawyers were bad. There had to be good ones out there. She just hadn’t met any. Except maybe John. And the verdict was still out with him.

  Milo shouted, “Yes! Found her.”

  Levi turned to face his brother while Dani tried to see what Milo’s comp said. “She’s in the morgue on Cronan street.”

  “Morgue.” Dani’s stomach started to feel queasy again. Lina could have had an accident, but Dani couldn’t quite believe it. She was afraid that these people were playing for keeps and failure was not an option.

  *

  Levi hated the look of fear on Dani’s face. He pulled up the information Milo gave him and got into the databanks to give him a visual of the body. Sure enough, it was Lina. He showed the head shot to John, watching the shock, the fear, then the lighting fast calculation wash over his face as he tried to figure out the best way to play this.

  “She must have had an accident. Although why they wouldn’t have notified me, I don’t know. Or her mother.”

  At the mention of Lina’s mother, John’s face twisted. “Her mother is going to be heartbroken.”

  Levi continued to read the file. “She came in with her tags missing and minimal clothing.” That caused John’s eyebrows to shoot up, “and showing signs of torture.”

  Silence.

  John exploded. “What the hell did she get herself involved in?”

  “That’s something I expect your help in finding out.” Levi continued to read the file. “Her body was dumped outside the hospital.”

  John dropped his gaze, but his shoulders were shaking. Dani didn’t know if he was upset by the news or if he’d had a personal relationship with Lina and was affected on more levels than she’d first assumed. Finding out one of his employees had been murdered had to be difficult for anyone.

  “Levi, I have to go do damage control. Let me know when and if you find anything else out.” Just like that, he blinked off. Dani stared at the spot on the wall, wondering how long it would take before she got used to that.

  “So much for his help.” Levi shook his head. “Milo, can you get into the Council files to see if they have any further information?”

  Milo walked over to the counter top and brought up the big 3D unit and started clicking.

  “Also, didn’t we find some of the bad guys’ photos on the facial recognition program?” Dani asked. “Did that help at all?”

  “We’re running the list of known associates, trying to find out where they might be located.”

  “And then what?” Dani asked. “Do you have police that you can call on for help?”

  Milo shook his head so fast, his long Mohawk looked to be in the middle of a major storm. “No. We’ve crossed the line. We have to handle this ourselves.”

  “And can you?” she asked, studying his face.

  He looked over at her, showing wisdom and maturity. “We have to. There’s a lot at stake here.”

  She didn’t know if he meant her or more but decided some information was better left unknown.

  She felt helpless. They had so much to do. Normally, she’d have made tea or coffee or pulled together a simple meal, yet it appeared at the moment that she couldn’t even do the simplest of things.

  She hated that.

  She walked over to where Levi had gotten he
r water the day before. She placed her hand where he’d placed his and pushed slightly. Instantly, a water fountain slid out from behind the wall. She grinned in delight. Now if only she’d watched how he’d made coffee. How hard could it be? Exploring the things she’d watched him do, she managed to pull open the cooler and pull out the fillings for a sandwich. At least, it would be a sandwich if she could figure out where the bread had gone. She’d had some the first meal with a big chunk of cheese and meat. Back in the cooler, she found something that appeared to be meat. She pulled it out and turned to ask Levi about bread. Instead, he stood in front of her with a large loaf in his hands.

  She smiled and snatched it out of his hands. “Next time, show me where you got it from.” He tapped the counter in front of her, and a cupboard rose up. She grinned. “I do love all this cool technology.”

  Milo stopped what he was doing, looked at the shelving, and glanced back at her. “What technology? That’s a simple cupboard.”

  She shrugged. “It’s more advanced than anything I’ve seen.”

  “Right.” He gave a small headshake and returned to what he was doing.

  She studied the cupboard, looking for other food that she’d recognize. Some were recognizable. Most were not. While the men went back to work, she busied herself opening packages and tasting food. One looked like crackers but tasted like cardboard. Another had brightly colored images of food all over the package but gave no clue as to what was inside. She read the instructions to find it was a synthetic supplement. Yuck. Must be something for Milo.

  The bread was good though. She could really use a slice while she rummaged but couldn’t even find a knife to cut it with. Finally, in frustration, she began systematically placing the palm of her hand on every surface she could find and giving a light push. Nothing happened for the first few tries, but she persisted and was delighted when she opened one cupboard, then another, and another. She investigated all the contents and realized the third one had a mother lode of utensils. She grabbed a knife and cut herself a slice of bread. She turned to study the cooler but didn’t know how to open it. She pressed at various places but to no avail. The door would not open.

  Ignoring the snickers from behind her, she said, “Open.” Nothing. “Open sesame.”

  Still nothing, but the laughter behind her was growing. “Open please.”

  Silently, the cooler opened. She turned and threw an accusing glare at the two snickering males and said, “You just programmed it to do that, didn’t you?”

  Milo nodded, a wide grin splitting his face. Levi walked over. He reached out a hand and hit a hidden spring. The cooler door closed.

  “No, wait.”

  “Now you open it.” She reached out and touched the same place he did. It didn’t work. She looked over at him.

  “Again.” he smiled. “A little harder this time.”

  Success. She grinned and reached in for butter. “What is this?” she asked about a big package wrapped in paper.

  “Steaks for dinner.”

  “Oh yum.” She could really use a steak. “With a baked potatoes and a salad?”

  “If you like. Do you need more right now?” He motioned to the thick slice of bread she was eating.

  “I’m fine, but Charmin is hungry again.”

  Levi rolled his eyes. “Of course he is.” He walked to a side cupboard. “I ordered this today. It’s premium cat food.”

  “Oh, thank you.” She watched him open some kind of odd package and pour a premeasured dose into a bowl. It didn’t look like cat food, but it did smell like it. It was an unmistakable smell once you dealt with it more than once. Still, Charmin should approve.

  She hoped.

  She walked back to the pod room carrying a bowl for Charmin. “I love the South Pacific theme. It’s stunning.”

  “I was hoping you’d like it. If you don’t, we can always change it.”

  “Later,” she smiled. “After I’m bored with the concept. If I ever get bored.”

  “My bedroom is a Swiss chalet.”

  “Really?”

  He grinned. “Let’s feed Charmin and maybe I’ll show you.”

  The look in his eyes sent a shaft of heat right to her toes. She murmured quietly, “I think I’d like that.”

  She’d love to spend a private hour in his bedroom.

  As they opened the door to the pod room, she gasped. Instead of her South Pacific island getaway, the room had become a room of cat trees and cat ledges walking up and down the walls. With a dozen cats apparently sleeping on various beds. Overall was a deep rumble of a snoring cat.

  “What the…”

  Levi laughed. “Hey, Charmin, I don’t suppose you were planning on sharing this meal with all your friends.”

  The snoring stopped. Charmin raised his head, his nose sniffing the air. “Program revert.”

  While Dani watched in amused surprise, her pod room turned back to the South Pacific hut. “Wow.”

  Charmin stood, stretched, and walked over to them. “I’m so weak,” he moaned.

  “Ha. Not so weak as to set yourself up right at home.” Dani scooped him up and tried to cuddle him, but he wanted nothing to do with her. Instead, he scrambled out of her arms to land softly on the floor in front of his food bowl. He immediately burrowed his head into the food. Dani took a step back. “Amazing, Charmin. You’ve picked up everything so fast.”

  He lifted his head and pinned her with a marble glare. “And why wouldn’t I? Nothing here is hard to understand or learn.”

  She sighed. “Says you.”

  “It would be easy for you, too. You just need to do things instinctively instead of overthinking everything.” With that pronouncement, he returned to eating his meal.

  “He’s right, you know. Everything nowadays is meant to be intuitive and easier to do, minimizing time and effort.”

  She shook her head. “Then why is it we haven’t sorted out who killed the lawyer and why she was after me?”

  He winced. “That’s a good point. Let’s go and see what Milo has found.”

  Chapter 14

  While Levi went to check on Milo’s progress, Dani stayed with Charmin until he’d finished eating, then she bent down to scoop his dish up off the floor when the pod started to make weird sounds. It often made similar sounds when she was in it – but not like this. This one had a weird metronome sound to it. She called out. “Levi? Milo? The pod is making weird sounds.”

  In seconds, the two men were rushing toward her. “It’s probably nothing,” Levi said. But his face said otherwise.

  Milo circled it, his hands full of his gadgets. “Okay, this is not good. It’s a tracking device.”

  He pushed a button, and there was a weird splat that sounded like a power outage. “Not anymore.”

  Dani released her pent up breath she hadn’t been aware of holding. “Why didn’t your bugs pick this up earlier?”

  “I think it was triggered after the first one was destroyed. Like a backup system. While it wasn’t active, I couldn’t have picked it up.”

  She didn’t like the sound of that. “What if there’s a third bug that will start when it realizes this one stopped working?”

  “It’s possible, but not likely. Still…” Milo attached the bug detector, its lights flashing to say it was working, on top of the pod. “That will take care of anything else.”

  With that, he returned to his study of the pod, looking for the now-defunct bug. “I did tell Levi that the pod was dangerous.”

  “You said a lot, but you didn’t exactly leave me much choice.”

  “And I for one am very appreciative of the pod.” Dani added with feeling. “It’s helped a lot. Though I can’t say it feels very safe and I’m not sure I want to sleep in here any longer.”

  Levi tugged her close. “You don’t have to.”

  Milo rolled his eyes. “Can we stay on topic?”

  “On topic, I just want to sleep.” Charmin said from behind them. “Who can rest with all th
at racket going on?” he grumbled.

  “I thought you were eating,” Levi said suspiciously.

  “I was eating. Now I want to sle—”

  A heavy pounding sounded on the door.

  “Milo, I thought stealth was on?” Levi ushered his brother out of the pod room. “Stay here,” he said to Dani and Charmin. “Don’t come out until one of us says so.”

  And he closed the door in her face. A final snick made her scoop up Charmin and whisper, “That last part didn’t sound very good.”

  “He locked us in.” Charmin stared at the closed door in shock. “That’s bad. Like really bad.”

  “Why is that?” She figured it couldn’t be that hard to get out. It seemed like everything was either hand or voice controlled.

  “Because the food is on the other side of that door.” He turned until his flat face was pushed tight up against her face, his eyes round with horror. “We’ll starve.”

  *

  “Milo, find out who is out there.”

  As usual, his brother was way ahead of him. Being naturally distrustful, Milo had set up multiple programs to keep the world out there – right where he wanted it. He valued his privacy. More than that, he detested the invasiveness of the government.

  Levi walked to the front door when Milo said urgently. “Wait. It’s one of the men from Lina’s office.”

  Ah shit. Levi froze. “Now what the hell are we going to do?”

  “I don’t know. They shouldn’t know that we are home. Stealth is on and active. No heat seeking, no audio, no power surges being registered. As far as the outside world is concerned, we are not home.”

  “Unless they were the ones listening in on the bugs, then of course, they know that we are home. And if that last device was a tracker, they’d have traced the pod here anyway.”

  Levi winced. “Then make sure stealth is on in the pod room and let’s see what this guy wants.”