Chapter Sixty-Seven - Things get Better


    Chapter Sixty-Seven - Things get Better


    One of the best fields for the able-bodied, regardless of nationality or gender, is security. The training is usually covered by the corporation, and the work pays quite handsomely. Only a fool would underpay the people in charge of keeping them alive and safe.


    Men are usually preferred, but women and some younger men prefer female-presenting guards. Its very much an equal-opportunity job.


    Also, sometimes you get to beat up reporters and hobos.


    --The Coachs Playbook, a guide to becoming corporate security, 2032


    ***


    I stormed through the lobby, a woman on a mission. It was hard not to notice the additional security theyd put up. More guards by the doors, more personnel behind the counters so that clients coming in were treated faster. They even brought out a few of those dog-drones with the spinal-mounted guns. Ugly, but it made the point.


    Maam? one of the hotel employees asked as he jogged to catch up.


    Yeah? I asked without slowing down.


    Weve, ah, heightened security. Were working with some private investigators to track the origin of the package. The hotel apologizes for what happened. That box shouldnt have gotten past security.Updated chapters at novelhall.com


    You didnt fuck up, I said. I did. And now Im going to go pay the bitch responsible a visit.


    The employees head bobbed up and down. Thank you. Eleanor didnt deserve that.


    She didnt, I agreed. We stepped out into the parking tunnel, and I saw a pair of valets scurrying to push my hovercycle closer. Ill be back in a few hours. Do me a favour and keep the security on alert until then?


    Certainly, maam, he said.


    I nodded and moved over to my bike, a leg swinging up and over before I fixed my jacket behind me. I leaned forwards, turned the bike on with a twitch of my augs, then gave it gas.


    Setting destination now. Just follow the lines. Ill keep an eye on the hotel while youre out. Their added security is simple, but it should assist to some degree.


    Going to be expensive for them, I said as I flew up and merged into a high-speed traffic lane filled with nicer corpo rides.


    Possibly. But the hotels PR staff is already disseminating information about the attack.


    Theyre spreading news about it? I asked.


    Oh yes. A Vanguard was unsuccessfully attacked in their hotel. An employee died, and now their security measures are increasing to such a degree that the entire establishment will be much harder to enter. Theyre playing up their part of the narrative. I think the idea is to create the impression that the hotel is a place where incredibly dramatic things happen and one where the management are quick to react to such threats.


    I sniffed. It sounded stupid to me. But then... I could imagine Lucy gleefully telling me about how such-and-such a place had someone try to assassinate a samurai. It would get their name out there a lot more than usual and in channels they couldnt normally advertise in. Sickeningly clever.


    I didnt have the energy in me to really give a shit.


    The traffic ahead of me slowed down enough to start grating on my nerves, so I dipped under the cars ahead and shot past them in complete disregard to a whole heap of laws. It was a good thing I didnt have a license, or it would have been revoked on account of my driving already.


    Wheres this leading to? I asked.


    No thanks, I said. Im here for something else.


    Whats wrong? Buirringham asked.


    Should I... his guest said.


    Burringham shook his head. Itll be fine, Im sure. Stray Cats a friend, he said with one of his winning smiles.


    Just had a few things I needed you to know, I said. First, I figured out who sent that assassin after you.


    You did? Burringham asked. Great. Who is it? Im sure we can make an example of them.


    Problem is, I continued. They just tried to kill me too. Sent a bomb to my hotel. They actually did kill someone. Nice girl by the name of Eleanor. Hotel staff.


    Are you okay? he asked. I could have sworn his question was genuine.


    I waved the comment off. Im fine. Got to wonder though, why in the fuck is your secretary trying to blow me up?


    Id been eyeing the secretary from the corner of my vision the entire time. She was tense, but not more than one might expect from having a samurai just show up. The accusation had her squirming though. Mister Burringham, I can assure you, she began.


    Shut up, I said over her. Actually, no, dont shut up. Instead, why dont you tell me what in the fuck you were thinking? I moved over to her while the other assistant scurried out of the path in a hurry.


    Linda? Burringham asked.


    Youre lying, the secretary said.


    It shouldnt be that hard to prove that youre not the one, I said. But Ive got this itchy feeling that tells me that it really is you. Which makes me want to know, really, why? Whatd you get out of it?


    She swallowed, then glared at me. Her silence stretched for a long moment.


    She has just sent a message to the security guards around you. I intercepted it. She asked them to apprehend you.


    Did you really just ask the guard here to arrest me? I asked.


    You... you pose a threat to Mister Burringham and his campaign.


    Linda, what are you on about? Burringham asked.


    I glanced at the guard in charge. He shook his head. Were paid well, but not well enough to interfere with whatever this is, he said.


    I nodded. Hey, Burringham, could your CEO buddy over there do us a favour and arrest her? Just in case your own security is compromised. I got the feeling theyre clean, but just in case.


    I... Burringham turned to his guest who nodded. Certainly?


    I nodded in turn. Cool, cool. Oh, and Linda? This is for Eleanor.


    I got to say, that meaty feeling of my fist meeting Lindas cheek was incredibly cathartic.


    ***