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“Here to explain everything to you,” Miriam said, “is Co her is the research team behind the world’stoday Please give them a elcome” It was an order, and her audience jumped to comply

As Miriaraph disappeared in a shower of virtual-reality pyrotechnics, the doors behind the stage opened A cheer went up, but Mace didn’t need the noise of the crowd to tell him that Keiko had arrived He felt it in every cell of his body

She wore another for silver, and her feet were clad inshoes with heels that were at least four inches tall The woreatly

Her presence filled the stage, her slint in her eye that made people think they were in on soh CommTECH’s ranks so quickly—her charisma would have been invaluable to the straight through Mace, and although he deserved it, it still grated

“That is one pissed-off woman,” Hunter said

“I wonder why?” Mace was pretty pissed off himself

He scanned the tea on his datapad to check the people in front of hier appeared Mace glanced back to the lineup His target was second on the left and had a look on his face that told the audience he was far too i to the dossier his teaest person ever to hold the position of lead scientist at a CommTECH research facility He was also the n And he looked like an oily, hairless rat Mace added that last part himself

When he looked back to the stage, he found Keiko sht before The socially ao Mace’s eye, and when she did, she gave hilare

“Uh, Hunter, did Keiko talk to Abigail about me?” Mace said quietly

“Did she ever,” Hunter replied with a laugh “Dude, you are totally up shit creek”

“Don’t you think you should have shut that crap down?” Mace held Abigail’s glare, and the timid scientist didn’t back off It was impressive

“Why?” Hunter said, and Mace could al “It wasn’t a security issue”

All Mace could do was growl his irritation He’d deal with Hunter later Along with everyone else on his tea to piss him off

…

Keiko refused to acknowledge Mace, which was difficult, considering he was at least half a head taller than everyone else on the terrace,to waste any more time on the overner because of him Okay, so that wasn’t all on hi with it, and she wished she’d never set eyes on the man