Audacious by Mike Shepherd Read Free Book Online Page A

program would fail and leave her, just for a moment, wide open on one side or another.
    “That’s an interesting use of nanos,” Jack murmured.
    “Whoever is in charge of our nano-scouts, please keep them away from her,” Kris said. “I don’t want to be accused of causing the most exciting social blunder of the evening. Some of the men here don’t look more than one heart attack away from a coffin.”
    “I’ll see that it doesn’t happen,” one of the female Marines said, elbowing her escort and deftly removing a small console from his inner coat pocket.
    “You don’t trust me, Doris.”
    “Never saw any cause to cut the Marine off at the knees.”
    “Let’s pay attention folks,” Kris said as she approached the bottom of the stairs.
    T HE WOMAN AT THE FOOT OF THE STEPS IN SHIMMERING BLUE AND BLACK IS M S. B ROADMORE, Nelly said in Kris’s brain . S HE OWNS AND OPERATES ABOUT FIVE PERCENT OF E DEN’S CAPITAL. T HERE IS NO M R. B ROADMORE AT THE MOMENT. W HAT SHE OWNS SHE OPERATES.
    W HO ARE THE REST AROUND HER ?
    Nelly started to identify several men and women, then paused. T HE WOMAN IN THE WHITE GOWN IS NOT TRANSMITTING .
    Kris glanced at the woman, but at just that moment, she disappeared behind a tall man in formal black. Social graces usually required people in public meetings to broadcast their minimum bio. It was similar to the IFF that warcraft had used for centuries. And often the topic of battle jokes. It was not unforgivable for someone to “throttle their squawker.” Some people were shy, others just preferred their privacy. Still, in an evening intended for meet and greet, going quiet was… interesting.
    Ms. Broadmore offered Kris her hand. “So glad you could come. I understand they have this and that to keep you busy at the embassy during the day. I’m so happy you could make it.”
    “This isn’t my first social event,” Kris pointed out.
    “Yes, I heard you had to leave Marta’s little get-together early yesterday. Don’t you just hate events thrown at a rented hall. It’s so easy for them to go to pieces at the slightest happenstance.”
    Kris allowed a slight nod. Apparently Ms. Broadmore didn’t know what had happened last night or didn’t care. Several muscular young men in easy orbit of her looked like they would apply all the caring their patron did not.
    Ms. Broadmore introduced Kris to others that stood eagerly about. Since their names and offered bios matched what Nelly knew, Kris left it to her computer to remind her if and when she needed them.
    It was the redhead in the white gown that kept snagging Kris’s attention. Never center stage, she was always there in the corner of Kris’s eye. She would turn or move a hand at just the right moment to draw Kris attention away from whomever she was talking to. It was… bothersome.
    Finally, Ms. Broadmore took two quick steps and reached for the hand of the unidentified woman. “And have you met my other special guest of the evening. You must know her. Your family and hers are a pair, are you not? But I understand that you have been a bit of a cosmopolitan, and she’s been given a sheltered upbringing. This is her first trip into civilized space.”
    Ms. Broadmore inserted a theatrical pause, and Kris could feel every collar or lapel camera in range clicking away. Kris gritted her teeth and hoped this would not go on much longer.
    Apparently their hostess had had fun enough, with a predatory smile she finished. “Kristine Longknife, have you met Victoria Smythe-Peterwald?”

10
    Kris had known intense moments in battles to cause it, that heightening of awareness that let you take everything in but no time seemed to pass. How often had Kris joked about her social life being like a battle?
    Now she had battle awareness right in the middle of the ballroom floor.
    Victoria Smythe-Peterwald looked so much like her brother. The same flashing blue eyes, perfect skin, rigid set of jaw. The white dress was skimpy up top,