Contact Imminent by Kristine Smith Read Free Book Online

closer and the details came into focus. “How are you?” His examination took on a professional sharpness as he looked her up and down. “What happened?” A light brown forelock fell over his eyes, and he pushed it back with a curse.
    Jani looked Val over as well. A blue pullover and dark green trousers peeked out beneath his brown coat. Mismatched clothes thrown on in haste. Not his habit at all. “What did you hear?”
    â€œThat’s my one and only girl—never give an answer when another question will do.” Val took a step closer. The safety lighting struck him full in the face, illuminating hazel eyes gone dull and bloodshot from lack of sleep. “Service Medical called our shop. They needed to borrow one of our DeVries shunts. Neuro demanded to know why, and managed to pull a story out with pliers. Blown mine at the enclave. Thirty or so people hurt. People and idomeni, I should say.”
    â€œThe shunt isn’t for Lieutenant Pullman, is it?” John asked as he slipped in behind Val. Unlike his business partner’s, his clothing matched—a pearl grey daysuit topped by a coat of the same color. “I understand he was one of the injured.” He stopped near the front end of the Service skimmer, not too close yet not too far away, his monkish face a studied blank. Taller and rangier than Val, with the dour countenance of a period painting, he looked imposing even in the harsh lighting.
    Snow wraith , Jani thought as she took in his white cap of hair and parchment-pale skin, his eyes filmed the same silvery grey as his garments. Albino , her less romantic side reminded her. The sun is rising, and daylight isn’t his time . “It wasn’t for Pull, no. He suffered abdominal injuries, not brain damage. He’ll be fine, though.”
    John nodded. Paused. “Niall’s all right?”
    Despite the tension in the air, Jani hid a smile. I know that one was a struggle, so we’ll give you full points for effort . John and Niall did not like one another. Niall felt that John had forced Jani’s hybridization upon her, which was true, and John felt guilty enough over the situation that the criticism stung. But he knows Niall and I are friends, so he tries . It had been a difficult thing to witness as of late, John Shroud’s laboring to be flexible. Like watching an oak trying to bend as a willow, with all the creaking and straining the image implied. “Yes, Niall’s all right.” She walked around Val to John’s side. “You wouldn’t happen to be carrying a shooter by any chance?”
    The quick change in subject caught John by surprise. He blinked. Then the look in his eyes sharpened and the color rose in his cheeks. “We couldn’t find out whether you’d been hurt or not, and we didn’t know what we’d find here.”
    â€œJohn thought we might arrive to find ministry security stripping the place.” Val sauntered past, his hands in his pockets. “He’s been taking lessons.” He freed one hand and raised it, forefinger extended, miming a weapon.
    â€œAnd they’d have dropped him before he had a chance to sight down.” Lucien paused to refasten his holster. “Speaking as ex–Ministry security, that’s what I’d have done.”
    â€œAnd on that note.” Jani herded the men toward the house, avoiding John’s glower and Lucien’s jaundiced glare.
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    The house was pleasant enough, three floors of white walls, trayed ceilings, and skylights, with enough old wood to imply an age it didn’t possess. Niall had chosen it for the location, the stone in a ring of older Family dwellings, set in the geographic middle of the Parkway neighborhoods. He reasoned that with human-idomeni tensions increasing as they were, the security forces of the other houses would guard Jani as well as their own charges, if only to prevent any unpleasantness that might