Operation Tenley by Jennifer Gooch Hummer Read Free Book Online Page A

shouted over the noise. “Inner sanctum.”
    Tink led Pennie toward two empty keyboards in a back corner. There, she sat on what looked to be nothing but air. Pennie hesitated but Tink patted the empty space next to her. “It’s an iWind seat. They’re fabulous.”
    Pennie squealed when the invisible force caught her. “I never knew we had these.”
    “ You don’t. Everything in here is classified Fair Force equipment.” Tink slid on a headset. “Now. What did you say the client’s address was?”
    “Nineteen Nathan Lane. Hadley Beach.”
    “And where’s that?”
    “California.”
    “California,” Tink repeated, entering the information.
    A screen materialized in front of them and an image of Earth began zooming in. Tink placed a flat hand on her stomach. “That gets me every time. You wouldn’t happen to know the zip code?”
    “90266.”
    Tink entered the numbers and the image zoomed closer, into the United States, to the West Coast, to Los Angeles County, and eventually to Hadley Beach and 19 Nathan Lane.
    “That’s a much better image than we get. What are you using?”
    “It’s classified Fair Force technology. They’re working on an updated visual for you, I’ve heard.”
    “A 3 rd i-All?” Pennie asked hopefully.
    “I’m afraid not. That’s still only Lieutenant Fair One equipment. Now, let’s see where we are.” Tink studied the screen.
    “It’s like I’m actually standing in their driveway. There has to be a way I can do the Right to Delete from here.”
    “There isn’t,” Tinktoria said. “She’ll need to sign this.”
    Tink tapped her temple and a hologram form letter materialized in front of them.
    “ I hereby agree to cease and desist all use of my personal elemental power until further notice or forever, whichever comes first. ” Pennie read. “Really? That’s all she needs to do. Sign this?”
    “That’s it.” Tink flicked her hand, making the hologram disappear.
    Pennie sighed, relieved. “So in general, like in past Right to Deletes, do they just sign it when the Fair One shows up with it?”
    “There are a few other stipulations. You’ll have to read the fine print.”
    “There’s fine print?”
    “There’s always fine print, Fair One. It’s in your Intel. RTD Form 0100.” Tink tapped her temple again.
    Another hologram form appeared. Pennie stepped closer to it and squinted. It was very, very fine.
    “Basically,” Tink said. “It says something along the lines of: Once the form has been signed, any further use of the four elements—wind, water, lightning, fire—by the client will result in an Immediate Erase of client and Banishment of Fair One. Any injuries caused by such arrest shall be neither the fault nor the responsibility of Fair Force LLC … and so on.”
    “Wa—wa—wait. No one said anything about the Fair One getting banished .”
    “Yes they did. Right here. In the fine print.”
    “If my client signs the form, but then accidentally conjures up a small breeze—”
    “You’re both goners.” Tink nodded. “One way or the other.”
    Pennie tried to register this. Banishment was to be sent off into deep space. Alone. Forever. Never to be heard from again.
    “You’re looking a little peaked. Still want to go through with it?”
    “Of course. Yeah. Yes .”
    “All right then.” Tink waved the hologram away.
    “Just one thing. How exactly do I explain everything to my client, starting with the fact that she’s been born with a weather element and is in constant danger of being discovered by Mother Nature?”
    “Reason with her.”
    “She’s a teenager .”
    “I see your point. It’s a tough age for that. I recall a few Fair Ones trying some sort of cattle shocking device. I don’t have one of those to give to you, though. They managed to get hold of them on their own.”
    “What happens if I do succeed? Do I get reassigned to a new client?”
    “Honestly, I’m not quite sure. I don’t remember anyone succeeding