Dark Light by Randy Wayne White

anything to drink except coffee. He’s your designated driver.”
    â€œAnd on the way to the wedding, you can tell us exactly how the hell you wound up getting hitched to Fontana,” Simon said.

Chapter 6
    THE LITTLE FLOAT CAREENED AROUND THE CORNER, TIRES squealing, and screeched to a halt in front of the office tower that housed the city’s various bureaucracies. The building was a gray, uninspired, all-purpose government structure. You could pay your taxes on the second floor, sign a Marriage of Convenience contract on the fourth, and report for your court appearance on the fifth.
    From her position in the front seat, Sierra could see a small cluster of people gathered at the entrance. Ivor Runtley, Kay, Matt, and Phil were clustered around Fontana and a second, dark-haired, dark-eyed man she recognized from news photos. Ray Takashima was the newly appointed head of the Crystal City Guild’s Security Department. Like Fontana, he had seemingly materialized out of nowhere a couple of years ago and moved up fast within the organization.
    â€œDamn,” Simon said. “Fontana’s already here. That makes us officially late.”
    â€œIt’s okay,” Jeff said. He was in the backseat, squashed between Mitch and Andy. The rear of the Float had not been designed to carry three burly hunters. “We’ve got the bride. Brides are allowed to be late.”
    â€œWay I hear it, nobody is late for an appointment with Fontana,” Andy put in ominously. “At least not more than once.”
    â€œOh, for heaven’s sake, don’t worry about it,” Sierra said. “It’s just an MC. Besides, we’ve got a really good excuse.”
    â€œRight, the Riders,” Andy said, brightening. “Maybe Fontana will buy it.”
    â€œIt’s not as though he has a choice,” Sierra said coolly. The hunters’ awe of Fontana was starting to become very irritating.
    â€œEveryone out,” Simon ordered. “There’s no room to park on the street. I’ll leave the car in the city garage and join you in a few minutes.”
    Sierra popped open the passenger door and climbed out cautiously on her broken heel. Elvis perched on her shoulder, still buzzing with excitement after the wild ride from the Quarter.
    Phil detached himself from the group at the entrance and rushed toward the Float. He raised his camera into position as he ran.
    Fontana followed him very deliberately. He was dressed in the black jacket, shirt, and trousers he’d worn earlier in the day. The expression on his hard face was unreadable, but that didn’t stop Sierra’s intuitive senses. She was suddenly fully rezzed, just as she had been that morning when she was shown into Fontana’s office at Guild headquarters.
    Get a grip, woman . There was nothing personal about any of this. Fontana planned to use her just as she planned to use him. This was all about finding out what had happened to those missing men. She had to stay focused.
    She stood precariously balanced on her one good heel and waited for Jeff, Mitch, and Andy to squeeze out of the tiny backseat.
    â€œCool,” Phil said, rezzing his camera again and again. “This is like one of those little cars at the circus that are filled with clowns.”
    Jeff squinted at Phil. “Who are you calling a clown, son?”
    â€œSorry,” Phil said, firing off more shots. “Slip of the tongue. Sierra, turn this way. Chin up, that’s right. Now smile. You’re supposed to look like you’re in love, not like you’re going to a funeral.”
    Fontana arrived. “Let’s save the photo ops for later,” he said.
    It was not a suggestion. Sierra was amazed to see Phil actually lower his camera. Fontana took Sierra’s arm.
    â€œApologies for the delay, sir,” Simon said, leaning forward to speak to Fontana through the open door of the Float. “Sierra had a little problem.