Xenofreak Nation, Book Three: XIA by Melissa Conway Page A

activates his nanoneurons?” Scott asked.
    “Fournier can’t get to him anymore – at least theoretically. The tech guys found something that’s supposed to block cell signals, a special paint.” At Scott’s raised eyebrows, she said, “I know what you’re thinking, but Unger did authorize me to requisition it for Bryn right after Padme attacked her. Stuff’s expensive and hard to get hold of, though, and by the time it came in and the painters were finished, Bryn and Alton had already gone missing.”
    She turned to Lo. “Boardman picked me up from the airport. He’s waiting in the parking garage for you. He’s still on crutches, but you need backup and he’s all we got.”
    Lo said, “Yes, ma’am,” before striding off towards the weapons room.
    “You know,” Scott said, “I saw a couple of XBestia in that crowd down there. Seemed to be trying to blend in.”
    “Huh. Lying in wait for Unger, maybe?” Shasta shrugged. “Alton, I need you to relieve Yang. She’s been there since last night. They’re on the eighth floor, central.”
    “Got it.” Alton started to walk away, but he looked over his shoulder at Scott and mouthed, “Call me,” which Scott interpreted to mean: call if he heard from Mia and Bryn. He nodded, but couldn’t help but wonder why Alton seemed so concerned.
    He opened his mouth to mention Mia’s situation to Shasta, but she began to walk briskly towards the interview rooms, saying, “Have they said anything useful?”
    “Not really. Savvy’s socially awkward, but perceptive. Nicola found out she was a clone and ran away. She’s not planning on betraying her father.”
    “We’ll see,” Shasta said.
    She paused outside the door to interview room one, and accessed Nicola’s information on the holofile. She scanned the page with the DNA results.
    “So it’s true.”
    Scott nodded. Nicola’s DNA identified her as Miranda Vega, Bryn’s mother, who’d been dead for some years.
    Shasta tilted her head towards the door. “Has she bonded with you at all?”
    “A little. She’s not crushing on me, if that’s what you mean.”
    Shasta made a wry face as she studied his black eye. “Not looking like that, she’s not. Where’s your eye patch?”
    He pulled it out of his back pocket and she helped him adjust it over his injured eye.
    “There,” she said. “That’s more like it. Romantic instead of scary. Now let’s see if we can get her to tell us where her father is.”
    When Scott had joined the XIA, the agency put him through intense training and then he’d gone immediately undercover. He’d never officially interviewed a suspect before, but assumed Shasta would take the lead and he’d sit quietly, observe, and try to look ‘romantic.’
    Nicola was slouched at the table staring at a crushed soda bottle and the wad of plastic wrap from her sandwich. Crumbs were scattered across the surface of the table. She stood when they entered and demanded, “Where’s Perky?”
    Shasta turned to Scott with a look of inquiry.
    “Her pet bird,” he said. “Perky’s hanging out with the tech guys.”
    “When are they gonna be done? And you said there were showers here. I’ve been sitting in this room forever.”
    It had been less than an hour, but he didn’t contradict her. “This is Shasta Fox, my boss.”
    Nicola turned a distrustful gaze Shasta’s way, not returning her smile.
    Scott pulled a chair out and after Shasta sat, he settled in the chair next to her. Shasta crossed her legs and set the holofile on the table. By default, the text and holos in the file were only visible from one direction. She and Scott could see it, but Nicola would only see a blur that was difficult to look at.
    Shasta invited Nicola to join them with a wave of her hand. “Have a seat, Miss Fournier.”
    “I’m sick of sitting.” Nicola’s voice had a distinct catch in it. She took one step back away from the table and crossed her arms sullenly.
    “Then you’ll want to cooperate