lifeless way. It simply fell from the sky. Michael’s hand formed a fist, he punched the air, and was happy for the first time in a long time.
One by one the others fell. Lifeless to the street. The ‘X’ went straight to the chips that Michael had replaced.
Mia didn’t move. She could see George standing to the right. He smiled.
Then, quietly, it was all over. From Flinders Street up the lane, a steady stream of groundbots surrounded the Defigo building. What seemed like thousands of drones was all of a sudden swarming around the empty sky.
A car slowed beside Mia, with Xu as the only occupant.
“You ok?” he said.
“Never better.” she said.
Xu walked slowly towards George.
“Xu Wei”
“George Kostas.”
Xu paused, as if checking George for signs of damage. He turned.
“I guess we better do what we have to do.” Xu said.
“Of course.” George said.
Together they walked towards the building. There was a flurry of activity. Rounding up of robots, and people. There were buses, and queues forming. Defigo employees being handled, and processed.
Alone, now in the foyer, Robert Travail watched as George and Xu approached.
Xu walked slowly with George at his side. They stopped, and Xu looked towards George.
“Robert Travail I am arresting you for the murder of Peter Simonovic, Dennis....”
// George
Some weeks later, George came in late to the fun palace. He had been coming later for a while. As if the final resolution of the Defigo cases had given him the right to take things easy. This was most unlike him, almost a new departure. But in a sense he had some credit to draw, so he did. Alex smiled at the new George, who lingered over breakfast almost as if he was reluctant to depart.
As he strolled past the wall, Alice and Steve looked up. Alice pointed at the meeting schedule.
“You don’t want to be the odd one out at Kate’s meeting. She’s already been down here looking for you.”
“Really? Must be important.” George said.
He decided to walk up the stairs, as if savoring the idea of meeting with Kate and not being reprimanded. He didn’t think it would last long.
Sitting down at the table, he looked across. He was struck dumb.
Kate began.
“I believe you have met our new Director of Counter Intelligence.” she said.
“Yes.” George said.
Mia smiled broadly.
Murder in the Fabric Page 25