The Process Server
Page 16
***
Back on the street we found ourselves being led, predictably, towards the business tower across from Shen-Fui Shen Stop’s outgoing gate.
But instead of leading us to the back, where the security team was posted, Jade took us a block south, then west, then north again, toward the building’s front entrance, stopping a half-block shy at a large ramp down to a roll-up garage door.
“All of the Followers have passes for the parking garage door. We’re not supposed to use it but everyone does, so we don’t have to deal with the security guys all the time.”
Jayde played dumb. “Why are they here, anyway? We spotted them earlier today.”
The Follower shrugged. “The new Prognosticator has some sort of business meeting going on or something. Bureaucracy!”
She pushed a button on her keychain and the door rolled back. The three of us walked through a parkade only one-third full of virtual cars.
“The building has some virtual residents who are a bit puzzled by us, but it hasn’t led to any issues. For the most part we have free rein to use any of the rooms below the penthouse.”
We went through a double set of sliding glass doors from the parkade into the building’s large, double elevator-banked lobby.
I said, “Who’s in the penthouse?”
“Ah, that’s the Prognosticator. He’s staying here online for a few days while he deals with some real-world business in virtual time and they’ve converted the suite into a large, private Scenario room for him. Isn’t that wonderful?”
She was back to feeling giddy, apparently. “Sure, wonderful,” Jayde said with dripping sarcasm.
The area by the elevators was crawling with security teamers, but decked out casually we blended right in with Jade.
A couple of other Followers came over to greet her, and they exchanged hugs. After a few minutes, the elevator slid open. “Where are we going?” I asked.
She smiled at me. “I’m going to make you both tea in our lounge. It’s on the 19th floor, right below the penthouse, and we can sit on its deck patio and look out over Tangiers while explain the power of the Handbook’s word.”
It was the first time she’d brought it up directly and we’d been together for nearly a half-hour. That must have taken some discipline.
“The Handbook?”
“Yes, that’s why we’re here. I have a wonderful book to share with you.”
The elevator was slowing down.
We exited out into a cheaply carpeted hallway. At the end, she opened a south-facing suite door. “Here we are!”
Inside, a handful of other Followers were lolling around, reading and watching holos. But as soon as they realized we were present, they were on us like starving people on food.
I’d warned Jayde before we got there that they’d try what’s known as “love bombing,” which is where they smother a new recruit with affection to create an immediate mental bond. The triple-headed irony of a religion that preaches against irrational community and uses love bombing wasn’t lost on her.
After we’d managed to push our way through the ranks of the enthusiastically mindless, Jade found us a spot on a sectional couch.
“I’ll just go get us a pot of coffee.”
My pilot looked at me with a mixture of despair and longing. “Boss, these people are wigging me out. Can we please get the fuck out of here?”
I nodded, but as we were getting up added, “But you guys have the same name. It’s like God was bringing you together.”
She shot me back an acid smile and before her namesake could return from the kitchen, we got the hell out of that creepy apartment.