Katlena exchanged a look with Drago, and he nodded.
“We will protect you,” she said. “There’s no way we’d send you back as long as it’s not safe. We’ll follow up on that apartment, and I’m sure you aware that we’ll also have to take Brian in for questioning.”
Lisa nodded, timid.
“Do you have any idea who the woman was?”
“No. I’m sorry. I just can’t stand the thought that he was involved in those murders. Brian can’t harm a fly. I don’t understand!”
“I know it’s hard, but you did the right thing. We will take all the necessary precautions. If you could excuse us for a moment?”
“This is the right time,” she said to Drago once they were outside the room. “The cypher angle led us nowhere, but Trenton left town the same day Lisa Jenkins shows up. We need someone on the inside finally.”
“I suppose this is where you suggest yourself? I’m surprised, Cervantes. I always thought your aspirations were more administrative oriented.”
“Street credits never hurt anyone in administration,” she said, fairly annoyed. “I’d suggest Inspector Raymond, but I’m not sure she has the necessary experience. I did three years of undercover work.”
“I’m aware of that, Inspector Cervantes.”
There was a time when she had appreciated their conversations which had told her a lot about how things worked on the upper floors. He wasn’t really keen on helping her career. He wanted someone close who’d secure his.
“You may go ahead with this,” he said. “Come up with a good story. You can have a set of old cypher clothes from downstairs. Play one of the poor misunderstood who got kicked out of the program.” The IdA had a large underground warehouse.
“I want to start with this as soon as we are finished with Jenkins and the apartment.”
“No objections from my side. Just leave your cypher girl here. She can assist my secretary for the time being.”
“Why? I could use her for taking notes.” Given what Ami had told her, it seemed the worst possible timing to have her anywhere in his vicinity.
He held her gaze in a clear challenge. “Inspector, you know I’ve been giving you a lot of leeway since you brought her here. When I tell you to leave her here, I don’t mean to discuss it. Unless you have something to say…”
Drago’s secretary, Insa, was a fifty-two-year-old woman who didn’t seem to take shit from anyone, least of all from her boss. Katlena thought that Ami would be safe with her for a few hours.
“No, sir.” She was going to watch him closely, and have Noelle do the same when she wasn’t around. File a complaint if necessary.
“Are you planning on taking 51308 with you to rebel camp?” he asked. “That could work. It’s not like they kick someone out of the program for being a lesbian, but some officers might take offense. The rebels would welcome you with open arms.”
“I’ll think about it.”
Truth be told, Katlena had avoided the thought until now. Ami couldn’t continue with Noelle. If they found her an identity, she wasn’t bound to the IdA anymore, whatever that would mean for the two of them. Drago’s suggestion and his open disdain while he made it told her without a doubt that coming out was not safe.
“She could be very valuable.”
“I have no doubt that she is, to you.”
Katlena had enough of his insinuations. She had a job to do after all. “True, and now I have to go and make an arrest. If you can get a hold of Paul Trenton, have him call me.”
Chapter Eleven
Ami’s mind was still reeling, and she was only half-listening to the instructions Insa gave her. Katlena had some work outside the department to do, and she had promised that Ami would be all right with the older secretary, good enough for now.
Katlena had promised her more than that, but Ami was aware that she would have to wait until later. If Katlena were to break cypher law, it was better done when there were as few people around as possible.
The IdA didn’t know where Lily was. As shocking as it had been to learn that the whereabouts of her daughter were unclear, there was a silver lining to it. Katlena had resources. Once they found Lily, this information gap would make it easier for them to slip under the radar, go somewhere else and start over. Ami’s goal had always been to retrieve Lily legally, but if there were other options, she’d gladly consider them. Ami couldn’t care less about a place that had made her a no one, and she didn’t have any friends or family who would miss her. However, that would mean she’d have to leave Katlena, something she didn’t want to think about.
Insa tried to make friendly small talk at first, but eventually she got the hint and gave Ami a pile of handwritten papers.
“If you could type these until Inspector Cervantes returns?”
“Of course.”
“I’ll have to make some copies. I’ll be right back.”
Ami didn’t like being left alone, the memory of what had happened the last time still too vivid, but to her relief, no one bothered her. She typed away, the familiar sound of the keys calming. She wondered what it would be like to go back to school. To be a mother.
Guiltily, she remembered the promise she’d made to Cara. She couldn’t burn all bridges without at least trying to help her out. Maybe today was a good moment for that. If Katlena wasn’t around, she wouldn’t be blamed if something went wrong.
If anything, Ami felt relieved. There was nothing much the IdA could hold over her anymore. If they didn’t know where Lily was, her employers wouldn’t either.
Insa returned with her copies, but announced that she was going to take a short break.
“Just fifteen minutes. You don’t have to answer the phone, and if there’s an emergency, you find me in the break room a floor down.”
“Okay.” Insa’s behavior was a world from Mary’s meanness, but she, too, seemed to believe that cyphers shouldn’t mingle too much with the “normal” people. Just as well for the plan Ami was forming.
For her internship, she had access to the library, if not to the cypher files, but those were in a locked room right next to it. She had seen the lock when Katlena had showed her the building. It was surprisingly old and didn’t seem to be connected to any security system. The IdA people were that sure. They thought if you made it in here, you were probably legit.
She waited until Insa had left the room and her heels were clicking on the stairs.
Ami felt like all eyes were following her as she made her way across the room. Most likely, it wasn’t the case. At Shelton’s, somebody always paid attention when a cypher left their workplace. Here, nobody seemed to care much. Her ID said she was allowed to be here, and that was good enough for everyone.
The library was almost empty, and she wondered if anyone ever did much research here. If they did, were they asking the right questions? There was only one entry. The fire-proof door at the end led to the archives, a claustrophobic room with no windows. Ami wasn’t allowed to go there, but she had caught a glimpse, someone coming out the day Katlena had shown her around.
Ami took a moment to admit she was scared. In fact, a lot could go wrong, and she didn’t know the extent of backlash that Katlena might face. Worst case scenario, she might want to give up on Ami. She had promised to help though. Nothing would go wrong, Ami told herself. She’d take a quick look at Cara’s file, see if there was anything helpful, and get the hell out of there.
The lock looked easy enough to be tackled the old-fashioned way, with a hairpin. It was when Ami heard the satisfying click that she also sensed a presence behind her, making her flinch. She spun around, but there was no one there. Her heart was hammering. Maybe she should leave it alone, but she was so close. She couldn’t let Cara believe she had sided with the IdA.
Ami took a step inside and sneezed immediately. As her eyes adjusted, she could see the rows of filing cabinets. The room was much bigger than she had thought, spreading over two floors. With a sinking heart, she realized that
she’d never make it within fifteen minutes. She’d have to get an idea of the layout and come back. Or maybe it would have indeed been less foolish to ask Katlena a favor.
As far as she could see in the dim light, the numbers were only going back to the 20,000s. That wasn’t even Cara’s range. There had to be another place where they kept older cypher files.
Ami turned back to the door, carefully turning the knob, only to realize it was locked. She was trapped inside. The mere implications made her break into a cold sweat. It was true that earlier today she’d been thinking about a clean break, high hopes about finding refuge outside of the City. If they found her in here, those hopes would be shattered. She’d never see Katlena again.
“You’re the most interesting player these days, aren’t you?”
Ami jumped at the sound of Drago’s voice. So there was another entry after all.
“Coveted by the rebels, the IdA, and that interesting organization that gave you your side job. Well, in the case of the IdA, I guess it happened mostly because of the IdA inspector who wanted to get in your pants. I take it she succeeded.”
Ami’s cheeks were burning, and she was glad that he couldn’t see it in the half-dark. “I’m not a player in anything,” she said. “I’m a mother who wants her child back.”
“That’s touching, but not very likely, as you might know. Even if the adoptive parents were ready to hand her over to you, I suppose someone told you that she has gone missing. Given the fact that her parents were close to the rebels, she might not be alive.”
“I’ll take that chance.”
“You’re still young, 51308. Are you so sure you want to throw your life away for a mere illusion? Let’s face it. You had her for what, ten seconds? Isn’t it time to move on?”
“Why don’t you let me worry about that?”
He stepped closer into her personal space. Ami stepped backwards until her back was against the wall.
“I would, but you keep getting yourself into situations that draw unwanted attention to you. Breaking into the archives? You’re not making your internship last that way.”
Ami didn’t know what to say. As much as she despised the man, he had a point there. She didn’t have a good explanation. If she was honest, she wasn’t even sorry. She didn’t feel like she owed this man an apology for anything.
“So what about Inspector Cervantes?” he asked. “Is there anything you want to share with me?”
“She is trying to find the murderers. That’s pretty much all.”
He took another step, and she tried to evade, but he grabbed her waist.
“You know that studies say cyphers are bound to be more sexually active, regardless of the regulations. That’s too bad for you if all the good detective does is work. On the other hand…we need to forget that I saw you in here. I could make it happen if you do me a little favor in return.”
His fingers clamped around her hand, his intentions obvious. Ami spat at him. She was too scared for the action to be deliberate, but she’d made her point anyway. She’d made him angry too. He hit her across the face, hard enough to make her stumble.
“You can stay on your knees like that. Cervantes might like you mouthing off to her first, but I prefer to get to it right away.”
“Let her go.”
Katlena’s gun was pointed at her superior. Ami stared, feeling too light-headed and paralyzed to react in any other way.
“Funny, Cervantes.” Drago quickly pulled up his zipper.
“Do you see me laughing?”
“Now, relax. I know you’re kind of fond of this one, but aren’t you forgetting something? I’m your boss, Katlena. Not the other way around.”
“I can encourage my intern to file a formal complaint against you for sexual harassment,” Katlena said. “This isn’t going away.”
“Oh, don’t be silly, Cervantes. She’s a cypher, for Pete’s sake. You know how that will end.”
“Thanks for reminding me. It’s better if I file that complaint on her behalf.” Katlena holstered her gun, but her stance remained tense and cautious.
“Be careful. You don’t want to cross me, Katlena.”
“Or what?”
“You wouldn’t be the first girl whose brilliant career ended in a cypher unit. Remember 16439? I hear she was once a respected scholar. Don’t overdo it, I’m warning you. Do you want to be one of us, or one of them?”
“Thanks for the advice.” Katlena gave him a smile that Ami could only describe as dangerous. She didn’t seem worried at all. “You assaulted an employee with the IdA and then you threatened me. I guess you gave me all the answers I needed. Come on, Ms. Moore. We’ve got some work to do.”
* * * *
Ami’s knees were still shaking when Katlena pulled her up to her feet.
“Hurry up,” Katlena told her, her tone curt and impatient. “I want this done before he has a chance to react.”
“Done what?”
“You’ll see.”
“Are you mad at me? Okay, I shouldn’t have gone in there, but I didn’t invite him to—”
“Am I mad? Who cares? Really, I leave you alone for a few hours, I trust you, and you pay me back by breaking into the archives?”
“He assaulted me!” Ami lowered her voice when she realized some of the staff were looking at them with unveiled curiosity. She didn’t want to have a public breakdown. As it was, she was close. Very close. Katlena didn’t answer, but ushered her forward until they reached a door that said Internal Affairs.
The man and the woman in the office were chatting over a cup of coffee.
“Break’s over,” Katlena said, foregoing any kind of greeting. “I need to file charges.”
“Hi Katlena,” the woman said, her fingers already flying over the keyboard. “Against whom?”
“I report Drago for sexual harassment.”
The woman’s jaw dropped. The man almost dropped his coffee mug.
“Um, that will be… “ she started.
“Controversial,” her colleague finished for her. “I mean, I know that there have been rumors, but it won’t be easy to go against him. If not impossible.”
“Rumors? That’s just great. Why didn’t I hear anything about this before? See, I didn’t come here to discuss this with you. There’s nothing controversial about assaulting a woman and threatening her with rape. I’m a witness.”
The IA employees looked scared. Ami couldn’t blame them. It was risky for Katlena to challenge her boss. These employees might have more to lose.
“Is this the right department or not?” Katlena demanded. “I can go to your boss, if you like that better.”
“No, it’s fine. Let’s do this, and Leonard, I want you to stay as a witness while I take their statements. Be on the safe side.” He nodded, his expression somber.
At this point, Ami wanted to lie down and hide under a blanket for the rest of the day, or her life, for that matter. That wasn’t an option, so she hesitantly began to tell what happened.
“I shouldn’t have gone in there, I know,” she concluded. “I only did it because Cara… 16439 thought I’d set her up. That hurt. I wanted something to prove her wrong, to help her. Drago, he just—”
“That’s okay. Take your time.”
She honestly wanted to stop crying, not to cry at all, but by that moment, Ami had lost all control, shaking so hard her teeth were clicking together. Katlena’s hand was warm on her back, but all other sensations faded into a blur.
“I’m sorry.” She barely managed the half-sentence, but eventually, she continued, detailing everything Drago had threatened her with.
“I think this is enough,” the woman employee said. “In any case, we can bring him in for questioning. All else—I’m afraid I can’t make any promises.”
“You said there were other complaints,” Katlena reminded her. “Do your job. If you can hold him for forty-eight hours, that’d be a start. The fact that an IA inspector filed charges, should carry a little wei
ght around here, don’t you think?”
Katlena’s question had obviously been a rhetorical one.
* * * *
When she was sure all necessary steps had been taken, Katlena took Ami back to her workplace. Noelle was at her computer, and Katlena asked her to interrupt her work for the moment.
“Let’s go to the break room. I need to tell you something.”
Noelle raised her eyebrows when Ami joined them.
“Never mind, she already knows.”
Noelle Raymond listened in silence when Katlena told her the events of the past hour, not interrupting her colleague once. When Katlena was done, she said, “Just to make sure I understand this correctly. We got a break in the case, and you’re about to prepare a lengthy undercover op, all while you have set your sights on Drago’s job. Which is fine with me, because I’d be the last who wants it. I even think when it comes to running this show, you’re a much better choice, but the trick would have been to make him make you his replacement while he moves on. In the middle of all this, you file a harassment suit against him?”
Her voice rose with the last words, with disbelief, maybe disappointment. Ami was all the more aware of the chasm between her and these two women whose privilege made it almost impossible to understand her situation. They sympathized, certainly, but Ami’s fate was to be weighed against goals they considered more important. Or did they?
“Exactly,” Katlena said. “I know the timing couldn’t be worse, but I had no choice. If there is any hope for the IdA, we should stand by some principles.”
“You’re right,” Noelle ascertained with a sympathetic look towards Ami. “What are you going to do? It’s not like you can waltz into Drago’s office and sit in his chair, and that’s it.”
“Of course not, though I want us to be prepared. I’ll put you in charge of the undercover operation. Not a word to Hale. If anything happens, I’ll take responsibility.”
“That’s good to know,” Noelle said with an uneasy laugh. “Wow. You know that I haven’t handled a project of this magnitude yet, right?”
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