''And why might that be, Nelly,'' Kris said, rolling her eyes at the ceiling as her décolletage, or lack of it, became the center of attention. I got to figure a way to wear Nelly on my head, my wrist.
BE HONEST, YOU REALLY LIKE THE ATTENTION, Nelly told her, before going on out loud. ''I just ordered a top-of-the-line computer from Ryes. In the process, I acquired both the ID codes of the new computer and am organizing a tiny portion of myself to be that computer. I'll even download basic software from the net to look like a real local computer.''
''Yes,'' shouted Bronc, who with Cara had been jumping up and down and shouting, ''Go, girl,'' at Nelly's announcement.
''I am tired of this planet giving me the runaround. It is time I start showing it why I am the one and only Nelly.''
For a computer, Nelly sounded in full huff. This looked to get interesting.
''Whose name you going to register it in?'' Kris asked.
''Oh, I thought I might put it in the chief's name.''
''Why me?'' Chief Beni demanded.
''You need something interesting in your life,'' Nelly shot back. Clearly, the relationship between Nelly and the chief was changing. Kris hoped she could survive whatever came next.
''You buffering this new computer?'' Kris asked. ''If the downloaded software from Eden is half as obnoxious as this planet's people…''
''It is triple buffered,'' Nelly said. ''Eew, that was not nice. Bother, Kris! This software is very controlling. I begin to see why this planet is so messed up.''
''Something we are just starting to tackle,'' Kris said. ''Let me know when you are ready to start buying stuff.''
''I am good to go. That is what you Marines say. Right?''
''Good to go, girl. Let's get this show on the road. Abby, give Nelly a credit.''
''No need, Kris. I have set up a line of credit myself. That was what I have been using. They will not be able to trace anything back to here.''
That got raised eyebrows between Kris and Abby. Jack tried to cover a grin. The Marines, including the captain, looked ready to roll on the floor, laughing. Except Marines don't do that. Not with a princess present.
''I have loaded the fifth level. I will pass it to Bronc. Kris, there is an option to buy the archives for a somewhat larger fee.''
''Archives?''
''Yes, it says some phones that are no longer in use may be in the archives.''
''Do it!''
''Oh, that was not nice.''
''Yes, Nelly.''
''They declined my credit. I thought I'd made it large enough, but I guess not.''
''Abby, pass Nelly a new chit number.''
''I have it. Now, let me see. There is more available.''
''There is?'' Kris asked at the same time Jack and Penny did.
''I am clicking on every aspect of the site, and I am opening up what I think you call Easter eggs.''
''Micky didn't mention anything about Easter eggs,'' Bronc said, mouth hanging open.
''Maybe he doesn't know everything there is to know,'' Kris said. ''Talk to us, Nelly.''
''I have an offer for every street address, occupant, financial status, and social coding. The price is steep.''
''Buy it,'' Kris snapped. ''Now we'll have something more to cross-check our number against than just a raw address.''
''Kris, they also have bank records for sale, but they want quite a bit for them. And I do not know if they will have any of the more interesting people in them.''
''Will they let you do a sample run?''
''No, ma'am. You pay to play or you go home empty.''
''Let's wait a bit for that.''
''Your Princess, ah, whatever—'' Bronc started.
''Call me Kris.''
''I found Cara's number. It wasn't in the fifth-level list. It was in the archives.''
''Does it have an address?''
''Ah, yes, but, ah, it's way up town,'' he said slowly. ''And it could be old, you know.''
''We won't go busting in doors,'' Kris said, then added, ''unless we have to.''
''Kris, I have a phone call coming in for you,'' Nelly said.
''Who?''
''A Frederico Miguel O'Hallihan.''
''That's the Bones's head man,'' Cara whispered.
''I'll take it.''
''Hey there, Princess, you still in town.''
''I still have unfinished business, Frederico.''
''Nobody calls me that.''
''Sorry, Bone Man,'' Kris corrected as both Bronc and Cara loudly mouthed the proper form for addressing the thug.
''Well, now that we got that straight, I was wondering if you was interested in what was happening in my part of town.''
''You know it's important to me.''
''Good,'' he preened. ''Cause the boys that kind of ran off with your boy. We been talking to them and maybe they remember now some guy helping them jump to the conclusion that your boy wasn't our boy no more. You see.''
''I do.''
''Good, cause this very same dude that caused us so much trouble this morning is back in town, looking to hire some heat. Says it won't be for long. Lots of money in it if things go down right. You curious about this?''
''I am very curious,'' Kris said, deadly spicing her words.
''You want maybe to put one of your boys in with five, six of ours and see where this takes him?''
Kris eyed her team. ''Let me think on this for a second.'' NELLY, MUTE THE LINE.
''Line muted,'' Nelly announced.
''Captain, could one of your men pass for a ganger?''
DeVar was shaking his head even before Gunny added his own curt nod. ''This world is just too flaky,'' Gunny said.
''Could you tail them?'' Kris asked.
''Nothing beats a try but a failure. We'll need a car,'' Captain DeVar said, an evil grin capturing his face. He tapped his commlink. ''Doc, you know that old rattletrap of yours?''
''The one that beats any rig you got?'' came back at him.
''You need to loan it to a couple of carefree jarheads.''
''And why would I do that?''
''Because a princess asks you,'' Kris said, raising her voice to carry to the captain's commlink.
''Oh, that damsel in distress thing.''
''You heard about Ruth Tordon being kidnapped?'' Kris asked.
''Oh, that. How fast can you get a runner up here? No, I'll head down to you. Time I got involved.''
''We've taken over the conference room forward of the Tac Center,'' the captain said, signed off, and turned to Gunny. ''Who's good for a tailing and will call for backup before doing something we'll all regret?''
''Don't know about that regretting part,'' Gunny said, but nodded at two Marines. ''Amy, Brute, you saw what they were wearing this morning. Can you look like that?''
Both nodded and headed for the door.
Penny did, too. ''I'm going with them.''
''Penny?'' Kris said.
''This isn't storm-trooper work. This is good, old-fashioned police work like my dad told me about when I was still small enough to sit on his knee. And I did some field work in my intel days, Kris. And besides, I'm sick and tired of watching, observing, and reporting. I want to do something for a change.''
Kris wanted to say no. But hadn't she said that what Penny needed most was work? And Penny was right. This was standard police work, not something even a Special Ops–capable Marine company trained for. She glanced at Jack. His face showed only the sadness of someone watching a friend head in harm's way. There was no judgment there for Kris, sending another one of her people into the line of fire.
''Keep your head down and call in if you find anything.''
''Ain't that the mission, boss,'' Penny said. She flashed Kris a smile for the first time in months and was gone.
But Captain DeVar was frowning. ''Is there something I should know about her? Will my Marines be safe with her?''
''As safe as with their own mother,'' Kris said. ''Lieutenant Pasley-Lien is good to go.''
Kris turned to the photos and let the last few minutes roll by in her mind. She'd sent two Marines out to keep Bronc's mother safe. She'd sent Penny and two Marines to tail someone hiring shooters from a local, now probably friendly, gang.