Red Awakening (Red Zone 2)

“Here to explain everything to you,” Miriam said, “is CommTECH’s press secretary, Keiko Sato. Accompanying her is the research team behind the world’s most advanced lens, the product we’re celebrating today. Please give them a warm welcome.” It was an order, and her audience jumped to comply.

As Miriam’s holograph disappeared in a shower of virtual-reality pyrotechnics, the doors behind the stage opened. A cheer went up, but Mace didn’t need the noise of the crowd to tell him that Keiko had arrived. He felt it in every cell of his body.

She wore another form-fitting dress, this one a shimmering silver, and her feet were clad in matching shoes with heels that were at least four inches tall. The woman had a thing for sexy shoes, and Mace appreciated it greatly.

Her presence filled the stage, her smile was friendly and welcoming, and there was a mischievous glint in her eye that made people think they were in on some joke with her. It was no wonder she’d risen through CommTECH’s ranks so quickly—her charisma would have been invaluable to them. As she beamed at the crowd, she made a point of looking straight through Mace, and although he deserved it, it still grated.

“That is one pissed-off woman,” Hunter said.

“I wonder why?” Mace was pretty pissed off himself.

He scanned the team of scientists before tapping on his datapad to check the people in front of him against the details on his target. A photo of Rueben Granger appeared. Mace glanced back to the lineup. His target was second on the left and had a look on his face that told the audience he was far too important for this event. According to the dossier his team had put together, Rueben was short, ambitious, and the youngest person ever to hold the position of lead scientist at a CommTECH research facility. He was also the man behind the new and very faulty datachip design. And he looked like an oily, hairless rat. Mace added that last part himself.

When he looked back to the stage, he found Keiko smiling at the first scientist in line—her friend from the night before. The socially awkward woman wasn’t shy about catching Mace’s eye, and when she did, she gave him a death glare.

“Uh, Hunter, did Keiko talk to Abigail about me?” Mace said quietly.

“Did she ever,” Hunter replied with a laugh. “Dude, you are totally up shit creek.”

“Don’t you think you should have shut that crap down?” Mace held Abigail’s glare, and the timid scientist didn’t back off. It was impressive.

“Why?” Hunter said, and Mace could almost hear him shrug. “It wasn’t a security issue.”

All Mace could do was growl his irritation. He’d deal with Hunter later. Along with everyone else on his team who was working to piss him off.

…

Keiko refused to acknowledge Mace, which was difficult, considering he was at least half a head taller than everyone else on the terrace, making him hard to miss. But she wasn’t going to waste any more time on the man. He’d pulled her into this situation. She’d betrayed her government because of him. Her parents were in danger because of him. Okay, so that wasn’t all on him, but he had a hand in it. She was so furious she was shaking with it, and she wished she’d never set eyes on the man.

“We’ll deal with him later,” Abigail whispered. “Give me five minutes with him in my lab. There’s a whole lot I can do to him in the name of science.”

“I am seriously tempted to take you up on that,” Keiko whispered back as she waited for the crowd to quiet down.

“No one messes with my friend,” Abigail vowed as she tried to stare a hole through Mace’s head.

“I’ll deliver him to you personally,” Keiko said. “And Hunter, if you’re listening, I’m including you in that, too.” He deserved everything he got for listening in on her every communication, and she hoped he was squirming in his chair, wherever he was.

As the din died down, she pasted on a smile and faced the crowd. She had a job to do. “Welcome to Houston,” she called, waving at reporters she’d known for years and was fond of. “The city is putting on a show, just for you.” She motioned to the glorious reds and purple of the sunset, and a cheer went up.

“As you know, most of our press conferences are held at head office or in some high-priced hotel so that you lot can drink away our profits. But today, we’re here, at our cutting-edge Houston research facility. There are two reasons for the change in location. The first, of course, is to show off our new lens, which is going to blow your minds. The other is to let you guys have access to our scientists in a controlled environment. One where you can’t get them drunk and talk them into gifting you some free tech.” There was much laughter and sounds of faux disappointment. “But, to compensate for missing out, we’re going to feed you.”

“It’d better be a good spread to make up for the lost tech freebies,” someone shouted, making everyone laugh.

“I promise it’s delicious. Now, let me introduce you to the team behind our latest technological marvel.” She gestured to the two rows of scientist taking up the stage. The heads of department stood beside Keiko, the rest in a line behind them.

Rueben Granger was already preening, practically salivating at his chance to be in front of the press yet again, even though he’d had little to do with lens development—datachips were his specialty. No, the new lens was all Abigail’s work. Rueben was only at the launch because he was Abby’s boss—and because he liked the limelight. He straightened his shoulders, ready for her to introduce him first, as the most important person there. In his mind, anyway. Keiko pretended she didn’t notice his behavior and instead gestured to Abigail.

“This is Abigail Dawson, head of our Visual Implant and Ocular Interface Division.” Her shy friend nodded to the crowd and took a step closer to Keiko; meanwhile, Rueben quickly brushed the scowl at being slighted from his face. “Abigail’s team has come up with a lens that has ten times the clarity of anything else on the market. We’re talking crystal-clear imaging and precision colors that take the strain out of long-term use. Say hi to the press, Abigail.”

The color drained from Abigail’s face, and Keiko quickly squeezed her arm.

“Sorry,” she whispered with genuine regret. “I’m off my game.”

“It’s okay,” Abigail said. “I understand. I’d be off my game, too, if I were you.”

“It’s no excuse. I know you hate these things.”

“True. I wouldn’t be on this stage if Rueben wasn’t playing a game of whose dick is bigger.” She paused. “Mine is, and I don’t even have one.”