"My badge is riding on this." Her fingers wanted to tremble. She wouldn't allow it. "We both know it. Just like we both know passing Level One is no guarantee of getting it back."
"Positive results and my recommendation will weigh very heavily in your favor."
"Not heavily enough. Level Three, Mira. It's my right to demand it."
"Damn it, Eve. Level Three is for suspected mental defectives, extreme violent tendencies, murderers, mutilators, deviants."
Eve drew in a long breath. "Have I been cleared of any suspicion regarding the murder of Officer Ellen Bowers?"
"You're not a prime suspect, nor is the investigation pointing in your direction."
"But I'm not clear, and I intend to be." Eve drew a breath in, let it out. "Level Three. It's my right."
"You're making this harder than it has to be."
Eve surprised them both by smiling. "It can't be. It already bites."
They passed through a set of clear, reinforced doors. She had no weapon to be surrendered here. The computer politely requested she enter the door on the left and remove all articles of clothing, all jewelry.
Mira saw Eve close her fingers protectively over her wedding ring. And her heart broke a little. "I'm sorry. You can't wear it during the scans. Would you like me to keep it for you?"
"They've only taken your symbols."
She heard Roarke's voice in her head as she tugged off his ring. "Thanks." She moved into the room, closed the door. Mechanically, she removed her clothes, keeping her face impassive for the techs and machines who were monitoring her even now.
She despised being naked in front of strangers. Hated the vulnerability and lack of control.
She refused to think.
The light blinked over the opposing door, and another automated voice told her to step through for the physical exam.
She went in, stood on the center mark, stared straight ahead while the lights blinked and hummed and her body was checked for flaws.
The physical was quick, painless. When she was cleared, she tugged on the blue jumpsuit provided, followed the directions into the adjoining room for the brain scan.
She lay flat on the padded bench, ignoring the faces behind the glass walls, letting her eyes drift closed as the helmet was lowered onto her head.
Just what game would they play? she wondered, bracing herself as the bench glided silently up until she was sitting.
The VR session plunged her into the dark, disorienting her so that she gripped the sides of the bench to keep her balance.
She was attacked from behind. Huge hands shot out of the dark, hauled her off her feet, and tossed her high. She hit the hard floor of what she saw now was an alley, skidded on something slimy. Her bones jarred, her skin burned as it was scraped away. She sprang up fast, one hand reaching for her weapon.
Before she could free it from its holster, he was charging. She pivoted, breath grunting out, as she spun into a back kick to catch him center body.
"Police, you stupid son of a bitch. Freeze."
She crouched, her weapon in both hands, prepared to shoot out a stunning blast, when the program shoved her into brilliant sunlight. Her weapon was still out, her finger twitching on the trigger. But now it pointed at a woman holding a screaming child.
Heart pistoning in her chest, she jerked the weapon up. She could hear her own ragged pants as she lowered it.
They were on a rooftop. The sun was blinding, the heat enormous. And the woman stood swaying on a narrow ledge. She looked at Eve with eyes that seemed already dead. And the child struggled and shrieked.
"Don't come any closer."
"Okay. Look, look, I'm putting it away. Watch." Keeping her movement slow, Eve holstered her weapon. "I just want to talk to you. What's your name?"
"You can't stop me."