Memory Zero (Spook Squad 1)

One pale eyebrow rose. “You look and feel human.”

He snorted, irritated by her response. He’d expected more from her, for some reason—though he shouldn’t have. The psych tests showed her prejudices clearly enough. “I am.”

“That’s not what I meant—”

“I know what you meant.” Why did humans continue to seek differences when, basically, they’d all come from the same stock?

“No, you don’t. You think I’m being biased when I’m not.”

“Then what did you mean?”

“I thought you might have been a shapechanger when we first met, but, as I said, it didn’t really fit. Shapechangers generally have a spark of wildness in their eyes that suggests their dual nature, the same as the constant shifting from one human form to another gives shapeshifters a translucent quality to their skin.” She regarded him steadily for a moment, then shook her head. “Don’t judge me until you know me, Gabriel.”

It was interesting that she’d noted the differences between shifters and changers. Most of the population wasn’t even aware that they were two distinct groups. It would be intriguing to see what she made of the meeting tonight.

“I apologize.”

She nodded. “These friends of yours—they’re a part of this Federation, too?”

“Yes.”

“Then they’re nonhuman species, as well?”

“Some of them, yes.” He wondered if this one fact would alter the way she dealt with them.

She glanced at the dragons for a minute, then nodded and returned her gaze to his. “If I agree to this, what happens to Jack?”

So they were back to Kazdan. The bastard certainly didn’t deserve the regard with which she seemed to hold him. Even after the attempt on her life, she still cared what happened to him. It annoyed him, though he wasn’t really sure why.

“What happens tomorrow night depends very much on what he does. At the very least, though, he should be charged with the attempt on your life.”

“But you don’t intend to arrest him tomorrow night?”

“No.” But only because he wanted him tracked. If Sethanon planned a war, it was high time they found out more about him and his organization. Kazdan’s reappearance made him the ideal starting place. “Why are you so certain he’ll turn up tomorrow?”

She grimaced, then reached back into her pocket. “Because I have these.”

He accepted the three silver disks and the envelope. “Do you know what’s on them?” he asked, holding the envelope up to the ceiling. It wasn’t as empty as it looked.

“No. But the disks were hidden in the false bottom of a drawer. Suzy came back specifically to get them.”

“Have you tried reading them?” He frowned, and tilted the envelope to one side. What looked like a strip of plastic was embedded along one edge.

She shook her head. “I haven’t exactly had the chance. And my com-unit is back at the SIU with my stuff.”

“Han’s probably got one we can use. Wait here.” He rose and went in search of Han. The big man was in the kitchen, and he directed Gabriel to the portable unit in his office. Sam’s frown deepened as he returned and handed her the unit.

“There’s not enough light in this room to run this unit.”

There was a touch of reluctance in her voice, and he had to wonder whether it was simply a matter of knowing what was on the disks and not wanting him to see it or that she didn’t want to pry into Kazdan’s affairs any more than necessary. But that didn’t make any sense—not if she wanted answers.

Maybe she wasn’t after answers. Maybe she just wanted her partner back.

He glanced at the ceiling. “Hologram off. Lights on.”

A bell chimed softly in the distance. The dragons fled, and bright light filled the room. “Problem solved,” he said.

Her