Saving Face

Chapter Thirty: Join Me

Tomas slipped into the chair opposite Sarah in a small Italian restaurant. "Hi. Sorry I'm late."

"You look good," Sarah said with a smile. "Must've lost what, fifty pounds?"

Tomas grimaced. "More like a hundred. It's good to be home."

"I saw you on television. Great performance."

"I'm just glad it's over."

"You pulled it off. Alterego is gone."

In the last week, Tomas had overseen Alterego's dissolution, still disguised as Mr. Fleischer. Most of the blame for the disaster had been directed toward Dr. Maerwynn and Mai Luan. At first the two of them were presumed dead, but Tomas had leaked the rumor that at least one of them may have escaped the facility before it blew. A massive manhunt had begun for them, along with the other two missing assistants.

With the technology lost, along with all the company's documents, the health risks that had precipitated the panic remained unconfirmed rumors. Tomas had ensured that all the senior staff were fired without severance pay, and had routed most of the company's remaining capital into bonuses for donors and to the legal defense fund. Sarah and Jill, named two of the brave staffers who had helped save Mr. Fleischer's life, had walked away with ridiculously huge payouts.

Lawsuits had multiplied like wildfire in high summer. Courts all across the country struggled with questions of legal identity, and many legislatures argued about passing bills to help clarify things. As usual, their ideas varied so wildly they would likely just complicate the situation.

Religious groups had come out condemning everyone involved as spawn of Satan, while other groups had seized upon the use of convict bodies. They proposed that the technology be adopted to swap convicted felons with good, upstanding elderly people. That way, felons convicted of life sentences would die sooner, freeing up much-needed taxpayer funds, while the elderly who received their bodies would get a well-deserved extension on life.

After taking a long drink Tomas said, "Mr. Fleischer woke up today to a legal firestorm."

"He deserves it."

"Agreed. I just wish Almeda and Tereza hadn't slipped away."

"Is Eirene still hunting them?"

"Undoubtedly. But she's got other priorities too."

"Like what?"

Tomas smiled. "We'll talk about it later. What about you? What are your plans?"

Sarah raised her glass. "Well, since I'm flush with cash for life, I have lots of options."

"You going to start dating high profile suitors like Jill?"

Sarah laughed, but shook her head.

"You're number five. You could be a celebrity."

Jill had chosen that road and was quickly becoming the hottest name in the media, with many very wealthy suitors jockeying for her attention.

"So what are you thinking?"

"Not sure. What about you?"

Tomas grinned. "I'm taking a vacation."

Sarah laughed.

"Want to join me?"

Tomas raised his glass. Sarah clinked hers to it and smiled.

"I just might do that."