BAD WINE CRAPPY CHOCOLATE

CHAPTER EIGHT-3

"I've been resisting the temptation to do that. And so should you. We can't give ourselves away. What did the old man say when you called him?"
"He couldn't deny it. Chris is on his way back to discuss it with me. You should be here, too. I'm sure you'd like to know why you were lied to."
"At this point in time, I could care less. I just want to get Cori out of here as soon as possible. Let's go back inside."
The electronic sentry monitor in the hallway came to life as they walked out of the room. Someone was at the front door. Cybil walked over and turned it on. The face of Horace Claven, the Second Territory's security chief, appeared on the screen. His large round eyes reminded Cybil of the lenses that were used on the security imagers.
"Senator-elect Cane, this is Horace Claven. I have some important matters to discuss with you. Can I have a moment of your time?"
Cybil hesitated. She was reluctant to let the chief enter the house. Then again, her refusal to see him could make Claven suspicious.
"I'll be right down, Mr. Claven."
She turned off the screen.
"I hope you know what you're doing," Brandon said to her. "That guy might have a thousand
stiffs waiting nearby."
"You're beginning to sound just like Bardy," she said with a grin. "They're law enforcement
officers, not stiffs. I know I'm taking a chance, but if Claven doesn't know about our guests, then my refusing to see him might make the man think I'm up to something. I'm sure this won't take long."
Cybil stepped into the val and rode down to the first floor. She greeted the security chief with a handshake and a smile. Then she led him into Chris Cane's office. Cybil sat behind the large metal desk; wooden ones were no longer used, in deference to trees. Claven sat in one of the chairs in front of it.
"Congratulations," he began. "I'm sure Senator Cane is very pleased that you'll be his successor."

"Thank you, Mr. Claven. It's a daunting challenge, but I'm looking forward to serving the people."
"Call me Horace. I was originally coming here to inform Senator Cane about some events that have transpired. But as he is away at the moment, I'd like to speak to you about them. It's a good way to begin our working relationship."
"I agree."
"As you may have heard, Max Bardy was arrested. He entered the city under the name Tom Jackman. One of our sources informed us that Bardy would be using that alias, so we caught him."
"Who was your source?"
"I prefer to keep that confidential. It's not that I don't trust you, Miss Cane, but we make a solemn pledge to protect our informants. If word ever got out that their names were disclosed to someone outside the Security Bureau, I would have trouble recruiting new ones."
"I understand," Cybil said coolly.
"Bardy escaped just after he was arrested. We don't know how it was done. The surveillance system produced no images of the person or persons who set him free. The perpetrator or perpetrators used a device similar to the wands that our people carry. The officers who were transporting Bardy were found unconscious."
"It sounds like he may have developed a new method to get around your surveillance equipment. I hope your people can get to the bottom of this quickly."
Cybil enjoyed watching the security chief struggle to hide his offense at her suggestion that his methods might have become passé.
"I'm sure they can. There was a strange energy field produced during the incident. I've never seen anything like it. My people are searching the area thoroughly to find the source. A woman entered the city with Bardy. She was also using an alias."
Craven handed her a portable monitor. She watched as Cori Fitzgerald entered Chicago circa 2120. Cybil tried to mask any hint of recognition in her eyes.

"There's no record of her in any database. That troubles me greatly." "That's strange," Cybil responded. "I wonder who she could be."
"We will find out, I can assure you. Please inform Senator Cane about these developments when he returns. Good day."
Cybil escorted him to the door and went back upstairs.
"My first lie," she thought aloud.
"That couldn't have been the first time," remarked Max, who was standing nearby. "It sounds like you're starting to believe your own bullshit."
"I meant it was the first time I lied to another government official," Cybil countered. "Maybe I'll make it up to Claven and tell him you're here."
"If they catch me, they catch Cori," Max responded. "By the way, do you know why the knob was raided?"
"Probably because you're doing something illegal."
"But I've been doing that for years. Why put a stop to it now?"
"You'll have to talk to Senator Cane about that. But don't expect a civil response from him." "I won't get my hopes up."
Cybil left her unwanted guest and found Brandon. She told him about her conversation with Claven.
"The energy field he mentioned was created by the Mis," he said. "That means I can't use it again in Chicago. A Mis only works in certain areas. Now the security people are investigating the one place where it will function in the city. And I can't risk taking Cori across the lake to the wormhole I used to get her here. They'll be watching the water closely after the raid on Bardy's place. "
"So what will you do?"
"I'll have to take Cori to the first territory. There's another one there." "How do you know that?"

"Professor Bardy created a sensor that could detect the presence of wormholes. He used it to identify a number of them before he died. The professor also made a map showing their exact locations. I have a copy of it. But before I send Cori back, I've got to find out if Foster has any more Mises. I'm going to see that friend of mine from Allisours."
"The security people are looking for you," Cybil reminded him.
"I know. But I have something that will keep me safe. I'll show it to you before I leave." Brandon looked at her carefully before continuing. "You lied to Claven. That could cause you problems later on."
"I know. Hopefully when this is all sorted out, I can just say that I was trying to get to the truth. Which is what I'm really doing, anyway. Sometimes the only way to find the truth is through a lie."
"You're going to do well as a senator, sis," Brandon said with a wry smile.
Cybil left the bedroom to join Cori. As with Brandon, seeing her mother's face evoked a
memory of them sitting together in church as a child. Her brother often climbed up on Cori's lap when boredom overcame him to give his mother a warm hug. In this way the boy risked no reprimand for ignoring the proceedings on the altar. For years the face of the woman affectionately hugging her brother had been unclear. She realized now that the shadow covering it had been created by Chris's deception. Cybil's mind had not been able to reconcile the digital image of Brenda Henderson with her memory of Cori Ruderman. She had even used her Mibil to bring the digit to life in her mind, carrying on a long conversation with the woman it depicted.
"I bet your head is spinning," she said, taking a seat next to her mother. "You've got that right. I can't catch up with all of this."
"That's understandable. You've skipped a lot of years."
"How am I going to explain where I've been? My family must be freaking out." "Are you married?"
"No, but my parents were expecting me for dinner. And I've missed a lot of time at work." "What's your job like?"
"It feels like I'm the complaint department sometimes," Cori replied.