Scarlet (9 page)

The man smiled and sat up straighten "Yes, we're quite proud of all we've accomplished. Have you seen the latest clones about to be put into production? I imagine the Sarah-3000 model will sell quite nicely. We haven't had a pleasure model of that caliber for five years."

Morgan's hands clutched the side of his chair as he fought to keep from reaching over the desk and pummeling the man into the ground. "I'm sure it'll be quite a success," he said, vowing to wipe all record of Sarah out of their system.

"Would you like one?" the man asked, grinning at him lasciviously.

"No, thank you," Morgan grit out, ignoring the temptation. He'd loved the original. A copy would pale in comparison.

"I'm sure a strapping guy like you doesn't need a pleasure clone. You probably have the real thing waiting for you at home in your rest pad. As for me," the man grinned, "I can't wait to get my hands on her."

Morgan could barely breathe as his wolf clawed its way through his internal organs in an effort to reach the surface. It wanted to rip the man's throat out. Feast upon his rotten flesh. And he had no doubt it would indeed taste rotten. His pores stank of the excesses he tried to hide. It was difficult not to gag in his presence. Morgan released the chair and brought his trembling hands to his lap.

"What about the position?" he asked, his voice raspy from his effort to control himself.

"Well, seeing as though you're our most qualified applicant and you've signed the confidentiality agreement, I'd like to offer you the job if you're still interested."

"I am," Morgan said.

"Good." The man rose and stuck out his hand. Morgan shook his sweaty palm, but he had to will his fingers to release the man's hand before he crushed it. "You can start tomorrow."

Morgan smiled, his lips so tight he thought they'd crack. "Thank you. I'll be here bright and early."

"Wonderful." The man glanced at the door. "There are more reports to file. Just step into the waiting area and Gloria will take down all the necessary information. Once again. welcome aboard."

"Glad to be here," Morgan said, feeling anything but happy. He left without a backward glance.

The second Morgan closed the door behind him, the man's smile dropped and he tapped his vidcom. His hands flew over the keys as he punched in a familiar number. He drummed his fingers on his desk as he waited. Several beeps followed and the vidcom connected. The man listened, waiting for an answer.

"Talk," the voice on the line barked, but a picture did not appear.

"It's done. He just left," he said, then pressed a button to disconnect.

*    *    *

Situated in Nuria on the corner of Pine Street was a food dispensing station that resembled a twentieth-century movie theater. Faded walls held posters advertising various films that had long since faded from memory. Metal doors marked the entrance, muting the sound of the dinner crowd.

Red walked inside. Her stomach had been growling for an hour and she was ready to chew her own arm off if she didn't get food within the next thirty minutes. The interviews had taken longer than she'd expected, but at least she'd found two more recruits she hoped would work out. She still hadn't heard from Morgan. Juan had said he was okay, but she wasn't sure if she could trust the psychic. That particular gift wasn't known for being the most accurate, according to the reports she'd read.

The din of voices abruptly stopped when she came into view, the food all but forgotten on the diners' plates. All eyes were upon Red as she scanned the eatery for an empty table. She noted one in the back and made her way there.

The room was arranged in tight squares to accommodate dozens of stainless-steel tables. Seating could be added with a touch of a button, thanks to the hydraulics under the floor. A minicompunit sat on every table, listing the day's menu. Red sat down and scanned the list. The sound in the room hadn't gone back up to its previous volume, so she could hear whispers from nearby tables.

"When is Morgan coming back?" one woman asked.

"I heard she ran him off, so she could take over," said another.

Red closed her eyes and balled her hands into fists to keep from standing up and screaming at them. She didn't want this job, had never asked for it. If she hadn't made a promise to Morgan before he left, she'd have been out of here the second he told her his plans.

"Is anyone sitting here?" said a familiar voice.

Red opened her eyes and looked up at Raphael Vega. He smiled and inclined his head.

"Please," she said, indicating the empty chair across from her. It was a relief to see a friendly face.

"Is everything all right?" he asked.

For a vampire his age, Raphael wasn't bad looking, if you could get past his translucent skin and black penetrating eyes. But it wasn't his striking looks that drew people to him. It was his charisma. He exuded charm and an easy grace that made whomever he was talking to feel like they were the most important person in the world. That ability had gotten him invited into plenty of rest pads around town. Or so Red had heard.

When they'd met, Raphael had hissed at her. It was the first honest reaction she'd received from someone in Nuria. The rest of the population had been too busy covering their asses. They'd become friends after he'd saved Morgan's life by sharing his blood. Something she'd found out later didn't occur often because of the link it created between Raphael and his recipient.

"I've been better," she said.

Raphael looked at the patrons. Most looked away. A few gave him an invitation he'd probably take them up on later. "I have been out of town, visiting my brother, Michael. I dropped in to see Morgan when I returned, but they said he was gone. What did they mean by that? What's going on?"

Red stared at him, trying to decide how much to share. In the end, she decided she needed to confide in someone and since Raphael was close to Morgan's real age and probably knew about his past, he might as well be the one.

"Morgan went after his wife and child," she whispered. Raphael sat utterly still, his expression unchanged. Without a hint of what he was about to do, he turned and hissed at the tables around them, baring his fangs. "Move!" he shouted.

Red jumped in surprise. The people nearby rose instantly, gathered their food, and made their way to the door. Everyone else went back to eating.

"I figured a tittle privacy was called for." he said. "Now please say that again. I couldn't possibly have heard you correctly."

Red sighed. "Yes, you did. Your hearing is better than any wolf's."

His face filled with genuine concern. "Tell me what happened. Leave nothing out."

"We were watching a viewer announcement last week about the release of the new clone models. Two pictures popped up on the screen and Morgan went pale. As pale as you,'" she said, pointing at his face. "I asked him what was wrong and he didn't answer." Red swallowed hard to keep the lump in her throat from choking her.

"Please continue." His dark eyes burned with unspoken emotion.

"I asked him if he knew those clones and he said they were his wife and child. I didn't even know he was married." Red's voice cracked and Raphael reached across the table and squeezed her hand.

"He was, but it was a lifetime ago."

"So he said. Did you know them?" Red asked.

Raphael hesitated, then met her gaze. "Not as well as I would've liked. They were killed shortly after I met them. I'm sure Morgan told you that he's much older than he appears."

Red nodded. "Yes. he mentioned something about the war."

"Yes, the
originals,
such as Morgan and me. have been around from the beginning. Being around that long is a blessing and a curse. If you're fortunate, you meet someone who will accept your differences. With that fortune comes pain, because you also get to bury those same people." His eyes grew distant as the memories crowded them. "Sarah was one of those people. Morgan met her during the war and they married. Joshua came shortly thereafter. They were killed eight years later in a bombing that obliterated the town they were living in. After their deaths, Morgan threw himself into fighting and never looked back."

"Until now," Red said.

"What did this broadcast say?" Raphael asked. "I do not understand why Morgan would leave at such a tenuous time."

"It said the Santa Fe Cloning Lab would be taking pre-orders for the latest pleasure model and showed Sarah's picture. Then they flashed a picture of Joshua up on the screen. He's to be used as labor or an addition to the family. I can't imagine the grief seeing my dead child's face digitally broadcast all over the world would cause."

"I understand why that got Morgan's attention. But I find it odd they'd both come up at the same time. Corporations through the years have purposely avoided familial blood when making clones. It could be an innocent mistake, but the chances of that occurring randomly are astronomical."

"I was thinking the same—"

"You bitch!"

Red's head snapped around at the same time as Raphael's. A man stood in the doorway of the food dispensing station glaring at her. He wore an ill-fitting brown suit with an open-collar shirt. His dark hair was cut short, framing a weather-beaten face that appeared slightly bruised. His brown eyes burned with desperation. Everyone froze, waiting for someone to make a move.

"Do you know that man?" Raphael asked, releasing her hand.

Red examined him closely. "I've never seen him before in my life. Is he an Other?"

Raphael inhaled. "It's difficult to tell with the food, but no, I don't think so. He's a pureblood."

Red stood at the same time as Raphael. She shot him a glance.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"Confronting him, of course," he said as if that were patently obvious.

"It's all right." She motioned for him to sit. "I'll handle this. Remember, it's my job."

He inclined his head and sat, newfound appreciation gleaming in his eyes. "As you wish."

"Look at me," the man shouted and stepped forward. "You ruined my life when you left me. How could you, Gina?"

Red flinched at the casual use of her name. "How could I what? Who are you?"

"You've forgotten me already? Did our time together mean nothing to you?" He laughed, pain evident in the sound. "I heard about your affair with Morgan Hunter and I don't care. I forgive you."

Shock silenced the food dispensing station.

Her eyes widened. Who was this guy? What was he doing in Nuria? She was positive she'd never seen him before, but that didn't stop a blush from spreading over her face. She didn't need this. Not with everything else. "Listen, mister, I think you have me confused with someone else," Red said, ignoring everyone around her.

He closed the distance between them. She could see his fingers tremble as he reached for her and the uneasy waver in his gaze. Red's hand moved to the laser pistol Morgan had given her.

"There's only one Gina Santiago," he said. "I should know, I've made love to you often enough."

"What?"

Gasps peppered the room. Red could see stunned faces in her peripheral vision. She'd been shown little respect before this man's arrival. This would take weeks to straighten out, and that was only if she could convince everyone this man was a liar. They wouldn't be able to smell it for themselves with the food masking his odor. They wouldn't want to, even if they could. It was easier to believe the worst. She hadn't smelled his lies until she'd gotten close to him. And there was no doubt he was lying. The proof oozed out of his pores. This had gone too far. Whomever this man was, it was time for him to leave.