Page 48 of Breaking Point
“And Neil’s partner, too,” Bronson told her, moving around behind his desk.
Brice went to his office.Neither of them noticed him leave.
The day was one more day of odd tensions and strange notes, and it ended on yet another unexpected chord.
Just as Brice was considering heading home, Cathi squealed loudly enough that he heard it through the closed door.
He hurried out into the front office.Bronson emerged from his office on the other side of the suite.
Cathi was weeping and laughing at the same time, while everyone watched her, waiting for her to tell them what was wrong.
“I’ve been assigned a child!”she cried.
Everyone else looked stunned.Even Brice felt a tiny dollop of surprise.
Then they smiled.And laughed.They all moved in around Cathi, babbling and trying to hug her.
Bronson rolled his eyes and went back into his office.
One of the screens still hovering over his desk was flashing.He moved around it and read the message on the screen.
Please come and speak to me immediately.
—Tokyo Travers.
Chapter Eighteen
WHEN BRICE REACHED THE BRIDGE, the usual number of guards were working the gates.The corridor to the Captain’s suite was empty as usual.He wondered if the sensation of hollowness was just his imagination at work.It was late for business.
The main area of the office was also empty, adding to the impression of a deserted Bridge.Brice paused there and called out.“Hello?”
A door opened.Captain Tokyo Travers beckoned.“Step in, Falcon.”
He made his way over to the door and she stepped aside and waved him in.“Sit.Sit.”
Brice had been expecting to step into a tastefully decorated office, only this was a kitchen.Three food printers were mounted on the wall opposite the door, and a long table with prosaic metal chairs on either side sat in the middle of the room.
Half of a meal that looked to be chicken and salad sat in front of one of the chairs, with a glass behind it.The fork was propped on the edge of the bowl.
“I’m aware of how late it is,” Travers said.She was a short woman, with carefully arranged strawberry blonde hair, and a distinct belly.Brice had never met her before and hadn’t realized how short she was.Despite her homely appearance, he didn’t underestimate her political acumen.She had been captain for nearly twenty-five years.
She waved toward the printers.“Eat, if you’re hungry.You’ll need the calories.I’ll wait.Go ahead.”She settled on the chair and picked up the fork.
Brice found one of his favorites, a red curry, and dialed it in.Then, because his back was to the Captain, he moved back around the table, so he was standing in front of her once more.“You wanted to see me?Urgently?”
“Yes, and now, when the entire office doesn’t see you arrive.”Travers went back to her salad.
Brice realized he wouldn’t get her to talk.He would have to wait.He went back to the printer, which was nearly done.The smell of hot curry made him aware of how hungry he was.It had been a while since he had felt genuine hunger.He hadn’t cooked a meal since the last time Luciana had been in the house.When he remembered to eat, lately, he printed something and gobbled it down.
He couldn’t remember eating lunch.
He took the curry back to the table.It seemed sensible to take the chair opposite Travers.He sat, rested his cane against the table, and pulled the fork off the bowl.
With the first mouthful, which was too hot as usual, he realized that he wasn’t just hungry.He was starving.He ate enormous forkfuls, enjoying the play of spices on his tongue.
“A man with an appetite,” Travers said, with an approving tone.“Or are you one of those people who forgets to eat until food is put in front of them?”
He grimaced.“I didn’t think I was like that, but lately…”
