Machine World (Undying Mercenaries Book 4) Read Online Free Page B

don’t mean that part. I mean you took the chance that I had the key on me. What if I’d left it in my office or something?”
    I chuckled, shaking my head. “I know you pretty well by now, sir. You wouldn’t do that. What good would it be locked in a safe somewhere? If you ever need that thing, it has to be on your person to be useful. I knew you had it in your pocket. It’s just in your nature.”
    She didn’t say anything after that which spoke volumes to me. I knew I’d guessed right.

-4-
     
    I spent that night in a hotel in Central City. The city consisted of a ring of modern buildings which surrounded Hegemony’s ziggurat. Looking out through and immense window at the streets and towering structures, I couldn’t help but stare at the monstrous headquarters building in the middle of it. The hotel was over hundred stories tall, but was utterly dwarfed by the primary structure.
    Staring quietly, I tried to come to terms with the events of the day. I’d just murdered the highest ranking being in this part of the Galaxy on that distant roof. It didn’t seem real to me now.
    The hotel was nice, but the prices were incredible. I didn’t have any Galactic credits anymore, and Hegemony credits spent like water in this town. Still, I decided I might as well treat myself since I was stuck here anyway. Turov had ordered me to stay local in case any of the brass from Central demanded a briefing. I knew what she really wanted was a witness to back up her story when it came down to it.
    Along about midnight, I fell asleep. Drunk on fifteen flavors of alcohol, I passed out and began snoring in front of the wall-screen. I’d treated myself to the minibar, despite the fact I knew better. Credits were leaking out of me like air out of a half-credit balloon.
    The door chimed, but I didn’t get up. I sort of blearily opened my eyes then shut them again. The door chimed several more times and a knocking sound began.
    With a groan, I heaved myself to my feet. I reached for my pistol and took it with me to the door.
    Honestly, when I opened it, I thought I might find a pack of goons there out in the hallway waiting for me. I could hardly have blamed anyone who’d sent them. After today’s impromptu murder of a Galactic official, right here on Earth, I had no right to expect anything other than arrest or outright assassination.
    I opened the door anyway, and I was pleasantly surprised. Instead of goons, Imperator Turov stared up at me. She was still wearing her uniform. I wondered if she slept in it.
    “Imperator, sir?” I asked. “Do you know what time it is?”
    “You’ve been drinking again?” she asked, walking past me. She looked around the hotel room as if she expected to find someone. “Are you alone, Specialist?”
    “Yes sir—at least I was.”
    “We have to get our stories straight, McGill,” she said, sitting on my couch and brushing away a clattering pile of tiny plastic vials. They were mostly empty, so I didn’t mind.
    “Uh…” I said, closing the door and sitting beside her. “Is there going to be an inquiry or something?”
    “What do you think?”
    I nodded. “Who’s asking about what happened?”
    “Everyone is. The press, the Hegemony Consul himself—everyone. No Galactic has ever died on Earth before. Did you know that?”
    “No, but I could have figured—”
    “This is a big deal, McGill. Pull yourself together.”
    “I’ll try, sir,” I said, opening a can of pop and wondering if her visit was purely business. Right now, it kind of looked like it was, but a man’s mind always wandered after midnight.
    “Even Graves is baffled about the details,” she continued worriedly. “Fortunately, I don’t think he’s foolish enough to tell anyone if he suspects what actually happened. He’ll keep quiet, but I still wished we’d had the forethought to erase his mind and Adjunct Leeson’s.”
    “Hmm…I don’t think there was time. We had to create that accident and move on before