Destin's Hold (The Alliance #5)(54)

In the distance, he could see the continuing construction. That was another thing he and the others had learned. Once Destin and his people had agreed to work with Cutter on the rebuilding of the city, the Trivators hadn’t wasted any time. Large machines scooped up the debris, filtering, crushing, or incinerating it while transports and workers swarmed over one section of the city at a time.

He shrugged off his jacket, and threw it over the back of the couch before walking over to the large chair near the window. He turned it around so that it was facing the windows and sank onto it. Leaning forward, he saw the large green areas that had been planted and the roads leading around them. Commuters would either enter one of the individual compartments of the slender ground public transport or the automated flying transports where they could enter in their destination, sit back, and enjoy. All buildings were a mixture of homes and businesses. There would be no individual houses, at least not in the city. Chicago would be larger, but take up a quarter of its original size in buildings, thus freeing up land for forests and recreational preserves.

Sitting back in the chair, Destin could feel the fatigue pulling on his body. He toed his shoes off and kicked them to the side so he could stretch his legs out. Observing the construction going on in the distance, he wasn’t consciously aware of his eyes growing heavier or his head falling back against the plush, dark brown leather of the chair.





17





Sula ran a tired hand over her eyes. Beth didn’t look much better than she did. A wry smile curved Sula’s lips when she saw the other girl sprawled out on the long couch with her eyes partially closed.

“We have checked everywhere. He must have hidden the ring somewhere else or it was stolen,” Sula finally said.

“What’s so important about it anyway?” Beth asked, turning her head to look over at where Sula had sunk down in a chair.

“I’ve seen a ring similar to it before, but I can’t remember where. I’ve sent a copy of the ring to my brother to see if he might know. It is so frustrating,” Sula muttered with a groan, leaning her head back and staring up at the ceiling.

“How long will it take for him to get back to you?” Beth asked with a yawn.

Sula tilted her head to the side. The lights on the base were the old human kind. There was one overhead light with three round, frosted white glass globes over the light bulbs and a fan. One of the frosted globes had a shadow in it. Rising out of her seat, she stared up at it.

“I’m not sure. Anywhere from hours to days,” she murmured.

Beth must have heard the thoughtfulness in her voice, because she opened her eyes and sat up. Beth rubbed her eyes and glanced up at the light with a frown. Focusing on her task, Sula bent and tugged the long table in front of the couch until it was centered under the light.

“What is it?” Beth asked, standing up.

“It may be nothing, but I see a shadow on the globe,” Sula murmured.

“Let me turn off the light. The globe may be hot,” Beth said, hurrying over to turn off the overhead light switch.

The room was now cast into shadows by the single lamp on the end table. Sula climbed up onto the coffee table and reached for the globe. She paused, checking to see if it was hot like Beth had warned, but found it was cool to the touch. Studying the construction of it, she saw three small screws holding it on.

“They must have changed them all out for LED bulbs,” Beth said, walking over to stand next to Sula.

Sula didn’t know what an LED was, she was just grateful the fixture was not heated. She quickly loosened the screws and removed the glass covering. Glancing inside the glass, a frown of disappointment creased her brow. Her hope that it was the ring they were searching for quickly faded.

“What is it?” Beth asked, impatiently waiting.

“I’m not sure,” Sula admitted, turning the globe so the item fell out into her hand. She paled when she realized what it was and closed her fist around it. “We have to get out of here!” she whispered, turning to gaze down at Beth with growing alarm.

“Why? Do you know what it is?” Beth asked, holding up a hand to help steady Sula when she started to climb down off the table.

“Yes,” Sula muttered, glancing around. Her eyes lit on the bathroom door. Striding over to it, she dropped the small device into the toilet and flushed it. “Someone has been listening to everything we have said. They know what we are looking for.”

“You mean… a bug? Someone bugged the place?” Beth asked in confusion, glancing around. “Do you think it was left over from the guy who lived here before?”

Sula shook her head and hurried back into the living area to grab her weapon. “No, the fixtures and fan are clean. It was done recently. We have to go now,” she replied in a soft urgent tone.

“Where? We’re on a Trivator base. You’d think if we were going to be safe, it would be here,” Beth replied, following Sula to the door.

“This building is set away from the others,” Sula said.

“I noticed that, but figured from what I heard about the last guy that was here, it was because he was such an ass,” Beth said, reaching out to touch Sula’s arm. “Let me go first.”

“No,” Sula murmured, shaking her head. “I will not put you in danger.”

Beth chuckled and reached for the handle. “If anything happens to you, Destin will skin my hide,” she retorted, nodding to the lamp behind Sula. “Turn off the light.”