Ilox Saga 1: Eris Monroe: More Than Human Read Online Free PDF Page B

offer them a deal. He’d work for them if they could keep the TEC away from him. He had to stay off the grid as much as possible. That meant no phone calls. He had to do things in person and pay with cash.
    Pulling up to a thr ee story brownstone in Brooklyn he paid the auto cab by feeding it a one hundred credit bill. He pocketed the change that was returned. Climbing the steps to the landing, he saw the entrance door was made of heavy steel. He sensed it had an older computerized electronic lock. He buzzed number 115, the apartment Lane lived in.
    A feminine voice without an image came through loud and clear.
    “Yeah? Who is it? Who’s there?”
    Eli stepped clearly into view of the hidden camera that he knew was fixated on the landing. He looked up at the door step viewscreen so the girl could get a look at his face.
    “ I’m Eli Bowman. I’m a friend of Lane’s. I need to talk to him. Is he in?” Eli was worried. He didn’t know this girl. If she was a new tenant in Lane’s old apartment, he’d have to keep looking. The buzz of the electronic lock being disengaged was loud and distinctive.
    “Come on in, Eli. Lane should be home any minute now.”
    Eli opened the door and stepped into the brownstone. Lane’s apartment was down the hall and to the left. At apartment number 115, he paused while trying to straighten his shirt. He didn’t look very good for meeting people. He knocked on the door.
    The door opened a few inches and he saw a dark haired woman with almond shaped eyes through the narrow slit.
    “Eli, in college you and Lane did something together. Something…illegal…what was it?” The chains on the door remained in place. Eli wasn’t too surprised at the question. She had a right to be suspicious, but Lane must trust her if he had told her that story.
    “ We broke into the NIA’s database…”
    He heard her removing the door chains and ten seconds later the door opened. A short woman standing perhaps five feet two wearing casual clothes stood in the doorway.
    “ I’m sorry…I had to be sure it was you. Lane has told me a lot about you. I’m Mia.” she said, extending her right hand. He shook her hand and stepped into Lane’s apartment. Her tone was guarded and cautious. There was no hint of warmth in her voice. “So…you’re Eli Bowman. Kind of dirty for a legend, aren’t you?” She frowned as she closed the door behind him.
    “Uh , yeah, sorry about that...I was just on Kanpur, and I haven’t had time to change my clothes into something clean.” Eli immediately thought the statement odd as it came out of his mouth, but Mia showed no outward sign of being perturbed.
    The apartment looked different from the last time he had been here. He remembered that Lane’s furniture had been black leather along with expensive art deco pieces that had been framed on the walls. Now it looked very different. The furniture was covered in red synthetics. Colors of red and ochre predominated throughout the apartment. He guessed that it was Mia’s choices that had shaped the new look.
    “Do you want something to drink? I have tea and coffee. There are also some sodas if you prefer…” Mia had relaxed somewhat and was no longer frowning. He thought he saw a hint of a smile on her face.
    Eli still had a dry mouth and shivered. “Yes, thanks, I’ll take some hot tea if you don’t mind.” Mia nodded and went into the tiny kitchen. Eli turned his head looking around the living room and looked around using his ability to sense and control machines. The apartment was luxurious but small. Something about the place, or that it was his old friend Lane’s house triggered memories. Eli had been able to interface since he was at least nine years old. He had never told anyone how he could do the things he could do. To everyone that knew him, they simply believed that he was the most talented hacker humanity had ever produced. His hacker handle G hØ st was known throughout the Republic. Hardly anyone