It Sometimes Snows In May: A B.E.A.N. Police Novella Read Online Free PDF Page A

resolved the problem with the ware?” Director of Protocol hovers so he is looking down at her, even though they both are sitting down.
     
    “I worked it out with,” Ryles said.
     
    “Is that right?” Director of Protocol studied Ryles face.
     
    “Yeah. The seller didn’t like giving so much up, but he didn’t want the alternative either. If you know what I mean?” Ryles said.
     
    Director of Protocol sighed. “I used to believe you were almost as good as your reputation. It looks like you are...to use your street vernacular...slipping. Imagine not knowing your client has met an untimely end."
     
    Ryles can feel her body sweat even more now, but she forces herself to slow her breathing.
     
    Director of Protocol slaps a cut of net-paper onto the table. A glowing ring of red hovers over the lower-left margin, on the list of bookmarks. Ryles reads to herself, the obituary notice for Zota Citysun. She wills back the tears already forming in her eyes.
     
    “I need...a week to filter his place for a copy of the ware.” Ryles stares down, her face sullen.
     
    “Are you asking for an extension, Ryles?” Director of Protocol smirks.
     
    Ryles gets up in Director of Protocol’s face abruptly. “Look you piece of...” The heavy on Ryles’ right places a larger hand on her shoulder and forces her back down hard on her chair, rattling it and the table beside her. Ryles sits up and slows her breathing again. “I can’t stroll into my client’s...”
     
    “Former client.” Director of Protocol interrupts Ryles
     
    “...house and just start downloading files. I need time. What if it’s not in the house? Then I gotta...”
     
    “Do not disappoint me again,” Director of Protocol says. “If you disappoint me, you disappoint the Triad."
     
    “Can you buy me a week?” Ryles asked.
     
    “You have 72 hours, per your contract.”
     
    Director of Protocol hovers across the street and boards the rear of a taxi van waiting for him and his heavies. The other cafe patrons avert their eyes as they leave. Once they are gone, the couple next to Ryles pass her a few odd glances. Ryles watches until the taxi van drives off, then she slumps back down with her palms over her eye sockets. With her eyes trained on the net-paper, she zooms in on the funeral address.
     
     
    Outside the entrance to Boylston Cemetery, Ryles watches through the mid-afternoon heat vapors, half-a-dozen people dressed in black. They stand opposite a woman in a off-white robe, reading off a sliver of net-paper. Ryles taps the right stem of her sunglasses, and the view magnifies so that she can now see the face of Elisa crying on the shoulder of a tall, good-looking black man in his fifties.
     
    Beside the man are an older, male eurasian couple, and then another mixed sex white couple. Ryles follows them with her gaze as they trail a procession on the path away from the burial site. Ryles looks back at the groundsmen shovel dirt down in the hole. Ryles taps the mirror function on her sunglass and examines the cuts on her face which have now scabbed over. After seeing the bags under her eyes, and the fine lines on her forehead, she sighs and tap the stem again. The view returns to the groundsmen.
     
    Ryles steps closer to the edge of the path as Elisa approaches with a tall man by her side in a protective stance. He leaves her no personal space.
     
    Elisa notices an older, rugged-looking woman staring her down from behind her sunglasses.
     
    Ryles intercepts Elisa. “How did Zota die?” Ryles demands. The tall man puts out an arm toward Ryles.
     
    “This is a private ceremony. The Citysun family already delivered a statement at the press conference yesterday. We’re sorry if you missed it,” Aalin says. He pushes Ryles shoulder back hard enough that Ryles winces in pain. Both Elisa and Aalin stop, and stare wide-eyed.
     
    “Did...Did you know my husband?” Elisa asks, not immediately recognizing Ryles.
     
    Ryles removes her