man,” mumbled Spencer as he
walked away.
“ Pervert! You get back here! How
dare you wake up an old man who needs his sleep, ask foolish
questions about some strange women, and then call him a pervert.
I’m not the one looking for strange women, you are. You’re the
pervert. Pervert!”
Fortunately, for Spencer, he was
able to escape earshot before he heard Mr. Sozek throw out his
remaining insults.
Spencer thought, “Well, she must
have walked into Mrs. North’s condo. It’s the only other residence
off this hallway. I bet that’s Mrs. North’s granddaughter,” as he
continued to walk down the hallway towards her
condominium.
When Spencer approached the front door, Mrs. North’s
HICAMS greeted him. “Good morning, may I help?”
“ I was wondering if Mrs. North was home?”
asked Spencer.
“ I do apologize, but I have been
informed by Mrs. North to advise subjects that she will be out of
the country for the next week. Please state any inquires and I will
be sure to relay them to Mrs. North upon her return.”
“ Ok, well I was wondering if anyone had just
entered her apartment or if anyone may be staying here while she is
gone,” asked Spencer in a more cordial voice.
“ I do apologize, Mr. Cade, but the information
you are requesting will not be forth coming, have a splendid
day.”
Spencer was well aware that there
would be no chance he could extract further information from this
HICAMS, so he decided to leave in hopes he find her another
day.
As Spencer walked back to the
elevator, he heard “Dad, I’m so going to be so late for school.
Where are you?”
“ Damn, I forgot about Jade. I’ll
be right there honey.”
“ Dad what are you doing? I’ve got to go,” said
Jade as soon as she saw her father run around the
corner.
“ I’m sorry. I met this amazing
women in the hallway a minute ago and now I can’t find
her.”
“ Yeah, ok Dad that’s really nice
and all, but I need to go. You know you’re going to have to drive
me to school now because there is no way I’m going to make the
hover rail in time,” snapped Jade who was utterly
annoyed.
“ Ok, let’s go.”
As both Jade and Spencer walked
out towards the parking garage, Jade went on about how embarrassing
it was having her father take her to school. Spencer acknowledged
with a simple nod as she continued to complain about the current
situation even though his mind was focused on Serafina.
“ Dad,” yelled Jade “Are you even listening to
me?”
“ Of course, I was just thinking.”
“ Thinking,” laughed Jade. “Yeah you’re
thinking all right, your thinking about that hot invisible girl you
just met named Serafina.”
“ She wasn’t invisible. She just
happened to walk away and I didn’t see where she went, and who said
she was hot?”
“ Ah, you did, when we were in the elevator,
you mumbled her name and talked about how attractive she
was.”
“ You heard that? I thought I was just thinking
quietly to myself.”
“ Yeah, more like thinking out
loud,” giggled Jade.
“ Well, you weren’t supposed to hear
that.”
“ Sure, ok Dad, whatever can we go now?” Jade
asked impatiently as they entered their car.
“ Ok, ok, car on,” commanded
Spencer.
“ Good morning, Mr. Cade. What
will your destination be this morning?” asked the
vehicle.
“ Destination… Um, yeah, Colbert Regional High
School.”
“ Yes, Mr. Cade, and will you be operating the
vehicle this morning?”
“ What?” asked Spencer.
The vehicle replied, “Will you be operating the
vehicle this morning or will I?”
Spencer had just purchased his
new cherry red concept vehicle with black trim a few days ago. He
quickly forgot it could drive itself when needed. His prior vehicle
was over twenty years old and had over three hundred thousand miles
on it. Spencer loved this vehicle and had it when the odometer
struck just eleven miles. Of course, it was unable to drive itself,
nor did it have the latest and greatest