Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 79603 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79603 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Which was probably where Imani ought to be headed, she told herself. Looking down at the tiny drive in her palm again, she clutched it tight. Time to get to her suite and find out exactly what was going on with the Nightwalker Kindred whose name, apparently, was J’are.
Four
Like everything else she’d seen so far on Yonnie Six and the Luxx in particular, Imani’s room was both ostentatious and opulent. Thick golden carpeting that actually massaged her feet as she walked on it covered the floor. There were gold brocade bedclothes on the bed which was big enough for six people and golden drapes covering the windows which she opened to see all of Opulex laid out beneath her like a massive, many-faceted jewel.
The golden theme continued in the bathroom where the black marble tub and shower both had golden faucets and knobs. Even the toilet, hidden in a discrete little alcove, appeared to be made of solid gold.
“Geeze,” Imani muttered to herself. “Who decorated in here—a deranged billionaire?”
But she had no time to waste looking at her surroundings—she only had a week to prepare for this hearing and a man’s life hung in the balance.
Drawing the drapes again so she wouldn’t be distracted by the sights of the city, she settled down in a comfortable chair which molded itself to the contours of her body and opened the packet.
Inside were some legal documents—a lot of legal documents, actually, it was a good thing she had a week to get through all of them—as well as a flat tablet about the size of an e-reader. Imani flipped it on and was immediately greeted by the sight of yet another pink praying mantis.
“Good day, Counzzilor Williamzz,” the mantis said. “I am the court-appointed liaison to bring you up to zzpeed on the cazze of the City of Opulex vs the Nightwalker Kindered, J’are Tanlor. In order that you will be ready to plead on the court date of—”
The mantis mentioned a date which made Imani jump.
“What?” she muttered. “But that’s today!” She looked at her watch, which she had set to Yonnie Six time the minute the Kindred shuttle had dropped her off in front of the Luxx. In fact, the court date was less that two hours from now and she didn’t even know her way to the courtroom! She hadn’t even had time to study the evidence! What was she going to do?
Quickly she gathered her materials together, including the small drive which she hadn’t yet had time to watch. Whatever evidence was on it, she would have to wait and see it at the Opulex courtroom.
But getting to the legal building where the courtroom was located turned out to be an almost overwhelming task in and of itself. The first three ride services the hotel called for her claimed they didn’t take the cred chip she’d been given to pay all her expenses with.
The fourth ride service agreed to take her, but then the driver insisted on taking her on a tour of the city instead of driving her directly to the legal building.
“I’m telling you,” Imani snapped for the fourth time, “I don’t want to see any more landmarks. I’m due in court in…” She consulted her watch and grimaced. “In less than an hour. So stop talking and take me there now!”
“At onzze, Mistrezz. At onzze,” the driver—yet another of the pink mantises (Imani was really beginning to loathe the huge insects)—finally agreed to her demands. It stopped its vehicle on the side of an extremely busy road and gestured with one of its long, chitinous arms. “There it izz,” it buzzed. “The legal building.”
Imani frowned. The mantis driver was pointing at a tall, black building across the street.
“Well then, take me there,” she exclaimed. “Hurry and get us over to the other side.”
“I am afraid thizz izz azz far as I can take you,” the driver said.
“What?” Imani glared at it. “But there are six lanes of traffic going one way and six going in the other,” she exclaimed, gesturing at the busy road. “How do you expect me to cross that?”
“There izz a pedestrian crozz walk zzeveral blockzz down,” the mantis informed her. “Good luck on your legalitiezz.”
“But…but you can’t just expect me to walk! I’m going to be late for court!” Imani protested. In her entire legal career she had never been late—not once. And she didn’t intend to start now when a man’s life was hanging in the balance.
But instead of answering, the mantis driver simply activated the door mechanism. The back door of its luxurious vehicle swung open and then Imani found that her seat was tilting.
“Hey…hey!” she gasped as she found herself spilling out onto the sidewalk. She landed with a thump and all her documents and files wound up in a pile on the ground beside her.