"Kristine Smith - Kilian 3 - Law of Survival" - читать интересную книгу автора (Smith Kristine)

CHAPTER 1
"Come look at these."
Jani Kilian maneuvered through the morning workday crowd and joined Lucien
Pascal at the shop window. The display proved typical for an establishment
bordering Cabinet Row, quiet and opulent at the same time. The store
specialized in fine tablewareтАФthe cutlery and metal plate that filled the
velvet-draped display niches seemed to glow in the Chicago morning sun.
"This is a very good thank-you gift for your better clients." Lucien pointed
to a small silver bowl that had been shaped into a half-shell, then
satin-polished until it appeared lit from within. "Not too expensive, but not
cheap either. It implies that the document business is good, but you're too
astute to throw money about without good reason. It just so happens that you
consider the recipient to be a good reason." He bent closer to the window to
get a better look, his white-blond hair capturing the light like the silver.
"Hand out a few of those, then sit back and watch the commissions pour in."
Jani examined the bowl. Lucien had acquired his eye under the tutelage of
Exterior Minister Anais UlanovaтАФhis taste, as always, proved sound but
expensive. "I already have more commissions than I can handle." She turned
away from the window and continued down the walkway. "I should be home working
on a few of them now instead of walking you to the train." She slipped her
hand inside her trouser pocket, working her fingers through the assorted vend
tokens and keycards until they closed around a slip of paper. The crisp,
Cabinet-grade parchment crackledтАФshe
1
2 Kristine Smith
jerked out her hand, then folded her arms and turned back to Lucien.
He stood in front of the window, watching her. He looked like a fairy tale
soldier in his dress blue-greys, the steel-blue tunic cut on the diagonal with
a black leather crossover belt, the grey trousers slashed along the sides with
mainline red stripes. He'd set his brimmed lid with geometric precision. Even
his red lieutenant's bars and expert marksman badges glittered like costume
decoration.
Only the fully packed holster on his waistbelt belied the romantic image.
That, and the light in his brown eyes, as cold as the metal on the other side
of the glass. "Why are you so edgy?"
Jani forced a smile. "What makes you think I'm edgy?"
"Because you're answering my question with a question, for one thing."
"I do that all the time. You're not the only one who complains about it."
"But I'm the only one who knows what it means in this particular instance."
Lucien strolled to her side. "At oh-six, you get a call from the lobby. It's
your building manager, with an early morning documents delivery from Cabinet
Archives. Nothing unusual in thatтАФyou've gotten those before. You tumble out
of bed, throw on some clothes, and go downstairs to retrieve them." He leaned
close to her, bringing with him scents of soap and freshly washed hair.
"Except you don't return right away, and when you finally do show up, you're
snappish and distracted. You refuse to eat breakfast, and you hustle me out
the door before I've even swallowed a cup of coffee." He drew even nearer,
until he brushed against her arm. "John would be upset if he knew you didn't
eat. You know that you can't afford to mistreat yourself, considering your
condition."