Read Online Beating Heart Cadavers by Laura Giebfried - Free Book Online
Authors: Laura Giebfried
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house since they were children, his father had never warmed up to her. She supposed that the ambassador had hoped his son would make more promising friends, for even though Fields was Onerian, being adopted from West Oneris put her several bars below the children of East Oneris – perhaps not officially, but socially. And given that the Sawyers had had to adopt, as Mrs. Sawyer couldn't have children of her own, the ambassador had always feared having a scandal on his hands by having to deal with his son befriending the child of a Mare-person. Poor Mrs. Sawyer, Fields thought, a pang of sympathy for the woman coming to her head. The only mistake she had ever made was getting married to Andor Sawyer.
Fields wrinkled her nose at the thought of her adopted father, who had been every bit as much an issue in life as he was in death to her. She hated to ruminate over him now, though: ruminating and breaking and entering didn't go together. Sighing, she dropped into the lone rocking chair and reclined backwards to stretch her back. The sound of it cracking was more pronounced in the quiet. It was a shame that little Simon wasn't there to speak to, she thought. Fields didn't particularly like children – they were like cats, really: cute enough in photos, mildly annoying when they crossed through her backyard, and downright miserable when they got too close and set off her allergies. But Simon she could stand. He was the product of his parents in that way – or the product of Mari. Caine was still rather on her nerves.
Not that that had stopped her from coming to see him.
Fields got up and wandered about the house, peeking into various rooms in the hopes of finding him bent over a desk somewhere scribbling numbers and playing with equations, but by the time that she had made her rounds it was quite clear that he wasn't home. He must have been off doing his new job, and what an appropriate job it was, she thought bitterly: who better to oversee relations with the Mare-folk, after all, than someone who detested them as much as Caine did?
A sudden sound at the door caused her to jump, and for a moment Fields thought that she had been wrong in thinking that Caine wasn't home. As she peered through the kitchen doorway and out into the hallway, though, her eyes squinting in order to focus on the glass pane that looked out over the porch, she saw someone quite different.
Fields slowly stood from the table, wrapping herself close to the wall to keep out of sight. There was a government official at Caine's door, and judging from the cacophonous sound that he was making, he was trying to pick the lock.
Fields narrowed her eyes and reached for her gun before stopping herself. She hadn't spoken to Caine in a year, after all, and for all she knew, there was a legitimate reason that the government official was trying to enter his home. At any rate, she didn't think it would be good for her or Caine if she were to shoot the stranger on the front porch. The neighbors would undoubtedly complain. Disturbing the peace, and all.
As the lock continued to jangle, Fields broke from her thoughts and tried to think of the best plan of action. Hiding in the storage closet was always an option, though not quite as enticing given that she had previously planned to fire off a few shots through the front door. She continued to listen to the sounds of the breakin from her spot by the wall, and the idea of confronting the man was a bit too strong to ignore. Caine would be annoyed with her, of course, especially if the visit was planned and a government official saw the way that she was dressed. A frown pulled at her mouth, and she decided to let her friend's wishes override her own, but as she moved towards the pantry to lock herself inside, a bathrobe hanging on the hook caught her eye.
Fields hesitated. She really shouldn't put the robe on, especially not for this purpose, but the inclination was too great – and it wasn't as though Mari would mind.
Fields wrinkled her nose at the thought of her adopted father, who had been every bit as much an issue in life as he was in death to her. She hated to ruminate over him now, though: ruminating and breaking and entering didn't go together. Sighing, she dropped into the lone rocking chair and reclined backwards to stretch her back. The sound of it cracking was more pronounced in the quiet. It was a shame that little Simon wasn't there to speak to, she thought. Fields didn't particularly like children – they were like cats, really: cute enough in photos, mildly annoying when they crossed through her backyard, and downright miserable when they got too close and set off her allergies. But Simon she could stand. He was the product of his parents in that way – or the product of Mari. Caine was still rather on her nerves.
Not that that had stopped her from coming to see him.
Fields got up and wandered about the house, peeking into various rooms in the hopes of finding him bent over a desk somewhere scribbling numbers and playing with equations, but by the time that she had made her rounds it was quite clear that he wasn't home. He must have been off doing his new job, and what an appropriate job it was, she thought bitterly: who better to oversee relations with the Mare-folk, after all, than someone who detested them as much as Caine did?
A sudden sound at the door caused her to jump, and for a moment Fields thought that she had been wrong in thinking that Caine wasn't home. As she peered through the kitchen doorway and out into the hallway, though, her eyes squinting in order to focus on the glass pane that looked out over the porch, she saw someone quite different.
Fields slowly stood from the table, wrapping herself close to the wall to keep out of sight. There was a government official at Caine's door, and judging from the cacophonous sound that he was making, he was trying to pick the lock.
Fields narrowed her eyes and reached for her gun before stopping herself. She hadn't spoken to Caine in a year, after all, and for all she knew, there was a legitimate reason that the government official was trying to enter his home. At any rate, she didn't think it would be good for her or Caine if she were to shoot the stranger on the front porch. The neighbors would undoubtedly complain. Disturbing the peace, and all.
As the lock continued to jangle, Fields broke from her thoughts and tried to think of the best plan of action. Hiding in the storage closet was always an option, though not quite as enticing given that she had previously planned to fire off a few shots through the front door. She continued to listen to the sounds of the breakin from her spot by the wall, and the idea of confronting the man was a bit too strong to ignore. Caine would be annoyed with her, of course, especially if the visit was planned and a government official saw the way that she was dressed. A frown pulled at her mouth, and she decided to let her friend's wishes override her own, but as she moved towards the pantry to lock herself inside, a bathrobe hanging on the hook caught her eye.
Fields hesitated. She really shouldn't put the robe on, especially not for this purpose, but the inclination was too great – and it wasn't as though Mari would mind.
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