Gameboard of the Gods (Age of X #1)(67)
Author: Richelle Mead

Justin groaned once Dominic disappeared and muttered to himself, “Man, he sucks.”

Leo appeared soon thereafter. “Here for your results?”

“You got the reports?”

“Yup.” Leo’s face broke out into a grin. “Looks like you owe Mae a drink. The victims all match. They were done by the same person, but she wasn’t. She doesn’t have the same signature.”

It was a rare moment of astonishment for Justin. “What does that mean? It’s not possible. She’s a nine from the right time period.”

“It means you were wrong. I know it must be a new experience for you. If it makes you feel better, I think there was a little gene manipulation going on with her.”

“How so?” Justin still looked dumbfounded.

“Her genes are outstanding,” Leo told her. “Too nice to be natural, in my opinion. They’re just not as nice as the victims’. Those are like…art.”

“So she has no connection to the case,” said Justin flatly.

“Not from what I can tell. Don’t sound so sad. She’s still a badass prætorian and all that.”

“I know.” Justin smiled fleetingly. “Did I ever tell you about this Apollo temple we were at? You would’ve loved it. This guy had subcutaneous microfilaments delivering ecstatic drugs. You should have seen his face when I sent Mae as a volunteer. She didn’t even twitch.”

Even Leo was amused at that. “She must’ve twitched a little.”

“No, the implant protected her.”

“Yeah, but it’d take a moment for it to identify and metabolize the drug.”

Justin was obstinate. “Well, I know what I saw.”

“And I know prætorians.”

“Well, do you know anything yet about mysteriously altered videos?” Justin shot back, not liking the contradiction.

Leo’s good mood dimmed. “No. But I got a good lead on an experiment for the video. I’ll keep you posted.” He disconnected.

Justin stared at the screen in silence for several moments before saying, “You can come in.”

Feeling foolish, Tessa entered the office. “Sorry. I was coming to talk to you.”

He waved it off as he sat in his chair and put his feet up on the desk. “Tell me this, prodigy. Six patricians born within a year of each other, all with high scores, all showing signs of genetic manipulation done by the same person—except one. Why would that be?”

Tessa leaned against the wall. “Because the sixth one wasn’t done by the same person.”

Justin didn’t look appreciative. “Thanks for that. So it’s a coincidence?”

“I don’t know enough about it,” she said with a shrug. “Do numbers lie?”

“Not when Leo runs them.”

“Then it is a coincidence.”

He nodded, though his face still showed skepticism. “How about this. A bunch of plebeians die the same year some perfect patricians are conceived. Is that a coincidence?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know any of the context here either. Is this your case?”

“Yes. And don’t tell anyone we’re having this conversation.”

It didn’t sound like it had much to do with religion. “I guess you have to ask why that would happen. Why would plebeians die when patricians were conceived? If there’s a reason, then it’s not a coincidence. Sorry,” she added, realizing it wasn’t much of an answer. “Guess I’m not much of a prodigy tonight.”

“You’re good enough.” He straightened up in his chair. “So. What did you want to talk about?”

“I went to a church service today. Church of Humanity,” she clarified. “I thought it would be like a guide for moral living and human principles. But mostly it seemed like a way to enforce loyalty to the country’s policies.”

“They’re the same. That’s what religions do—a higher power tells people how to live. Only, this message comes from a reasonable set of humans, not a capricious made-up entity.”

“Religions give you a sense of purpose. They connect you with something bigger in the universe and help you understand why you’re here,” she argued.

He gave her a teasing smile. “Isn’t that what I just said?”

“No. I don’t think so.” She frowned. “If I find a church—a real one, like the one I went to back home—will you arrest me? Or will it get you in trouble?”

“Only if you attempt treason. There are two here in the city that are pretty good matches. Licensed and harmless. You can go if you want.”

She didn’t say anything, but she wondered just how much the RUNA’s idea of “licensed and harmless” would truly match the faith she’d been raised in. Instead, she told him, “Oh. I kind of have a date.”

That snapped him to attention. “What? With who?”

“The guy I went to church with.” Tessa shifted uncomfortably. “Cynthia said it was okay when I asked earlier.”

“That’s because she was never a teenage boy,” he said. “Two weeks here, and you’re already giving me gray hairs. Give me his name so I can run a check and then make sure he comes by to meet me.”

Tessa couldn’t help but be a little surprised. Thus far, Justin hadn’t really seemed all that interested in her activities.

“I’m just going to a concert,” Tessa said, trying to reassure him. “I’m hoping it’ll give me some footage for my class.”

“Footage?”

“I’m in a media class now. Part of our project is to do a documentary, and I’m doing mine on Gemman culture from an outsider’s perspective.” Tessa was excited about the prospect, and not just because it freed her from inane Spanish lessons.

“Huh,” he said. “Budding reporter. I never saw that coming. Don’t record anything around here without asking me.”

“I know.”

He stared off thoughtfully. “There’s a lot of power with cameras and editing, you know. It lets you define the truth.”

“Isn’t that what you do?” she asked. “Servitor veritatis. ‘Servant of the truth.’ Don’t you define the truth too?”

That got her another laugh and a rueful head-shake. “Go to bed, prodigy. You’re too smart for your own good. And mine.”

CHAPTER 19