Read The Ghost in the Doll (Fox Meridian Book 6) for Free Online Page A

or something. He’s got that cool, protectorate outlaw image to keep up, you know?’
    ‘Somehow, I never really thought of Drew as a cool outlaw.’
    ‘Aww, Hell,’ Drew said, emerging from the stockroom with a swagger in his step, ‘and I try so hard.’ He was, in a shopping mall in Topeka, still dressed in leathers and rough cloth which would have looked right at home in the dustbowl to the south.
    ‘Shop costume?’ Fox asked.
    ‘Yeah…’ Drew sagged a little as he said it. ‘It’s kind of town and dustbowl.’ He indicated Sandy’s quite pretty, not-quite-formal, knee-length dress. ‘Thematic, you know?’
    ‘We switch it around sometimes,’ Sandy said, grinning. ‘Drew wears a suit and I get tiny little shorts, a breast band, and a lot of belts.’
    ‘And we usually get more men in browsing those days.’
    ‘Do we? I hadn’t noticed.’
    ‘She’s only got eyes for you, Drew,’ Fox said, grinning. ‘Can’t beat that.’ Her eyes caught on a strappy, leather bodice set out on one of the tables and she wandered over to pick it up.
    ‘I don’t plan to try,’ Drew said. ‘Uh… could I ask your advice on something?’
    Fox was busy looking over the leather. ‘Sure. What’s up?’
    ‘Well, we get news up from the south, you know? Cable was up last week and he was a little worried.’
    ‘More than a little,’ Sandy said.
    ‘Okay, more than a little. They’ve got a problem with people going missing. Some of them probably just left, but not all of them. It’s happened to a couple of people at the camp and Cable said there were a lot of rumours of travellers vanishing…’
    ‘Has it been reported to NAPA? They still have ownership of patrols down there,’ Fox asked.
    ‘Yeah, I think so, but they’re not going to–’ Drew stopped himself, took a breath, and went on. ‘The reports are vague and NAPA don’t have the resources. You know, knowing Mister Runyard and your mother has really taken the bite out of my righteous indignation.’
    ‘Yeah, seeing the other side will do that. Look, Palladium has a contract to provide additional investigative services to NAPA in the protectorates, but they have to call us in. Even if I wasn’t on medical leave, I couldn’t authorise anything without NAPA’s permission.’
    ‘But NAPA won’t do that without some proof and they don’t have anyone investigating to find proof. The system’s broken. You couldn’t… I shouldn’t be asking this. You couldn’t just take a trip down there and look around?’
    Fox felt her chest tighten, which was ridiculous. ‘I… It’s kind of doctor’s orders. Someone would shout at me, probably with sarcasm. It’s not exactly a place for someone just out of a hospital, Drew.’
    Drew’s shoulders sagged. ‘No… No, you’re right. It’s just…’
    ‘Frustrating. I get it. They’re talking about contracting out patrols if the new system works out in the rest of the country. If we get that… Well, it’d likely mean more cyberframes doing the job, but I can guarantee a better response. Until then, my hands are tied.’ Fox forced a smile. ‘Speaking of bondage, I’ll take this.’
    ‘Good choice,’ Sandy said. She was forcing a smile too. ‘The workmanship on that is gorgeous and you’ve got the figure to pull it off.’
    ‘You really have got this shop assistant thing down well.’
    ‘It’s kind of easy when I don’t have to fib about the customer.’
    ~~~
    ‘Damn it, damn it, damn it,’ Fox muttered as she drove south toward home.
    ‘You did not enjoy lying to them,’ Kit said into her head, ‘so why did you?’
    ‘It’s not entirely a lie. Terri would be sarcastic.’
    ‘Yes, almost certainly, but that would not usually stop you.’
    ‘You know full well why I don’t want to go.’
    ‘Perhaps I’d like to hear you say it.’
    Fox frowned. ‘Look, contact… Who’s in charge of intelligence on the Southern Protectorate?’
    ‘That would be Craig Norden.’
    ‘Okay, contact