isandthegoon’ssatellite-enabledmobileshadsomehowbeeroyedbythosetwoidiotsfromthelimo.

    Satolistehephoherendofthelineandabsent-mindedlyscratchedatcakedbloodinhisrightear.Severalhoursafterthefact,hestillhadn’tstoppedbleedingbuttheflowhadslowedtoatrickle.Hehadtriedtoputoffthisphonecallasmuchaspossiblebutitwasiablethathewouldhavetoreporttheirfailuretoretrievethesolefromthehacker.

    “Yes,”afemalevoisweredinJapanese.

    “Hirayama-san,”Satoandedgruffly.Hecockedhisheadtogetacloserlookatagirlohecardswhohadhadlizardscalessurgicallypaintedalloverherbody.Fromthephoto,herblagernailshadbeensharpened,hertongueelongatedandacleftcarvedoutofthemiddle.Everythinginherposesuggestedthereptilesheloobe,armssplayedinacrougposture,legsflatagainstthefloorlikeshewasinthemiddleofsomeexotiove.LizardGirl:MaI’llshowyouagoodtime.Therewasacellphonenumber,e-mail,cyberpagerandsomegenerietbase,thekindyougotforfreewithabottleofwashing-upliquid.Hideofelthimselfgohard.

    “Iing,”hesaidtonobodyinparticularasheittedthee-mailaddresstomemory.HewasthinkingthathemightreturnafavorinTokyobyhavingthegirlshippedthereforaneveningofkinkydistraswithhisYakuzaies.HeimaginedhershippedoutinacagebyherhandlerandheldupbysinTokyotobequarantined.HewasjoltedfromhisdaydreambythevoiceofastressedoutHirayama.

    “GoodnewsIhope,foryoursakeandmiheoyabunisinnomoodforbadnews,”Hirayamasaidgruffly.

    “Ifonly.WehadthisCaldwellkidinhts.Webelievehehadthesolewithhim.Thenthisofficial-lookingcar,tintedwindows,noliseplate,hugef