David pushed back against Gloria's warning and proved his point with action. He triggered the Sandevistan; the room stretched, and he vanished from her sight. In the next blink he stood before her again, both hands full of bottles and jars he had snatched from around the apartment in that single burst.
"Mom, see? I can do it. I can control it." He flashed once more and put everything back where it belonged. Gloria's heart climbed into her throat.
"Enough, David. Don't use the Sandevistan again." He caught the fear in her face and softened.
"I know. The doctor told me. I'll be careful. I feel fine."
Gloria heard him mention "the doctor" again and frowned.
"Who is this doctor? It's dangerous to let an unfamiliar ripperdoc install anything." David nodded.
"I know. But he isn't just a ripperdoc. I met him at a clinic. He told me what those 'doctors' really were and helped me rescue you. He also installed the Sandevistan, so I owe him the surgery fee. He said if I want a job, I can find him. He's a good person." Gloria stayed quiet. In Night City, people don't help for free. She could not see his angle yet.
Her phone lit up. The caller ID tightened her chest. She motioned for David to wait and answered.
"Gloria, what's going on? We set a time, then you disappear, and your phone won't connect. What's your status? When do I get the prosthetic?" Maine's voice came rough with impatience.
"Sorry, Maine. Something happened yesterday, so I couldn't reach you. About the prosthetic… we need to talk again." "Talk? I already transferred the eddies. You're going to back out now? You said you needed it fast, so I paid in advance because I trusted you. Don't take me for a fool." He had worked with her before and trusted her word. Paying first had been the favor. Hearing "renegotiate" now burns.
"It's not that, Maine. There was an accident. I can't explain on the phone. Let's meet at the usual spot. I'll give you an answer," Gloria said, glancing at David.
"Fine. See you there," Maine said, and hung up.
"That was your buyer," David said as she lowered the phone.
"I'll go with you." The implant was on his spine now; he owed part of this. Gloria shook her head.
"No. Stay home and wait for me. I'll handle it." If Maine saw the unit on David, he might do something rash. She would not risk her son.
"But—" "Be good, David. I'll be back soon." She stepped out. He watched the door close, then opened the cabinet under the bed, took the pistol Rocky had left him, tucked it at his waist, and activated the Sandevistan to follow at a distance. He needed to see who the buyer was. He needed to protect her.
Santo Domingo. A row of warehouses. Maine, Pilar, and Falco sat outside, waiting. Gloria's slight figure came into view.
"Gloria, talk. What happened? Where's the prosthetic?" Maine asked, eyes flat behind his shades. Gloria scanned the area, saw nothing out of the ordinary, and said, "I was in a car crash on the way home yesterday and got sent to a clinic. When I woke up, the unit was gone. I'm sorry, Maine. I can't deliver the implant. I'll return the eddies, but I need some time." She hid the part about David for his safety. And most of the advance was already gone; she had paid a heavy penalty to the school after David's pirated software wrecked their teaching system.
Maine shot to his feet.
"What? Can't deliver? Do you know how long I've waited for that kind of unit? This isn't about eddies. Military-grade chrome doesn't sit on shelves. And now you want to 'pay me back' and make me wait? Where did the money I sent you go?" The air around the warehouse went still.