"I used part of the eddies, but I'll pay you back as soon as possible. I'm sorry about this, Maine. I promise there won't be an accident like this next time." Gloria had no better option; she could only hope Maine would understand.
"Used part of it? No implant, no money. That's your answer?" Maine's face stayed flat. "You think there will be a next time after this?"
"Tell me everything that happened yesterday. I want to know whose hands the Sandevistan is in."
Gloria couldn't produce the money, and Maine knew it. But compared to tens of thousands of eddies, he cared more about where his Sandevistan had gone.
"I don't know," Gloria said, forcing calm.
Maine searched her eyes for a beat, weighing the lie he suspected. They had worked together many times, but that didn't mean she couldn't burn him. The goods she moved before were never this valuable. She could have sold this one to someone else or tried to pocket the advance.
"You had better truly not know," he said at last. "I'll find out. If you lied to me, you know the consequence."
He lifted a hand toward Pilar. "Put a tracker on her."
Trust had cracked. Until he had answers, Maine would not risk Gloria disappearing.
"Ms. Gloria, I'm sure you understand why this is necessary," Pilar said, wearing a crooked grin as he stepped in to tag her.
He reached for her wrist.
A shape flashed between them and blocked his hand.
David.
He had been hiding nearby, listening to every word. Panic grabbed his spine when he heard Gloria refuse to tell the truth. He knew why she did it. He would not let her carry this alone. His mistakes had started the slide. She wouldn't have been desperate if he hadn't used pirated software. If he hadn't dragged her to a black clinic, he wouldn't have needed a Sandevistan.
The implant was on his back now. He would be the one to pay Maine back.
"David!" Gloria gasped.
"Huh? Where did you come from? Who are you?" Pilar asked, startled by the thin kid who appeared like a blink.
"You want the person with the Sandevistan," David said, raising his voice to Maine and the crew. "That's me. It's on me."
"Are you crazy? Leave. This has nothing to do with you," Gloria hissed, trying to push him away. He didn't budge.
Maine's mouth twitched. So Gloria had lied after all.
"Leave? Why would he leave?" Maine said. "Gloria, explain the situation. And you, kid. Who are you, and why do you have my Sandevistan?"
"My name is David. I'm Gloria's son. After the crash yesterday, my spinal nerves were damaged. The ripperdoc installed the Sandevistan to save me." David kept his voice steady. "It's on me now. I'll handle the money. Don't make things hard for my mom."
Maine and the others traded looks, then laughed.
"You installed a Sandevistan?" Pilar said. "With that build? Military-grade chrome like that would kill you when you install it. Don't joke."
"I'm not joking."
David turned, lifted his shirt, and showed the unit seated along his spine.
Silence hit. Before anyone could say a word, the more shocking thing happened. David flickered out of sight, then spoke from behind them.
"This is what Sandevistan does. Do you believe me now?"
They spun. David stood behind the group, breathing evenly. The realization dropped: he had arrived using Sandevistan, too. That made two activations in under a minute. Maine's jaw tightened despite himself.
After a moment, he snorted. "Listen, kid. Whether you wear a Sandevistan or not, or are Gloria's son, the implant on your back is mine. I already paid for it. Time to return it."
"Sorry," David said. "It matters to me. I'll pay you back instead. I'll earn the eddies fast. Just give me a chance."
Maine shook his head. "You think I'll believe a kid like you can make that money? I'm not stupid. How about you come with me now and we take it off. Then we're square."
"I can make it," David said. "The ripperdoc who installed the Sandevistan invited me to work. I'll earn the eddies soon."
Maine's brows ticked. "What ripperdoc pays that well? Don't make me laugh."
"He isn't just a ripperdoc," David said. "All I know is his name. L."
"L? Isn't that…" Maine and the others looked at each other, surprised.