"So what can I do for you?"

Galled me to be sitting here talking business with her like she was a Realpeople, but this was real gold in my hand, and I needed it real bad.

"I need to find someone."

Oh, bloaty. Another missing Dydeetowner.

"Why come to me?"

"Kushegi said you were good."

Bristled at that. How could the clone of a Twenty-First Century holo sex star judge my work? By what-?

Doused it. Fruitless path. Waste of energy.

"She didn't get what she wanted," I said.

"True. Raquel was dead when you found her. But you did find her."

"And so I'm supposed to find your lover now?"

She nodded. Timidly.

Flipped the coin back onto the desk.

"No thanks."

"Please?"

If the plea in her voice was supposed to melt my heart, it failed by a lot of degrees.

"Whoever it is, let the owner go after him. Or her. Or let the owner hire me. Not you."

"This is a Realpeople I'm talking about."

"Oh."

Picked up the coin again and leaned back in my chair. Still didn't like the sound of this but I had nothing better to do.

"What's the name?"

"Kyle." Her voice quavered and her eyes glistened. "Kyle Bodine."

Thought she was going to cry, but she managed to hold it in, thank the Core.

"Look. If this guy hurt you or robbed or cheated you, get your owner on it."

"Nothing like that," she said through a sniff. "We were going to be married."

Almost went over backwards in my chair with that one.

"You were going to be what?"

Guess I must have shouted because she jumped back like I'd pulled a blaster on her.