It was still only afternoon when I headed back to my office. With how much had happened, it seemed like it should have been a week later. I needed a nap. I kept my eyes open on the way, just in case, but I was fairly certain that I was fine for now. Still, I felt a little safer as I merged with the crowd again.

Tilting my head back, I looked up at the dome as I let the stream of people carry me forward. The harsh rays of the sun were dialed down to a gentle illumination as they passed through the protective barrier. The large, hexagonal sections showcased the clear blue sky outside, the searing sun the only break in it. Someone bumped into me and I looked back down.

"Hey! Watch where you're going!" the bearded man yelled at me over his shoulder as he barreled past. Par for the course.

I passed through the biggest open market in this quadrant of the dome on my way to the office, so I stopped at a stall to pick out lunch. Lifting my wrist to the sensor, I paid for the food, transferring funds through my watch. I thanked the small man behind the register as he handed me a warm, wrapped package. The smell of garlic and freshly baked bread wafted out. My mouth watered. My stomach growled like it had been years since I'd eaten.

I stepped back onto the walkway and headed down the street while the different stall owners called out their wares.

"Synthetic fish! Just like the real thing!"

I really hoped it wasn't. That stuff tasted like crap.

"Feeling lonely? Need a release? The best virtual reality experience in the dome is right here!"

I glanced over at the enclosed stall and shuddered. I wouldn't want to touch anything in there with a ten-foot pole.

"Want to head out of the dome? You're going to need masks and protective clothes!"

I wouldn't buy that stuff from here. It could be counterfeit. And the guy would run off before you could come back to him with burns and breathing issues due to the faulty equipment.

It was possible I was in a cynical mood.

Any time, day or night, the market was open with almost anything you could want on display. Not that I ever had the urge to buy glow-in-the-dark underwear or tambourines at one in the morning. But it was nice to know the option was there.

I pushed through the rush of the market and out into the street that my office was on. It wasn't the best street but neither was it the worst. I deliberately found something that was in the middle so it wouldn't alienate anyone right off the bat.

Probably I should check to see if anything looked suspicious before I went in. The guys chasing me might have decided I was worth the extra effort. I crossed the street and walked by the building once to make sure that no nasty surprises were waiting. The gray brick structure with the short stoop looked just like it had when I'd left. The dentist on one side and the consignment shop on the other looked the same as well. I wouldn't know if someone was waiting for me unless I went inside.

Mentally shrugging, I crossed the street and hopped up the steps. Might as well face the issue head on.

The door at the top of the short flight of stairs didn't actually lead to the office, but to the foyer. Generic flooring and lighting greeted anyone who entered, along with an equally bland staircase that led to other businesses who leased space here. I turned to the left of the staircase where the door to my office was situated.

The frosted glass with my name in gold lettering greeted me as I opened the door. The actual office wasn't much to see. I had one room that I furnished with a worn desk, a wheeled chair for me, and two chairs for potential clients. The cabinets that I had against one wall housed all of the things that I might need during a job. Handcuffs, different kinds of clothing, makeup, and so on. Not that I used the makeup or fancier clothes much. But from time to time, I had to make a delivery at a social event. Going in the way I usually dressed would make me stand out too much. I had one sad-looking painting of what I thought might have been a bird on the wall opposite my desk. And that was about as far as I could go with décor. Anyway. It all looked like I'd left it.

Except for the stranger waiting in one of the client chairs.

I paused in the doorway. I’d just used a retinal scanner to enter. The door locked automatically when I left the office. How did this guy get in?

He looked over at me with cool gray eyes. His suit was made of a tasteful, dark gray material, obviously custom fit to his narrow frame. His lightly lined face was handsome in an uninteresting way, his hair a bright shock of white above it. The scarlet red of his tie was the only color in his whole outfit.

"How did you get in here?" I demanded, my hand going for my knife. I'd made sure to pull it out of the wall after I'd thrown it at Benny. I didn't want to lose both of my favorite knives in one day.

The man raised his eyebrows as my hand closed over the hilt, but he didn't look worried.

"Retinal scanners aren't foolproof. You know that," he admonished quietly. "I'm sorry if I frightened you." His tone said he wasn't at all sorry. "I wouldn't have come in if I'd known when you were coming back. As it was, I didn't want to have to wait in the hall for who knew how long."

He was right about the retinal scanners. I knew from personal experience, but always from the other side. It wasn't comfortable at all to experience it from the perspective of the person whose property had been broken into.

"What do you want?" I asked. My instinct was to say no from the get go. But someone this persistent likely wouldn't accept the no without at least being heard first.

"Well, to hire you, of course."

I gave him a level stare, calculating the danger he posed. The stranger was already in my office but he hadn't attacked me yet. He had a good amount of money, judging from that suit. It wouldn't hurt to give him a moment to say his piece.

"Fine." I walked around him to sit down on the plush chair on the other side of the desk, trying not to show how laser-focused I was on him the entire time. "If you give me the details of the job, I'll let you know whether or not I'm willing to take it."

He raised his surprisingly dark eyebrows again and leaned forward. "Oh, I think you'll want to take this one. It will pay very handsomely. Very handsomely indeed."

Money was important. I couldn't take it for granted after I'd spent years trying to make ends meet but I still needed to avoid making stupid decisions about the jobs I took. The money sometimes just wasn't worth it.

"What's your name?" I probed, leaning back in my chair.

"Santiago," he supplied readily.

No first name.

"Mr. Santiago, you tell me what the job is, and I'll tell you whether or not I want to take it," I repeated.

"I understand, Ms. Hill. I need a package delivered immediately."

I nodded, opening a drawer and pulling out my tablet and stylus. The technology was old, but I always thought better with my hand in motion. "I can do that, assuming all my requirements are met. What is the delivery timeframe? And what is the destination?" I waited with my stylus poised above the screen.

"The timeframe is as soon as possible, within the week if you can. And the destination is the nearest phoenix territory."

I set my stylus down with a hard click.

I'd never been outside the dome, at least not past the safe zone buffer set up around it. I promised my mother never to venture any farther than that. And I had no intention of ever breaking that promise.

"I'm sorry. I have a firm policy against taking jobs outside the dome." I stood smiling stiffly. "I'm sorry I couldn't help you today. I could recommend a few other agencies that have good reputations, if you would like."

Santiago made no move to stand. "I must insist that you take the job," he said, his eyes calm and steady.

"And I repeat, I do not take jobs that take me out of the dome," I repeated slowly. "Now, if you wouldn't like the names of some other agencies, I would appreciate it if you left me to my work."

He still made no move to stand. Was I going to have to physically throw an old man out of my office?

"You know, it's very interesting how much you can find out of about a person simply by watching them for a week or two," he said.

This wasn't going anywhere good. I narrowed my eyes at him. "I'm in no mood for games," I warned.

"Oh, my dear, this is no game, I assure you." He shook his head, interlocking his fingers over one knee. "But wouldn't you find it curious if someone were to, say, leave the dome twice a week at the same time every week? Not to go anywhere. Simply to sit in the safe zone for an hour or so."

My stomach dropped a little. "Get out."

My voice was low. I was not trying to be polite anymore.

"Now, now. Let's not be hasty." He deliberately crossed his legs and made no move to stand once again. "Now, if someone were to find out such a fact out about another, I personally would find it very suspicious. After all, what need would a full human have to stand out in direct sunlight? Why, it would cause severe burns without the right protection! And her lungs wouldn't fare too well either without a proper mask to protect against the air." His unblinking stare watched me, like a predator eyeing its prey.

"What do you want?" I finally gritted out through my teeth.

This was a threat, plain and simple. One that he was using to force me into doing his bidding. Otherwise, he would have already reported me to the authorities.

He smiled gently. "It's straightforward. Simply deliver this package to its destination, and no one need know about your peculiar habits. Everyone is allowed their foibles after all." He finally decided to stand up. "You'll find my card in your inbox. Think it over. Though I would caution you against refusing. People have been banished—or worse—for far less."

I watched as he stepped towards the door, opened it with a glance over his shoulder at me, and then closed it just as quietly.

I tapped the screen of my watch to find the card. Just his name and a phone number. Still no first name. Just Santiago.

I slowly sank back down onto my seat. Any which way I looked at this, I was screwed.

Some days, it just didn't pay to get out of bed.