The first thing Zoe noticed while driving around the dealership was that this GT4 was lighter and more responsive just as Clarence had said. It was also quieter. After a few minutes, Zoe felt comfortable enough to lean further into the curves, which tilted the bike closer to the pavement allowing her to take the turns faster. She grinned as the last nervousness left her and sped up. Zoe knew she wasn’t leaning as far as a street bike allowed, but it was more than the Triple Black had. The grin turned into a full-blown smile as the GT4 seemed to right itself after another curve.

“I was beginning to think you weren’t going to stop riding around the place,” Kris said when Zoe finally stopped 20 minutes later.

Zoe took off her helmet and set it on the tank before answering. “I almost didn’t stop. I don’t know what Clarence and the other mechanics did to this bike, but it rides like a dream!”

“So, she’s worth the same price as the Triple Black?” Kris asked.

“Oh yes!” Zoe gushed.

“Clarence, Zoe loves your handiwork,” Kris called into the garage.

“That’s good. We aim to please,” the dwarf replied walking over to the two women and handed Zoe her backpack. “Now, get her to sign the paperwork so we can get back to work on that canary yellow one.”

“You’re making another custom bike?” Zoe asked the mechanic as she dismounted and set her pack beside the GT4.

“We’re finishing up the twin of yours,” Clarence answered. He explained what they had done and why there were building two of them.

“In short, you’re a Guinee Pig,” Kristine joked.

“Part of me thinks I should be upset about that,” Zoe said and then smiled. “But that ride is so worth it, so whatever.”

“I think she’s a full-fledged convert,” Clarence quipped. “Joking aside, if you ever need help with the GT4, you know where to find us.”

“Thanks Clarence,” Zoe replied. She then stepped over to the dwarf, leaned down, and kissed his cheek. She stepped back. Kris grinned as the mechanic lifted a hand to his cheek. Laughter could be heard coming from the garage.

“What was that for?” Clarence asked.

“Just felt like showing I appreciate your hard work,” Zoe shrugged.

“You could have bought lunch if you wanted to do that,” Clarence replied. “Trying to embarrass me in front of my crew could be bad.”

“How about I make you guys a pot of soup?” Zoe asked. She looked into the garage and saw Henry, the ogre, lifting a bike. She pointed to him. “Maybe two pots of soup since he could probably eat one by himself.”

“Oh aye. Henry eats a lot,” Clarence informed them. “A home cooked meal would be greatly appreciated by all of us.”

“You cook?” Kristine asked sending Zoe a couple more forms. “Authorize those please.”

“Yeah. It’s cheaper than eating out all the time,” Zoe replied scanning the forms and seeing they were the same ones she had signed before. She authorized them and sent them back to the saleswoman. “I’ll cook the soup this weekend. I’m not sure how I’ll deliver it though.”

“We can send a drone to pick up the soup,” Kris offered.

“You can do that?” Zoe asked.

“Sure,” Clarence answered. “I have my ways.”

“Alright. Just make sure I get my containers back please,” Zoe replied picking up her backpack.

“We’ll do that,” Kris promised as Zoe put her backpack on and mounted her new motorcycle.

“Well, I’m going to take my new beauty home and go grocery shopping,” Zoe said starting the GT4 again. She sighed happily as she put on her helmet. Zoe waved to Clarence and Kris before driving away.

*

“Let’s see if my Squirrels have anything for me,” Zoe said to herself as she stirred the soup in the two big pots while checking the Squirrels, she had left in the Bratva network.

One of the two had another 3000 credits. Zoe quickly added the money to her accounts. About 10000 credits give or take a couple thousand shouldn’t be missed too quickly. She then ordered the squirrel to leave the network. “I don’t want to get too greedy and get caught because of it. Now, let’s see what the other one has.”

The second Squirrel didn’t have money. This one had data.

“What did you find?” Zoe asked the daemon as she walked back into the living room and sat on her couch.

The data showed her that the Bratva was planning on attacking an illegal Yakuza owned casino in Queens as well as a Triad gaming parlor in Chinatown on this upcoming Wednesday night. Zoe was surprised that the Bratva wasn’t going after the mafia too. Maybe they were, or maybe the mafia was helping the Russians. Either way, there was nothing in the data about them.

“I should report this to the police,” Zoe muttered staring out at the city skyline. She then decided not to do that since the police would start investigating her. A thought suddenly occurred to her. “I wonder if they would want this information.”

Zoe made a call after getting up to check the soup again.

*

“Hi Claire!” Zoe greeted Doc Brown after she answered the call.

“Hey Zoe,” Claire replied. “Are you ok? Not having any health issues, are you?”

“Nope. I’m good healthwise. I mean I can ride my bike wearing skorts or shorts now without having to worry too much!” Zoe happily answered.

“That’s good,” Claire laughed. They talked for a few minutes more. “Did you call just to chat?”

“No. Are we on a secure connection?” Zoe asked.

“Just a second and we can be. Why?” Claire asked.

“I have some information that I thought you would be interested in that shows the Bratva is going to attack the Triad and Yakuza this upcoming Wednesday,” Zoe answered.

“Perhaps I would be interested in that sort of thing,” Doc Brown replied. Her playful and friendly manner had suddenly given way to a more serious woman than Zoe had seen other than when she had been shot making that run for Claire. Zoe wasn’t sure which was the real woman, and which was a façade she put on for others. Perhaps both were the real woman. A beep sounded on the line. “We’re now secure. Why don’t you explain to me how you got this data?”

Zoe spent several minutes going over how and why she had sliced the Bratva network. She also explained about the Squirrels. “And that about sums it up.”

“We’re going to have to have a serious talk about your stealing money from criminals one of these days,” Claire said. “That said, you’ve done good work discovering these attacks.”

“Claire, I’m being careful,” Zoe replied being as serious as she could be. “I know they would kill me if they found out I was stealing from them.”

“Ok. I still want to have that talk,” Doc Brown said. “Why don’t Zane and I stop by your place this afternoon to check out your new toy and pick up that data?”

“Sure. I’m cooking soup for the guys at the Knight dealership. I’ll be home all day,” Zoe replied adding some water to the pots of soup.