Zoe exited Don Palo’s Grocery & Deli, which was conveniently just two blocks up the street from her new apartment. She promised herself she would come back to sample the deli later when she had more time. Zoe spotted a motorcycle pulling up to a restaurant just up the street but paid no attention to the rider even though he started walking in her direction.

*

“That looks like Zoe,” TK told himself as he stopped his bike. The dress and sweater were new as was the shorter blonde hair, but he was sure that was her. He dismounted and followed the young woman at a distance. He used his Eagle Vision to zoom in and take a few pictures as the girl entered an apartment building.

TK crossed the street and sat on a bench in the park. He took the time to examine the photos. “Ha! I knew it was her.”

Zoe had done a decent job of changing up her look and what she wore, but TK would know that pretty face anywhere. He wanted to get back at her for the stunts she had pulled when she quit Cartier even if he knew he had been part of the problem. Still, most people never blame themselves and neither would he.

“What’s the best way I can profit from this?” TK asked himself. He needed to find which apartment Zoe was in to start. TK got up and walked across the street and entered the building. A moment later he stopped outside the building’s supervisor’s door and knocked.

“Who is it?” a gruff voice asked.

“I’m a courier,” TK replied. A moment later the door opened.

“I’m not expecting any deliveries,” the supervisor said. TK was pleasantly surprised to see that the man was another cat beastkin that was drunk.

“My delivery is for one of your tenants from her attorney, but my dispatch really goofed and didn’t give me the proper address,” TK said. He described Zoe’s appearance to the other beastkin.

“Yeah. That’s Alayna Flores,” the supervisor said. “Pretty girl that is just renting 3B for a week.”

“Thanks,” TK replied. “I should get this data to her.”

“You do that,” the supervisor said before slamming his door shut.

“Friendly guy,” TK said rolling his eyes. He exited the building and made his way back to his motorcycle and delivery. He snapped his fingers as a thought hit him like a bolt of lightning. He made a call as he walked.

*

“I’ve just been informed of Zoe’s location,” Blake Connor told Simon and the others after entering the room they were in carrying his laptop.

“Brother, are you sure this time?” Simon asked. “We’ve had people sell us her location a hundred times since the marina.”

“And they were all wrong,” one of the other men said.

“This informant included picture proof,” Blake replied opening his laptop and showing the others the pictures. “And the cat that provided the pictures is sure because he knows her.”

“Are you sure that’s her?” the man that had pointed out the previous informants had been wrong asked.

“That’s her,” Simon said. “You can tell by the cheekbones.”

“Cat?” a third man asked.

“Beastkin,” Blake replied. The others recoiled in horror. “I know. We’re not supposed to interact with abominations, but this one had the information we need.”

“Besides we can always skin the cat too,” Simon said to laughter from the others. “Let’s go get Uncle Nathaniel’s girl.”

*

“Hey Zoe,” Zane greeted the courier with a raised eyebrow. “What’s with the new look?”

“Been hiding out and figured changing my looks would help,” Zoe answered.

“The dress suits you, but the hair doesn’t,” Zane replied. “Are you wanting some new implants?”

“No. I was hoping to talk to you and Claire about something,” Zoe said extending her hair and changing it back to its natural color.

“You’re in luck. We don’t have anything scheduled this afternoon,” Zane replied. “That’s much better.”

“Thanks,” Zoe said, giving the nurse a genuine smile. “I hate having short hair.”

“I bet,” Zane laughed. “So, what’s this about?”

“I need some help,” Zoe replied.

“If it’s Tommy, you’re too late. He was found dead three days ago,” Zane said.

“Huh. Didn’t know that” Zoe said.

“You don’t seem surprised though,” Zane remarked.

“I was… warned about that ahead of time,” Zoe said.

“Hmmm. I’ll let that go for now. Let me lock up and we’ll go talk to Doc.”

*

“So, that’s that,” Zoe said after summarizing for Doc Brown and her husband everything that had happened since they had last talked as well as asking for their help.

“I applaud your initiative and desire for safety, but this isn’t something we do,” Claire said.

“Come on Claire! You guys are really secret agents or something!” Zoe replied.

“I don’t know about that,” Zane laughed. “We’re just a Cyberdoc and her staff.”

“Uh huh. That doesn’t explain why this place has never been robbed,” Zoe replied.

“People respect what we do and don’t want to bite the hand that helps them,” Claire said.

“Right, because they totally haven’t ripped off the other clinics, including those with gang protection,” Zoe countered. “You’ve also asked for information that a Cyberdoc shouldn’t be interested in.”

“Noticed that, huh?” a smiling Zane asked. Zoe just nodded her head instead of reminding them about the Bratva incident.

“Let’s say we are what you think we are,” Claire said. “Why should we help you?”

“Because the purity church is considered terrorists in some circles and is ran by criminals even if it’s not a terrorist organization, and should be shut down,” Zoe answered.

“Good answer,” Zane laughed while clapping.

“Zane…” Claire hissed.

“You know Zoe has a good point, honey,” Zane replied.

“Son of a bi…’ Zoe suddenly shouted.

“Language,” Zane admonished, cutting her off.

“What’s wrong?” Claire asked Zoe.

“The church has already found where I just moved to,” Zoe said sending a transmission to Claire and Zane.

“All of those guys were at the boat basin fire,” Zane said.

“That’s Blake and Simon Conner,” Zoe said pointing at the first two men in the video. “I don’t remember the names of the others.”

“To have found you so quickly after returning to Manhattan, they must have been tipped off,” Claire mused.

“The motorcycle rider,” Zoe whispered.

“What’s that?” Claire asked. Zoe explained about seeing a guy on a motorcycle after exiting the grocery store. “Ok. We’ll help you.”

“You can even stay here and have your old recovery room to sleep in,” Zane quipped.

“Thanks guys,” Zoe replied. “You have no idea how much this means to me.”