15
THE UPSTAIRS CORRIDOR of the administration block of the C sector was quiet during the off-shift and Melati’s footsteps echoed loudly in the empty corridor. Most of the office windows on each side of the passage were dark, but a few of the glass doors blazed light into the corridor. A bored construct worker sat behind the desk at the Station Maintenance office. The Mining Office, the Commercial Liaisons Office and the Taxation Office were all closed.
The next lit door was Melati’s destination: the Station Security Office. The glass door slid aside at her approach.
The woman behind the front desk took one look at Melati and rose, her hand raised to her mouth. “Are you all right?”
The question surprised her. Was she all right? Who cared about her? “It’s not about me. It’s about—”
“Lo
