by C. R. Daems
"That was a cute trick, navy bitch. I guess now I'm going to have to kill you. Too bad."
"I'm more likely to die of boredom. Or from the smell of you pissing in your pants," I taunted. I hoped he didn't have more men roaming the building, and that one of the marines pressed his panic button when the firefight began and more marines were on the way. But in case they weren't, I wanted him in a rage and careless. My taunt earned me a blast of shards, which shattered cloth and plastic from several chairs to my right, nearer to where I had been. I saw him raise up to shoot but under the table with chairs in the way; I didn't have a good line of sight.
"How did a coward like you become their leader? Did you shoot all the real men while they were drugged and sleeping?" I shouted, wanting to cross my fingers that help was coming. I had only one spare magazine on me and that wouldn't last through a prolonged duel with so many places to hide. Another blast of shards raked the walls, chairs, and conference table. "Your mother would be disappointed if she could see you hiding from a small girl."
"My mother knew her place like you will before I leave. My father saw to that."
"That explains it. The defective seed fell right next to the tree. You come from a long line of cowards," I shouted, which earned me another burst of pellets. Then I heard the sound of a new mag being loaded. "You must be waiting for me to go to sleep so you can muster the nerve to shoot me." I laughed as another burst of pellets tore through the room. I guess he brought extra mags, I mused and vowed I would carry extra in the future if…
Suddenly Andrii appeared in the hallway, holding Tijerina in front of him. He held a laser to her head and his Mfw in his other hand, in the arm that he had under her arm, keeping her pinned to his chest. If you don't come out, I'm going to murder your sleeping marine friends," he said and fired off a short blast into the wall above their heads.
I rose and saw one eye peeking out from behind Tijerina's head and a smile at the corner of his mouth. I hoped he planned on trying to talk me into submission rather than killing me, since he now thought he had the advantage. Well, he did, but not in the way he thought—I wouldn't believe a word he promised.
"Drop the gun and you, the soldier boys, and Tijerina will live," he said, looking as convincing as a slobbering rabid animal looked like it wanted to be petted.
His smile broadened as I raised the barrel of my Mfw so it pointed almost head high. He had a right to smile, since he knew what little of his head showed would be an impossible shot to hit, even if I could raise my weapon and take careful aim. I squeezed the trigger once. The shot was off target a few centimeters and ripped through Tijerina's throat to the right of her vertebrae and through Andrii's cheek. He screamed as he stumbled back while trying to keep a screaming and jerking woman in front of him. Blood spurted from the artery the pellet had severed in Tijerina's neck. I adjusted my aim and fired again. This time through Tijerina's lower jaw. Bone must have deflected the pellet, as Andrii spun away, his mouth open and the left side mangled. I shot again as he crashed into the wall. He spun and tried to run. This time, his face exploded as several pellets hit him in the back of his head and exited the front.
I cried as I walked back to the two marines who lay in the hallway. Two more dead marines because of me, I mumbled as I bent down and pressed the panic icon of the dead marine's Comm device. Then I heard a moan and realized his partner was still alive. I immediately got to work, stopping the bleeding from the wounds I could find. As I worked, Red worked his way from my back to my neck and settled on my shoulder.
* * *
After she had given me a thorough physical, Doctor Renata injected me with something that had my eyes closing before the plunger was fully depressed. The last thing I heard was Renata's gentle laugh and, "Good night, Anna."
When I woke, Renata and Pannell were talking at the foot of my bed. "That was sneaky," I said as I sat up. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Renata said. "My inspection concluded you had little damage, some bruises, minor cuts probably from flying debris, and exhaustion from partying with the wrong men."
"Everyone else was sleeping," I quipped.
"And why weren't you?" Pannell asked, his eyes holding mine.
"Red didn't like the quality of the air." I shrugged. "In an effort to appease him, I blew out the conference room glass partition, which improved the quality of the air." When I saw Martz enter the room, I smiled. "Shadows Rest. We might know enough to find the hive with Commissioner Matheny's help."
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
Star System: Shadows Rest – The Den of Thieves
Banner rushed into the room, smiling ear to ear. "Ma'am, Captain Mendoza from the UAS Cruiser Teutates is requesting a conference call with you and Captain Martz. Channel five," he said.
I opened my tablet set it to five, and the face of a thin, curly redheaded captain appeared on the screen.
"Good morning, Admiral Paulus. I'm Captain Krystal Mendoza commanding the UAS Teutates. Admiral Webb sends his regards along with the Teutates, which is at your disposal." She smiled at my open-mouthed look. I had hoped for another ship, but I didn't expect another heavy cruiser and nothing without more justification. "Admiral Webb said he, Vice Admiral Lulltrel, and the UAS were pleased—well, everyone who counted, anyway." She laughed.
"Can we have a quick face-to-face before we leave for Shadows Rest?"
"You're the boss," Mendoza said and cut the connection.
* * *
I explained to Mendoza about the project, what we had deduced so far, and what we had been doing. Then I had all the kidnapped women we had freed brought into the conference room.
"Ladies, the Taranis is getting crowded, and as we hit the other systems, we are going to run out of room. Admiral Webb has been kind enough to provide us with a second cruiser. I'd like you to come up with a solution," I said to stunned silence. Then Susan Guzman spoke. "Can we have an hour to discuss it?"
I nodded and Mendoza, Martz, and I retired to my office.
"How are they doing, Admiral?" Mendoza asked when we had each collected something to drink.
Martz looked to me and I nodded. "The decision to keep them on the cruiser rather than send them home has worked miracles. They've formed their own counseling group, convinced the marines to conduct self-defense classes, and Admiral Paulus has managed to keep their focus on their future. I'm amazed. I'd expected them all to be in the dispensary or spending all day locked in their cabins."
"I assume you'd like that to continue, Admiral?"
"Anna, please, in private—and yes. Don't assign them single rooms. The nights will be a problem for years."
"Sounds like you understand, Anna," Mendoza said.
"I do and won't be surprised if the women on your ship invite me over from time to time when we are in port," I said, thinking about the sessions we had over the weeks.
We were interrupted less than an hour later. The women had not only split the group, they had decided who would be in each group, which group would be on which cruiser, and how the new women would be assigned to each ship.
* * *
"Do you expect another assassination attempt in Shadows Rest?" Pannell asked as we prepared to enter the shuttle to planet side.
"I hope not, Paul. Red and I are tired. And I'd like to be able to send my mother a message where I can honestly tell her I'm bored and can't wait to get home. Rather than my more normal message, We had a little trouble but I'm all right."
"A little trouble!" he exclaimed incredulously. If you are going to twist the truth that flagrantly, you might as well tell her the trip is boring."
"You're upset because you slept through the party." I tried to look sad, which wasn't hard when I thought of the marine who died. Pannell just shook his head.
Banner leaned over from the seat behind Pannell and me. "Ma'am, Commissioner Matheny is available as soon as you can make it."
* * *
"Thank you for seeing me so quickly, Commissioner Matheny," I said as I
entered his office with Pannell.
"You're the talk of the police commissioners across the UAS…and some very prominent people. The commissioners are jealous how easy it is when you have P1A authority. The prominent people are outraged at your disregard for the law." He laughed. "I imagine the UAS Council is inundated with complaints. But never mind. What do you have planned for Shadows Rest?"
I took out a sheet of paper and handed it to Matheny. It read: Can you get sergeant Vito in here without raising his suspicion? While he read, I continued talking.
"Pretty much the same as on the other systems: visit the brothels and probably aggravate more prominent people."
"I know you don't need police help, but would you like me to send someone along?"
"Thank you; that would be helpful. The women we've freed know some of the brothels and escort services, but I'm sure your people have more up-to-date information."
Matheny clicked on his comm device and waited. "MaryAnn, would you find Sergeant Vito and let him know I'd like to see him? Thanks," he said and cut the connection, giving me a curious look. I nodded. We waited in silence. Several minutes later, a middle-aged man of average height, a muscular build, and with a square face entered, looked eager but felt apprehensive.
"Sir, MaryAnn said you wanted to see me," he said as he closed the door, giving Pannell a nervous look.
"You know who I am and all about the Magic Act project, Sergeant Vito, so I'll cut right to your options—"
"I don't know what you are talking—"
"Option one is very generous and allows you a lawyer, to be tried in a civilian court with a judge and jury, and a chance of being acquitted—or worst case, imprisoned in a prison on Shadows Rest. All you have to do is tell me everything you know about the kidnapping operation."
"I don't know anything about the kidnapping operation except what I see in the news and the rumors I hear."
"Option two, which you appear to be selecting, will have you on a UAS cruiser today headed for Stonewall with life accommodations. No lawyers, no judges or juries, and no appeals. When the inmates ask you your crime, I won't mention you worked for the police or you were involved in sex trafficking. Of course, as a policeman, you know how hard it is to keep those sorts of things private. Here, on the other hand, the commissioner would have better control…" I didn't finish, letting Vito sort through the pros and cons of his situation.
"But I don't know anything," he whined, looking like a trapped animal.
"Colonel Pannell, Sergeant Vito has selected option two. Since he is now in your custody, option three, suicide, is no longer available."
"Commissioner, I'll wager if you have your office swept for electronic surveillance devices and trace them, you would find Sergeant Vito has been following your activities closely," I said. I really didn't know, but I would be astonished if his office wasn't bugged.
* * *
Commissioner Matheny did find two listening devices and a recording device in Vito's desk. Afterward, Vito decided option one was a better option than two, only because with P1A authority the entire group would be swept up without an opportunity to put out a contract on him. Besides, Vito had the most to lose. While sex traffickers were not treated well in prison, ex-police were treated worse.
"There are currently seven of us running the operation. We meet three times a week. Tonight is one of our regular meeting nights," Vito said after an hour describing how the organization was structured and operated. Vito decided, at my suggestion, to attend the meeting and be arrested just like the others. The missing women knew most of their names, and with that information, the commissioner had deduced their meeting place.
* * *
We arrived fifty strong at twenty hundred hours. Commissioner Mendoza had brought twenty policemen and Pannell three squads of ten—my security team plus twenty marines from the two cruisers—just in case the group was prepared. To our surprise, we found the building a blazing inferno. People were standing around in small groups with drinks in their hands talking, pointing, and laughing like it was a sporting event or neighborhood party.
"Vito probably double-crossed us and they decided to destroy any evidence and fled," Mendoza said. "They have nothing to lose, and this gives them a small chance to escape."
That sounded logical except…Red appeared agitated as he changed positions from shoulder to shoulder with his head raised as if looking for something. He stopped on my right shoulder and hissed. His head raised ten centimeters, pointing sixty degrees to my right. There sat Tashia, sipping a cup of something and looking back at me. Pannell followed my gaze and drew his Mfw and said something into his mic, which had my security coalescing around me. I put my hand on my weapon but then removed it. I didn't understand what she was up to but instinctively knew she wasn't a danger when Red relaxed.
"Careful," Pannell said as I began walking in her direction with him and all my security following. When I reached her, she smiled, which was the last thing I would have expected.
"You would make a good Kaliam sister. You're fearless and loyal," she said without any strong emotion I could detect—maybe a slight feeling of amusement. "I'll give you two options…" she began, and the feeling of amusement became stronger. She held up her hand before I could speak. "Option one, accept my challenge in the Circle of Truth, or option two, I'll take your option three."
I stared at her in utter disbelief. "I have no option three," I blurted, unable to understand why she had stayed, why she thought I would even consider fighting her, or how she thought…knew she was in control of the situation. Her head nodded toward her lap and I saw it. Her hands were wrapped around the handle of a long dagger, the point of which lay against her intestines—reminiscent of the old Japanese ritual suicide. It would be impossible to stop her from disemboweling herself. I didn't detect any fear or nervousness, so I had no doubt she could and would.
"All right. Why do I care if you commit suicide enough to risk death fighting you?"
"If you agree to a contest in the Circle with me, I will give you all the current information we have on the women you are looking for. That would save you months of searching and significantly improve your odds of finding all the women."
"I would find them eventually," I said but knew that might not be easy and was maybe impossible. These women didn't want to be found, didn't know they no longer had anything to fear, and some were undoubtedly addicts…
"You can't, Anna," Pannell said, leaning close to me so as not to be heard, but he was upset, desperate, and his voice louder than he intended.
"How can I be sure you'll keep your word?" I asked, knowing I was interested.
"Even evil people can have codes of honor. They may not be your code of honor, but they are honorable regardless. But I understand you don't trust me and I don't trust you. So, I have put all the information you desire on this chip." She grinned. "But…without the correct password it's worthless and entering the wrong password will destroy the chip. Take me to Zaspa and I will give the password to my sisters and let you examine the chip before we enter the Circle." She smiled. "And I will swear an oath that…if I win, I will undergo the Death by a Hundred Cuts."
Damn clever woman, I mused. She knows I bested her sister in the Circle so I'm confident I can win. Of course, she thinks or knows she's better than Yanira. And she knows I can't find all of the missing women without her help and that I care about them enough to risk my life, especially if I know whether I win or lose, the NIA will get the information. In turn, she gets an honorable death and won't have to spend her life behind bars.
I nodded, feeling I didn't have a choice. I had two options, and like the kidnapped women's choices, the second option was really shitty.
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
Star System: Zaspa – The Circle of Truth
Pannell insisted Tashia be transported on the Teutates so she wouldn't be a danger to me. She was, after all, a highly trained assassin. Before we left, Commissioner Mendoza discovered she had kil
led all of the kidnapping ring core group before setting the building on fire, which destroyed all of the records and information. The ME said they had all been killed with a knife. Hearing that, I didn't even give Pannell a token argument.
"Where to, Admiral?" Martz asked as she, Mendoza, Pannell, and I gathered in my office on the Taranis.
"Tashia informs me the senior Kaliam sisterhood is located on Zaspa and she should give them the chip and her oath."
"Why are you doing this, Anna? I have to say I agree with Pannell—she can't be trusted, and that information isn't worth your life," Martz said to emphatic nods from Mendoza and Pannell.
"I think it is. I would like to think someone would have done that for me if they had a chance to get me off the Shark." I gave Pannell a warm smile. "I know Paul would have done that for me—just like he would rush into death's arms to save wounded or embattled comrades. I've done a lot of reading about the Kaliam sisterhood and Tashia is right—we may consider them evil, but they do have a code of honor. Therefore, I think I can trust her and I'm not suicidal, contrary to some of my escapades." I gave a snort. "Tashia is not the odds-on favorite. She challenged me, so I get to pick the weapon—and her favorite weapon is the knife, not a Mfw."