Carialle peeked at his aura, pleased by the mix of pearlescent shades representing hope, mixed with the gleaming silver of resolve and Marcus’s constant, indomitable blue flames. “Exactly,” she said. “This may be why Thuun placed me where I needed to be, to assist you.”
“You’re the kind of partner a man dreams of finding.” He picked her up and cradled her in his arms as he stepped toward the bed. “I don’t know how I got so lucky but I’m planning to spend the rest of my life showing you my appreciation. Whether your god sent you to rescue me or not, you still had to make the decision to get involved.” He laid her gently on the bed and lay beside her, smoothing her tousled hair away from her face, frowning in concentration as he untangled two strands knotted into a snarl. ”Have I told you lately how much I love you?”
Smiling, she held up the hand with the coruscating colors of the opal ring, waving it in front of his eyes.
“Oh yeah, good job me. Guess I got that right.” Marcus pulled her close for a passionate embrace, kissing her as if he’d never let her go.
It was a long time before they made it to the giant hot tub for a second bath.
Marcus hated leaving her alone but he felt strongly he couldn’t take her into a law enforcement environment before all the legal ducks were in a row as to her status. While he was waiting outside the hotel for his car, he fidgeted, which was not like him. Rock steady nerves were his hallmark in combat, but today he was fighting the urge to go upstairs and check on her again.
“Nice motor in this baby,” said the valet, stepping out of the groundcar, leaving the engine running. “They don’t make them like this anymore. We washed it for you, courtesy of the hotel.”
He tipped the valet a couple of extra credits for not grimacing at driving his grandfather’s beat up old groundcar and then drove himself through the city to the planetary police HQ.
He’d sent Sam a vid message the night before, setting up a time to meet, and his old comrade in arms came to the lobby personally when Marcus’s arrival was announced to him.
There was the obligatory back slapping and good humor, and Sam gave him a waiver to carry his personal blaster into the building. The men took the gravlift to one of the top floors, chatting easily about trivialities as Sam escorted Marcus to his office, boasting on the way about the spectacular view of the city he had nowadays. Neither of them would ever discuss sensitive subjects in an open gravlift or hallway. Special Forces operators never forgot the need for operations security even after active duty service days were over.
As soon as the door closed behind them, Sam’s genial manner vanished. “Secure environment, safe to talk. I’ve been turning this planet inside out since you vanished. What the seven hells happened to you? And how are you here now, apparently in perfect health and of sound mind?” He went to the side cabinet. “I think this calls for a drink, morning or not. Hell, it’s evening on the other side of the damn planet.”
“I like the way you think, always have.” Marcus accepted the drink and seated himself at the small table off to the side of the room. “Impressive digs you got here. Nice view. ”
“Yeah, comes with the title. So, talk to me.”
“Did you get me sent here after I was extracted from the Mawreg experimentation camp?”
Sam nodded. “General Farraven got in touch with me when you were on the military hospital ship because he knew you had no family left, and asked if I’d help out. I checked out a no bullshit rehab facility on the eastern continent with a good rep for handling PTSD cases, personally inspected the place and cleared you to be transferred there from the Star Guard hospital. Then you vanished off the board, man. I started asking questions which upset the guy who heads the Felicia Seven veterans’ agency. Bastard tried to tell me you didn’t exist.” He took a long swallow. “Seven hells, after the action we saw together in the service and how many times you saved my worthless hide, don’t anyone try to tell me you don’t exist. Especially not a fat, full of himself ground pounder medico.”
“Yeah, he’s as crooked as they come. And he’s hand in glove with another piece of work, a Mrs. Trang.”
Sam paused as he lifted his glass. “Name sounds familiar. I think we’ve been watching her for a while now, trying to make a drug case. She walks just this side of the line, you know?”
“I got caught in a vicious scheme of hers about which I’ll be swearing out a report on for you today. I’ll be happy to testify when it goes to prosecution. I suspect there are quite a few vets caught in this web because apparently it’s our benefits and veterans acres she’s after, with kickbacks going to the doctor. There were nine other guys in the facility where I was held prisoner but the other patients were already brain dead from the drugs the ring is using for mind control.” Marcus clenched his fists, remembering how reluctantly he’d left comrades behind. “I hated to abandon them but there was nothing I could do.”
Sam took a hefty swallow of his drink. “So how did you escape? General Farraven told me—and I reviewed the med reports—you were pretty out of it after what the Mawreg did.”
“Pure dumb luck. I had help. A woman who worked at the facility took pity on me and rescued me, at considerable risk to herself. It’s actually her I’m here about today because she has troubles going way beyond what I was caught up in.”
Leaning back in his chair, Sam raised his eyebrows. “What kind of troubles?”
“Amarotu Combine.”
Sam whistled and sat forward, all interest. “That’s not good. Of course the crime syndicate’s in a world of hurt right now because the SCIA recently did a major takedown, cut off the head of the organization, broke up a lot of the crime clans in various Sectors.”
“Yeah, I know. The locals are trying to revive the organization in a reduced form on Felicia Seven. Sent a gang of about fifteen guys up to where I was hiding with her. The creeps were trying to get her back. I was a side issue for them.”
“Gramps’ cabin?”
“The same,” Marcus said. “It’s all gone now. We had to blow it up to escape. Don’t know how many of the bastards got caught in the explosion and I don’t care either.”
“Sorry to hear about the cabin—we sure had good times there when we were kids, fishing and whatnot. Where’s the lady now?”
“I left her at the hotel. I hate leaving her alone but the Baredjim security staff can probably keep her safe for a couple of hours.”
Sam raised his eyebrows. “The high rent district all right.”
“She’s amazing—a special woman. I’ve got it bad for her, Sam, even asked her to marry me yesterday.”
“Congratulations,” Sam said, raising his glass. “You moved at light speed. I knew you would, if you ever met the right girl.”
“Yeah, I have no doubts about Carialle whatsoever. She’s the real deal but she’s got complicated problems. She’s got no Sectors ID for one thing—she and a bunch of her people were kidnapped by the Shemdylann from outside our interstellar borders and sold to the Combine four years ago. For another, her handler suffered an accident when he arrived on Felicia Seven with her in tow, and she’s afraid of being charged with his death, even though she had nothing to do with it. Carialle has special powers and the mob has used her to help commit crimes. She’ll testify against them of course, given immunity, but I figure I’d better get her a high priced lawyer, maybe even from off planet—” Marcus broke off, studying the expression on his old friend’s face. “What?”
Sam seated himself behind the desk and called up a file on his AI, swiveling the display to show Marcus. “Your lady resemble her?”
The person in the trideo was similar to Carialle in appearance, with the same green hair and jade skin, wearing a plain gray tunic and pants like one he’d seen in Carialle’s closet the night he was in her old apartment.
“Yeah, this women could be her close relative all right. Who is she?”
“This is actually a composite of several women who were recently rescued from the Combine
on two different worlds, and who helped with the SCIA takedown as I understand it. You’re driving around with one of the most sought after sentients in the Sectors right now. Special orders from the Council of Mellurean Minds and Sectors Command—if any of her people are found, both organizations are to be notified and in the meantime, the empath is to be treated with kid gloves, protected at all costs.”
Marcus felt relieved to a degree. “What’s the protocol? She’s not going to be separated from me, I can tell you right now, or shipped off anywhere for interrogation. She and I’ll be vanishing where you’ll never find us if that’s the deal. You know I can make it happen.”
“Take it easy, no one’s trying to separate you from your lady. It’s all legit. I know a couple of the people high up in the SCIA who are working the overall case. Evidently the authorities found records on Devir Six indicating one of the Combine’s assets might have been shipped to Felicia Seven right before the SCIA moved in but then the trail went cold.” He grinned. “Sort of like your records poofed into thin air after you got transferred here under a medical hold. The Mellureans won’t allow the empaths to be treated with anything but utmost respect. We should get you both to a safe house under guard right away and then contact the Agent in Charge.” Sam shook his head. “Only you could fall into the biggest criminal case in Sectors’ history and come out smelling like a rose. Hey, it’s too early to discuss, but I need a guy like you in my organization, if you’re looking for work. Not returning to active military duty are you?”
Marcus shook his head. “The last mission downrange was it for me. Besides, now there’s Carialle to consider.”
“And you’re sure she’s not…using her powers on you? Trying to get help?” Sam’s voice was hesitant.
He didn’t even remember leaving his chair but Marcus had his hand fisted in Sam’s shirt and he was nose to nose with his old friend, who he’d apparently slammed against the wall. “She’d never do that, it would be a violation of her principles. When she rescued me from Trang’s hellhole, she didn’t know who I was or what I could do for her. I was a guy in bad trouble and she couldn’t stand by and watch me die. Carialle is the genuine article.”
Sam had his hands raised. “Easy, no insult intended. I had to ask. With a super empath manipulation’s a possibility. You’re still on a bit of a hair trigger, aren’t you?”
Marcus swallowed hard and released Sam, retreating three steps. “Sorry. I’ve never been in love before and it makes me crazy not being able to ensure her safety properly myself.”
“I get it, believe me.” Sam sat behind his desk. “Let me pull together a squad and vehicles and I’ll go with you to pick her up.”
“I heard what you said about all the high level involvement but respectfully, there are no Mellureans here yet. I want a lawyer for Carialle before we’re in police hands and certainly before the SCIA shows up. Who’s the best on Felicia Seven right now?”
Sam considered. “Actually, Sandara Glynn is probably who I’d call. She bills an hourly rate high enough to beggar a small planet but she’s a bulldog for her clients.”
“Georg Glynn’s little sister?”
“Little no more, trust me.”
“Call her then.” Marcus settled into his chair. “See if she’ll meet us at the hotel. I’m good for whatever her fee is. Carialle and I have another bargaining chip as well, a set of facts the Mellureans and Command need to know. Maybe the upper echelons already do, considering the deferential way you said her people are to be treated.”
Sam tilted his head, interest piqued. “Command? Your lady has a military connection in all this? That’s new info on the case.”
Marcus shifted in his chair. “Has to do with the Mawreg and the checkout code and I really don’t want to discuss it.”
Sam whistled. “Yeah, no don’t tell me. Don’t tell anyone. Keep the details for the right ears.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
After Marcus left the hotel room with a final kiss—she had to basically push him out the door—Carialle wandered through the suite, at loose ends. She wasn’t interested in any of the entertainment or news streams available on the hotel’s channels and she was unable to settle. Just as she’d decided to take a long bath in the elaborate tub, although acknowledging it wouldn’t be half as much fun without Marcus, the room’s door chimed.
Surprised and a bit wary, she went to the portal and opened the comlink. “Yes?”
“Room service.” The voice was cheery.
“There’s been a mistake—I didn’t order anything.”
“No, ma’am, you didn’t. But Mr. Valerian put in a special order for you at the front desk as he left. He told the concierge to send you a bouquet of flowers, a cup of tea and this breakfast assortment.”
How sweet of Marcus! Carialle keyed open the door and moved to allow the hotel employee to escort the room service robo into the room.
He was followed by another man who closed the door behind him as both drew weapons. “You’ll be coming with us,” said the first.
She sent a wave of power at them, a strong desire to leave her presence, and backed away, trying to remember where she’d left the blaster. As one of the intruders fumbled with the door in obedience to her sending, the other swore and ran after her, catching her by the hair as she got her fingertips on the weapon. Jerking her head and screaming as several strands of her hair were pulled out by the roots, she fell, twisting and firing the blaster at her assailant as she hit the floor. The shot went wide and he caught her in the stun field of his weapon.
Paralyzed, Carialle lay in a heap, barely able to breathe. He nudged her with his toe before bending to grab the blaster from her loosely clenched hand. “Didn’t expect me to be immune to your gift, didja? Edmorad thought of everything,” he said with a smirk. “Wait here, like a good girl.”
She heard him berating his partner as the pair worked over an alteration to the room service robo. Her mind was going at light speed but she couldn’t think of any way to combat the effect of the stunner, much less to alert the hotel or Marcus to her peril. No matter how hard she prayed to Thuun, neither her body nor her gifts responded to her will.
Then the Combine enforcer was standing over her again.
“Get ready for a long nap,” he said, shooting her with another blast of energy from the stunner. “Welcome to the Amarotu family reunion.”
His mocking laugh was the last thing she heard as she lost consciousness.
While Sam was putting through a call to the lawyer he’d recommended, Marcus received his own call. Concerned it might be Carialle, he answered, only to hear the measured tones of the Baredjim’s Executive Manager.
“Mr. Valerian, I’m sorry to have to inform you your companion has apparently been abducted from our premises.”
Marcus was stunned and hoped he’d misheard. “What in the seven hells are you taking about? How could she have been kidnapped—what about all your security I paid for?”
He saw Sam’s head snap in his direction and he switched the com status to a public setting so his friend could listen in.
“Our deepest apologies, Mr. Valerian, but I’m standing in your suite right now and there are clear signs of violence, including blaster fire scars, and the woman is missing. Our AI detected suspicious activity in this hallway, an unauthorized use of a room service robo, and alerted my staff but unfortunately we arrived too late to be of assistance.”
“How long ago?”
“Probably ten minutes. We’ve been searching the hotel premises and grounds, and the robo was found abandoned in the parking structure. We’re accessing the vids now but it appears the surveillance system in the garage may have been tampered with. I believe this was an inside job. The Combine must have had a few of their people embedded as sleeper agents on my staff.”
Sam took the com from Marcus’s hand. “This is Chief Inspector Garamonte, Felicia Law Enforcement. Preserve all evidence, keep the rooms sealed. I’m sending a squad immediately and I’ll be
arriving shortly myself.”
“Yes, Inspector. Mr. Valerian, we can offer you the assistance of the D’nvannae Brother assigned to this facility.”
“We can talk about your offer later.” Marcus ended the call and paced across the office, swearing. “I shouldn’t have left her. I understood how badly the Combine wanted her after the assault on Gramps’ cabin but I figured I had a short window of time to get to you and get help. I figured she was in more immediate danger from the SCIA.”
“My team is meeting us downstairs with the groundcars. Let’s get to the hotel and see what clues the kidnappers may have left.” Sam opened the flap of a closed cabinet, revealing an assortment of weaponry. As he selected a blaster, he said over his shoulder, “I’m making you a special deputy on this case. Plays hell with the regulations but you’re probably the girl’s best hope. Can you think of any details to provide us a lead? Anything she shared about the Combine on Felicia?”
Marcus shook his head. “She’d just arrived and her handler ‘s contact failed to show.”
As they were about to leave the office, there was a hasty knock and a man burst in, nearly running over Marcus. He looked past Marcus to address Sam. “Sorry, chief, but you said this Combine case was top priority. Combine manager Edmorad Zymmer was observed boarding a private flyer a few minutes ago, after loading cargo into the hold. He’s got Gisen Trang and a few other suspicious types with him. The team doing surveillance says it appears he’s headed to the compound on Revva Island. We’ve heard rumors of a big meetup and the island might be the location. Or with Trang along, it could be a big drug deal. Either way, could be the break in the local Combine takedown we’ve been waiting for.”
“Trang. Now there’s a nasty piece of work.” Marcus shook his head. “Where have I heard the name Edmorad before? Lords of Space, Carialle said he was the person her controller talked to briefly, before he died. He was number four guy in the hierarchy for a while where she used to be based. She’s with the bastard, I’m sure of it. Probably inside the cargo container—the Combine makes the empaths travel sealed into crates to avoid detection, according to her.” He grabbed Sam’s arm. “Forget the hotel—we have to follow this guy if we’re going to save her.”
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