As she led the duke through the room, he glanced briefly at Hugo’s body lying in a pool of blood, and flinched for a moment at what Hugo still clutched in his dead hand. He didn’t speak, but followed her to the next door.
Brett cracked the door and listened with her good ear. Then she opened it enough to peer out. The stairs they had come down stood to the left. The other way led down the hall to other doors and a dead end. Up the stairs it was.
Chapter Nineteen
Jonathan arrived at Brandon House, and Blalock led him immediately to the library. Stephen sat at the console, speaking to someone. Jonathan stood silently in front of the desk and waited.
“I’m sending you the data now, and I want you to authorize me to the next security level. I can’t get the name of the man at the top of this; he’s too highly placed, I suspect. It’s a matter of life and death, sir.”
“Brandon, you’d better be right about this.” There was a pause as the man on the console scanned the incoming data. “Goddamn, Brandon, antimatter weapons?” He continued to read the documents and then tapped in the codes. “When you are ready to move, notify us, and we’ll send reinforcements. Don’t move on your own, Brandon.”
“Don’t worry, General, if this is as high up as I think, I’m going to need your men.” He cut the link, and the screen died.
“What the hell is going on, Stephen? Where is my daughter?” Jonathan ran his hand through his hair and sat down.
Stephen explained what he suspected had happened and what had led to the whole mess. He explained about his messages from in-space, and about the weapons project his grandfather had worked on in secret. When he finished, Jonathan sat back and clutched the arms of the chair.
“Where are they?” Anger, fear, and worry all rolled into a burning ball sitting right in the middle of his belly.
He stared at the young man sitting across from him, and realized he’d been thinking of him as a boy. However, this was a man, Brett’s man, his lover’s son, soon to be his son-in-law.
And a damn fine investigator. He’d gotten to the core of the events through a mix of research, instinct, skill, and determination. For the first time, Jonathan realized there was more to Stephen than just a husband for his girl, and he knew he could leave her safely in those good hands. If they could get her out of this.
“I believe they are being held somewhere. In order for me to find out, I needed this last code. You see, normally, I don’t have clearance for this.” He paused and plunged ahead. “Sir, I suspect one of the ambassadors is involved. Perhaps you can give me some insight as to why.”
“Anything you need, son, just ask.”
“Tell me about Century IV and their ambassador.”
“Ambassador Pheydor? I always liked him. Very easygoing, gets along well with everyone. He was a businessman before being appointed.” Jonathan thought hard, his hand rubbing his chin. “He told me the other night he planned on retiring soon and going back to private life.”
“What about the politics of the planet?” Stephen pressed him.
“Well, Century IV is the nearest planet to the Commonwealth. It’s got a good technology base, but not as far along as you are here. It was one of the first colonized planets after New Commonwealth.” He rattled off the basic stuff. “They have a very strong manufacturing base, a well-developed military structure, and a fairly stable economy. However, their position in space made them vulnerable to the last wave of the Ottoman expansion, like New Commonwealth, and they just barely threw them out. New Commonwealth hadn’t been much help in the battle. You were stretched just defending yourselves, much less a nearby neighbor.” Jonathan sat back and ran his fingers through his head.
“They would perhaps see this as a strategic defense weapon? Or are they thinking of expanding themselves?”
“Well, defense, certainly, but expansion?” Jonathan sat up, as he went go over what he knew of their strategy. “They have a very weak agricultural economy. The planet can’t grow squat, and it’ll be years before their terraforming projects kick in. They have to import almost every scrap of food they eat, most of it from right here. That’s what almost cost them the war. If the Ottoman forces had been smarter, they could have starved them into submission. I would have, if it had been me.”
Stephen called up the chart again, comparing the bounce signal to the planets.
“Why would Century IV create the weapon here?”
Jonathan filled him in. “It has some technology, and has manufacturing plants, so the weapon could be made there, but they don’t have the R&D facilities like you do here. Also, they can’t create antimatter; it would have to be imported first or smuggled in from New Commonwealth, or at least the technology to generate it. I don’t believe your government would just give them the stuff. How much have they already gotten off the planet?” He shrugged. “Depends on how long this has been in the works. If they’re using embassy courier ships, they can’t move much at one time, the ships are too small and they are built for speed, not cargo mass.”
“But would their government be agreeable to using such a weapon?” Stephen pressed him.
“It would solve a lot of their problems. With the new tariffs being put in place by New Commonwealth, the cost of importing all their food would either bankrupt them in a few years or destroy their economy. But if they conquered New Commonwealth, they would have everything they need and not have to pay a dime.”
“But they have a military as strong as ours, or else they would not be free of the Ottomans. Why do they need the weapon?” Stephen asked.
“A good question.” Jonathan sat back and crossed his legs. “You just said it, they are as strong as you are, not stronger. If you set out to take over, you want to make sure no one comes to the defense of the poor bastard you’ve got your eye on. It’s what I’d do if I were in command. Superior power can avoid many entanglements. One large demonstration of power, say destroy the capitol from space, and the planet would fall in line without another shot being fired. No one would challenge you. Also, if you are the only one with the power, it’s even better. Besides, if you want an aggie world, the last thing you want to do is destroy everything.”
The two men sat there staring at each other. Minutes passed and then Stephen slapped his legs and stood.
“Let’s go. Do you know where the ambassador lives? Which would be most likely, his house or the embassy?”
“Oh, the embassy, no doubt. Diplomatic immunity. No one would dare enter the embassy. It’s a large building, many offices, underground parking, and lots of places to hide a couple of captives.” They started for the door.
“I’ll call for reinforcements once we’ve established they are there.”
“How do you plan to do it? Walk up, ring the bell and ask?” Jonathan stopped in the foyer and eyed Stephen, who stopped at the hall console table and pulled open a drawer. He pressed a button on the inside of the drawer and the bottom slid open. He pulled out two Tasers, tossed one to Jonathan, and pocketed his.
“I think it’s time for a diplomatic visit, don’t you Ambassador Butler? Let’s go get them.” Stephen’s eyes were hard and set.
Jonathan felt a brief wave of pride pass through him. Brett had chosen well.
•●•
Brett stood at the top of the stairs and cracked open the door. She could see the door to the garage down the short hall. Standing against it was a guard with a stunner. She checked the other way, and there was an unguarded door, probably leading into the building itself. She closed the door quietly and motioned to the duke.
“There’s a guard in the garage. If I remember, there is also a ramp and a garage door we’ll have to go through. If it’s automatic, we won’t be able to raise it. We’d be trapped against it.” She bit her lip. Back down into the basement wasn’t an option. They’d be trapped there.
“You’re not thinking of going through the building? We have no idea what we’ll encounter.” Duke Brandon raised his Taser and looked a
t Brett.
“We could stun the guard, drag him in here, and toss him down the steps. Then enter the building and make our way out. I don’t like the odds of being shot down against a garage door. I’d rather take my chances in the building. Lots of hiding places, and there may be less resistance than expected.”
The duke nodded reluctantly. Neither of them liked the idea of being stuck in the garage until they were discovered and killed. “I would rather go down in a fair fight any day.”
“Right. Let’s go.”
Brett opened the door a crack, and the duke aimed and fired. The guard dropped, and they went through the door and together dragged him into the stairwell. Brett took his Taser and put the knife under her belt. With a concerted heave, they rolled him down the stairs, where he landed in a heap at the bottom. Brett ran back to the garage door and looked through, just to make sure. The ramp slanted up about fifteen feet and she could see the bottom five feet of the garage door. It was solid metal, with no visible way to open it manually. They’d be trapped if they went that way.
“It’s a no-go, sir.”
“Right.” He gave her a quick nod and jerked his head toward the other door.
She tried the handle. It gave under her hand, and she cracked the door open. There was another corridor, this one carpeted and decorated with several fine paintings. It looked to be someone’s home, not a commercial building as she guessed. The hall went for about twenty feet and turned a corner.
She showed with a few slashing motions what she wanted the duke to do. He picked up the signal, moved ahead of her to the corner, and waited, Taser raised at his side. Using standard two-man reconnoiter tactics, they both fell into them without thinking.
He glanced around the corner and determined it was clear, slid around it, and she moved up to take his place. When he came to a door at the end of the hall, he pressed his ear to it. No sounds, so he signaled for Brett to move up. She took a position next to him, her Taser at the ready. He opened the door and looked out at the large, well-equipped kitchen.
It was empty. They slipped in and took positions at the doors. One door led to an alley, the other back into the house, probably the dining room. Brett motioned for the duke to look up. There was an electronic servant system.
Suspended above the door to the house was an elaborate electronic board with the rooms listed and lights above them. If someone in the library wanted something, they would press a button in the room, and the light would come on, telling the waiting servants they were needed.
Brett stared at the name on the fourth button from the left. Ambassador Pheydor was spelled out in small readout glowing white.
“This is an embassy, sir.” Brett blew her breath out. As soon as she could she wanted the story from the duke; she was completely sure he knew. He nodded to her and shrugged. They had to make up their minds, the alley or through the building. Brett motioned for him to stay put, and she slipped out the door to the alley and checked it.
She came back in and shook her head. There were security lasers crisscrossing the alleyway. No way out there. The door into the house would have to do.
Brett motioned again to the duke, flattened herself against the door, and cracked it open. The dining room stood empty, but the opening to the foyer was wide, with no door to hide behind. She slipped through, Taser ready, and the duke followed her. They took up positions in the dining room and prepared to move again. So far so good, but in her experience, this was usually where things went wrong.
They stepped into the foyer. The front door and freedom stood twenty feet away. On the far wall she could see the side of the elaborate staircase curving up to the second floor. They crept toward the door, hugging the wall, when Brett heard the crackling of a Taser and turned in time to see the duke crumple to the floor.
She looked up and faced three men on the upstairs landing, all pointing their weapons at her. Damn, they’d been so close. She dropped her weapon and raised her hands.
One of the men came down the stairs, picked up the Taser, then went to the duke and took his, still clutched in his hand. He pulled the knife from her waistband and tucked it into his belt. The man backed off, still holding his weapon on Brett.
These men must be guards, but they weren’t wearing any sort of uniforms, like the ones at the Old Earth embassy. Without waiting for permission to move, she rushed to the duke, knelt beside him, and checked his pulse. His breathing was regular and his pulse was strong. He was unconscious. She waited for a minute as his eyes fluttered and he regained awareness. He looked up into her eyes and blinked several times.
“I’m sorry, Brett.” His voice sounded so old, so defeated.
“Shhh, nothing to be sorry about.” She gave him a smile.
“Pick him up and bring them upstairs.” A man on the landing called down to the other man. “Nestor, you go find out why they’re loose and what happened to Hugo and Van.” He motioned with his weapon for the man to get going.
The remaining man helped her to get the duke to his feet, and then they started to climb the stairs, Brett supporting the duke with the man behind them, Taser pointed at their backs.
“I’ll get the ambassador; you put them in the second room on the left. Stay away from them and drop them if they move,” the man on the landing ordered, and then disappeared down the hall and into a room.
The guard herded Brett and the duke to another room. It turned out to be a bedroom, unused, and she settled the duke on the bed so he could recover. She sat next to him and held his hand. The man stood with his back against the door, the Taser leveled at her head.
Five minutes later the door opened, knocking the man in the back. He stepped away and the one called Nestor entered. He glared at Brett and the duke.
“I don’t know how, but it looks like the old man killed both Hugo and Van,” he growled. She stared at him without blinking, thrilled the blame for the deaths had fallen on the duke and not her. These two would regret their miscalculation of her abilities, just like the others.
“Don’t get close to him, Nestor; he’s more dangerous than he looks.”
The duke gave them a satisfied grin, crossed his arms, and sat back, playing the role perfectly.
The door opened again and a new man entered, dressed in a well-tailored suit, which was hard to pull off, but it covered his round belly well. Brett recognized him immediately. Ambassador Pheydor stood in the doorway, red-faced and furious, his hands clenched and shaking with fury.
“You stupid old man!” he spat at the duke. “You almost ruined everything. But you’ve just made things a little more difficult now, that’s all.”
Brett didn’t speak, but attended to the duke. He looked better; his eyes had cleared and he had more control of his movements. Not to mention the smug look on his face from the accusations of the ambassador.
The man advanced on her, still shaking, and raised his hand as if to hit her. Brett didn’t flinch.
“The last man who hit her is lying dead in your basement,” the duke warned, and the man froze in his tracks.
“Tie them up again, and this time, do it right. I don’t know how they got loose, but don’t let it happen again,” he spat out at the others and left.
The guard called Nestor left and returned shortly with more cording. He bound them and left the duke stretched out on the bed, then he pushed Brett to the floor next to the bed.
Somewhere, below them, she heard a chime, like a clock or perhaps the doorbell to the embassy. If it was the doorbell, it meant someone had arrived, and she might be able to take advantage of the situation.
But could she risk the duke again?
Chapter Twenty
Diane called Brandon House to speak to the duke. Blalock answered, looking very pale, and his lips strained at a smile. The disappointment when he saw it was her prickled at her.
“Sorry to disappoint you, Blalock. What is going on? Is the duke unwell? You seem very upset.” Diane couldn’t help but show her concern for the old re
tainer.
“Oh, milady, there’s terrible things happening!” His composure crumbled, and it felt like a hard hit to her stomach.
“What are you talking about? Where is Alistair?”
“He and Miss Butler went to lunch today and disappeared five hours ago. Lord Stephen and her father have been here for about an hour, going through the duke’s personal files.” Now he wrung his hands, all pretense of calm abandoned.
Diane leaned forward, her eyebrows furrowed. “Let me speak to Stephen, now,” she ordered.
“I can’t, milady, they left.” His lip actually trembled.
“Blalock, where did they go?” Her throat tightened her voice to a whisper.
“I don’t know, they didn’t say. But milady, they took the duke’s weapons.” He sat back not even trying to hide his fear and anxiety.
“Weapons?” Why would they need weapons, what in God’s name had happened? A kidnapping, perhaps? “Did they notify the police?”
“Not that I know of, milady.” Of course not, those two men would just take it upon themselves to think they could handle any situation.
Her decision made, she said, “I’m coming over right now, Blalock.”
“Oh, thank you, milady.” He sighed and fell back against the chair. “It would be good to have you here.”
•●•
Jonathan and Stephen rode in the back of the embassy car, the windows mirrored out. Jonathan knew this was no time for his nobility; they would ride together. They’d stopped at his residence, and he quickly dressed in a more formal suit, suitable for an ambassador’s unofficial visit. Stephen still wore his fatigues, black pants, black T-shirt, and tan jacket, but could pass as his personal escort and guard.
The vehicle rounded the corner and pulled to a stop in front of the Century IV embassy. The men stuffed the Tasers in their pockets and got out. Jonathan told the driver to keep the car running and watch the front door, then with Stephen close behind, they climbed the stairs and rang the bell.
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