“Of course. We know the take by hour depending on who’s on stage, who’s working the crowd, and who’s behind the bar. We’re entirely market driven. Whatever’s bringing in the profits is what we want to highlight, and perhaps think about bringing in more of.”
“That’s so interesting. I had no idea.”
Joe was smiling, even nodding a bit. “I hadn’t realized until recently what a head you have for business, either.”
Scouring his memory, Alex tried to figure out what Joe could possibly be talking about. Head for business? He was decent with numbers, sure. But, other than the fact that it came in handy for dividing up the tips and calculating how many supplies to lay in, Alex didn’t see what that had to do with anything.
“For business?”
Alex’s thoughts flashed to Sandy, imagining him upstairs in Alex’s bed, his large frame dwarfing the room’s meager dimensions. In a few minutes Alex would be up there, too. He pictured them lying face to face, both naked, his arms looped around Sandy’s neck, their lower bodies rocking and bumping languidly against each other. They’d be feeding each other slow, wet kisses, of course. His dick twitched sympathetically even as Alex’s brain tried valiantly to focus on the conversation at hand.
“Yes. We hadn’t realized that you, in fact, had your own business interests.” Hands clasped quietly on the desk, Joe leaned forward, his gaze pinning Alex.
“I do?” Had he been daydreaming and missed something? Some critical piece of conversation that made everything make sense?
“Yes, and unfortunately, Alex, the terms of your employment at Durty Nelly’s prohibit the conducting of personal business whilst on the job. Do you understand?”
Alex gazed back at Joe, fidgeted in his chair, and wondered if he was having some kind of adverse reaction that made all regular conversation seem like gibberish. Conducting personal business on Nelly’s time? “Do you mean taking a break to talk to my boyfriend?”
An expression of mild discomfort -- pain, almost -- crossed Joe’s face and it was his boss’ turn to shift in his seat. “No, actually. Although that does bring us to the second point I need to bring to your attention. You are aware of the prohibition against allowing non-employees into secure areas of the business, aren’t you?”
“Secure areas?”
“Yes. Specifically, the wine vault. You were observed entering it with a customer and not emerging for several minutes.”
“Oh, but—” Alex was speechless. This was ridiculous. “But it was just Sandy. He’s not going to steal anything. All we did was talk.”
Joe sighed. “Of course I believe you. However… we have established rules in place for a reason and it’s my job to make sure the rules are enforced equally. I can’t make exceptions for one employee and not be expected to make exceptions for others. You do see that, don’t you?”
“Joe, this is ridiculous. I had a break coming and I needed a quiet place to have a quick conversation with my boyfriend. We talked, that’s all. Nothing was damaged. In fact, I didn’t even take the whole break, since Teddy was busy and asked me to come back early. What’s the big deal?”
His expression growing increasingly troubled, Joe glanced at the computer readout, down at his hands, then back at Alex. “Alex, I’m going to call Nick in now. He has information that I think can shed some light on this conversation.”
“Nick?” Oh, no. Alex had heard this song before and he didn’t like the ending. “What’s he got to do with this?”
Pressing a comm button on the desk, Joe called Nick into the room.
Waves of dread washed over Alex. His stomach turned over and he was afraid he was going to throw up. The parallels to another time weighed Alex down, threatening to crush him under their combined weight.
Nick entered through the same door Alex had used, closing it behind him. The snick of the magnetic lock clicking into place completed Alex’s sense of inevitable doom.
“Nick, could you show Alex what you showed me earlier?”
Joe made room for Nick behind the desk, sliding his chair back to allow Nick access. Pressing a few keys with one hand, Nick looked up from behind a fall of blond hair that Alex knew from experience was softer and smoother than any silk ever made. Was that regret Alex read there? Or guilt?
Pushing one last button, Nick stepped back and the computer screen switched from a rainbow of scrolling numbers to a view of the bar -- Alex’s normal work station -- taken by a camera Alex had never known was there. The time marked on the screen was a few hours earlier and Alex saw himself on the screen; watched as the screen Alex accepted payment from Dave Bartok.
Alex had been there.
He knew what had happened.
Still, to see it on screen in full color and three dimensions made it seem somehow unreal.
Nick pressed a few more buttons and the camera focused in on Alex’s hand as he reached into his work apron, withdrew a small packet, and handed it back to Bartok along with his credit chip.
“Do you deny that that’s you in the video?”
Do you dispute that that is you in the picture? Years might have passed since he heard those words. He might be millions of miles away from Earth and his wasted youth -- the man he was now might be as far from a struggling student and musician as it was possible to be -- but suddenly Alex was sixteen all over again and the sense of betrayal was as fresh as if it was yesterday. Do you deny that that is you performing that disgusting and unnatural act?
Alex’s face heated and he knew his cheeks were flushing as red as the stripes of his boss’ shirt. He bowed his head, resting his chin on his clenched fist.
“Alex?”
Alex looked up, determined not to let them see they’d gotten to him. He’d be damned if he’d relive that scenario again. He’d only just gotten away. Only just begun to break free of the nightmare that he had been forced into. Alex wanted a life -- a real life -- and if he had anything to say about it, it would somehow include Sandy. “What?”
“While you’re not prohibited from having another job, at Nelly’s we can’t have employees doing anything other than their assigned job functions. Nelly’s has a well-deserved reputation for excellence, due in large part to well trained employees performing their duties to the best of their capabilities. We simply can’t have employees doing what you did. Is that completely clear?”
“Absolutely. But, Joe… I don’t care what it looks like on that video. I wasn’t doing business. Bartok offered, I refused. It was as simple as that.”
“Really? A simple case of mistaken identity? Mr. Bartok mistook you for a customer, perhaps?”
Alex flushed. He knew he looked guilty as hell. “Something like that.”
“Then, this isn’t you, either?”
More video, this time taken down in the Pike. Alex remembered glancing around for security types and, right on cue, the man on the screen turned and looked into the camera. Dave Bartok again, handing Alex a small packet and Alex giving him credits.
Alex could only stare at the display. Watch himself, not that long ago and at the same time a lifetime ago, pocket the drugs and walk away.
Was it stupid? Sure. But he’d do it again in a heartbeat, because taking it had let him be close to Sandy. Even high as a kite, it had been the best night of his life. He and Sandy had been as close as two people could be and it had been nothing short of amazing. For as much sex as Alex had had in his life, it was as close to making love as he’d ever come -- maybe ever would come.
The video stopped, frozen on Alex’s very recognizable back, and Alex could only manage a small bitter smile as he rounded on Nick. “Nice to see you haven’t lost your touch. Still selling people out to help your own interests. This time you haven’t even got the excuse that you’re saving your own skin. What does this get you, bonus credits with your new partner? Trading favors with the local security chief? What? Tell me. What did it get you, Nick?”
Maybe Nick had grown up some, too, because he at least had the grace to
look abashed. “That was a long time ago, Alex. You don’t think I’d go back and do things differently if I had the chance? Because I would. Seth Loftin brought this to us. He was concerned.”
“Thanks, but I’m not quite as naïve as I used to be, Nick. Ten years being used like a sex doll will do that to you. Do you have any idea of the things I’ve done?” Just saying the words opened the door a tiny crack. Despair welled up inside him and Alex fought to stuff it back down. If he let it out, even for an instant, he’d be lost, so he reached again for the numbness that had gotten him through so much. Don’t think. Don’t feel. Just keep moving. “Forget it. Consideration for others never was your best subject.”
“I’m sorry you’ve had a difficult time in the past, Alex.” Joe Sotheran’s tone was so matter-of-fact that Alex could only stare in amazement. What would it take to touch the human soul behind that cold-blooded exterior? If there even was one to touch. “Be that as it may, rules are rules and I’m afraid we’ve no choice but to terminate your employment.”
Chapter 14
“Can’t this thing go any faster? Kai, talk to the man; see what you can do. Jimi, how’s he doing?”
“Not good. There’s not much we can do for him out here.”
Sandy wished everyone would cut the chatter and just take the bloody knife out of his ribs. Make that knives -- plural. Maybe he could roll onto his side and—
“Whoa, buddy. Sandy, don’t move. Sarhaan, help me.”
Problem now was, no air. Every shallow breath he took hurt more than the last. He’d take the pain, if only it brought oxygen with it.
Prying one eye open, Sandy found Sarhaan watching him, brow furrowed with worry. “Sandy, you awake? Talk to me, big guy.”
“Can’t. Breathe.”
“Shit. Jimi, what’ve you got? Says he can’t breathe.”
Vilnius, looking all business, joined Sarhaan, so that the faces of concerned teammates bent over him were all Sandy could see. “I’m doing the best I can, but I don’t have a lot of options until we get him back to the ship. I don’t want to have to do this on a tram in motion if I don’t have to. Sandy, I need you to lie still. Can you do that for me?”
Tram in motion? That might explain his nausea. His knee was on fire -- throbbing and hot -- his sides ached. But the thing that had him teetering on the edge of panic was the fact that he couldn’t draw breath. His chest hurt like hell and his lungs were screaming. “Breath. Air.”
“Fuck.” Vilnius again. Good kid. Sandy hoped he knew what he was doing. “Sarhaan, I’m gonna have to stick him. I don’t think I have a choice here.”
“Stick him? What the--? Is he turning blue?”
“We’re at least another ten minutes out. Jimi, can he make it that long?”
Voices. Sandy couldn’t tell who was who. Kai, maybe?
“I’m gonna do it, Sarhaan, or it’s gonna get ugly. Here, hold his shirt back for me.” Someone swabbed Sandy’s chest with something cold.
“What’s that?”
“Just some local anesthetic. Then the catheter. Close your eyes and relax, Sandy. This should help.” A pinprick jabbed Sandy in the chest, a little below his collarbone. “Can you feel that?”
Sandy heard more than felt the thumping at the site of the needle jab. No air. He tried a head shake.
“Good. Eyes closed, now. Think about something nice. Think about home. Think about Alex. Sarhaan, pinch his hand, hard. Right there between his thumb and his, yeah, like that.”
What did his hand have to do with anything? Vilnius must be leaning on him with a pen or something. The pressure built. A weight on his chest. Built some more. Suddenly it was gone. Part of his chest gave way and this time when he tried to draw breath into his starving lungs it worked.
“Okay, better. That’s better. Did you hear that, Sarhaan? That should help. I think this’ll hold him until we get him on board.”
***
“You make a shitty invalid, you know that, D’abu?”
“So let me out, then.” Sandy glared at Kai.
“Tú comprends, you’re still fucked up?” Kai stared back impassively.
“I’m all better. See?” Pushing himself upright, Sandy swung his legs over the side of the infirmary bed, only flinching a little at the twinges of pain in his leg and back.
“Better, sure. But you, my friend, are still far from well. The shape you’re in, I think Jimi here could kick your ass.”
The affronted look on Vilnius’ face made Sandy laugh, which in turn triggered a bout of coughing. Pressing a hand to the side he’d collapsed the lung on, he kept it there until the coughing fit passed. Sandy didn’t care how long he’d spent in re-gen -- he still felt like shit. His knee was maybe eighty-percent and he’d gotten winded just going to the head.
Vilnius scanned the metabolic readout from the telemetry and got his serious look on again. “Chief, you could really stand one more pass through the machine. You need it to--”
“No! Definitely, no. I’ve already had all I can take of playing dead man; I can’t lie still another minute. I’m going stir crazy. What I need is to get out of here.” Sandy fit his actions to match his words, sliding off the bed and heading for the locker holding his clothes.
Pulling off the sick bay clothes, he wadded them into a ball and tossed them into an open laundry bag, then stepped into his pants. Or tried to. He had to sit down first to do it, but he finally got his pants on. “And to talk to Alex. Who was the last person to talk to him?”
Sandy tugged a clean shirt over his head and looked around for his boots. He was pulling on the second sock when something in the quality of the silence struck him as odd. When he looked up, Vilnius was gone and Kai was standing with his arms folded across his chest. Sandy knew that look and it was rarely a good thing.
“Kai… What aren’t you telling me?”
“We’re not sure where he is, Sandy. No one’s seen him since the night you got ambushed.”
***
“What do you mean you haven’t looked?” Sandy’s temper was rising along with his volume and if someone didn’t start giving him some answers he liked, things were likely to take a turn.
“I never said that. I said it wasn’t our top priority.” Kai’s easy slouch as he walked belied his attention to the conversation. He might look calm, but Sandy knew that any periods of true relaxation were few and far between for the team’s XO. “It’s on my list of things I’d like to know -- it’s just not number one.”
“That’s just great.” Sandy headed in the direction of Sarhaan’s quarters as fast as his throbbing knee allowed. He needed to find Alex and the thought of all the time that had been wasted while he floated in limbo… God only knew what had happened. “I hope finding out who made unauthorized modifications to my anatomy is one of them.”
Walking beside Sandy, Kai’s athletic stride had never looked more effortless. Sandy had never envied the man his lean, wiry build more. “That’d be one, definitely.”
“What they wanted should be another one. To send a message, obviously, but what did they want? Something about cutting in on their business -- but that doesn’t make any sense. There must be a hundred ships hauling cargo and transporting people.”
Kai only nodded and looked thoughtful as they arrived at Sarhaan’s door. “I think the four of us should talk this over before you go taking off. More and more this sounds like it affects the whole crew; the business. We need to deal with it as a team.”
“Four of us?” Sandy palmed the thermal-imaging lock, entering as the door slid open. Sarhaan stood with one arm braced against his desk, the other against the big chair that sat behind it, bracketing Caleb. Perched on the edge of the big chair, Caleb sat, his hands moving quickly over the keyboard of Sarhaan’s computer. “Ah.”
“Caleb’s been helping gather the intel. He’s been checking station security computers for information and we’ve got a few leads.”
Sarhaan and Cal looked up. Even without Sarhaan’s possessive, pr
otective body language, Sandy would have spotted the connection between them. Their closeness was obvious in the easy familiarity -- comfort evident in their physicality.
Maybe someday…
“Hey, Sandy.” Caleb smiled and sat back, one hand dropping to rest against Sarhaan’s knee, as though touching Sarhaan was its normal resting state.
Sarhaan glanced up, acknowledging Sandy’s presence with a nod before returning to gaze at the computer screen. “Come look at this. This is pretty interesting. How are the ribs today?”
After first flicking a glance in Kai’s direction, Sandy crossed the room, rounding the desk even as Cal tilted the screen for easier viewing. “They’re okay. My knee’s still crap, but I’m done lying around in sick bay. What’m I looking at?”
Off World 2: Sanctuary Page 16