Avenger Read online

  Based on a mathematical analysis of the dispersion of human life throughout space, Lexi doubted the assertion that Grakes weren’t human. Humanity in the Accord believed their worlds were populated from a seed stock by an ancient race known as the Forerunners a hundred-thousand years ago. Lexi found a pattern in the worlds chosen for seeding by that race. If her observation was correct, Borgol should be a world inhabited by seeded humans whether they looked like it or not. Although she was tempted, now obviously wasn’t the time to ask for a DNA sample, even if the man realized she wasn’t asking for a sperm sample, delivered naturally, which looking at him, would probably hurt.

  Once they were all seated, Jackson said, “I’m pleased to see you again. You made good time. I’m sure you’ve been curious as to why I asked you here. Before I turn the meeting over to Jadkim, allow me to explain. When my friend Ad Boc Seckan met you four weeks ago, he was impressed with your team, apparently not solely because you recovered his antique gemstone. Jadkim’s presence here suggests that he was far more impressed than I realized at the time.” He paused. “The Boc Seckan clan has an unusual ability to… I’m sorry. It is hard to put into words.”

  Jadkim said, “He looks into people and sees their souls. That is how I have always thought of it.” His voice was surprising light, almost feminine. “All Ackalonians seem to do that. He’s just better at it than most. He and my father have been friends and allies for as long as I can remember. My father has the deepest respect for the man. It was at Father’s suggestion that I traveled to Ackalon to ask Plicora Boc Seckan’s advice.”

  Jackson nodded. “My thought was that in a murky situation, they always seem to know what to do, but perhaps that does describe them. Thank you, Jadkim.” He turned his attention back to Geena and the others. “When Jadkim E’Kret met with him for advice concerning his problem, Boc Seckan sent him to me along with a sealed request that I arrange this meeting should you still be on Cardin. He believed you would be. Frankly, I’m surprised you still are. You’ve had your pick of the jobs we’re shopping out to free-lancers. I would hope at least some of them interest you.”

  “We’re making arrangements to remodel our starship,” Geena volunteered. “We expect to be here another eight weeks.

  Jackson nodded, pausing a moment. “Boc Seckan couldn’t have known that. Regardless, you are here. Jadkim has a job to offer you,” he continued. “You should understand that he is not associated with Universal in any way, so there is no recovery fee. Borgol has, however, posted a large reward. If you successfully complete his job, I believe you will be well compensated for your efforts. To be clear, by introducing you and Jadkim, I am doing a favor for Boc Seckan, a client who is also an old friend. That is the limit of my involvement. Universal Underwriters has no involvement whatsoever. However, if you decide to take the job and require anything that I personally can supply, please get in touch with me. I will share my private contact information with you after this meeting.”

  In the brief pause, Geena said, “Thank you, Jackson.”

  He nodded. “Jadkim, please,” he said, turning the conversation over to the smaller man.

  Chapter 5

  Desperate Times

  Jadkim said, “I want to thank you for coming. I know I’m still rattled. I request your forbearance if I come across as abrupt or insensitive, or, I don’t know, assume things I shouldn’t assume. I desperately need help in the form of truly effective investigators. My understanding is that you are a newly formed partnership, with a single successful job on your resume. To be honest, under normal circumstances I doubt I would have invested the time coming this far from Borgol to see you. However, a man both my father and I greatly respect recommended you highly. The man I speak of is Ad Boc Seckan, whom I believe you have all met.”

  “Yes, we recently renamed our partnership when we added Lexi Stevens as a third principal of the partnership,” Geena explained. “She was almost entirely responsible for the resolution of the Plicora’s job. My son and I, previously operating as Samue Investigations, have over twenty years experience.”

  Jadkim nodded, bringing his hands together on the table, fingers touching. “That is, yes, comforting. I think I should begin by explaining I am King Han E’Kret’s second son. As such, while I am a prince among my people, I am not heir to my father’s throne. That burden falls to my elder sibling. Still, in terms of our political and social structure, other than my brother, none of my relatives outrank me. I don’t know whether that is pertinent to what has happened or not. I don’t know what might be important so I want to tell you everything. My situation is an odd one, although I have since come across rumors of others that sound disturbingly similar.”

  He briefly looked across the room at the sparkling city visible through the window. Turning back, his expression becoming increasingly grim as he spoke, he continued, “Borgol is presently facing a period of mild civil unrest, one that we all hope will be brief. Protesters are against a minor tax increase to fund a moisture recovery plant for the central territories. Irrigation will increase the food production capacity of those areas, resulting in lower costs to consumers at the markets. It is also true that sixteen-thousand people, an entire town, will need to be relocated, but they won’t suffer for it. That may not be relevant either.”

  He fidgeted, adding, “It fact, I doubt that it is. However, whether it is or is not, it is due to the unrest I spend many credits on security for my family over and above what is normally provided by my kingdom. I am by nature a worrier, and admittedly the extra security shouldn’t have been necessary. I employ many armed men and women. I have electronic monitors. It was not enough. My two children and my mate have been taken from me.”

  As he paused, Geena asked, using the Borgolian honorific, “How long ago did this happen, Da E’Kret? Do you know why they were taken? Have you received a ransom demand?” Although all four of the partners were present, the three humans physically and Urania through the new comm-gear, Geena, by mutual consent, was their spokesperson for business matters. She had the most experience and honestly, due to his size if nothing else, Ron could be intimidating. Lexi had an unfortunate proclivity toward bitchiness in some situations. She was working on that. Only Geena was wearing one of the contact lenses, a component of their comm-gear. The lens gave Urania visual access to the meeting.

  “It was sixty-five days ago now,” the man replied sadly. “I’ve suffered through each and every one of them. I live with the fear that my wife and my children may be dead.”

  He paused, collecting himself. “What do your police on Borgol think?” Lexi asked.

  Jadkim shook his head. “Police on Borgol? What does that have to do with it? This took place on Naragene Nine.”

  Geena shot Lexi a look Lexi translated as, “Keep quiet.” Then she said, “Please tell it your own way Da E’Kret.”

  “I had a series of business meetings arranged on Naragene Nine. They didn’t really have to come. I brought them with me for a family vacation. It should have been safe, dammit. My two children have never been off-world before. Their excitement was contagious. Even I felt it.”

  He looked down, not meeting any of their eyes as he said, “All three disappeared, along with their protection detail. My business was finished, at least the important meetings. I was thinking of leaving the others to be dealt with by the embassy staff. The rest of our stay was so I could spend time vacationing with my family. They didn’t come back to the hotel to meet me for dinner that night. That was the first I knew of a problem.

  “I spent two torturous days waiting, hoping for word of them before I returned to Borgol by fast currier. I left instructions at the embassy to message me immediately with any news. And of course, my hotel would forward any messages to the embassy. Still, even drones take days to travel from planet to planet. My personal security detail was left behind on Naragene to continue the search. Message drones are sent from the embassy to the palace daily. My people are apparently making little, if any, progre
ss, but it should be said that they’re not really trained for this.”

  He paused while he counted days in his head. “After spending fourteen days on Borgol with still no word, I took a fast courier to Ackalon intending to contact my father’s friend Plicora Boc Seckan to ask his advice. Bad timing on my part though. As near as I can tell he was on his way home from meeting with you here when I arrived. So I awaited his arrival. Still, he granted me an audience as soon as he got back. I related what had happened. I told him that while we have palace agents on the case, they are making as I say, little, if any, progress.”

  He stopped again, leaving Geena to prompt, “Please continue.”

  Jadkim nodded. “Boc Seckan immediately recommended that I get in touch with you. He didn’t even think about it. He is an old man, and tends to be abrupt with others. I knew he was like that. My father frequently comes across the same way. Plus, he just got back and with the Rose of Light in his possession for the first time in decades, he had the right to be abrupt. Still, Boc Seckan’s response was so immediate that I asked him for justification. He had none to offer. Yet, at times the Boc Seckan clan seems to be almost prescient. And of course, we all know the stories that circulate about them. I left within the hour.”

  He frowned. “It takes too long to get from world to world. It took me an additional twelve days to get here in that very uncomfortable courier. I arrived only this morning. Jackson accepted the introduction I carried from Boc Seckan and graciously rearranged his schedule for me to meet with you. You, too, have my thanks for dropping whatever you were doing and responding so promptly to my request for this meeting.”

  He stroked his head as though running fingers through hair he didn’t have. “There is no proof, but I have to assume they’ve been kidnapped. It is of course possible that by now, either at the embassy or back home, we have already been contacted by the kidnappers. It is also possible their bodies have been found. It is equally possible they are waiting for me at home and this is all some terrible mistake. I cannot permit myself to believe any of those scenarios. Besides, Boc Seckan sent me here. To you. He didn’t send me home to wait.”

  He looked Geena straight in the eye as he added, “The Rose of Light was long gone. I don’t think any of the leaders of the Accord thought it would ever turn up again. Yet your team went out and found it. That’s remarkable.”

  He huffed a couple of times. Then his voice totally businesslike, said, “I need remarkable. I want to hire you. It will be an exclusive contract. Even I know that having multiple investigative teams tripping over each other would be counter-productive. I am offering a substantial retainer and a moderate per-diem. Any and all expenses will be covered. I have posted separate rewards for both the location and the successful recovery of my family. I’m afraid I cannot consider recovering their bodies as being a success.”

  Geena didn’t look happy as she said, “I am sure I speak for my team when I say that we sympathize with your situation. Please understand that what we do is find missing objects. That is where our expertise lies. We have never been in the business of rescuing people. Even if we successfully locate your family, if we fumble it at that point, our efforts could possibly get them killed. Our experience just isn’t in this area, Da E’Kret. It is also true that these types of situations often take years to resolve. I am truly sorry, but I don’t believe we are the right group for your needs.”

  As E’Kret nodded, clearly disappointed, Lexi glanced at Geena, who nodded, before she spoke up, saying, “We met Ad Boc Seckan’s daughter, Jis, when they were here. Does she know about the kidnappings? Did she have an opinion?”

  “Yes,” the Grake replied, looking surprised. “Boc Seckan the elder only suggested I bring you into this. Boc Seckan the daughter sought me out as I was preparing to leave. She told me you were my only hope if I am ever to see my mate and children again. She cautioned me that you would be reluctant to accept the assignment, that I would need to be persuasive. I have tried to be persuasive. Jis was surprisingly adamant. I suppose I should have mentioned that. Considering everything else, it didn’t seem relevant.”

  Geena looked at Lexi, her eyebrows raised. Then turning her attention back to E’Kret, said, “Please provide us with everything you have on the case so far. Include details on your family. I also want to know whatever thoughts you may have on why your family was targeted.” Turning her attention to the Universal president, she continued, “Mr. Meeham, would you be so kind as to provide us with a private conference room where we can review Da E’Kret’s material and discuss this among ourselves? As you may realize, we’re not in complete agreement on this and need the time to reach a decision. I apologize for any inconvenience that causes you.”

  Chapter 6

  Da E’kret’s Material

  Alone in a small conference room one floor down, they all served themselves a coffee-like beverage from the provided service. Ron selected a small pastry and leaned against the counter while the two women took seats. The round conference table had chairs to accommodate six people. The room itself was just large enough to have a comfortable margin when walking around with people seated. Unlike Jackson’s office, this one boasted no windows. Here, photographs of nebulae were mounted on all four walls. Jackson referred to it as the Nebula room when he instructed one of his aides to escort them here.

  Geena waited, giving her son the opportunity to find a seat before she gave up on him and said, more to Lexi than to Ron, “I encouraged Da E’Kret to talk because I felt he needed to. Besides, it would have been horribly impolite for us to get up and leave. He spent weeks getting here from Borgol by way of Ackalon. The least we could do was to hear him out. Still I think it should have been clear I was setting expectations we would walk away from this job. We’ve never done anything like this before, Lexi.”

  Geena was not at all vexed, merely stating her position. It was odd for her not being the so-called senior partner; the one who made the final decisions. Overall she was pleased with that situation. She was more than ready to turn over the lead position to someone else, although she assumed the someone else would be her son. She was still getting used to Lexi, a woman from a world that had at best primitive space flight abilities, one who furthermore had no experience as an investigator, being their senior partner. She was also slightly surprised her son seemed to have no desire to step into the role.

  Although Lexi was the newest member of the team, she stepped into the leadership role within ten hours of stowing away. They joked about the name Lexi proposed for their firm the next morning when Geena insisted on a name change. Aeolus, in Greek mythology, was the keeper of the storm winds, releasing them at the whim of the gods to wreak havoc on mankind. At the time, Lexi just said that the name sounded cool. She liked names from ancient Greek mythology. Urania, who until the evening she met Lexi had no name, was named after the Greek muse of astronomy.

  Sometimes, such as now, Geena wondered if that really was all there was to it. That young woman had certainly entered their lives with the force of a damn storm wind. Geena smiled to herself. It had truly only taken ten hours from the time Lexi, a primitive human from Earth, stowed away on her starship, before she took charge of their small partnership. She even spent three or four of those ten hours sleeping.

  Still, in the final analysis, they were all equal partners. Normally, at least three of the four needed to agree to a job if they were going to take it. As senior partner, Lexi had the tie-breaker vote if one was needed. Lexi looked from Geena to Ron, wondering why he had been so quiet throughout the entire interview. He sat at the table looking interested, confident, strong and like he always did, incredibly sexy. That last probably didn’t impress E’Kret or Meeham much. Lexi, on the other hand, discovered even while meeting with an actual prince all of those traits were affecting her profoundly.

  I wonder how awkward it would be to start carrying a change of underwear in a bag. Why don’t people here carry bags? Seems odd. Ron’s pants are looking a little fulle
r now that he notices me eyeing him. He should sit down. Damn, now I definitely need another pair. This is no time to be feeling aroused. I’m sure it’s completely inappropriate. I’m not always as professional as I should be, I suppose. I guess I need to work on that.

  She didn’t fully understand why Ron had the affect on her that he did. She was a mature twenty-four-year-old woman, working diligently on her doctorate until her life made an abrupt right-angle turn to become a star-traveling insurance investigator. She wasn’t a flighty thirteen-year-old with a crush. What she felt for Ron already went vastly beyond a mere crush. She was totally in love.

  Ron wasn’t her first boyfriend, nor was he the first man she had been intimate with. He wasn’t even the first man she shared a bedroom with. True, he was the first man whose bedroom was on a starship. That in and of itself was exciting. He was, without a doubt, the most physically fit man she had ever been in a relationship with, which was certainly nice, but none of her prior serious boyfriends had been couch-potatoes either.