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I lower my weapon. “Right. Just doing a security search.”
“Do you think whoever took down the Maelstrom is here? Should I lock my door?”
“Yes, lock your door. Where will I find Fero?”
“Last hallway. He lives here, lives here. It’s one of the bigger rooms at the end.”
“Copy.” I pull his door shut. Better the podlet doesn’t see what’s about to happen. Holter and Eros are up ahead. “I’ve got a location on Fero.” I take point with Eros and Holter behind. We’re mindful of our surroundings, but we’ve stopped opening closed doors. Better to let the employees stay put.
The dorm hallway takes a left. There are several doors on each side. “One of these.” Eros moves forward.
“No, this one.” Holter points to the door. There’s a mural of animals painted on it, as well as Fero Stourch in orange and pink. Braesen colors. He turns the handle, but it’s locked.
Eros moves to the door and, with a lock pick from his pocket, he has the door open in less than ten seconds.
This room is bigger, almost an apartment but not quite. There’s a bed, table, and bathroom to the side, and at a desk is Fero watching a video monitor. He puts his hands in the air. “I knew this was coming. Can I stand?”
“Slowly. Don’t turn around yet,” Eros says.
“I’m not armed, but feel free to check.”
“We’ll definitely be checking,” I say.
Eros pats him down. “Turn.”
Fero turns slowly to face us. He’s middle-aged, but the wrinkles on his face make him appear as old as Jupiter. “Nico and Holter Callis. Excuse me, Nico Portsmouth.”
“We’re all Portsmouth,” Eros says, his trident pointed at Fero’s torso.
Fero raises his eyebrow. “That’s good.”
“What do you mean ‘that’s good?’” Holter has his weapon up too.
“Exactly what it sounds like. That this human is really a mermaid. And she treats viro and geminae the same. ‘That’s good’ means ‘that’s good.’”
“Oh. Right.” Holter glances at me. I see the confusion on his face too.
“Since you know I’m not armed, can I put my hands down? All the blood is running out of them. That, and I’m scared shitless.”
“Yes,” Eros says, not lowering his weapon.
“Thank you. I knew this day would come. That you would find me. You have every right to retribution for what my mother did. But I’ve been doing important things. Or at least, I think they’re important. So before you kill me, I need to show you something. Because if I don’t, innocent podlets will die. Then you can kill me.”
Eros looks at me, clearly as confused as I am. “Sure, Fero. I was born a Herod. So can you do me a favor and explain what you’re talking about, and I promise to keep them from killing you until you get to the podlet part?”
“Right, sorry. My father was in love with Richeal Callis. Never stopped, really. And my mother was jealous. She wanted all of Calvin, and when she couldn’t have it, she killed Richeal. Or rather, paid to have someone else do it. That’s the part I don’t know everything about.”
My heart is slamming into my chest. Fero looks at each of us like he’s waiting for the blast, even though Eros promised him he could have his say.
“I’m sorry to tell you. I’ve lived with the guilt of it for a long time. My mother told me on her deathbed. I know the rest of my family believes it was the old governor. My mother was sorry. But not sorry enough to ruin her life.”
“The podlets?” Eros asks.
“That is something I’m happy is going to come out. And I’m even happier you’re here because you can stop them from destroying the evidence.” He nods and glances at the side of his desk. “It’s time it all comes out. I would have done it earlier if I thought I could, but I have a duty to the podlets.”
Eros nods. “Yes, Fero, but we still don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Right. I’ll have to show you. We’ll need to go to Braesen. Oh my, you probably think I’m trying to trap you. I’m not. You’ll need more evidence. Take that tablet there. It’s my personal one. Not linked to any other type of device. Code to unlock it is ‘podlets.’” Sweat beads on Fero’s forehead.
