AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I will not aid them in any way. She’s been a victim in all of this, but they do not seek the truth, only a person to blame. If I don’t find a way to protect her while working within Earth’s laws, I’ll have to do something drastic. I could resign from GI7, take her away from here before they arrest her.”
“Galactic Intelligence will hunt you. They’ll have no choice under the terms of the accord with Earth. Even if you manage to evade Galactic Intelligence, running is no way to live.”
“Do you have another suggestion?” Zirkov asked.
“They ordered us to keep her here, but they never said we can’t work the case. Or put her under protective custody. Someplace the humans don’t know about. As long as it’s on Earth, you won’t be violating orders.”
Zirkov quirked a brow, surprised Stenikov would suggest circumventing orders. “Timing will be tight,” he said, nodding toward Agent Morris.
Stenikov flipped one of his knives in the air, catching it by the blade before launching it into the air. He barely watched the blade as he caught it. “I’ll distract Morris when the time comes, but you’ll have to get Marshal Walsh to cooperate.”
“That could be a problem. Magdalena and I… mated,” Zirkov confessed, still battling his confusion as to who he slept with. Maggie or a Maggie controlled by Var’Len, the og’dal she thought she’d been reporting to. “Afterwards, she turned on me. Then she thought I was Var’Len. This thing in her head… I’m not sure what it’s done to her. The surgeon who removed the neurosphere warned there could be memory loss.” What if she woke and didn’t recognize him?
“When she wakes, she will remember you and she will be the female you’ve known for two years. Once you explain the situation, she will cooperate.”
He appreciated Stenikov’s confidence, but the warrior hadn’t seen the disgust in Maggie’s eyes. “Maybe if you speak with her. She likes you.”
“She calls me Stilts.”
“Humans have an odd sense of humor. She calls me Z all the time. It took me months to understand it was a sign of friendship.”
Stenikov huffed. “Even so, she does not think highly of me. I’ve not proved myself to her… or to you.”
“Acclimating to a new world takes time.”
“I will speak with her, if you order me, Commander, but I barely know her. Even if she is displeased with you, you have her trust. I do not.”
Krike, the warrior was right.
But she’d cried when she realized she’d slept with Zirkov. Being with him, sharing herself…. had never been her choice.
Stenikov’s comm vibrated. “An enforcer on Dal spotted one of Var’Len’s men. I can be there in a week.”
“No. Contact Ri’Nom. He’s already there.”
“He’s not GI7 anymore.”
“Ri’Nom will do this for Maggie. Besides, solving this case is in Dal’s best interest. They wish to open direct relations with Earth. They can’t do that with dalese criminals causing trouble on Earth.” Zirkov looked at his comm as an alert from one of the safehouses popped up. “Krike, this might be a bad situation. The witness has had trouble with the local Brotherhood, but we couldn’t move her without giving away her identity. Konnitch is on his way, but he may need backup.”
“I’ll go. You should be here when Marshal Walsh wakes.”
“If she wakes.”
“She will wake.”
Zirkov lifted his eyes to the warrior. “Did the doctors tell you something they didn’t tell me?”
“No, but she’s a strong female. I have faith, Commander. It’s often the strongest weapon we have.”
“Faith.” Zirkov drew a deep breath. “Go, Stenikov. Provide backup to Konnitch.”
Stenikov nodded. “When she wakes, go easy on her, Commander.”
“What the drekk does that mean?”
“She may not be ready to accept everything she’s done.”
“She’s innocent.”
