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Zirkov moved to block her view of the agent in the hallway. “Everyone knows.”
“Am I under arrest?”
“Not yet.”
“There’s a but there, I can hear it in what you’renotsaying.”
“They’re questioning the purpose of the neurosphere. The DAA won’t accept the confession from the tekklan scientist.”
“What other purpose could it have?”
“They think it’s a communications device. A way for you to coordinate illicit activities with og’dal slavers. The DAA asserts that you volunteered to have the device implanted.”
“I wouldn’t let anyone put anything in me!”
When she tried to sit up, he placed two hands on her shoulders. “Magdalena, do you trust me?”
“Yes,” she said without thinking, though she had so many damn questions.
“Then listen to what I’m saying. The DAA is not your ally right now. Regardless of what that device does or doesn’t do, it proves you had contact with an enemy agent, and that’s what the DAA’s focused on. Sutherland knows about the leaks in GI7. I’m not sure how, but I suspect he planted listening devices in our office and then later pulled them. Either way, the DAA needs someone to prosecute and unless we find the og’dal responsible, Sutherland will charge you. I used my position in Galactic Intelligence to gain us some time.”
“If they already have evidence—”
“You said you’d trust me. I won’t let them take you. We have to find the og’dal and hand him over.”
She didn’t know where to start.
“Do you remember anything that can help me?”
Images of meeting og’dals flashed in her head. She’d met the two og’dals in the photos Sutherland had shown her.
“I think I killed one. In an old warehouse.”
Zirkov didn’t look surprised. “Why did you kill him?”
“I don’t know.”
“Do you recognize the name Var’Len?”
She massaged her forehead below the bandages. “It hurts to remember.”
“The implant used the pain center of your brain to inhibit select memories. The more you tried to remember, the more painful it became.”
“But my head still hurts.”
“You had surgery. OnEarth,” he added, his dismay clear. “The doctors said you shouldn’t do anything taxing, even reading. Apparently, my questions are hurting you.”
When he reached forward to take her hand, she pulled away. She’d done enough damage to him and his marshals. She’d endangered so many people. Kaci, Gabriella, Ri’Nom… countless others.
Zirkov laid a hand on her forearm, light and reassuring. Her eyes moved up his arm to his broad chest, strong face, and higher, to his horns. A new image, one of a very handsome zyanthan thrusting into her, settled in her head.
“Did we… Please tell me it was all a dream.”
His expression, the regret in his eyes gave her the answer. “It depends on what you’re remembering—”
“I warned you not to upset my patient, Marshal Kesk,” a doctor said as he entered the room. “Her heart rate is too high.”
Zirkov stepped aside as the doctor adjusted the drip on the IV. “Leave or I’ll have that agent outside arrest you.”
