AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What’s barb-a-coo? Wait, the guy’s joking?” Selt knew little about his boss’ Imdiko clanmate, other than he was a psychiatrist. He must be tough as hell to have found humor after what had happened to him.
“He is, and I’d like to tell his clanmates before they start pounding down doors to get to him. It could set back our relations with the Earthers if they do so.” Hadlez started toward the waiting room at the end of the hall. “Any word on who did this to him?”
Selt fell into step. “I have operatives accessing security vids in hopes of discovering the attacker or attackers.”
“How different was this from the previous attempts? Other than it succeeding in mutilating someone?”
“It was more professional. The device was made by someone experienced in what he was doing, rather than amateurs. Whoever got it into Dr. Etnil’s bag managed to do so under the noses of a security detail.”
“Were the guards Earthers?”
“They were. We’ll learn if they had a part in it.” Selt had to wait to discover who’d carried out the actual assault, but Kuran was already convinced he knew who’d sent the attackers after his clanmate.
At least make it look like an accident when you kill him, Kuran. Don’t get caught.Kuran was a good man to work for…and Selt sure as hell didn’t want his job.
* * * *
Kuran glared at the back of the lieutenant governor’s sandy-going-gray head as the man peered at a legal document on his vid screen. The vision of Etnil, his raw face shiny from the protective mask he had to wear until his skin finished regenerating, his arms ending in bandaged stumps, swam before his mind’s eye.
You could have killed my clanmate.A growl rumbled from Kuran’s throat. His fists clenched as he imagined closing them around Ken Bryant’s throat. He hadn’t decided if he’d snap his neck or slowly choke the bastard to death.
He tapped the phase device pinned to his gray uniform’s chest. Then he tapped Bryant’s shoulder.
The man gasped and whirled the hover chair, the movement so abrupt it nearly pitched him off. He managed to balance it and gaped at Kuran.
“How did you get in my office?”
“I’ll ask the questions, starting with who you hired this time to do your dirty work. Who made and planted the explosive that nearly killed my Imdiko?”
“He survived? Thank God. Hold on.”
To Kuran’s surprise, Bryant reached across his desk and activated a sound-blocking device meant to prevent listening devices from picking up conversations. “Door, lock. There, Nobek Kuran, we can talk in private now.”
Kuran shoved aside his confusion to snarl. “You realize now no one will hear me if I decide to kill you.”
Bryant drew a deep breath. “I did hire men to send explosives to Stacy and the space station…completely inept fools who wouldn’t do a competent job. I never had any doubt they’d be stopped by you and those in charge of the station’s security. However, I had no part of what happened to your clanmate today. He’ll be all right?”
Nobeks were trained from an early age to mask surprise, but it took every ounce of self-control for Kuran to not gape at Bryant. The concern in his tone for Etnil rang true.
“Keep talking. What the hell is your game?”
“My game is for Stacy to win the governor’s seat and refuse the Earthtiques power. Would you care to sit? I realize your breed isn’t much for relaxation, but I have a feeling this could be a long conversation.” Bryant motioned at the chair across from his desk.
“I’ll stand.”
“Could you at least stop looming over me?” When Kuran refused to move, Bryant sighed. “I plan to tell you everything, Nobek. I would have eventually, but I’d hoped to finish the election first to lessen the chances we’d be seen talking. It’s imperative I continue to appear to certain individuals to be at odds with Stacy for as long as possible.”
Kuran eyed him for another beat, then stepped off a few paces. “This had better be good.”
“I hope it is. This planet’s future depends on it.”
“Cut the drama and talk.”
“The best place to start is my history on old Earth. Apparently, my hopes Blythe Nelson would expose my child bride to you and Stacy succeeded. I assumed spying on Blythe gave you the information the governor needed.”
“You gave Matara Blythe the codes to access the confidential Church files.” Kuran doubted his training kept Bryant from witnessing how thunderstruck he was.
“You’re every bit as resourceful as I’d hoped.” Bryant’s smile was grim. “What the files failed to inform you was Holy Leader Browning Copeland had been dropping hints about marrying my friend’s daughter Eleanor since her thirteenth birthday.”
