by C. R. Daems
"Adrian says now that you are an admiral, you no longer have to learn adult-speak," Andrea said and grinned with amusement. "Adrian explained some of your impromptu moments. I too have trouble with adult-speak. It's so boring." Andrea's face was smiling and her eyes full of mischief. I felt she would be a good partner for Adrian, who could be a bit too serious and focused.
* * *
"Commissioner Buchanan, thank you for taking the time to see me," I said, shaking his hand, which was twice the size of mine. He stood close to two meters tall and towered over me; he was easily twice my weight.
"You're a legend here on Westar. Our investigation concluded you were kidnapped, turned over to the hijackers, and eventually transported to their cruiser. Next we heard, you showed up in Eastar along with the JPU cruiser, but no details." He left the question hanging, How. Just then Red appeared, wrapping around my neck and facing the chief.
"They wanted the answer to the wrong question," I said, reluctant to discuss the details and having to relive the ordeal in the telling.
"Wrong question?" he asked, frowning in thought.
"They wanted to know what I had learned about their operation," I said and paused. His frown deepened, and his eyes seemed to disappear under his bushy eyebrows. "They should have asked about Red—my medical dispenser."
Several seconds passed before he half shouted. "The Coaca Virus…" And then added in a whisper. "In a sealed environment." He shuddered. "What can I do for you, Admiral Paulus?"
"Anna, please. I became interested when I noticed a specific group of missing persons on Eastar…" I went on to share what I had found to date. Before I could finish, he had instructed several of his detectives to begin gathering the case files. We worked well into the night and found nine cases: one five years before, two four years before, two two years before, three last year, and one this year.
* * *
"What now?" Adrian asked as he, Pannell, Banner, Stamm, and I sat in his office the next morning. I smiled, thinking back to when he was our unofficial team leader. I could just imagine him having a similar approach with his staff.
"What do you suggest?" I asked. Funny, I thought. Now I'm officially the team leader.
After a surprised look, he shrugged slightly. "I don't have a clue." He grinned, probably mirroring my thoughts.
"We don't have enough information to do anything but guess, which is exactly what I've been telling everyone's staff not to do." I paused, considering what I thought we knew to date. "We know there is a specific profile that fits the group of women who are going missing on many of the UAS systems, and that none have been found to date. From that we can tentatively conjecture they are being kidnapped, taken off the system where they were abducted, and it's an organized operation. But we have no facts to support those conjectures."
"The NIA needs to partner with the police," Adrian said. "We need to be on alert for those women and watch for missing women who meet the profile and…"Adrian shrugged.
"Try to determine how they are taken off planet," I finished. "I will circulate to all NIA offices the pictures and identifying features of all the missing women who met the profile. You can then pass them on to the police. If we can find just one woman, we may be able to answer all our questions," I said. For now, it was a waiting game hoping we would get lucky or the people responsible would make a mistake.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Systems: Shadows Rest
There was no one waiting when the shuttle landed at the Shadows Rest's spaceport. Normally the NIA station chief or a representative was there, although not required. In my case it was also not necessary in the strict sense. My party needed several vehicles because of security, my aide, and my master chief. And Pannell wouldn't let me go without a security escort. He had witnessed too many attempts on my life or to steal Red. But in his usual efficient way, he had a caravan assembled and on its way in less than an hour. The Shadows Rest offices were located in a small building on the outskirts of Quetta, the capital city and government center. The building was an old four-story cement structure sitting on several acres. Consequently, the site had space for parking and a shuttle pad. The entrance had two guards who verified each person's access.
"Why so much security?" I asked Pannell.
"This planet has a history of revolting against the Shadow Rest government and the UAS. The military, being an extension of the UAS, has come under attack several times over the years," he said but quickly added, "although not in the last twenty years. They take a better-safe-than-sorry approach." Just then, the guard at the gate waved us through.
In the building's lobby, a lieutenant met us. "Admiral Paulus, I'm Lieutenant Gibbon; Commander Devore asked me to escort you to the NIA area. We occupy the third and fourth floors of the building," he said, looking and sounding composed, but I could feel his nervousness. "Commander Devore has his staff assembled in the conference room."
"Is the Commander there with his staff?" I asked, wondering if this was another game and whether it had anything to do with him not being selected for the Eastar station position. Devore was one of the station chiefs I had concerns about based on his monthly reports.
Gibbon nodded and squeaked out a "Yes, ma'am."
We exited the elevator on the fourth floor and Gibbon led us to the conference room. When he opened the door, Banner waved him to precede us. Pannell followed along with two marines and Stamm. Then Banner entered and shouted, "Attention!"
I entered and stood looking around the room before saying, "At ease." The rectangular table had a full commander sitting at one end flanked by two lieutenant commanders to his left. The commander was a distinguished-looking silver-haired man with a bland expression on his clean-shaven face. He stood appraising me. The male lieutenant commander was average height, had a bushy mustache, and a round face that looked tired. The female lieutenant commander was also average height and had a good figure considering she looked to be in her late thirties or early forties. The woman felt…apprehensive.
"Well, we're ready for inspection and to be told how to run an NIA station," Devore said, smiling so it could be taken as a joke. Just then Red peeked out of my jacket, and it took me considerable effort not to laugh. It was like he wanted to see the fool who was talking.
"That is disappointing, Commander. Why would you feel you need to be told how to run an NIA station from a young woman who has less time in service than you do in grade and has only run a NIA station once and then for less than two years?" I said, cocking my head slightly to the side as I awaited his reply. The male lieutenant commander looked like he wanted to leave the room. The woman looked to have relaxed, which I thought strange. Devore sat quietly, but I could feel his anger building.
"Damn right. I've forgotten more about running an NIA office than…" He had risen partially out of his chair then collapsed back before finishing the outburst. "Since you acknowledge I have extensive experience, why did you select Commander Damon for the Eastar station? She not only doesn't have my experience but wasn't a full commander."
"An excellent question that deserves an answer. I wanted someone whose total interest is on chasing criminals, not on getting promoted, not focused on his career advancement, or on the prestige of the position. My preference was either commander Sinclair or Shrader. I offered each of them the position. They declined for their own reasons—"
"Because they didn't want to work under the person their hard work propelled to admiral," Devore said, barely able to contain his rising anger.
"That doesn't make sense, Commander Devore. They work under me right now. No, the answer is in the reason I offered them the position. They love what they are doing and aren't concerned about promotions or getting the attention of the headquarters brass."
"Why are you here then?" he asked, straining to keep from shouting.
"Now that's a good question." I smiled as I sat to his right, facing the two lieutenant commanders across the table. "I'm pursuing a disturbing case of missing perso
ns—"
"That's a civil crime, which is a police matter and none of our business."
"And that leads to the second reason, which is to ensure the NIA stations are focused on catching bad people. Although our mandate is crimes that involve navy and marine personnel, we must make sure the crimes don't overlap. If our interest is catching bad people and not in making ourselves look good, there is no reason we can't help the police or the police help us."
"You appear to like the spotlight," Devore said, smiling. I laughed despite the anguish the spotlight had brought me and Alexa over the years.
"Commander Devore, you have my permission to tell Vice Admiral Lulltrel all the reasons I shouldn't be in command of the NIA stations. But while we are awaiting her response, I would like a meeting of all the Shadow Rests NIA personnel. Since you believe there is nothing you can learn from me, you aren't required to attend. Instead, you can help Lieutenant Banner get me a meeting with the police commissioner. The staff meeting will be at thirteen hundred hours." As I stood to leave, Banner shouted "Attention!" while trying unsuccessfully to stifle a smile.
* * *
"Ma'am, the police commissioner said he's not interested in meeting with you," Banner said. I could feel his…anticipation. That seemed strange. "That was after Commander Devore said he thought you were an egomaniac who thought you were smarter than the police and had the authority to take over any cases you wanted." He strained to maintain a bland expression, but I could tell it was hard.
"Smile before you idiots get lockjaw," I said. Pannell, two security guards, Banner, and Stamm sat in one of NIA's smaller conference rooms. "The sad part is I don't blame him or others for being frustrated. When I pass a mirror, I'm tempted to salute the admiral I see in the reflection." I shook my head. "Banner, while the conversation with the commissioner is still clear, write down what you heard Commander Buchanan and the commissioner say."
Banner pulled out his tablet and began writing. I waited with mixed feeling. I didn't like negatively impacting anyone's career, especially when I sympathized with them, but neither did I want someone with a hostile attitude running an NIA station. Banner broke into my musing as he laid his tablet in front of me. I read it and rose.
"Colonel Pannell, Lieutenant Banner, please accompany me. I rode the elevator down to the fourth floor, walked down to Devore's office area, marched past his petty officer first class secretary, opened the door, and marched in, followed by Pannell and Banner.
"Who the hell…" he stopped when he noticed Pannell and Banner.
"Commander Devore. I'll give you three options: One, retire. Two, transfer out of the NIA. Or three, a court martial for conduct unbecoming an officer. If you choose option three, Colonel Pannell will place you under arrest and find you transportation back to Eastar. I'll expect your answer by eight hundred hours tomorrow." I turned and walked out of the office. "Paul, I want to go visit the police commissioner."
* * *
When we arrived at police headquarters, I was given a pass that included Banner and my security. I smiled, knowing the only reason for the pass was to provide the chief the satisfaction of reading me the riot act face-to-face. I was led into a large office with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out into the heart of the city. The commissioner was a short, stocky man with a bulldog face and a telltale manner that suggested he had been in the marines. As he stood and expanded his chest, ready to shout, I pulled out my P1A authorization, closed the distance to him, and held the badge at eye level before he could speak.
"Commissioner Matheny, let me apologize for Commander Devore. For reasons of his own, he misled you as to the reason I'm here." I paused, awaiting his response. He sat, frowning at me. "Normally I wouldn't have mentioned the P1A authority, as I believe you would be interested in what I have to say without it. It started on Eastar…" I began at the beginning to give the commissioner the entire picture. As I suspected, he was interested, and he directed two detectives to help me review the missing persons case files. We found eight cases going back five years: one five years before, and two each for the subsequent three years, and one so far this year.
"I wouldn't have believed we would have found any missing persons meeting your profile. Ironically, I like your approach of having the police and NIA working together. It would be near impossible for us to have discovered that profile, and even if we had, we would have assumed it was a local problem. You have the unique ability to determine if it's a UAS-wide problem. Your people will have my full cooperation. Let's catch the bastards." His smile was evil.
* * *
"I didn’t know you had P1A authority," Devore said the next morning when I entered his office.
"Commander, I'm your superior, whether you like it or not. I asked for a meeting with the police commissioner, and you were duty bound to do everything you could to set it up. You did everything you could to jinx it. The NIA doesn't need commanders who think they are not responsible to anyone." I paused, awaiting comments. When none came, I continued. "So which option have you decided to pursue?"
"I'm truly sorry. Can't you give me a second chance?"
"No. My session with your NIA personnel indicated you haven't done anything wrong, but you've demonstrated a lack of interest, which is reflected in your people's performance and attitude. Had you not gotten hostile toward me, that would not have been enough for me to have you removed, although it would have been in the NIA's best interest. But you did, demonstrating poor judgment."
* * *
I spent several hours talking with lieutenant commanders Stokes and Berry. Stokes lacked motivation. His main interest was keeping his head down for the next several years until he could retire. Berry liked the idea of working with the police and taking a more inquisitive role in viewing their crimes. I didn’t know if she had the ability, but she did have the interest. I decided to make her the acting NIA station chief.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Star System: Undisclosed - Inside Information
"Commander Devore visited Commissioner Matheny today along with the aide to that young NIA bitch," Vito said, his voice ringing with amusement as he addressed his eight companions. Vito hadn't been present, but he had planted a listening device in the Commissioner's office over a year ago to ensure that he and his group would be alerted to any potential problems. "Devore trashed her and implied she thought the chief was subject to her and the navy's authority. I doubt the chief will let her in the building, much less access to the missing persons case files."
"If you're right," Tashia said, looking far off in thought, "Maybe we can get Devore interested in a deal. It would be nice to have eyes and ears inside the NIA."
"He's a career officer," Efrain said with a look of disbelief.
Tashia smiled. "Everyone has his or her price. For most of you, it's the money." She gave a snort. "But not Lucio and Jamar. They like the action."
"Lucio and Jamar are also here for the money," Silas said, looking around the group and seeing general nods of agreement.
"Lucio and Jamar like money, but it's not what motivates them." She didn't elaborate, but from the thoughtful looks around the group, they knew she was right. You had only to look into their dead-looking eyes to know that was true. No one asked Tashia what motivated her. Even Lucio and Jamar were cautious around her.
* * *
"I understand Chief Matheny met with the Paulus girl," Tashia said two days later in the backroom of the Paradise Parlor, which was an upscale restaurant, theater, and betting parlor. The room was filled with electronic equipment, monitors, and a round table that could accommodate twelve. Currently, there were nine members: Jules oversaw the technical aspects of the operation. Micah managed the money. Silas managed the interface with the various star systems. Stefan managed the placement of women. Efrain managed transportation. Vito managed the Shadows Rest operation. Jamar was a fixer. And Lucio, along with Tashia, managed the product—women. "What happened?" Her narrowed eyes fixed on Vito.
"Whatever
the NIA bitch did, Matheny has been cooperating with her since she met with him. He had detectives Daria and Jocob, who handle missing persons cases, helping her with the case files going back five years," Vito said with a shrug. "And judging by his mood and comments, he wasn't forced."
"What where they looking for?"
"Don't know, but Daria said they found seven women who met the NIA bitch's criteria," Vito said, his gaze shifting between Lucio and Tashia.
"Seven's the right number," Lucio said, frowning in thought. "We need the names to be sure."
"No. The dog is awake and has our scent. Given enough time, she'll find us," Tashia said softly. "Jamar, do you think you can put that nosy dog back to sleep—permanently?"
Jamar nodded. He said nothing, but his thin lips produced an evil smile.
"Not on Shadows Rest," Tashia said. "I don't want to draw any unnecessary attention here. In fact, no more women from Shadows Rest. Let's make Matheny think the problem has gone away."
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Star System: Safe Harbor
"How is your tour going?" Captain Martz asked after dinner the first night out of Shadows Rest. We were sitting in the captain's dining room enjoying coffee and a chocolate mousse dessert.
"Interesting," I said. "I really only know six of the fifteen commanders who manage the NIA stations, and normally, visiting each one would be an extravagance. But investigating the cause of the missing women has provided me a unique opportunity to learn about the stations I'm responsible for and to meet the people," I said, reflecting on my visits to date.
