by Zara Zenia
Cat sighed. “I don’t know. But let’s do this. My captain wants us to get to the interrogation.”
“And what am I to tell you in this interrogation?”
She huffed. “Prince Akrawn, I do not know. Most criminals do not speak once they ask for their lawyers. That is how it works in our system of justice.”
Again, my Cat warned me about speaking in the interrogation and she must provide good advice. She would not lead me wrong, would she?
She opened a door where an officer sat monitoring communication.
“I had to get my captain’s permission to use this as you are not likely to reach anyone you know by the usual phone system. This is our uplink to Intergov and the ILE and other national communication centers.”
“Thank you, Inspector O’Shea.”
“Do not thank me, Prince Akrawn. I am doing my job. Now, remember you have only one call. That’s all we have to allow you. Who do you wish to speak to?”
I thought about speaking to my father, but the delay between Trilyn and Earth, even with interspace communication would not make for a good conversation.
“I’d like to speak to my brother, Rawklix.”
Cat nodded. “I’ll call him up. Officer, you can leave. I’ll watch the prisoner.”
“Fine, I was about to go on break anyway.” The officer rose from his chair and lumbered out of the room.
Cat called up the SFPD AI and placed the call. Soon Rawklix’s face filled the holo section over the equipment and he smiled brightly at Cat until he saw me.
“I’m disappointed,” he said with a pout. “I had hoped you’d take me up on my offer of no-strings sex.”
Rawklix was an annoyance at the best of times, but this time he was too much. My anger rose in a flash. “You punk!” I snapped. “How dare you speak to my mate like that?”
“Whoa,” said Cat. “Akrawn—”
“Mate?” said Rawklix. His eyes got brighter. “Congratulations. Just the woman for you, bro.”
“Now wait,” said Cat. “I never said—”
“We do not have time for joyous occasions,” I said crisply. “I need you to contact Father and tell him there is a traitor among us. I don’t know who it is, but he almost caused mine and my Cat’s death by manipulating the subway system.”
“I see,” said Rawklix.
“And you or Father are to contact the Iswan and get them to drop this ridiculous charge.”
Rawklix’s face grew tight. “I’m sorry, Akrawn, but Father tried. They will not relent.”
“Tell them that if they don’t, we will find another vendor for constructing the space-fold engines.”
“But Father—”
“Father has not dealt with these humans like I have. He will put the matter to them bluntly. They will say that their Prince made an error in judgment when he sent it to me, and to facilitate things I will return the necklace to them. Tell them to do this, or I will make sure that Iswan will never have a chance to trade with Trilyn again.”
“Akrawn, Father does not want to anger the humans.”
“They are already angry,” I said. “They do not trust us. My Cat said it succinctly. We made an error in offering so much for a few brides. Now they doubt our motives.”
Rawklix scratched his head. “We gave them too much?”
“Yes. And they are making us pay for it.”
My brother frowned. “I don’t understand humans.”
“Just contact Father. And one other thing. Tell him that I will need a lawyer immediately.”
“Really?” said Rawklix. “I will be there right away.”
I snorted. “You?”
“Yes. I’ve just passed all the requirements to become an Intergov lawyer. I can practice in any country in the world now.”
“A lawyer,” I said with disbelief.
“Hey, I had to do something between parties.”
Chapter 14
Cat
I bit my lip and stared at a blur of paperwork in front of me which were the reports that Rawklix asked me to collect on the case against Akrawn and then rubbed my temples.
I will never be Akrawn’s mate!
That both Akrawn and Rawklix called me this made my blood boil. I wouldn’t be a broodmare to beget new Trilyns. No way would I give up my career as an SFPD inspector. I adored fighting to keep my city’s streets safe, free from criminal activity.
As much as my thoughts kept revolving around a pair of divine gold eyes and the things he did to my body, my dreams were grander than motherhood. I had ambitions of making San Francisco a safer place to live. I ground my teeth remembering Akrawn’s and my hairy race through the mission district and that brute who had held a knife to my throat. The wound, though not deep, still ached. There was no chance that I would settle down with that alien no matter how adorable I thought he was.
The chief assigned me to watch security holos to look for potential threats while President Darling presided at an award ceremony. This was what I needed to concentrate on. I need to stop dwelling on Akrawn and how I want him to kiss and sing to me.
Damn it. I shivered because I couldn’t help but desire him and his moist and hot mouth.
Stop it, Cat! You are not his ‘mate’. Get your head into your work. Scan that holo, now.
Brontsen called me through Peri.
“Did you learn anything from Akrawn?”
I sighed. “No sir. He asked for an attorney and his brother, Prince Rawklix, is with Akrawn in an interrogation room consulting with him.”
Brontsen rubbed his neck. “Why?”
“Because Prince Rawklix is his lawyer.”
Brontsen muttered, “The alien lawyered up? Incredible. And what are you doing now?”
“Watching the security set-up by holo as you instructed, sir.”
“Keep me informed,” he growled. My captain severed the connection.
“Peri,” I leaned back in my chair, “please render a holo of the live award ceremony of President Nicole Darling’s opening speech.” My voice came out a little too husky, but I doubted Peri noticed.
“Cat?” said Prince Rawklix from behind me, causing me to jump. “You told me you’d have the police reports ready by the time I finished my chat with Akrawn?”
I tore my gaze away from watching the screen-sized holo of President Darling. I then swiveled in my chair to meet his brilliant blue eyes as he weaved purposely toward me through the maze of empty desks in the open-plan office.
“Yes, they’re here, your Highness. How did it go with Akrawn?”
He had lost his usual smirk. Was Akrawn in more serious trouble than either of us had expected?
“My brother made a serious charge.”
“What charge?”
“He said, well never mind. I’m sure we’ll clear it up soon. My, don’t you look delicious in your uniform.” The smirk returned.
I half-smiled as I handed over the report. Rawklix was just like every other teen trying to act more grown-up than he was.
“I rarely wear it, but for the official visit, we all suit up, even if we’re stuck here holding the fort.”
“What’s the President doing in San Francisco? She’s scheduled to meet Dad tomorrow morning in Paris.”
“Why?” I said.
“For the United Earth Government assessment of Trilyn-Earth relations. Dad’s counting on her to support his cause in gaining more Trilyn immigration to Earth. Wouldn’t she be on her way to Paris now?”
Rawklix had a lot of information about his father’s activities. I wondered why Akrawn didn’t. Would he have?
“I don’t keep the President’s schedule, Prince, so I can't possibly say. Has King Zavir landed on Earth, or is he still en route?”
“The spacecraft lands in about an hour at Charles de Gaulle Airport.”
“Did you talk with King Zavir about Akrawn’s situation?”
“Yep, but I’m not the best intermediary for Akrawn. My new law degree does not impress Dad.” Rawklix’s
voice carried an aggrieved tone. “Akrawn made himself useful by inventing ways to merge Earth and Trilyn tech, but Dad does not think the law degree will help us. But I told Dad anyway of the charges Akrawn faced. He said he’d worry about Akrawn after meeting the Earth officials.”
“He’s not taking the charges seriously?” I huffed.
Rawklix shrugged and let a boyish smile tug the edges of his mouth. “Dear Cat, I’m glad you care for my brother’s welfare.”
“It’s not that,” I said.
He gave me a knowing smile which seemed far too wise for nineteen.
“I suspect Dad will pressure the Iswan to drop the charges by bargaining with our space tech. In return, he’ll agree Akrawn will return to Trilyn so everyone can pretend nothing happened. Dad’s too concerned about asking for more of our race to immigrate here to allow Akrawn’s antics to hold us back.”
“Akrawn will leave Earth?” My voice came out small and knotted. I shouldn’t care. It would be a good thing. I could get back to what I love, policing, with no distractions.
But as a wave of dizzy despair rippled through me, Rawklix replied, “Yep, my brother will see his beloved Trilyn sunsets soon. Each time we chat, he’s been a total bore about how much he misses the rugged landscapes and brilliant colors of our homeworld.”
I couldn’t stop my face contorting from unwanted, held-in tears. “Akrawn is desperate to return?”
“Yep—oh Cat, don’t worry. He’ll take you with him. You're his mate. Anyway, my gorgeous thing, if not, remember you have a Trilyn consolation prize waiting here in the wings. I’d better grab this report and get on with our defense—Holy crap!”
Rawklix had his mouth drop open, and he was staring at the holo. I turned to watch and my mouth dropped too. The President lay in a heap on the floor drenched in blood. Security fell about President Darling and my colleagues dashed after a hornet-sized drone. Rooftop marksmen shot mist-net sprays over the tiny hornet. The sticky nets surrounded the drone, and it fell to the ground.
I stared at the holo of the drone perplexed. Its seizure was too easy. The obviously Trilyn tech could have avoided capture by zipping out of the many ventilation ducts. Or could have powered down and hid. My stomach roiled. The media had just recorded another incident of alien maleficence and before the Earth-Trilyn United Nations summit.
Who? What? Why? These questions consumed me. Rawklix’s face became uncharacteristically grim as he took the reports I gathered. “I need to attend to this new development. Tell my brother I’ll return as soon as possible.”
I shook my head. “Your highness, you should stay very close to your client now.”
“Thank you, Cat. But I do have other duties.”
He turned and left quickly in Trilyn enigmatic fashion.
I couldn’t worry about this. As much as I was drawn to Akrawn, I had to do my job. I captured the moment of the attack, and examined it frame by frame fearful I had overlooked something in the security set-up. My heart stuck in my throat at the idea I missed any detail while Rawklix distracted me with his conversation. But no. Eventually I concluded that no one could have seen the drone. It seemed to “uncloak” at the moment of the attack. This was indeed an alien device.
My colleagues brought the drone locked in a small black-box, to the SFPD office and Brontsen, with his expression filled with fire and fury, oversaw it entered into evidence. I watched and recorded this at my workstation.
Brontsen addressed me through Peri. “O’Shea, get that damn Trilyn in cuffs and bring him to the tech lab. I want to see his face as the guys infiltrate that bug.”
“When will David return?”
“He’s on his way, sir, with the device.”
“Good. We’ll need him for the interrogation. There are plenty of other ILE’s who can sweep the Washington Center for evidence and set-up protections around the President in the ruddy hospital. But I want David here! You have your orders.”
Red-faced and all too likely to suffer an aneurysm or worse, Chief Brontsen followed the black-box to the tech department.
“Peri,” I said heaving in a breath of air and running hands through my hair. “David’s ETA?”
“He just entered the building, Cat.”
“Thanks.” My AI was beyond disconcerting. She was anticipating my questions now. I swore whatever Akrawn had done in combining Trilyn and Earth apps, she was becoming more self-determining. And then another thought fluttered through me. But was she all that independent? Did she now answer to a certain tall, dark-haired and golden-eyed thorn in my side? Was he after something other than to make me his mate?
I rustled through my drawer, found a pair of handcuffs, which Akrawn could break easily if he wanted, and went to his cell.
Akrawn smiled and leaped off the bench when I entered. I flicked my eyes to the camera above us as a mute warning. He stopped short of catching me up in his arms but had placed his broad back between me, and the snooping eye. Unseen, his fingers sought mine, and he circled his thumb around my palms and mouthed, “My love, I ache for you.”
“Hands, please,” I said as tersely as I could, and although my voice remained more husk than a huff, I was glad of his shielding as my cheeks flushed.
Cat, remember your job. You are your own woman. Not his.
“More binding games, my Cat? Where to this time? A secret hideaway for just you and me?”
I shook my head. “The President’s been shot.”
Comprehension dawned on his face. His eyebrows drew together.
“My father will be furious. And am I accused?”
“In the Chief’s eyes, and probably ILE’s too, you are already their favorite as the perpetrator.”
“Despite my incarceration?”
“Akrawn, everyone knows you are a genius. Of course, you are the villain they have their sights set on. Did you do it?”
“My Cat, I am hurt you must ask.”
“Had to. It’s my job. That drone wounded President Darling.”
“Not dead?”
“No, though that was its mission. Darling's lost too much blood, needs surgery and won’t be at the UN summit, but not dead.”
“The saboteur strikes again. With Nicole out of the picture and the Trilyn believed responsible, my father will find it harder to get greater immigration quotas. Without her, other Earth leaders will not allow more of us onto Earth.”
I snapped the cuffs on and guided Akrawn ahead of me out the door. “The Chief wants to watch you as the tech department goes through the insides of the AI, so we’re heading to the basement and tech labs.”
The basement was sectioned off into four rooms, one each running the length of each wall that contained the holographic investigation rooms we used to for crime scene investigations. From the outside windows I saw the graphics flowing over the inside walls announcing what they were and which inspectors had blocked off time for their use. One of the windows was in use because it was solid black to keep the curious from looking in. The middle of the floor held the desks of different technicians with their banks of computer screens stretched across their length.
When we arrived, Chief Brontsen stood over two techies, glaring at them while they tried to ignore him to do their job. One of them glanced up at us with relief in his face. He guessed rightly that Brontsen would focus on Akrawn.
“Prince Akrawn, how do you investigate this thing’s software?”
“Good day to you too, Chief Brontsen. Thank you, yes. My cramped, sterile cell contents me.”
Brontsen glared at Akrawn.
“Your Highness,” I snapped.
“How should I know, Chief Brontsen? You have not even shown it to me.”
One tech held it with a pair of tweezers and turned it gingerly about.
“It’s yours, isn’t it? And if it isn’t, which it is, it’s Trilyn, who else would it belong to?. So tell me how to access it or else I’ll give David carte blanche when he arrives.”
Akrawn held out his hands for the ho
rnet.
However, Brontsen said, “No! You don’t touch. I’m not letting you anywhere near tech stuff, let alone operate it.”
None of us dared point out that the fact that the Chief had invited the prince into the tech department. Instead, we all accepted the intention behind his words, and I sat Akrawn next to the tech handling the bug. The other guy was sitting nearby working their computer to hack into it. Akrawn bought his cuffed hands to his hair and brushed stray strands of ebony off his face. And resolutely I stuffed my own hands in my pockets to stop the itch to help him.
“Turn it around for me,” Akrawn said as a crease between his brows etched deeper. “By the three moons, it is mine.”
I wondered why Akrawn owned up to this so readily. He glanced at me and shrugged, then added, “You’ll determine that by asking my staff. I use it in my spacecraft as extra personal defense. I have made a few for my Trilyn brothers, but this one comes from my spacecraft. However, I certainly have not been near my home to retrieve and reprogram it. Ask Cat.”
I exhaled and said, “It’s true we haven’t been to his home, and I have not seen him handling anything like this.”
“Right then,” Brontsen rumbled, “so you operate it via an AI or something? If you know what’s good for you, you’ll instruct the boys here on how to get inside it. Safely!”
“Sorry, no can do. And I advise strenuously not to attempt it. If this drone shot Nicole—”
“President Darling!” snapped the Chief.
“—then someone hacked my device, and I cannot guarantee it is safe to open. My advice would be to put it into a Trilyn deconstruct box to wipe any software from it.”
“Give him to me,” David spoke from the doorway. “I’ll change his mind. A genius like Prince Akrawn could deactivate this device and retrieve whatever evidence it holds without endangering himself.”
Brontsen turned around to smile at the special agent from the ILE. “Good enough for me, David. Do it.”
I blanched trying to smother my desire to scream, ‘Over my dead body.’ Instead, I said, “Chief, I’ll go with David. We need an SFPD officer at the interrogation.”
The Chief nodded, and I pulled Prince Akrawn out of his chair, or rather, as usual, Akrawn rose as I tugged. We followed David upstairs to one of the many, small, white box-rooms this building boasted.
