In the Black

by Sheryl Nantus

  Daniel huffed. “Still pissed me off. And I don’t like being pissed off.” He rapped the window with his knuckles, making Kowalski jump away from Danforth. “We might be able to turn this space junk into something workable, though.”

  “How?” Trainer asked.

  “We figure out who dug that token out of the garbage and left it behind in Halley’s cabin to have us going after Kowalski. Classic misdirection,” Sam replied.

  Huckness nodded. “I’m no fool. Let me get the tapes and we’ll see who went digging. I’ll get hold of Kowalski’s shift leader, see if he had any problems with his buddies. Wouldn’t put it past one of them setting the old man up for it, ticked off he was being forced to cover for Kowalski’s disability.” He turned to Swendson. “With your permission, of course.”

  The shop steward snorted. “I’m done with him. He’s all yours.” He headed for the door. “Just keep me updated.”

  Huckness looked at Trainer. The foreman snorted and went to follow Swendson. “I’m out of here. I’ve got asses to kick.”

  The security chief waited until the two men were out of hearing range. “Give me ten minutes, then come to my office—I’ll have the recordings ready for viewing. We’ll put Kowalski in a nice cell, make sure he’s comfortable. Won’t change the paperwork yet, let people think he’s still going down for the murder. It’s not much but it’s making lemonade out of lemons as I figure it.”

  Daniel didn’t say anything. He watched the miner through the window as Huckness walked away from them.

  “So someone took the token out of the garbage.” Sam spoke slowly as she reasoned it out in her own mind. “And we have no idea who. Back to square one.”

  “Not really.” Daniel held up a finger. “First, our killer must not have known Kowalski was essentially crippled. Bad form to try and frame someone who’s going to slip out from under the hammer so easily. There’s got to be people here on the base who would know he’d alibi out easy with his medical condition. I bet it’s the worst kept secret around.” He glanced at the man through the window. “Only problem is it fucks up our investigation big time.” His attention turned to Sam. “But it does narrow down the suspects.” He tilted his head to one side, dropping his voice to a whisper. “If you cut out the majority of miners who knew about Kowalski’s condition—”

  “That means it could be one of the crew.” Sam felt dizzy, the emotional combo knocking her for a one-two punch. “Someone who didn’t know his condition. That’d be one of the crew.”

  Daniel took hold of her arm, his fingers curling around to steady her. “It could be. It could also be someone new to the base, a recent transfer in who wouldn’t know about his problem. Took advantage of the situation, grabbed the token and used it to cover his or her tracks. Figured we’d grab Kowalski and be done with it.” He nodded toward the window. “He didn’t count on Kowalski breaking so quickly thanks to you and your observation. With the Guild breathing down our necks there’d be pressure to toss the old man into a cell, call the case closed and cut the Belle loose—with the killer on board. Everyone goes home happy and life goes on.” He lowered his voice. “And yes, it could be one of the crew. That’s a very viable possibility.”

  “Fuck.” She tried not to look at the man standing beside her, her stomach twisting into knots. “Fuck.”

  It was the only word she could utter. She flashed back to the Hub and the horrible betrayal there.

  Now it was happening again, right under her nose.

  And now, as then, she had to make tough decisions.

  “So now what?” Sam was afraid to face him, still wrestling with her emotions.

  “Now we work on figuring out who killed Comet. Just like before.” Daniel let her go and reached out to tap the glass. “Keeping Kowalski under wraps will make the murderer think we’re still following that lead.”

  “Wait.” She turned now, arms crossed. “It can’t be one of the crew. No one left the ship between my presentation and the grand opening. They wouldn’t dare.” Her initial confusion subsided, replaced by a growing anger. “They can’t walk around the base. It’s not allowed as per Guild rules. Hell, I get an armed escort to and from the Belle.”

  “Afraid of horny men attacking them?”

  “Possibly.” She ignored his smirk. “You know the types of bases we visit. The female employees work in separate areas, high security and kept well away from the main male population.” She jabbed a finger at the wall. “If one of my women walked through the corridors without an armed guard, a riot could easily break out. There’s a reason why I bring the portfolios and let the cameras do the talking.”

  “And the men?”

  “Same problem, maybe a smaller percentage of having it happen due to the lesser number of potential customers. But it’s still a possibility and that’s why the rules are in place. We’re not here to disrupt the base’s daily business.”

  “They never leave the ship?” The disbelief in Daniel’s voice rose. “Never?”

  “Not unless we hit a Guild base. That’s usually only for repairs and resupply every few months. Otherwise they stay on board, no exceptions.”

  “Sounds pretty stressful. So who does get to go ashore?”

  “Only myself for the presentation.” She held up a hand. “Before you ask—Jenny processes the supply orders and meets the deliveries at the landing bay. She doesn’t set a foot on the base.”

  Daniel raised an eyebrow. “You think men are going to attack a female mechanic? Don’t think much of them, do you?”

  “I think...” She paused, searching for the right words from memory. “I think there are certain expectations made when a Mercy ship docks. I think any woman, or man, coming off the ship is liable to come under close scrutiny and, from a security standpoint, create a dangerous situation. It’s not a case of men being unable to control themselves, it’s a case of not tempting them.” She rolled her shoulders. “That’s what the Guild wants me to say.”

  “And what do you think?”

  “I think if you lose control over a flash of ankle or a sniff of perfume, you’re a pretty piss-poor example of a man.” She felt the heat rushing to her face and ignored it. “I like a man who can keep control of himself. Until it’s time not to.”

  “Really.” Daniel leaned in, his voice a whisper. “And what about you? When do you lose control?”

  She could feel his five o’clock whiskers brushing against her cheek.

  “When I say so. And not a minute before.”

  He was dangerously close, close enough to kiss again.

  A mental photograph of Halley, rotating in her cabin, snapped into Sam’s thoughts.

  She drew back.

  Not yet.

  He did the same, sensing her change in mood.

  There was still blood in the air around them. Whatever was going on between them would have to wait.

  He gave a slight nod and Sam realized he knew it as well, years of law enforcement pushing down the emotional swell threatening to swamp them both.

  He understood.

  Daniel cleared his throat. “So no one leaves the Belle from the minute you arrive until the minute you leave. No one except you, and that’s for your presentation.”

  “Yep. And I get an armed guard to and from the show. No one leaves,” she repeated.

  “Including you? After the presentation?”

  Sam shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “There’s no need for me to leave the Belle.” She tapped the tiny transmitter set in her ear. “The Guild rules say I have to be in contact and available at all times, which is why I’m wearing this. But there’s nothing usually that would give me reason to leave the Belle. I have access to anything I want on board—videos, books, a computer connection. The Guild wants me to be available to deal with situations, and staying on board is
the best way to be where I’m needed.”

  “Except when you leave to kick some ass.”

  She glared at him. “That was a special situation.”

  “Not good, staying locked up all the time.” Daniel glanced at the floor. “Some would say it’s unhealthy for you and for your crew.”

  “Some would. But that’s the Guild regulations. Except in this case maybe someone didn’t follow the rules and now one of my crew is dead.” The words left a sour taste in her mouth, damping the desire she’d felt a few seconds earlier.

  Daniel grunted. “So if no one got off the ship during or after your presentation, then someone on the base plucked the token out of the garbage after seeing Kowalski dump it.”

  Sam shook her head. “That doesn’t make sense. First you say it’s got to be one of the crew who killed Halley and then tried to frame Kowalski and now you’re saying it’s not.”

  “I’m keeping all the possibilities open.” Daniel gestured toward the now-empty interrogation room. “Maybe one of the crew had a partner. Someone on the base who picked up the token and gave it or sold it to someone else.” He sighed. “It might not even be relevant to the case. We’ve got to keep our minds open to all theories. I’m not going to write anyone off until I’m damned sure what the evidence says.”

  Sam rubbed her eyes. “I can’t think. This doesn’t make any sense. It’s all turning into a major clusterfuck.”

  Like the Hub.

  A dull throbbing started behind her eye. She groaned and covered her face with her hands.

  Not now.

  * * *

  Daniel had never seen someone so pale.

  “Sam? Sam, are you okay?” He took her arm again, directing her to a nearby chair.

  “It’s just—” Her sigh ripped through his carefully constructed defenses, tearing at his heart. “I can’t do this again.”

  “Do what?” He knelt down by the chair.

  “The lights. Turn them off.”

  He reached up with one hand to slap the switches, plunging them into near-darkness. A crack of light crept in under the door.

  “Damned headache,” she whispered. “Stress-related, they say.”

  “No surprise there.” He moved to hold her hand. “It’s a lot to take in. Especially when running a Mercy ship isn’t supposed to be that demanding. This kicks it to a whole new level. I doubt many men or women could handle that type of stress.”

  Her fingers curled around his, tight and needy. “Says you.”

  “Says me,” he chuckled. She was shivering now and he could see beads of sweat on her forehead.

  She was having some type of anxiety attack.

  “Should I go—” He fell silent as she pulled him closer, almost into her lap.

  “Don’t go,” Sam whispered. “I’ll be fine in a minute, I’ll be fine in a minute, I’ll be fine—” The words fell away into a muttered mantra. Her free hand went to her chest, fingers curled into a fist.

  He felt like he’d been punched in the gut.

  What had happened to her at the Hub?

  Daniel fought against asking, knowing he’d get no answer. Whatever demons had followed her out of there stayed deep in her psyche, chasing her out of the military and now chewing on her soul aboard the Belle.

  He’d seen this before with fellow marshals and law enforcement people.

  He’d seen it devour them whole.

  “Deep breaths, Sam. Remember your training. Deep breaths.” Daniel might not have any official medical training but he had some idea of what help to offer. “Focus on my voice. Deep, slow breaths. You know how to do that.” He couldn’t help letting a jovial tone into his words. “I bet you know how to do a lot of things with the proper breathing.”

  “Smart ass.” The weak response calmed his nerves a fraction.

  “Hey, I’m not the one doing obscene things with the coffee. Although I have to wonder whether you prefer it sweet or bitter.”

  The choked laugh had him grinning as well. Her death grip on his hand lessened a fraction.

  “Like you were any better with that tongue work. Damned tease,” she murmured. Through the dim light he saw her fingers uncurl on her chest, now pressing against the T-shirt instead of trying to claw through to her heart.

  They sat like that for an entire minute in silence, Daniel listening to her breathing slow and finally stabilize.

  “I remember this one time at camp,” he started.

  Sam giggled.

  “No, seriously. It was when I was still living with my parents on Titan. A bunch of my buddies went to summer camp and we spent a lot of time in the lake. Too much, as it turned out.” He squeezed her hand and found it warm. “We used to do somersaults off the float, that type of stuff. The girls would watch us and giggle as we showed off.”

  “What did you do?” she whispered.

  The distraction was working.

  “I loved to swim so I’d go out on the lake far beyond the warning buoys. Taking it to the edge, that sort of stuff.”

  “What were the buoys for?”

  “There was a drop-off at that point where the sea floor went down a good mile, maybe more. It kept the casual swimmers close to the shore and away from possible danger. You cramp up out there or have trouble and you’re going to have a rough time surviving.” He drew a shallow breath, feeling the fear bubble up from his gut.

  Years later and it still felt the same.

  “I went out to the edge and stopped to wave back at the girls. They laughed and pointed and all I could think about is how I was definitely getting laid after this.”

  He stopped, the words choking him into silence.

  “What happened?” She squeezed his hand, returning the favor and warmth.

  “Something—” Daniel swallowed hard. “Something touched my left foot. Curled around my ankle. Tugged at me.”

  Her sudden intake of breath echoed his own.

  “I kicked and screamed and it let go. Got back to the shore and didn’t go back in the water for the rest of the time I was there.”

  “What was it?” she asked.

  “I never found out. Could have been debris floating below the surface.” The lie tasted sour.

  “But you don’t think so.”

  “I don’t think so,” Daniel answered. “But I don’t go swimming in open water anymore.”

  “Afraid of what’s out there waiting to grab you?” Her breathing was calm, her tone relaxed.

  “No.” He looked up at her, their lips only inches apart. “I still love going deep. But only when I know what’s under the surface.”

  She didn’t flinch as he moved in, seeking another taste of her.

  Murder be damned. If he could help ease her pain for a minute, it’d be enough.

  * * *

  Daniel was going to kiss her. Again. Despite her breaking down and showing him the raw, aching mess of a woman that was Samantha Keller post-Hub.

  She could have pushed him away, claiming she wasn’t interested and he was taking advantage.

  She could have also called down the stars to rearrange time and space.

  She wondered if he’d taste like coffee—

  “Sam.” The frantic whisper in her ear startled her. Even though she’d been talking about the earpiece recently she’d never thought it’d go live, not here and now.

  Talk about bad timing.

  She drew back from Daniel and tapped the small communication link. “What is it?” Her free hand fumbled for the light switch and flicked it on. The temporary blindness brought her fully back to the harsh reality around her.

  “It’s Bianca. She’s in the galley with a knife and she’s talking about hurting herself,” Jenny said. “What do you want me to do?”

 
“Shit.” Sam stood up and spun away from Daniel, focused on the mechanic’s words. “Who’s on board? How many customers?”

  “We’re loaded at the moment. Rooms are full.” The panic in Jenny’s voice grew with each word. “Sam, she’s got a sword. She’s got a fucking sword. I’m in the galley here and she won’t let me go, she won’t put it down.”

  She strode toward the hatch, leaving Daniel behind. There was no time to explain and she wasn’t sure she could without having him put in his two cents on how to proceed.

  This was her ship, her business.

  “I’m on my way. Hold tight until I get there.” She tried to make her words as reassuring as possible. “Keep your back to a wall and stay away from her. This’ll be okay, Jenny. This’ll be fine.”

  She drew a deep breath. “Belle, are you online? Cut to a private channel.”

  There was a beep on the line. “Yes, Sam. I apologize for not calling you first. Jenny thought it’d be better if she—”

  “Shut up, Belle. Please. I don’t need Jenny listening to this.” Another beep echoed in her ear as she ran through the corridors, ignoring the curious looks from the base personnel. “Lock down the personal quarters. Tell the crew what’s going on via private message but do not tell the waiting customers in the landing bay. I don’t want a riot on my hands with wannabe heroes offering to save Jenny or any of the crew taking matters into their own hands.”

  Grendel was going to throw a fit.

  * * *

  Daniel stepped out of the observation room and watched her sprint out of sight. He could have kept up with her but this was something he needed to handle delicately. “Etts, link me in with the Belle. Priority Alpha-One, as per Service regulations.”

  The black box burped a high-pitched tone before letting out a satisfied tweet.

  Sam might be upset at him hacking into the Belle’s communication channel but he’d be damned if he’d let her handle this situation alone. Not when he was there and available to assist.