by C. R. Daems
“Are we going, ma’am? I could be very helpful as your aide,” she said, obviously excited to be traveling and at the idea of a wedding. I didn’t answer, as I typed a response.
To: Kristin Sinclair
I’d love to be your maid of honor and to see my adopted sister happily married. I miss you every day. But I have people hunting me and they don’t care about collateral damage. I couldn’t live with ruining your special day. I love you, Kris.
From: Anna Paulus
“Maxine, send that with my director’s priority,” I said and sent it to her tablet. “I’m not the person anyone would want as a guest at a wedding—or even at a funeral unless you were in a hurry to join the deceased.”
Maxine looked disappointed but nodded understanding.
* * *
Ma’am you have a reply from Sinclair,” Maxine said. The reply had taken three days, which meant Kris had answered it the same day she had received it. “And there is an attachment.”
To: Anna Paulus
The wedding won’t be the same without you, but I understand. Love you.
From: Kristin Sinclair
When I opened the attachment, I smiled. It looked like the message had been scrambled in transit or it had been created by a one-year-old playing on the tablet’s keyboard. I waved Maxine over to my desk and showed Maxine.
“It looks scrambled,” she said, turning her head to look at it from different directions.
“No, it’s a coded message. You run a program called Crazy Numbers and it decodes it.” I activated Crazy Numbers and gave it the name of the file. The random letters, numbers, and special characters slowly dissolved, changed, and coalesced into a coherent message:
I’m sorry you don’t feel you should attend. But if you catch the bad guys before the date you are welcome to come. I want you here. Love, Kris.
“That’s clever. Is it something only you and Kris have?” Maxine asked.
“No. It’s a program I wrote for the NIA. All the senior people in the organization have it on their tablets and could translate a Crazy Numbers message,” I said, but did not mention that the program had the potential to carry two messages because so many people had access to the program, a secret password appended to Crazy Number displayed the second message if there was one. I typed the password as Maxine couldn’t see me typing and the message appeared.
I want my little sister here for my special day. I know you will be cautious making reservations, you have security, and we can both carry weapons if necessary. Love, Kris.
I blanked the screen and considered the issue. I decided I would wait and see as I had a month to decide. Then I had an idea that would solve both my problems: what to do next and how to minimize the risk of attending Kris’s wedding.
“Maxine, see what I would have to do to schedule the Committee’s spacecraft for two weeks,” I said, hating to keep her in the dark but wanting to ensure no one but me knew what I planned. A secret wasn’t a secret if more than one person knew it. I smiled.
“We’re going to the wedding?” she asked cautiously.
“No, we’re going to annoy evil people,” I said. “I’ll be in the training area when you find out.” I left with my two security men following. As I expected, Craig was conducting a regular weekly two-day special training for the women new-hires. When I arrived, they were working on hand-to-hand techniques. I’d had a few months of self-defense training at the academy but knew it would take years for me to be any good at the art. And I had no incentive since Red was all the protection I’d need if someone grabbed me or was beating on me.
“Madam Director, want to join?” He grinned.
“Only if I can keep Red,” I said, grinning back. “I know weight isn’t critical in a one-on-one encounter but it’s a factor if you aren’t willing to use disabling techniques. Fortunately, I have Red, and he only knows disabling techniques.” That elicited smiles and laughs from everyone. “How are you doing?” I asked, looking at the eight women who had qualified.
“It’s far tougher than I had imagined, but satisfying,” a tall thin blonde said. Her workout clothes were covered with sweat stains.
“You’re a good role model, ma’am,” a stocky brunette said. “We get at least one story about you each week, either from one of the instructors or Maxine.”
“Maxine, is a good role model,” I said. “But in the end, your greatest asset is your mind. Although the job most days will be routine and can appear boring, you need to be focused all the time. If you are focused when that five percent happens, you will respond quicker and your response will be better. And in class you always want to consider, what would I do if someone had me in this hold or was using this technique, because knowing these techniques you are being taught doesn’t guarantee your opponent doesn’t also know a few tricks of his own or isn’t faster or… The life you save may be your charge and your own.” I walked over to Craig, who was smiling.
“That will keep them working doubly hard. I like the fact you are involved. I think it’s good for morale and keeps us on our toes, knowing our boss is…interested and involved.”
* * *
“Ma’am, I’m told that none of the Core members plan to use it so it’s available if you,” Maxine grinned, “want to use it to annoy evil people.”
“Excellent. Reserve the Committee’s spaceship for me, and alert Martha, my security, and my aide we will be leaving in a week and likely to be gone for a couple of weeks.”
“Where to?” Maxine asked, her eyes twinkling with excitement.
“I’ll let you know when I decide. For now, it’s just advance notice so everyone can get prepared.”
* * *
“We understand you have booked the Committee’s spaceship for two weeks,” Bennett said at our weekly meeting. It was more a question—where and why—than a statement of fact.
“Since the UnCab has decided to annoy me while we wait for the next Committee break, I thought I’d annoy them,” I said.
“Doing what?” Scherer asked.
“The UnCab killed four delegates which resulted in a shift in the vote at those four systems: New Zheng, Sutan, Oasis, and Black Water. That not only shifted the balance of party power but set up a coup d’état at four systems. I’d like to know how they did that. I think that is the priority right now and Committee Security is functioning well and in good hands.”
“I agree that is the priority and Committee Security appears better than ever, thanks to your influence. There is not only increased training but also more women agents,” Bennett said to nodding hands.
“I think I’ll join our director if she doesn’t mind,” Scherer said, amusement dancing in her eyes as she looked to me. What could I say?
“That’s a good idea. This certainly affects the three of us.” Bennett’s look turned to concern. “Be careful, Katherine, our director attracts bullets like a target at a firing range.”
Scherer laughed. “But the target fires back.”
When I returned to my office, I stopped at Martha’s desk.
“Martha, notify Ballard and Maxine that I’d like to see them,” I said. “It’s not an emergency so as soon as it’s convenient.”
“When the Director want to see you, it’s always an emergency, but I’ll tell them.” She smiled.
True to her observation, the two were there less than five minutes later. I chuckled, remembering the times Lulltrel said she wanted to see me. I used the stairs so I didn’t have to wait for the elevator. I noticed Seth followed them in.
“Anna, you wanted to see us?” Ballard said as he entered.
Seth stopped at the door, then entered and closed it when I nodded.
“Get something to drink if you want and sit. This will take a few minutes,” I said and took a seat at my conference table. Maxine set down a cup of my coffee before retrieving one for herself.
“I’m planning on visiting New Zheng, Oasis, Black Water, and Sutan using the Committee spaceship and will need security
. We will need additional security for Majority Leader Scherer, who is planning to accompany me,” I sat back, awaiting comments.
“Isn’t that dangerous? A trip like that will be hard to keep a secret and an excellent chance for the UnCab to target you,” Seth said, his voice full of concern.
“Yes, you can expect at least one attempt to assassinate me. But if I’m going to stop their coup from succeeding, I need to understand how they knew their person would replace the murdered delegate. To do that, I need to be able to talk to the people involved. I hadn’t anticipated the Majority leader would want to come along. She can be a help but she will be a greater security risk since she doesn’t carry a weapon and probably won’t be competent in a firefight,” I said.
“In that event, we will have to double the guards,” Ballard said, but I shook my head.
“No. One or two extra and everyone should know she’s the priority.” I held up my hand. “I can shoot and won’t be unsure what to do. Mrs. Scherer will be confused and unable to defend herself.”
“You’re one tough boss, ma’am,” Ballard said. “Maxine, you and someone you designate will have responsibility for the Director. Ma’am, I’d like to go along. Captain Williamson, my second in command, can handle my group for the two or three weeks we will be away.”
I looked to Seth, who nodded. “All right, but don’t steal all the senior people from the group. We don’t want Committee Security to be compromised,” I said, knowing he would do just that if I didn’t stop him. He nodded reluctantly.
“When do you want to leave?” Ballard asked and I could feel his panic.
“Is five days enough time to prepare?” I asked and detected a sigh of relief around the table.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Annoy the UnCab
“Another secret flight?” Admiral Webb asked as I sat with him in his office. “Anna, you know you could request me to come to see you at the Committee building,”
“That wouldn’t feel right. I’m sure you are a lot busier than me,” I said, still not comfortable with what everyone else appeared to take for granted—that my position had more authority than theirs. “My mind has problems catching up with my new position. I was just coming to terms with being in charge of the NIA stations.”
He nodded. “Your career has risen like a rocket. It’s consistent with your talent and accomplishments but faster than your experience. Even exceptional people usually get several years’ experience before they move to the next higher position.” He laughed. “Given that, you would be in your fifties.”
“That’s part of the problem. I look and feel like I’m in my twenties. I’m not only not married, I’m not even dating, and I still live home with my mother…and have no intentions of moving out.” I had to laugh along with Webb.
“Well, Director of Committee Security, what can I do for you?” Webb asked, leaning forward. “Another diversion?”
I nodded. “The group killing delegates have me on their active hit list. They have made two attempts in the last week. And my plans are to make them more nervous than they are already. I’ll be visiting the sites where they killed delegates but tried to make them look like accidents in an effort to understand their strategy and its potential impact on the upcoming Committee break. I’m not going to hide that agenda. In fact, it would be difficult since they could easily deduce which systems I’m going to visit. I’d like to appear to be returning to Eastar on the Committee’s spaceship afterward but would like to make a detour. The detour is personal but it would endanger innocent people I love and respect if they found out and chose to attack me there.”
“So, you would like a cruiser at your last stop available to take you to your…meeting. Why not make the transfer in space?”
“Good idea. How about noon several hours from the Wave exit in the Sutan system on the one hundred forty-seventh day? I’ll need the cruiser for about seven days,” I said, crossing my fingers.
“I’ll send you the coordinates as soon as I have a cruiser identified. He will have sealed orders to take you wherever you want to go and to stay as long as you need him,” Webb said.
“Thank you. I’m fortunate to be blessed with very special friends like you,” I said and gave him a kiss on the cheek as I rose.
“Call me Steven, Anna. I’d appreciate it.”
* * *
I left Webb’s office and went down two floors to see Commander Weaver. When I reached his secretary, she waved me in after checking her tablet.
“Good morning, Director Paulus, how can I help you?” he said, as he stood.
“Congratulations, Commander Weaver. I understand you are on the list for Rear Admiral,” I said as I shook his hand.
“Thanks to you,” he said, pointing to the coffee on the sideboard. I shook my head.
“I’d appreciate you sending a message to your NIA Station chiefs and letting them know I’ll be on station over the next few weeks and may require their help. It will be a P1A matter which I’d rather keep on a need to know basis. The systems will be New Zheng, Oasis, Black Water, and Sutan.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem as you have the authority and they know and respect you,” Weaver said with genuine feeling.
“I want them to know you’re aware of my visit and have your support,” I said, not wanting people to feel they had divided loyalties.
“I appreciate you keeping me in the loop,” Weaver said, understanding my reasons. Before leaving, I let him know he could keep Lulltrel informed. She already knew I was chasing the UnCab.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
UnCab: A Thorn in Their Running Shoes
Harold sat contemplating the group’s upcoming meeting. One more kill at any one of several sites would give them a weak majority, two a pretty safe majority, and three a strong voting position. He had thought any of those positions would allow them to appoint a new Director of Security, but that damn Bennett had made the position tenured. Paulus couldn’t be removed for ten years without getting twelve votes to remove her. He couldn’t imagine any resolution including pay raises for all the delegates that could garner twelve delegate votes. If he wanted her gone, the only alternative was her death or that red-headed krait.
Ironically, if they could get Paulus on their side, she would be a valuable asset. She was a good leader by all accounts and a superb troubleshooter. But that assumed she didn’t screw up their current plans and that she would support the new Core group. Like having a pet tiger—great protection but he might decide you were lunch if he didn’t like what he was served. No, the risk outweighed the reward, he decided, as his guests began to arrive.
“Good morning, Harold,” Ryan said. “Have you heard the latest news? Pain-in-the-ass Paulus is planning a trip to New Zheng, Oasis, Black Water, and Sutan. Want to guess why?”
“She’s trying to figure out if the accidents were really murders,” Steve said from the open door into the living room.
“She already knows that. She wants to understand how we got our people to replace the ones that we had murdered,” Maria said as she walked by Steve, poured herself a glass of wine from the sidebar, and sat. “She’s a prodigy. She knew long ago what we were doing. She’s just collecting proof and eliminating possible alternatives in an effort to identify us.”
“Maybe we should quit trying to kill her and give her what it’s costing us to kill her to turn a blind eye and let her keep the position of director,” Ryan said. He had learned a long time ago that everyone had a price. The only problem was finding it.
“I’d gladly do just that but it won’t work. I have it on good authority money and rank mean little to her. I wish it did. And that damn Bennett just passed an addendum to the Committee rules that gives Paulus tenure for ten years. We won’t be able to fire her even if we get control of the votes to pass our agenda.” Harold said, clearly frustrated. “It would be like building your house on a geological fault line. The only solution is to kill her.”
“Her current trip will
be the opportunity I’ve been waiting for,” Maria said, looking into her glass of red wine as if she could see Paulus’s death in the liquid. “I know exactly which systems she will visit and she can’t very well conduct an investigation from the Committee’s spacecraft. She will have to be out talking with people.”
“And if you can’t?” Steve asked. “Your track record hasn’t been very good.”
“If all else fails, I’ll kill her myself,” she said simply but the temperature in the room suddenly seemed to drop several degrees. “Paulus has been resourceful and lucky, but she’s not immortal.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Partial Answers
When I boarded the Committee’s cruiser, a tall lean man with short gray hair met me. His smooth clean-cut angular face looked calm and relaxed, but he felt nervous.
“Good morning, Director Paulus. I’m Captain Weller. Welcome aboard the Aeolus. I’m afraid Majority Leader Scherer won’t be here for a couple of hours,” he said, and gave me a smile which looked a bit forced.
“She felt arriving at the Aeolus at eight in the morning would require her to rise in the middle of the night. I thought I would arrive earlier so I could answer any questions you might have and to confirm our schedule,” I said. “And to give our rather large party time to get settled so that Mrs. Scherer won’t be inconvenienced when she arrives. For your information, Colonel Ballard heads our twenty-c-agent security team, and Staff Sergeant Landon is my aide-de-camp.”
“Yes, ma’am. Commander Babson will get your party settled, and I will show you to your quarters. We can speak there or in my office,” Weller said. His speech felt stiff and cautious. I followed him to the upper level where he led me down a corridor with blue painted walls and a padded floor—a stark difference from the normal steel gray walls and floors in the rest of the ship. Halfway there he opened a door to a large bedroom.
“I’m sorry, but Majority Leader Sherer is the ranking person on board and will be accorded the Presidential suite,” he said in a rush.
