Red Angel: Coup d'etat (Red Angel Series Book 5)

by C. R. Daems

  We boarded the shuttle for the transfer to the Teutates an hour later, including my prisoner, Maria. The trip to the cruiser took less than ten minutes, including the boarding of the shuttle, the flight to the cruiser, and parking the shuttle. When I exited, Captain Mendoza stood waiting.

  “Good day, Director Paulus. I am again your chauffeur. Are we going anyplace exciting?” she asked, and I felt her curiosity.

  “Yes. I’m going to a wedding, and I can probably get you an invite if you would like to join us. This diversion is so I can avoid the assassins who are trying to kill me, since they undoubtedly know the Aeolus’s schedule. I’ve already had two attempts on this trip. Oh, I have a prisoner I need locked up until we reach Eastar.”

  “You do cause a lot of trouble, Director.” She smiled. “Where is the wedding?”

  “Stone Ring. I plan to stay only a few days. I think this diversion will take them several days to figure out where I am and to set up another assassination,” I said, then turned to Scherer. “Captain Mendoza, I’d like to introduce you to Mrs. Scherer, the UAS Committee’s Majority Leader. Ma’am, Captain Mendoza commands the UAS cruiser Teutates.”

  “A pleasure to meet you, ma’am,” Mendoza said. “If you will follow me, I’ll take you to the Admiral’s suite.”

  “Admiral’s suite?” Scherer asked, looking at me as Mendoza had already begun walking.

  “Most heavy cruisers are designed to accommodate an admiral and his advisors to direct fleet operations during wartime.”

  * * *

  “I didn’t know I was picking up the Committee’s Majority Leader when I was directed to Sutan. My orders were rather vague,” Mendoza said at dinner that evening.

  “This trip is our Director of Committee Security’s investigation. I’m just tagging along out of curiosity. But I have to admit it’s been a bit more exciting than I had anticipated.”

  “I understand completely. Last time I was directed to support Director Paulus, she was rolling through the systems like a tsunami, freeing kidnapped women, and pissing off some very influential people.” She snorted a laugh. “I see it didn’t hurt her career.”

  “No. But I’m afraid she is still pissing off some very influential people because they are spending a fortune trying to kill her.” Now Scherer laughed. “However, it appears bullets can’t stop a tsunami.”

  * * *

  “Maxine, when we arrive in Stone Ring space, send Commander Sinclair a message using Crazy Numbers. Ask her if she would mind four extra guests and give her our time of arrival.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

  Stone Ring: At Last

  When I exited the shuttle planet-side, Kris was waiting dressed in a light-blue pants suit. Ignoring Red, she ran and wrapped her arms around me.

  “I’ve missed you, Anna,” she said as she stepped back and held me at arm’s length. “My wedding wouldn’t have been as special if you hadn’t been here.”

  “I was afraid of ruining it. I’m chasing some evil people who have money and power, and they would like me retired,” I said.

  “I’m glad you decided to come. I think the diversion should give you a few days’ peace, and it looks like you brought enough security,” she said as Red’s head appeared of my jacket. “Hi, Red, I hope you recognize your nanna.” Kris stared over my shoulder. “That’s a bunch of good-looking men you’re traveling with.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry,” I said, feeling embarrassed at forgetting who was tagging along. “Kris, this is Mrs. Scherer, the Majority Leader for the UAS Committee. Ma’am, this is Commander Kristian Sinclair, my very special friend and adopted sister who mentored a very young and naive lieutenant.”

  “An honor to meet you, Mrs. Scherer, and I’d be honored if you’d have time to attend my wedding.”

  “Thank you, I do. And I’d love to learn more about my Director of Committee Security. That must have been an exciting time, mentoring a young prodigy with a poisonous snake,” Scherer said. “I guess there is an interesting story that comes with hugging Anna knowing she has a krait lurking somewhere on her person.”

  “More terrifying than interesting,” Kris said.

  “Colonel Ballard is the senior Cerberus agent in charge of the Committee’s personal security, and Maxine is my aide-de-camp and a c-agent,” I said, nodding to each. Kris acknowledged each with a handshake.

  “Anna, you are welcome to stay at my place,” Kris said hesitantly. I quickly solved her dilemma as I was with Scherer and a horde of security.

  “I’d love to, but you couldn’t possibly accommodate me and my security. Colonel Ballard has arranged for suites for Mrs. Scherer and me with adjoining rooms for our security at the hotel where your wedding dinner will be catered,” I said, seeing her relief as well as her disappointment at not having me to herself.

  In the end, Scherer, Kris, Maxine, and I had a small party in my suite, which didn’t break up until the early hours of the morning.

  “When I first met Anna, she had just graduated the Oxax Naval Academy, was too young to be commissioned and looked like fourteen, had a venomous krait draped around her neck, and was assigned with me and two other lieutenants to a prestigious team to investigate smugglers. I couldn’t understand why anyone would select her and knew she would be dead weight for us to carry. But right from the beginning she was a contributing member. In fact, she found the clue that led to the smugglers’ demise.” Kris went on to tell some of our experiences. It was a fun night.

  * * *

  The next day, I went with Kris to try on my bridesmaid’s dress to see if it needed adjustments. There I met Angela Kersey, Kris’s second maid of honor, who to my relief had done all the maid of honor’s chores. Angela was a teacher at the local college where Kris had taken a class on finance. They had developed a close friendship over the years and Kris had been her maid of honor last year.

  Angela, I like you to meet my adopted sister, Anna. She’s the reason I have more Purple Hearts than a marine gunny and the reason I’m still alive. Anna, this is Angela and a very dear friend.”

  “Nice to meet you, Anna. Kris talks about you and your adventures all the time. I’m glad you could make it. I know Kris feels very close to you,” Angela said, looking at Red on my shoulder. “And Red.”

  “I owe you, Angela, for doing all the maid of honor duties. I would have loved to help but my assignment is new and there are a few people that would like to retire me and don’t care about collateral damage,” I said, truly wishing I could have helped.

  “Kris and I preferred you a secret maid of honor,” Angela said and Kris nodded.

  In the end the dress fit perfectly and didn’t need any adjustments. Standard size six clothes usually fit me well. Angela and Kris had picked out halter-style, floor-length, sky-blue chiffon dresses for the bridesmaids. And Kris chose a white ball gown, V-neck with long sleeves, court train tulle lace wedding dress. It was simple and elegant like Kris.

  I cried with happiness for Kris at the wedding ceremony. She was at a good place in her life—a career she loved and excellent rank for her age, a man she loved, and soon to be a mother. For me, it was unlikely I would ever be married or have children. Maybe that was just as well as I doubted I’d live long enough to see them grow up. We left the next day for Eastar.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

  The Agreement

  The trip to Eastar would be a little over three days. The first day after leaving Stone Ring, I wandered down to the marines’ detention area where two c-agents stood guard in sight of the cell Maria was being held.

  “Sergeant Austin, would you open the cell, please,” I said, watching as Maria studied me without emotion, although I felt a hint of curiosity.

  “Maria, would you like to have lunch with me? I think it’s time we talk,” I said and stood waiting. She nodded and I felt a hint of amusement as she left the cell.

  “You are very trusting, Director Paulus,” Maria said.

  “Anna, please. Not really. Killing me would b
e suicidal and I don’t believe you are,” I said. “Consider us two individuals who each have something that could benefit the other.”

  We walked in silence back to my dining room, where I had ordered a rather elaborate lunch.

  “Sergeant Austin, you and the other c-agent are to remain out in the hallway,” I said, waving Maria inside.

  “Is that wise, ma’am?” Austin asked. I had to agree it probably appeared insane inviting an assassin who wanted to kill me into a closed room alone with her. Even armed, I was no match for her.

  “Keep your fingers crossed.” I smiled and closed the door.

  “This is quite a spread,” Maria said, looking around the table.

  “Hopefully, our agreement will be as good.” I waved for her to sit as I selected two slices of bread, a few slices of beef, potato chips, a salad, and milk.

  “You don’t drink wine?” Maria asked, pouring herself a glass as she selected chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, and a salad.

  “No. Red doesn’t like wine,” I quipped.

  We ate in a comfortable silence. I didn’t mind. There was no reason to rush, and having a meaningful discussion while eating would be difficult. I continued to wait as we both finished a slice of strawberry-rhubarb pie. Finally, Maria sat back and sipped at her second glass of wine.

  “You know, by now they will know I failed to kill you, and that you have me in custody,” Maria finally said, studying me like a new species of arachnid.

  “That’s true and they might even know I’m on the Teutates heading for Eastar,” I said. She nodded agreement. Looking at Maria, I knew I had been lucky. She displayed no emotion one could detect and even with my connection with Red I could detect little. She felt ice cold. She had obviously been in the business of spying and assassination for many years.

  “It’s possible. They have an expensive information network because of their positions and the people who agree with their future for the UAS,” Maria said. I tilted my head in a tell me more gesture. “Aggressive expansion.”

  “And a larger and better equipped military,” I added almost to myself. “Will they suspect you would give up their names?”

  She was silent for a while before speaking. “No. They will assume you couldn’t offer me anything to negate the threat of them getting to me in prison. But we all underestimated you. You think outside the box the rest of us are trapped in. Who would let an assassin go free, especially one who had been trying to kill them? But that might not preclude them from trying to kill you and me to be on the safe side.”

  “Will they be professionals?” I asked, trying to gauge the threat.

  “Unlikely. I was their connection to professionals. They would have to rely on people they know who support them—dangerous like your c-agents but not professional assassins.”

  “All right, Maria, here is the deal I’m willing to negotiate. You give me the names of the cabal and I let you go free. I’m not guaranteeing you immunity from prosecution for past actions, only that there will be no arrest warrants for you from my investigation of the cabal or for your actions against me. Of course, I will want to verify the information you give me before you are set free. Afterward, I assume you know how to disappear.”

  Maria said nothing but gave a slight nod. “What guarantee do I have that you will keep your word?”

  “Only my word. I assume you have a dossier on me going back to when I contacted the Coaca Virus at age four. That will have to be enough for you to decide. For me, this is a case of the lesser of two evils.”

  “How do you know they are evil? The future they see may be better than the current one.”

  “I don’t. And although the general voting population may not know the right future, according to our constitution, it’s their right to choose, not some self-appointed group of individuals.”

  “I tried to kill you and would have if I could,” Maria said as a fact but it was really a question—don’t you want revenge?

  “Revenge is a fool’s dream. It doesn’t correct the wrong and it’s more likely to destroy your life than bring you peace,” I said.

  “What about justice?” Maria asked, still probing.

  “Justice is elusive. More often than not it’s a merely an example for us to demonstrate what will happen to you if you do a similar thing. For example, if you kill someone how do you give that person justice? I favor the idea of stopping evil and preventing more.”

  “I’ll be free to commit more…evil.” Maria showed no emotion but I detected a hint of amusement.

  “A case of not being able to eat your dessert and have it to eat later,” I said. “As I said, I am not giving you immunity for crimes committed before the UnCab nor for crimes committed after you’re released. I’m ignoring your criminal actions while working for the UnCab,” I said and then added, “And I will not detain you while I try to determine any past crimes or post a wanted notice on you. Your past is not my concern. You will be free to go.”

  “You might be the only person in the three empires that I would be willing to trust on her word. All right, we have a deal.” She poured herself another glass of wine before continuing. “The head of the group is Harold Nelson, Chief of Military Intelligence, reporting to President Bennett. Steve Nash, Lieutenant General, Chief of Marines, reporting to General Guzman. And Ryan Buchanan, Eastar Senator and Expansionist delegate,” she said, and then grinned at my expression.

  “Guzman and Bennett are potentially in jeopardy,” I said.

  “A triad—the UAS Committee, the navy, and the army and marines,” Maria said. “You understand, I have no proof.”

  “Although I don’t need proof, I need something to confirm their involvement before I can release you.”

  “They have a weekly meeting at Nelson’s country home. The meeting is set for ten hundred hours. My capture shouldn’t change that as they should be confident I wouldn’t give you any information. In fact, if they succeed, I would expect them to quietly pardon me.” A slight grin touched her lips.

  “You weren’t willing to wager they would win?” I asked.

  “One in the hand versus two in the bush,” she said. “And after your success on Black Water, New Zheng, and Sutan, I made a good decision.”

  * * *

  “Thank you for coming, Captain Mendoza, Colonel Caswell. Captain, when Mrs. Scherer and I depart, I’d like you to leave the station and orbit some place of your choice. I’m leaving a guest on board who is to remain in Colonel Caswell’s custody. Colonel, she is to be secured and guarded at all times but to be treated with respect and courtesy. “This is a UAS Security issue and a P1A order. I will advise Admiral Webb and General Guzman,” I said and waited for each to nod.

  CHAPTER FORTY

  UnCab: When at First You Don’t Succeed

  “Maria is usually on time,” Ryan said as he entered the room and noticed she was missing.

  “She not only failed to kill that damn Paulus, but she got captured alive,” Harold said and pounded the arm of the couch he was sitting on. He picked up his glass of twenty-one-year-old Scotch and finished it in one gulp.

  “What if she talks?” Ryan said, turning pale as he headed for the counter where an assortment of brandy and whiskey liquors were displayed. He poured a glass half full and took a drink before going to the couch.

  “She won’t talk. It’s not in her best interest. No one is going to reduce her sentence, especially Paulus, and we don’t have the death sentence to take off the table,” Harold said. “If she talks, she knows we can get to her in prison, even Stonewall. And she knows when we eventually win we will free her. She’s a professional and knew the risks going in and besides, she has no proof to give them. It would be the word of a known criminal against men of integrity and standing.”

  “We could kill her,” Steve said. “To be on the safe side.”

  “No, if our attempt fails, Maria would have a good reason to talk. And although she has no proof, it could get embarrassing…and if somehow the attempt
fails and she gets free…” Harold shuddered. He stood and filled his glass before going to his desk and taking out a folder, handing it to Nash, who opened it and read.

  “Wow. How did you get this?” Steve asked with an ear-to-ear smile. “This solves all our problems.” He passed the folder to Ryan.

  “It’s not real,” Harold said, sounding pleased. “But you can use it to get Paulus separated from her security or to shoot her on sight and use it to justify killing her. I’m sure you have some marines you can use and a man you trust to lead them.”

  “But if it isn’t real?” Ryan asked.

  “Destroy it afterward. The document is only a distraction to get Paulus alone and to justify killing her,” Harold said. “From what I’ve been hearing that bitch has set us back a year.”

  “Where is she now?” Steve asked. “The Aeolus returned two days ago without her.”

  “From what I hear, she attended a wedding on Stone Ring and will be returning on the Teutates in a day or two,” Harold said.

  CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

  Eastar: Home at Last

  “Ma’am, there are twenty marines waiting in the boarding area commanded by a Major Papas,” Mendoza said as I entered the shuttle bay to depart. “He said they have orders to arrest Miss Paulus. They claim your P1A status has been revoked and you are no longer the Director of Committee Security. They are threatening to enter by force if necessary.”

  “Captain, sound battle stations, inform Colonel Caswell we have a rogue force attempting to enter the Teutates,” I said, hoping Mendoza wasn’t buying the major’s claim. “Ballard, get Mrs. Scherer to safety,” I shouted then turned to Mendoza. “They couldn’t revoke my P1A status without the Majority Leader’s vote. Those troops were ordered here by Vice General Nash, who would like my guest and me murdered.”