by Ivy Barrett
They didn’t speak again until they reached the roof. The night was cool and clear, but Jericho was too agitated to appreciate the star-dotted sky. He led her to his shuttle and pressed his hand to the scanner pad, unlocking the main hatch. He motioned her inside and handed the suitcase back to her then his audiocom went off. Ranyn was the only one who had access to this frequency and he knew better than interrupting unless it was an absolute emergency.
“This better be important.”
“It’s your day for bizarre visitors, Mr. James. Elaine VinDerley is here and she would very much like to speak with you.”
Jericho shook his head. “Elaine VinDerley, as in the former premier’s wife?”
“That’s the one.”
Scrubbing his eyes with his fingertips, Jericho debated what to do. The VinDerleys were one of the most powerful families in the coalition. She could have him shut down in a day if he pissed her off. “Did she indicate what this is regarding?”
“She only said it’s a personal matter.” Jericho heard a muffled voice in the background and then Ranyn added, “I told her you were on your way out and she offered to meet you on the roof.”
“Have her escorted up. My shuttle is on the northeast corner of the lot.”
“Right away, sir.”
“What’s going on?” Tamara came back down the stairs and stood beside him.
“I haven’t the faintest idea. Elaine VinDerley is on her way up, so you’d better stay inside the shuttle.”
Chapter Five
Tamara sat in a chair adjacent to the open hatch, hoping she could at least hear what was going on outside the shuttle. Jericho seemed shocked by Elaine VinDerley’s visit, so Tamara could only deduce that the former premier’s wife was not a regular customer.
She heard the sharp snap of heels against the pavement and then a woman spoke, her voice nicely modulated. “Thank you for seeing me, Mr. James. I’ll only keep you a moment.”
“I always have time for a lovely lady.”
What a suck up! She leaned forward, hoping to catch a glimpse of their visitor. All she could see was the skimmer parked next to their ship and one of Jericho’s legs.
“There’s no simple way to explain this, so I’ll just toss it out there. I’m looking for Tamara Owens. You wouldn’t happen to know where she is, would you?”
Tamara’s heart lurched and she pressed her hand over her mouth. Why would such a powerful woman be looking for her? Were the Enforcers hoping to draw her out or… She couldn’t even imagine what would lead to this situation.
“I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I have no idea who that is.”
Thank God, she’d stayed out of sight. She glanced at the door leading to the aft cabin. Should she find somewhere to hide?
“I suspect you’re trying to protect her, but Tamara has nothing to fear from me. I’ve been worried about her ever since my sister died.”
Tamara turned her attention back to the conversation as Jericho asked the question echoing through her mind.
“What does your sister’s death have to do with Tamara?”
“For obvious reasons, few people are aware, but Petra was my sister. I’m Tamara’s aunt.”
Momentarily frozen by confusion and doubt, she tried to focus past the ringing in her ears. Petra had a sister? If this was a joke, it was cruel beyond belief. She crossed to the hatch, staying to one side so she didn’t give herself way.
“Is Tamara aware of the connection?”
Hell no! She’d believed she was an orphan, with no living relatives, until a few weeks ago.
“Petra forbade me to contact Tamara. But the situation has changed drastically. Tamara is in real trouble and I’d like to help.”
“What made you come to me?”
Now that was a really good question. Even if Elaine’s concern was genuine, how had she known where to look?
“I have premonitions. Sometimes it’s just a vague unease, other times it’s quite specific. I knew the moment Petra died, and I’ve felt restless for the past two days. Tamara is in danger. I’ve learned to listen to these feelings. They’re seldom wrong.”
“That doesn’t explain what led you here.”
“I was meditating, trying to see if I could locate her on my own, when your image appeared within the visualization. And it’s been with me ever since. The sense of urgency is growing stronger, which led me to believe the danger is escalating.”
Tamara was halfway down the stairs before she realized the risk she was taking. This could still be a clever trap. Jericho spotted her first and he looked none too pleased by her choice. “Did my mother have visions too?”
Elaine’s head snapped around then she turned and faced Tamara. Her deep blue eyes took in every detail of Tamara’s appearance. “I’ve seen vids of you, but your eyes are so like hers.” She moved toward Tamara slowly, her stride smooth, almost gliding. Her blonde hair was swept away from her face and styled in a simple twist. “Are you all right?”
“No. Someone is systematically unraveling my life, and I’ve done nothing to warrant their hostility.”
“How did you arrive?” Jericho still looked suspicious of Elaine, but he remained outwardly civil.
“My driver is waiting in the departure loop. Shall I send him away? Where are you two headed?”
Jericho caught her gaze and subtly shook his head. “We’re still debating, but we’d be happy to take you home. It will give you time to talk with your niece.”
“Only if you’re both comfortable with my presence.” She smoothed down the jacket of her royal-blue pantsuit as her gaze shifted to Jericho. “I’m here to offer assistance, not to intrude.”
He made a sweeping motion toward the hatch and Elaine headed up the alloy stairs. As Tamara turned to follow, he caught her upper arm and whispered, “Don’t volunteer details. She could be a plant.”
She nodded, sharing his concern.
The shuttle was small. Jericho moved to the pilot’s station, leaving the women the row of seats behind him. They all strapped in and Jericho ignited the engines. Elaine’s gaze seldom strayed from Tamara’s face, making her feel as if she were on display.
“I was shocked when I found out Petra had left her estate to you,” Elaine began after a long pause. “I don’t begrudge you the fortune, but she worked so hard to keep her choices from complicating your life.”
“Petra didn’t leave her estate to me. The probate council made that decision when the person named in her will was unable to collect.”
“Are you talking about Matthias?”
“Yes. Petra had no intention of involving me in her life, however indirectly.” She needed to be careful what she said, but Elaine was a window into the past. And Tamara had too many questions to allow the opportunity to slip away. “Are either of my grandparents still alive?”
“I’m sorry, dear. They’ve both passed away.”
“Did Petra have any contact with them?”
“No. She was always wild and our parents were intolerant. It wasn’t a pleasant combination. Petra closed herself off completely for almost a decade, but we were able to reestablish a relationship later in her life.”
“What about…my father?” She hated the weakness that made her ask, but meeting a living relative had brought all the old questions back to the surface.
“If Petra knew which of her lovers fathered you, she never told anyone. Our father insisted she have DNA testing and find out, but she refused. I’m sorry. That secret went with Petra to her grave.”
Tamara rubbed her temples as pressure began to pound behind her eyes. “This is all so strange. There are so many lies. I’m not sure how to react to any of this.”
“I heard you resigned from VU. Is that true? You seemed so happy at the university.”
“How would you know if I were happy or not?” She had no way of verifying anything Elaine said and this all seemed a bit too convenient. “You act as if you’ve known me for years.”
“I’ve watched you for years,
as did your mother. She told me once that giving you up was the hardest thing she’d ever done and it was the only thing in her life that she regretted.”
“Which is exactly what anyone in Tamara’s situation wants to hear.” Jericho glanced back at them, his eyes narrowed with suspicion. “Who sent you?”
Elaine gaped at him. She was either the best actress Tamara had ever seen or her shock was genuine. “No one sent me. In fact, my husband would be furious if he knew I was here. My contact on d’Arrest told me about the blowup and indicated that Tamara was on her way to Halley Prime. No one seemed to know what happened to her after she arrived, so I decided to find out. I was worried about her safety and emotional state. It’s as simple as that.”
Jericho swiveled his chair around and looked directly at Elaine. “Can this contact of yours verify where Tamara was between nine and noon today?”
“I’m not sure.” She glanced at Tamara then focused on Jericho. “Why would Tamara need an alibi? Inheriting a sex club might have stained her reputation, but it’s not illegal.”
Tamara wanted to tell Elaine everything and see if she had any fresh ideas, but Jericho’s caution was wise. Elaine could be a mole, sent by the Enforcers to ferret out information.
“It’s gone beyond her inheritance,” Jericho explained. “Someone is trying to destroy her life and they’re doing a damn good job of it. If your contact can verify her whereabouts, it would be extremely helpful.”
“Are the Enforcers involved in this? Has she been accused of a crime?”
“Yes and yes.”
Elaine released her safety straps and scooted to the edge of her seat. “Stop being so cagey. With one com I can find out what you’re not telling me, so you might as well explain the situation.”
Jericho looked at Tamara indecision clear in his gaze. “It’s up to you. I scanned her for bugs and tracking chips before we took off. The worst she can do is tell the Enforcers your side of the story.”
“I suppose I’d be suspicious in your place.” Elaine smiled at Tamara. “I would never do anything to hurt you.”
Tamara hesitated. Taking Jericho into her confidence had been hard enough and she had gone to him. Elaine’s sudden appearance in her life made her uneasy. “I don’t know who’s doing this or why they launched their destructive campaign, but outing me to the administration was just the beginning. He also created compromising images and trashed my house.”
“A man named Morton Tulain has been murdered and Tamara is the prime suspect.”
“Murdered?” Elaine shook her head, clearly aghast. “Which idiot could possibly think you’re capable of murder?”
Tamara appreciated the vote of confidence, but it seemed odd coming from a woman she’d just met. Even Jericho hadn’t really known her long enough to assess her nature. People frequently lied and pretended to be things they weren’t. How could these two know for certain that she wasn’t putting on a show to gain their support?
“Did you know the victim? Why did they immediately presume you had…?”
She couldn’t even speak the accusation, which made Tamara smile.
“We know the victim’s name but that’s about all,” Jericho told her.
Elaine motioned toward her ear. “If you’ll allow me to make a com, I can find out everything the Enforcers know.”
“We’d welcome the information,” Jericho replied, “but we can’t risk the com being traced while you’re with us.”
With a sigh, Elaine lowered her hand. “I’m beginning to understand your paranoia. No wonder my intuition was going crazy.”
They had talked their way back around to her original question, so Tamara tried again. “Did Petra have visions too?”
“If she did, she never mentioned them to me. But then our conversations tended to be terse and to the point. I disapproved of her choices and she refused to even consider a different life path.”
“Sometimes our life paths are determined by the choices others make.” She wasn’t sure why she felt obliged to defend her absent mother, but Elaine’s presumptions didn’t seem fair. “My current situation is a good example. Unless I’ve done something horrible without realizing it, I’m being punished for who I am, not what I’ve done.”
“That’s a fair point.” Elaine eased back in her chair and crossed her legs. “Why did you ask about visions?”
She glanced at Jericho and he shook his head. Clearly their unexpected visitor had yet to win him over. “I was just curious.”
“I hate to be rude, Mrs. VinDerley, but we are rather pressed for time,” he said without turning around.
“Of course. I’m sorry. Is there a restaurant or a bar nearby? You can let me off there and I’ll com my driver.”
Something deep inside Tamara rebelled. She didn’t want Elaine to leave, yet she knew Jericho was right. They needed to disappear and that would be impossible with someone like Elaine VinDerley along for the ride.
Jericho found a respectable-looking restaurant and set down in a shuttle lot across the street.
“Let me give you my private access code. The frequency is secure, so there should be no risk in contacting me. I’ll find out what the Enforcers know, but Mr. James is right. It’s better if I don’t know your exact location.” Jericho entered the code into the shuttle’s comsystem then opened the hatch for Elaine. “If you think of any other way I can assist you, don’t hesitate to com.”
They watched Elaine cross the street and enter the restaurant on the main viewscreen, but Jericho set the shuttle in motion before he said, “Even if she’s a mole, we didn’t tell her anything the Enforcers don’t already know.”
“Except for the fact that you’re helping me.”
He waved away her concern and executed a steep, banked turn. “I’ve been outsmarting Enforcers longer than you’ve been alive.”
She didn’t find the comment reassuring. It shined a glaring light on how little she knew about her protector. “Where are we going?”
“Somewhere the Enforcers won’t think to look. Unless my dear brother joins their team,” he muttered without looking up from the control console.
“What are you talking about?”
“My brother is an Enforcer. I’d hoped he would be a resource for us, but duty called and he’s off and running.”
“That’s who you called while I was in the bathtub.”
He nodded. “He isn’t officially involved yet, and he did warn us about the murder charges, so I guess I can’t be too pissed off.”
They lapsed into silence as Tamara reviewed what Elaine had told her. The VinDerleys were obscenely rich and powerful. What could Elaine possibly gain by involving herself in this mess? “Do you believe her?”
“It doesn’t matter what I believe. You’d be a fool to accept her at face value. Someone has gone to enormous trouble to discredit and endanger you. Is it possible that same person sent Elaine to find out if the plan is working?”
“I don’t believe she’s working for the—”
“I didn’t say I believed it either. I asked if it were possible.”
She tensed as she admitted, “Anything is possible.”
“Then it’s better to be skeptical until we have time to verify her story.”
“All the records leading to Petra’s family are gone. Trust me, I searched everywhere for a clue to her past.”
“Matt would know. If he receives your message, I’m hoping he’ll check in.”
“Easier said than done on Temple-Tuttle.”
“I know, but he’s our best bet. And I wouldn’t use Elaine’s access code until we’ve had time to verify her story.”
* * * * *
Misty Blue stood on the penthouse balcony and raised her face toward the midmorning sun. Heat sank through her skin, teasing her nerve endings as it soothed her tense muscles. She needed release, needed Paul, but she refused to be a burden. Paul was still asleep in their bed, exhausted after hours of conflict and disorder courtesy of Officer Mercer. They ha
d both insisted Tamara was not hiding out at the Dark Star, but the stubborn officer proceeded with a room-by-room search, unconcerned with the upheaval caused by his intrusion.
Paul’s mood had been foul by the time Mercer left, so Blue was left to battle the storm alone. Though every bit as tired as Paul, she’d been unable to fall sleep. She lay beside him, trembling with urgency as she pinched her nipples and rubbed her clit. Toys didn’t help and her own touch was more of a distraction from the craving than a cure for her malady. Somewhere along the line she’d fallen into a light slumber, but the restlessness returned full force as soon as she opened her eyes.
I want you to see a mystic healer. Paul’s simple request unleashed a maelstrom of memories. She closed her eyes as the images assailed her, bracing for the terror and desolation that always accompanied those dark days. She’d been five years old when fanatical mystics captured her and her sister. The mystics had been convinced they harbored latent abilities and they’d been ruthlessly determined to release them.
For the first few weeks, she’d been motivation for her sister, but her sister’s “unwillingness” to cooperate had forced them to take a more direct approach. They’d been starved, locked in darkness and beaten. Their pleas for mercy had gone unheeded and the abuse had accomplished nothing. Neither of them possessed mystic abilities. Her sister’s abuse had been far worse than hers, and two years after their rescue, suicide had been her final escape from the painful memories.
Blue wrapped her arms around herself and shivered, forcing the images to the back of her mind. Had those mystics done more than bruise her body and traumatize her mind? Had their endless probing and manipulation created the storm?
Long arms wrapped around her, pulling her back into the warmth of a tall body. She gasped and turned her head. “Don’t scare me like that.”
Paul eased his hand under her arms and cupped one of her breasts. “I like making you gasp.” His fingers found her nipple and squeezed.
With a soft moan, she rested her head against his shoulder and lowered her arms. “And I like gasping when it’s not fear causing the sound.”
