Slow Burn Dark

by A. B. Keuser

  “Minerva will forgive me.”

  “Just as long as she doesn’t try to recruit me again.”

  Shoving away from her desk, she went to him and set the bow back in place. “I don’t plan on letting you out of my sight, so you don’t have to worry about her whisking you away to measure you for a bed.”

  She crossed the room to snatch up her small purse.

  “Funny, the first part of that sounds like my job.”

  “The guest list will expect me to keep tabs on you. After all, they’ll all think—like they with their staff—that I’m keeping you for both of your guns.”

  “I’d mind the assumption less if you were.”

  He’d said the words low enough she suspected he hadn’t meant for her to hear them. So she pretended she hadn’t.

  Checking the information dredge that had just completed, she bit her tongue to keep from cursing as the information came up negative… again.

  Banks turned toward her, shifting like the suit—which fit perfectly—was two sizes too small.

  She’d bet her fortune it wasn’t the fabric, but the fact that everyone at the party would be able to see just as much of him as she could now.

  “If you need to put one of your men on my detail tonight, I’ll understand,” She slid the information away. “If I could push the task off on an assistant, I’d do it in a heartbeat.”

  His mouth twisted in a scowl and his gaze stuttered down her body.

  “It might be easier to do this with a bodyguard who isn’t as vocal about his disapproval of my neckline.”

  “The back isn’t any better.” He nearly growled the words. “You’re a damned distraction.”

  Luckily, that’s what I’m trying to be.”

  “I don’t trust any of my crew on an assignment where you’re dressed like this.”

  She slanted him a glance. “Do you trust yourself?”

  In the private sector, Banks was the best at what he did. She’d hired him for that very reason. And she trusted him. If she was a distraction, he’d be the only one at the party who could break free of the spell.

  Here, in her gilded tower, she didn’t care about his misattentions… didn’t even care that its provenance was the sort that should have been killed immediately in a professional relationship. They knew what each other was, and they’d long ago reached a silent agreement that neither cared.

  “Ready to play the role?” she asked, scooping up the bottom of her dress and leading the way to the elevator.

  Banks stepped in beside her and punched the button for her private garage. “Regardless of how expensive your shoes are, it’s never fun to drool at your feet.”

  “Just be happy I don’t put you on a leash.” There would, no doubt, be one or two among the party who wore them.

  He shuddered. “Collars are one thing… leads, another altogether.”

  They rode to Minerva’s mansion in an easy silence, the dark bubble of her ground-car’s safety paneling allowing them both a moment to relax before they stepped into a realm where neither of them was truly comfortable.

  And then, their bubble burst.

  Banks helped her out of the car, and together, they made their way into the brightly lit mansion Minerva had built on her back.

  The woman was in her sixties now, but cosmetic procedures made it impossible to tell, if you didn’t know. And, as far as Sophia knew, the woman still took an active part in her enterprise. One Sophia had long ago bought stock in and been rewarded handsomely for.

  Banks, for all his grumbling beforehand, wore the serene mask of a well-tended man. A mask, Sophia noticed, their host studied with an approving eye.

  “You’re late.” One of Minerva’s perfectly sculpted brows reached toward her hairline, and she dragged a gaze up and down Banks’ body. “But you’ve brought me a pretty man… I’ll forgive you if you lend him to me for the night.”

  Banks didn’t move, nothing about him showed the extent to which Sophia knew he loathed the possibility. His trust in her would never be misplaced.

  “You’ll forgive me anyway. And we both know, I don’t share.”

  “A shame, I would have given you the pick of my litter. There are a few I know you’d enjoy.”

  “You’ve yet to provide me with a man, woman, or anyone in between, who’d tempt me.”

  “But I won’t stop trying.” Minerva’s smile was sincere—one of the few Sophia would see tonight.

  “Go,” She said, hands fluttering. “Enjoy the party, I’ll see what I can do about changing your mind.”

  And she did try.

  The pattern was amusing, at least. A young person, dressed in a way to entice, would approach, attempt to maneuver her away from Banks, fail, and fade into the background. Only to have another appear a short time later.

  But the sixth person to approach them wasn’t one of Minerva’s menagerie.

  There was a difference between those selling sex and those selling violence. This man fell into the latter category. The brief glimpse of the scars his cuffs couldn’t hide told her as much.

  “My dear, Ms. Refuti,” he bowed, not bothering to introduce himself. “I’ve heard of your beauty, but never thought the rumors could possibly be true.”

  Any nexus port would have shown him what she looked like if he’d cared to run a general search.

  False flattery wasn’t a currency in which she dealt.

  She knew what he was. The man could dress himself up nicely, smile in that debonair way he no doubt stole from some old flick, and speak with as refined an accent as he wanted… there was something about the Lazarai that always gave them away.

  But it wasn’t desperation.

  And just as she recognized his affiliations, she recognized the need to ensure he had no clue that she had.

  “And what is it you do, mister….”

  Again, he elected to keep his name to himself. “My employer’s business is incredibly diversified.”

  Smiling sweetly at the man who she knew didn’t deserve it, she flicked her hand in a small gesture. “Whose in this room isn’t.”

  As she walked toward the far window, Banks kept his place beside her.

  “We hoped to begin negotiations on a sizable deal.”

  Generalizations were always a red flag. “And what is your employer’s name?”

  She knew the man would never admit to being one of Holzen’s cronies, but she wanted out of the conversation and a benign assault was the easiest way to accomplish it.

  “He’d like to keep this portion of our dealings… anonymous.”

  She smiled, despite knowing she shouldn’t. He’d taken her bait—not that he’d had any other option.

  “Then, I’m afraid I’ll have to pass on any offer you have to make. I stay in business because I know and trust those with whom I choose to partner, and if I neither know, nor trust your employer…. You see how this works?”

  “I believe I do.” His eyes flicked over her shoulder.

  If he found anything odd in the sixth richest woman in the Colarium keeping a bodyguard, he was a bigger fool than she thought. And a Lazarai on the ground in the Colarium’s capital was already fool enough.

  “If you and your employer would like to do fair dealings, on book, I will be happy to hear your proposal. My number isn’t hard to find.”

  It wouldn’t be, if his employer was the sort of man who ran in her circles. Archimedes wasn’t. If she met this man, or any other of Holzen’s men again, it wouldn’t be in a formal setting.

  “Of course.” His smile was rueful, his words, oddly, meant for Banks. “We had to at least extend the courtesy of an offer. I’m sure you understand.”

  With a curt nod, she turned and joined Banks, gliding into the crowd.

  “That was… unexpected.” Banks said, wrapping her arm around his so he could anchor her closer. “I wonder if our hostess knows there’s a lizard amongst her linen.”

  They continued around the party, Banks playing his role while s
he kept an eye on the Lazarai spy until he left, only a few minutes later.

  He hadn’t spoken to anyone else. She imagined he would have left as soon as she’d turned from him, but too many of the assembled guests had been watching him too.

  By the time she said goodbye to Minerva and got back in the ground car, the glimmer of sunlight cast golden shadows from the panes of the city’s towers.

  Sunk into the heavily cushioned seat beside her, Banks yawned. “As much as I enjoy pretending we are that old cliche, I’m ready to not do that for another year, maybe more.”

  “Minerva is the only one I’ll never say no to...but after tonight, I’m not so sure I trust her security.”

  “Her protections are focused on an entirely different set of valuables. She isn’t looking for spies.”

  “Who knew we’d have to?”

  They didn’t say a word throughout the rest of the ride back to her building. As soon as they stepped into her private quarters though….

  “We need to find out what he’s interested in, and we need to figure it out soon. If Archimedes Holzen is going after one of my holdings, I want to be sure to cut off his hand before he can grab it.”

  “Our visitor’s name was…. Dinair, something.” Banks scowled down at the terminal. “I’m certain I’ve dealt with him before.”

  “Had dealings with, or had to forcibly prevent him from doing something?”

  “The latter.” He scowled down at the screen. “I’m too tired to do this right now. I’ll figure out how to look him up without flagging the search after I get some sleep. But he’s definitely Lazarai, and I’d be willing to bet he’s got a record a mile long. There’s no way he should have been able to put boots on the ground, much less get into that party.”

  “We both know Archimedes Holzen has more footholds in the Colarium than anyone could guess.” She kicked off her shoes and unclasped her jewelry. “But why us, and why now?”

  Sophia stared out into the early morning skyline. “It has to be the problem on Horza.”

  “Why would they harass you here if they’re already doing… whatever they’re doing at your mining operation?”

  “Distraction? He said he had to try…. Wave a seemingly above-board deal in front of me while pulling something they know I’ll never agree to in the background?”

  “Then they’re more idiotic than we thought.” Banks wrenched the tie from his throat and popped open his collar, taking a lout breath. “I’ll get the flight crews to their stations and work on the departure clearances.”

  She nodded and watched him go, wondering how she’d managed to get him in the first place. How she’d managed to keep him.

  There were at least five of her contemporaries who would kill her to get to him—if that wouldn’t mean going through him.

  Lost wasn’t the accurate word for where she’d be without him.

  And if Holzen was going to interfere, she’d need his help more than ever. But she’d never worried about his safety before….

  Banks might be the best within the Colarium… she had no idea what the Lazarai had to throw at her.

  If her gut feeling was right, they’d soon find out.

  Thirteen - Kathrynn

  Glaring at the screen in front of her, Kathrynn sifted through the information Nandy had provided.

  Trey had left almost immediately after she’d disembarked and he hadn’t filed any return plans. His stated destination was as believable as the Colarium crumbling in the night.

  She would have sworn and cursed him if it would do any good. Instead she logged through a dozen proxy screens and pulled up the comms she’d been neglecting.

  Immediately responded to the one she should have caught before she’d left Mother Rezzeka’s offices.

  Mother Mihm led the temple on the small moon outpost of Creighton, and when she answered the comm, worry furrowed her brow.

  “Blessings of the Mother,” Kathrynn said.

  “Blessings. I don’t have much time, our next service is about to start, but I am grateful you were able to respond.” She glanced sharply to her right. “The Great Mother has led me to ask for your guidance, and help. There is a… problem I cannot speak of over this distance. Will you come?”

  “Of course. I will be there as soon as the Great Mother allows.”

  “Blessings.”

  Kathrynn murmured in response as Mother Mihm ended the comm.

  She scowled at the screen as it darkened and then slowly brightened back to the information she’d been reading before.

  The woman who operated as Senior Colari Harris’ right hand was almost as elusive as he was. Learning more about her would require patience. Mother help her.

  “Something wrong?” Nandy asked, setting a mug of dark tea on the table beside the key panel.

  “The temple on Creighton needs me.”

  “Oh.”

  The shortness of that response told her just how well Nandy understood. Explaining only ever made people uncomfortable.

  Twisting the mug on the table, Kathrynn considered her options. “I’ll have to find a fast ship out….”

  “Do you care if it’s a cargo hauler with passenger capacity?” Nandy winced as though it was an insult to ask. “Because they might not be the fastest on paper, but that would get you a direct route and waiting on passenger lines is more hassle than it’s worth half the time.”

  “I’ve certainly traveled in worse.”

  “There’s one leaving today. I’ll sort it out, you keep working on… whatever that is.”

  Kathrynn looked down at the screen as Nandy disappeared into the back rooms. Her comm box had a new, blinking light. A question from Serbal, suspicions provided by the sister who currently shared Archie’s bed.

  A call had gone out for bodies.

  She read through the information and scowled. They weren’t recruiting soldiers….

  Footsteps sounded in the hall, and she shut the screen down before Nandy arrived.

  “I’ve got you booked. The ship leaves in three hours.” She shrugged her uniform on, hasty fingers working the buttons.

  “And you have to leave too?”

  “Yeah… some bigwig from Capo is looking for her brother.” Nandy finished buttoning her uniform coat and pulled her tactical belt from its hook by the wall. “Apparently, we’re supposed to babysit these people when they deign to come down from their gilded towers? Anyway, it’s all eyes to the streets to see if anyone knows… anything at all.”

  She rolled her eyes and Kathrynn couldn’t keep herself from smiling.

  Didn’t know what she could divulge, or how.

  So she didn’t answer the question that wasn’t asked.

  “When you leave, just pull the door shut. It’ll lock on its own.”

  Ducking down, Nandy kissed her, lips lingering. And when she broke away, she didn’t stand. “Hopefully there’s a future where I’ll see you again.”

  “I’d like that.”

  But there wasn’t.

  The futures in which Nandy played a part were never hers. Not on their current courses.

  She watched the woman walk out of her life, and turned back to the terminal. The information she could bring up on Paige Holuce was slim, and with her impending requirement on Creighton, she didn’t have time to wait around for a fully secured terminal—and the Great Mother wasn’t providing her with easy options.

  Packing up the last of her things, she drew her hood up and closed Nandy’s apartment.

  The Great Mother rarely gave her what she wanted… and fighting her path never ended well. She’d go to the ship, load in with the other travelers, and when she made her way to Creighton, she’d see what the future had in store.

  Fourteen- Flynn

  Bite marks, and brands, and bruises.

  Oh my.

  Flynn stared down at the man with no name, a man no one would lay claim to. Sealed up in a corpse packet—he didn’t remember their real name and didn’t want the ten minute dissertat
ion that would come with asking Chad about it—the man wasn’t going to get worse, but he definitely wasn’t going to get better.

  Nothing that looked so human should be missing that much of their head.

  The packet couldn’t indefinitely delay the process of decay, but it definitely tried. Which only made it worse.

  His skin was an abstract of purples and greens over a sickly gray-pink base. It was uglier than the near-black flesh covering over Flynn’s cheek, and the similar discoloration on Putty’s knuckles.

  “It’s kind of beautiful, isn’t it?” Chad asked, eyes on his work.

  “Not even a little bit.”

  “A soldier will never see death in a positive light unless he glories in it… and then, he’s not a soldier so much as a bloodthirsty mongrel in the shape of a man.”

  Flynn didn’t want to know what psych book Chad was quoting. “What positive light is there to shine on death?”

  “He has moved on to whatever next stage awaits us. His is a soul unburdened of all his life’s worries.”

  “You assume he’s not burning in hell fires.”

  “And you don’t believe in hell. The Great Mother has welcomed him back to her, he has joined with the rest of the cosmos and will soon become a part of the stars we look up at each night before he is redistributed as something else in her universal plan.”

  Religious speak from a non-believer always grated at Flynn. “Hopefully she redistributes him as something befitting whatever sort of man he was.”

  Henri knocked on the morgue’s airlock before it slid open and she stepped in, slipping a mask over her face.

  “Bad news.” Her eyes never touching the body. “We went to get your bombers, but they were gone, and by the time we caught up with their trackers. They’d found them and left them in the dirt, waiting for us.”

  “Which direction?”

  “South,” She jerked her head in the direction. “But I think they knew they’d been tagged and were leading us toward the NEU compound on purpose.”

  “Any clues down below?”

  “Nothing new. Anything from him?”

  “You’ll be the first person outside these walls to know.”

  She nodded at the doctor and turned back to Flynn. “I get the feeling you’ve done something to piss the Great Mother off… maybe you should take yourself to temple.”