Awakened

by Ell Leigh Clarke

  Me too, Oz. Me too.

  There was a knock at the door. Paige had gone for a walk and Crash had gone to the store, deliberately timing their absences for the expected visitors.

  “That’ll be them,” Joel said as he strode to the door. Checking through the peephole, he confirmed the woman’s identity and opened the door.

  “Good to meet you, Detective Indius,” he said, shaking her hand.

  “Captain Dunham. Good to meet you, too. This is my partner Detective Rogers.” Joel and Antonio greeted each other with a handshake.

  Garet, hearing the door, arrived from the other room and stepped forward to introduce himself. Molly did the same. Seeing Molly and Joel next to each other, both detectives had a flash of recognition.

  “Thanks for your call, Captain Dunham,” Detective Indius started. “As you can probably guess, we’ve been searching for answers as to what happened at the Dewitt residence that night, and we really appreciate you coming forward.”

  “Of course. We got our client out of danger as soon as we could, but when he decided to return to town, we thought it would be worth checking in with the police to at least let you know. If we had known you wanted to question him, we would have been in touch sooner. We were just out of communication with people for his safety.”

  “I understand.” Detective Indius was amenable and professional. Having spent the last two weeks searching for Beaufort and Montgomery, she hoped she’d finally get some answers.

  “So, we’d like to get a sequence of events. We can see now that both you and Flight Sergeant Bates were involved in the incident,” she paused, noticing Joel’s quizzical look.

  “How do you know that?” he asked.

  It was Molly who answered. “Dewitt’s security cams. We had assumed the group that followed us had destroyed those files…” Her voice trailed off.

  “Yes, but we were able to restore sections. Both of you entered the building,” shared Detective Indius, “and we’ll need to get a sequence of events. But first, can I ask you about Ms. Montgomery? We found her blood at the scene, and suspect she was held hostage. We’ve been fearing the worst.”

  Joel knew this might come up. Paige had left to avoid having to answer questions, but it was up to the rest of them to reassure the police that she was okay.

  “We have been in contact with Ms. Montgomery, and she is perfectly fine. She managed to escape. She knew you would be coming to see Mr. Beaufort, so she made a video. However, we ask that you don’t insist on taking the file, because if anyone knows she is still alive it will put her in danger.”

  The detectives were taking it all in.

  The conversation went on for about two hours, and after viewing the video Paige had recorded in that very same apartment, they were satisfied that she was at least alive.

  “We’d much rather be able to take a statement from her ourselves.” Antonio appealed to Joel, who had done most of the talking. “She may have vital information to help us track down some of the other parties involved.”

  “I’m sorry.” Joel explained, “That’s just not in her best interests right now. It may be that the intel she has is the only thing keeping her alive. You understand, of course?” Joel planted the seed that by pursuing her they may very well be putting her in danger. He needed them off her scent just long enough to get off-world again; a few days at the most.

  “Yes, yes we do. We’ll have to leave an APB out on her though. If she’s in the Central Systems, we’ll find her eventually.” Antonio had the look of someone who was just doing his job, but understood the risks to the witness.

  “And if we can find her…” Chaakwa didn’t need to finish the statement. Everyone there knew what it meant.

  Feeling they had gathered all the information they could, the detectives wrapped up the conversation and started to leave.

  Before stepping out of the apartment, Detective Indius turned to Garet.

  “You were a lucky man, Mr. Beaufort. It seems that things have settled down. While we’re glad to see you well and back in town, we don’t know how safe it is for you to be here since we haven’t found the killers or the men who hunted you down at the hotel and kidnapped your girlfriend. We will continue to do everything we can, but please get in touch if you hear or see anything unusual. We might be able to arrange a security detail for you.”

  Garet nodded. There was no way they were going to be able to protect him. That was going to be up to him now.

  Joel shook their hands and closed the door behind them as they left. In the back of his mind he knew he was going to have to have another talk with Paige about meeting with the cops if she was going to stay. They made it clear that they would keep looking for her, and it was only a matter of time until they—or someone else—found her through the security and traffic cams all over town.

  Something told him it might not be necessary.

  Sure, Paige had said she wanted to come back with Garet, but he’d been watching them together and they didn’t seem that close. Plus, she and Molly had discussed her becoming part of the team that day in the conference room, even if only in principle.

  In the corridor, with the apartment door closed behind them, Chaakwa started walking. She waited to speak until she and Antonio were well out of earshot.

  “So what do you think?” she asked, looking for Antonio’s reaction.

  “I think he got lucky. But I also think that now he’s back, we’ll likely be attending a new crime scene back in this building pretty soon.”

  Chaakwa nodded grimly. There was only so much they could say to a witness without causing panic or reactionary behavior. Plus, the brass wanted this case gone. She just hoped it wouldn’t be at the expense of this young man’s life.

  Downtown Spire

  Paige wandered through the streets of Spire. She used to love this city—its bustle and noise and spirit. But now, after everything she had been through here, it just didn’t have the same sparkle.

  She strolled past a clothing store. Normally she would have gone in and examined the pretty new range of atmosuits that graced their window.

  She’d always wondered what she would look like in something with a little more sheen to it. Her mother had said that the sheen just looked more like dust after you’d worn it outside a few times, but that was her mother all over.

  She’d made a rule a few years ago that her mother’s opinions were not going to rule her style decisions anymore.

  Thinking of her mom, she looked down at her wrist holo and considered calling her. She immediately stopped herself.

  Molly had said not to make contact with anyone. Anyone. She was very firm about that.

  She thought of her friends at work as she continued to walk down the dusty street, the Sark beating down on her. Gosh, what she wouldn’t give for a bit of company right now. Someone to talk to about her predicament. Sure, she had Molly. Kinda. But Molly wasn’t a real girl. And she was sort of the boss. Well, it was more like she had two personas: boss and friend. Paige still hadn’t gotten used to the separations she seemed able to make.

  But she desperately wanted to talk to someone about this situation with Garet. And the rest of her life. Garet was just a guy. A boyfriend. They’d only been dating a few months. And now here she was in a situation where she was kind of expected to move in with him and stay with him for…well, forever, she guessed.

  I suppose that’s how most people fall into relationships, though. But without the kidnapping and near-death experiences, she qualified to herself.

  And then there was her job. She’d loved her coworkers, and the work was interesting. But now, knowing what she did and having been off-world…that life was just too small for her.

  But what else can I do? She wondered. If only there was a way to be of use to Molly and her team; she thought she’d like that.

  It would certainly be more fun.

  She guessed she should probably start heading back. Molly had warned her about going out alone at all. No doubt if
she were out after dark even while Molly was still here in town, Molly would probably still have kittens about leaving her here.

  She checked the time on her holo. The police should be gone from the apartment by now, she thought. She’d wanted to steer clear of that little exchange and all those questions. Nuh uh. Not for her. That would be like reliving the whole thing, and she was ready for something new.

  Mocha shop, one hundred meters from Beaufort-Montgomery Residence, Downtown Spire

  Garet picked up his mocha from the service area and took it to a small table with two comfortable chairs, out of the way of the main buzz of the shop.

  Despite the late-ish hour, it was still busy with people drinking a variety of flavored and infused beverages while isolating themselves on their holos, creating an anonymous backdrop where he could gather his thoughts.

  The discussion with the police detectives had been intense. He got the feeling that they thought he was still in danger, and they were probably right. But once he found a job, he could probably hire a protective detail or negotiate that as part of his contract.

  Paige, on the other hand, was going to be a different issue. He really cared about her, but ever since this all happened she’d become more and more distant. They hadn’t spent a single night together since they’d been off-world, and if it weren’t for the safe-house element of the new apartment, he guessed she wouldn’t be sticking around much longer.

  His eyes glazed over as he contemplated having a conversation with her. They’d have to figure out what was best to do for their individual safety. Still, she was in this mess entirely because of him.

  He was staring absently out the window into the busy street, lost in his churning thoughts and the decisions he was going to have to make.

  “Mr. Beaufort?”

  A voice interrupted him. He blinked his eyes to bring himself back into the room and tore his unseeing gaze from the street to look at the speaker standing beside him.

  He looked up to see an Estarian man with dark hair and a beard. He wore dark glasses even though they were indoors and the light was bright and artificial.

  “Yes?” Garet admitted cautiously, wishing now he’d brought Joel with him.

  “May I have a word?”

  Well, if he’d wanted to kill him, he’d already be dead, probably in a far less conspicuous place than in the middle of the mocha shop.

  Garet nodded and indicated the empty chair opposite him, and the man gently sat himself down.

  “I’m here on behalf of my employer. My employer represents a group of interested parties in the sector. Some of those parties are in government, and some are in commerce. All are philanthropists dedicated to making the Central Systems a better place.”

  He paused, making sure that Garet was following. Garet got the feeling that this wasn’t the kind of gentleman who cared to repeat himself. Not being able to see his eyes was intimidating.

  “You have pull with the media right now, and you have a passion that will sway people in the Senate. You’d be able to do some good, and we could help you.”

  “Who are you?” Garet asked, still a little confused as to what this was all about.

  “I’m the representative of my employer.”

  “So what do you want with me?”

  “My employer would like to offer you a job. You’d be very highly compensated, and we have the ability to help you run for the Senate Official position that is now open. Only, you’d be representing our interests first, and those of a Senate Official second.”

  Garet immediately computed what this meant. It meant they would help him get this position, but in exchange they would want something from him. Garet fought his instinct to just refuse then and there.

  “You’d of course have our protection as well.” The man had thought about his position. And probably knew more about the situation than he did.

  Garet wondered if this was the same group of interested parties who might otherwise want him silenced. He asked the question. “And without your protection? Does this mean your employer will have me taken out of the picture?”

  The man shook his head negative. “Of course not. That would be unethical. But we cannot guarantee that there aren’t other forces in play who might want to tidy up loose ends after the unfortunate events a few weeks ago.”

  Unsure as to whether to take this statement at face value or as a veiled threat, Garet was already regretting coming back. He wanted to fight the good fight, but this was looking like certain death either way.

  “I appreciate the offer, but I’m, erm…I’m already looking at some other positions that might suit me better at this time in my career.”

  “You mean the three applications you filed earlier today?” the faceless man asked.

  Garet’s mouth dropped open. How did he know about that?

  “Don’t look so surprised, Mr. Beaufort. Those firms have already rejected your applications at my employer’s request.”

  Feeling like he was fast approaching checkmate, Garet needed time to think and to talk to Joel and Molly.

  “I need some time to consider your generous offer.” He hoped his response didn’t sound too disingenuous. It was entirely possible that this man had orders to take him out if he didn’t immediately comply. Garet could feel the adrenalin pumping through his system, his anxiety levels rising quickly.

  The man stood up, and tugged at his expensive-looking dark blue atmosuit to straighten himself up. “Don’t think too long, Mr. Beaufort. Time is ticking.”

  And with that, he left.

  Garet released his breath, realizing only now that he’d been holding it. He took a few minutes to talk himself into relaxing again. He hadn’t been back five minutes and already the crazy was starting again. Maybe he should just go back with the team and rethink this whole career thing.

  He went back to nursing his mocha, but now, instead of relishing the time away from the others, he was craving their comfort. He sat and stewed a little more, but finished his drink as quickly as he could. Then he marched his ass back to the apartment before anyone else could offer him a job.

  Or a bullet.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Beaufort-Montgomery Residence, Downtown Spire

  Garet got back to the apartment to find that Paige had just returned. The others were sitting around telling her about the police visit.

  “Well, it doesn’t sound like they can be much help.” Paige was saying, taking her atmojacket off and hanging it by the door.

  “We don’t think so,” agreed Joel, trying to remain as neutral as he could.

  They all turned to acknowledge Garet walking in.

  “Well, I’ve just been offered a job,” he told them outright, partly because he didn’t want to lose his nerve before it became difficult to broach the subject.

  Molly was the first to step in. “You went for an interview?”

  “No, I was just approached in the mocha shop down the way. Some guy told me he represented what I can only suspect is the Syndicate.”

  Joel and Molly looked at each other, their mouths half open.

  “What did you tell him?” Molly asked, fighting to keep the bitterness out of her voice.

  Garet, sensing that, was less ready to admit his own feelings. “I said I’d think about it. But I thought you should all know.”

  “So, are you actually thinking about taking it?” Molly couldn’t believe what she was hearing.