by Celeste Raye
Chapter Eighteen
Tann
"What have we got here?" Mick's voice cut through Tann's dreams. "What's Torbin gonna think about this situation?"
Tann's first thought and action were to make certain Mariana was fully covered by the bedding. He spun so fast he fell from the bed. He need not have worried. At some point during the night, Mariana had retrieved the flannel shirt and put it back on. He, however, was giving Mick quite a show. He grabbed his pants and slid into them.
"Don't you know how to knock, Mick? What if the lady had been indisposed?"
"She's my patient. I didn't expect her to be up to shenanigans, especially with you and on Torbin's ship. She's his property, and he's gonna wring your neck for soiling her," Mick replied.
"I supposed you're going to tell him?"
"I've got to. I'm not covering for you. I want to keep my head. You should know by now that touching his property will get you killed. Do you like to live dangerously or did you think after last night he was your new best friend?
Tann's sleep riddled brain was starting to wake up, and the conversation was causing Mariana to stir. "Torbin and I have a truce. I'm pretty sure he knows how I feel about Mariana, but just in case he missed the clues, I'll be telling him today. So, there's no need for you to be running off at the mouth."
Mick frowned and answered, "I don't know whether to believe you or not, but from what the crew said about the battle I'm willing to give you one chance. If Torbin isn't told by noon, I'll give him the news. That's three hours."
"I got it. You check on Mariana. I've got some business to attend to; then I'll be right back. I have something to tell her before I talk to Torbin," Tann explained.
"Then, you best hurry. That's a lot to do in three hours, and I'm not giving you a minute more."
Tann glared but took his boots and shirt with him to dress while he pursued his business. Mick wasn't one to mince words. He'd be at Torbin's door in exactly three hours. Tann had to get to the COM link he'd hidden: the one that only connected to the space force. He had to strike a deal that covered all their asses. The communication device was in a control room for the neon lights of the big casino, right outside its entrance near the bridge. He'd reworked the code to unlock it his first day on Delti Utopia 6 and hadn't been back since.
The device was still where he'd left it, undisturbed. He made sure no one was inside and wouldn't need to be for quite some time. The lights had been set just an hour before and wouldn't need to be dealt with for seven more hours. His communication would only last minutes. Too long and the security on the way station would pick up the illegal transmission.
"Clemmins," he said when his superior answered. "I've got some news for you. I need your help to set up a sting operation. You'll get a big pirate outfit locked away for a very long time if you agree."
"Torbin's band?"
"Bigger. Torbin's nothing compared to this bunch. They tried to kill me a couple of days ago, stealing from Torbin. If they're crazy enough to steal from him, then they're definitely a greater danger to society. Besides, I have it on good authority that old Torbin's about to retire. He'll be off our radar anyway."
"With a big pile of loot," Clemmins stated.
"Does it really matter as long as he's gone? If he retires and we get this bigger band, it's a two for one deal. That's progress."
"It's something, anyway. We're getting info on something much more complicated than pirating drugs and gold. I don't have proof yet, so I won't get into it. However, we're not even close to being finished with Delti Utopia 6. Tell me what you need, and we'll get this over and done. It's just the tip of the iceberg from what we're hearing."
"How soon can you get me a spaceship? It has to be fast, unmarked, and older. The crew has to appear to be pirates, and its cargo should be drugs, diamonds, and gold. Make it real and enough to earn the thieves significant prison time. I doubt that they'll give up their boss, but it's a slim possibility. If that happens, then this way station goes down too," Tann stated.
"Why would they come after our ship out of all the other choices?"
"Because they're going to believe Torbin's loot is onboard. I'm not just trapping this bunch. I'm exposing a traitor. A traitor among pirates can start an all-out, no-holds-barred war. Too many innocent people would be harmed."
"True enough. You'll get what you need. Four days is the best I can do. We'll have to get the cargo, the ship, the crew, and then make it close to the way station. Even that's too short a time, but we'll deal with it," Clemmins promised.
"Good, because I killed the pirate commander and we stopped the robbery, so Torbin and I are both targets. This group will reorganize quickly, and I've got some people I don't want harmed."
Tann made the difficult decision of bringing Mariana with him to his meeting with Torbin. He'd inform both of them at once that he was a space cop. Maybe it would keep him from getting slaughtered by either one. If he made it through that announcement, he'd go ahead and let the old pirate in on his relationship with Mariana: not that he didn't already suspect it. He would have had all this nonsense over and done, but the victory party at the bar hadn't allowed for confidences. It had been too rowdy, and Corsair had made an untimely appearance. It had been all Tann could do to keep a drunken Torbin from confronting the betrayer on the spot.
Mariana wasn't alone when he returned. Tika was there. She'd brought coffee and bread smeared with some sweet substance he couldn't quite identify. Mariana was eating it and seemed to be enjoying the flavor, but it looked disgusting to Tann.
"Finish it up, baby. We've got a meeting to attend. I've got some shocking news for Torbin, and you need to hear it as well," Tann announced as he entered.
"Don't you want some coffee and food? Tika brought enough for all of us?”
"I'll have coffee while you get dressed. What you're eating doesn't appear appetizing to me, so I'll wait." Turning to Tika, he added, "It was thoughtful of you to bring breakfast."
Tika shrugged. "It was a way to get in here and find out what's going on. You don't tell me anything. Can I go to the meeting and listen? I promise to be quiet and not interrupt."
Tann wasn't sure whether it was a good idea or a bad one. She would learn his identity at some point. It would be one less time he'd be forced to explain himself. However, if the telling turned into violence, he would rather she wasn't present. Except, she was a weredragon, and that might come in handy if things got rough.
"You can go on one condition. What you hear during the meeting can't be repeated to anyone, including your friends Drake and York," Tann gave in. "You can't even discuss it with Mariana or me later. Too many ears are listening."
"I swear it will never leave these lips. I don't even know where Drake and York went. I just hate being left out all the time."
Torbin's cabin wasn't far, just one deck up. A guard was on duty outside it. The ship was kept locked, but Torbin was still afraid the big man could get to him. Tann couldn't blame him. Anyone could be bought for a big enough price, and the big man certainly had the gold to pay off a killer.
Torbin wasn't happy to see that Tann had company. "They gotta stay in the hall," he grumbled.
"It's all of us or none, Torbin. I've got a story and a plan to tell and once is enough, so they need to be here."
"Always bossin' me around. I'm gettin' tired of it."
"You won't have to deal with me much longer. That's part of what I want to tell you. Let us in," Tann demanded.
"Then, get in here. It's the only place we are guaranteed privacy even on my own ship. Shameful how ya can't trust a crew," he complained. "What do ya want?"
Tann waited for the door to close and lock before replying, "I've secured a ship, a space force one, to act as a decoy. The big boss will believe it's yours, bought with some of the gold. It'll have plenty of loot inside, enough to bring charges against his pirates and send them to prison for a long time. If they turn on him, good. If not, he'll at least be hesitant to st
art up another band for a while and know that the authorities are watching him closely."
"How did ya manage that? Ya got a friend in the space force that likes pirates? It sounds like a trap to me."
"It's not a trap. I won't let it be. Sit down, because you're not going to like this. None of you are."
"I ain't sittin' or takin' orders from ya. Spit it out," Torbin ordered.
Tann looked around at the curious and confused faces. He simply blurted it out. "I'm a space cop, Torbin."
The old pirate was faster and stronger than he appeared, Tann had to admit that. Torbin had him slammed into a chair with a knife at his throat in an instant. He was held from behind, his head tilted back, and is neck exposed. Already a few drops of blood seeped from where the knife touched his skin.
Instinct took over. Tann's skin shimmered, and purple scales appeared. They helped protect his neck from further damage. He could feel Tika on the verge of transforming to aid him. He couldn't allow it or let himself go too far. Struggling would make it worse. His only option was reasoning.
"Stop it, Torbin," he growled. "I'm not here to arrest you, not anymore. They sent me undercover to get you, but you’re no longer the target. I convinced them to let you take your gold and retire. Remove the knife before this gets out of control. If you cut my throat, Tika will incinerate you. You can't win this way."
"Torbin, let him go. He's an honorable man. If he wanted you in prison, he'd have done it already," Mariana soothed. "The deal with the gold was more than enough to bring charges. He knows who I am and could have handed me over too. I think he wants to help us all."
The knife went clattering to the floor, and the old pirate stepped away. Tann's scales retreated, and his pulse slowed. "Stand down, Tika," commanded when he saw she was shimmering.
Mariana placed a hand on the young girl's arm. "He's safe now. You can stop."
"Sorry. I'm so sorry. I promised to behave, and I didn't," Tika began to cry.
"You promised to be quiet, not interfere, and keep secrets. You've done all that so far. Your instincts caused the urge to transform. That's a good thing, so don't chastise yourself," Tann explained. "I'm trusting the three of you not to blow my cover. I'm told big things are brewing on this way station and once this is over I'll have to remain a pirate to deal with them. So, I need help."
Chapter Nineteen
Mariana
Mariana wasn't as surprised as she thought she should have been by Tann's announcement. He had been too ready to protect her and the children against Torbin's men. He'd defied the pirate too often and only killed in self defense, none of which were pirate traits. She trusted him in every way that counted. Whatever he asked her to do, she would.
"Torbin, you're taking Mariana back to the casino, dressed and painted up like before. Take me as your guard. You've got to pretend to be drunk. Let it slip that you've got a new ship, a bigger and better one. Mention taking a trip to try it out. Pick a spot; it doesn't matter where. Mariana, flirt and help him spread the tale. Act like you know he's rolling in dough. The next day, Torbin can confide in Corsair that he's planning to put the gold on the new ship, slip away without a crew, and retire. The big man will hear both stories from separate informants, and that will make it more believable to him. Meanwhile, the gold stays with you. Steal another ship or take your old one. Retire wherever you please, but Mariana and Tika go free. Understand?"
"What happens to my crew and Corsair? I ain't leavin' and lettin' him take over."
"Your second-in-command can take over. I have to stay on as a crew member. Corsair will be classified as a traitor when the big man's band of pirates is arrested. It'll appear he knew it was cops all along. He'll have to run or die."
"It ain't gonna be easy to act like that piece of garbage is my friend, but I'll be doin' my best. I hate to let go of Mariana while she can make me a heap of money, but it's time to retire. I ain't got the power of observation I used to have. Otherwise, ya wouldn't have got so close to me and gained my trust. I'm gettin' soft. I might even offer my former old lady a chance to go with me. Imagine that," Torbin chortled.
"You were married?" Tika asked, innocently.
"I dang sure was! I was a handsome swashbuckler once upon a time. Things got too rough for her, the killin' and constant travelin'. She stayed behind a few times, so I was a fool and strayed. She got wind of it and threw me away. She didn't do too good on her own, though. She had to resort to being a stripper. Every now and again I toss her some coins. I kind of get sentimental that way."
"Lolita?" Mariana asked.
"That's the one. She was a beauty when I met her. She was a teacher until she fell for the bad boy: me. I ruined her life. We have us what ya call a love/hate relationship. We love to hate each other," he laughed.
It was a day for revelations, so Tann added some more. "You owe Lolita for the warning about Corsair. She's the one who saw him behind the casino and told me about it. She must still care about you a little because I didn't give her a lot for the information. You should also know that Mariana is with me now. Don't get any ideas about selling her to the big man or the deal's off."
"I ain't that old, boy. I knew about the pair of ya. As far as Lolita's concerned, I suppose we watch out for each other. Nobody touches her because they'd have to answer to me. The only one I can't keep away from her would be the big man, and he don't want an old woman. No sense in worryin' over me sellin' anyone. I got enough to live on 'til I die, so she's all yours, and the girl is too."
"I don't belong to anyone! How many times have I got to say it?" Mariana shouted.
"I don't own you, but you're still mine," Tann replied. "Not as a slave. Hopefully, as a wife someday."
Tika's giggles made them all smile.
Tann
Tonight was Tann's first time inside the enormous casino. It was difficult to keep his mind on the job. He was sidetracked by the opulence of the place; the bridge, the moat, the lights, marble, fountains, and the singer who was the entertainment. He was famous on several worlds due to his clear tones and handsome face. Mariana was a distraction as well. The dress she wore this time was blue. It outlined her body and was transparent except for strategically placed sequins. Her short, black hair had been curled and bounced enticingly. With Tann at her side, she appeared confident and daring, which got her the attention they'd hoped for.
Instead of the center table, they chose on near the back. They didn't want their news reaching the big boss on camera. They wanted it to get to him by word of mouth, after they left the building and reached the safety of the ship.
It was hard for Tann to see his sweet girl rubbing against the card player, even though he could see she was taking his coins and giving Torbin clues to the cards he was holding. When the man's hand landed on her bottom, 'to rub it for luck,' Torbin spilled his whiskey on Tann's feet to distract him from attacking.
An hour after they'd arrived, Torbin went into his act. He slurred his words, dropped his cards, and made passes at the female card players. Mariana was just about to give him a hug and start the conversation about his new ship when she suddenly froze. Tann could feel her fear and panic. Her heart was racing, and she wanted to flee.
The players were so involved with the game and fending off Torbin that Tann was able to get to her and ask, "What's wrong? Did you overhear something or get hurt?"
"The...man...coming toward the...table. He worked with...my owner. He'll know...me," she stuttered.
The man was short, heavy, dark-skinned, and bald with a tattoo on his shiny head. In his hand was a picture. Tann guessed it was the runaway wanted poster for Mariana.
"Don't panic, baby. Be bold. You don't resemble that girl at all. Go on with the plan. If he comes over, just keep going. He wouldn't expect the girl he's searching for to get in his face. You can do this. When he doesn't find you, he'll leave. No one here knows your name, except Torbin and me. We aren't going to use it."
"Torbin might. He doesn't know about this guy,
" she argued.
"He'll see the picture and understand."
Sure enough, the man came straight to their table and asked if anyone had seen the girl in the picture. Everyone was annoyed by the interruption and brushed the picture aside with a denial. Torbin even dared ask, "Why would a plain kid like that be in a place like this? Ya gotta be kiddin' me."
Mariana held up well when he confronted her, hiding her fear beneath sarcasm. She snorted and replied, "Sugar, she'd get eaten alive here. If she was ever on Delti Utopia 6, she's either gone or dead now. Little kids don't last long. Can I interest you in a real woman?"
The man sneered and answered, "I prefer young, innocent, and blonde. You are a soiled dove, worthless in my eyes. However, you aren't the first of your kind to tell me she is dead. An old stripper said the same, though she was more positive of her facts. It's a shame. I would have paid a high price at auction for her. Her owner will not take the news well, but I have wasted too much time on this search already. If she had lived, she would be spoiled by now anyway. Goodnight and goodbye."
Mariana had paled beneath her golden makeup. Her bravado had come to an end. Tann thrust a glass of whiskey into her hand as he said quietly, "It's over. You're free." Louder, for the players ears, he added, "Don't let him get to you, doll. He might not care for your looks, but I bet most of these gentlemen would have accepted your offer."
The crowd nodded approval and continued their game. Mariana swallowed the whiskey, took a much needed deep breath, and went back to the plan. "Why, Torbin, honey, I hear you've got a new ship. That means you've got money to spare. How about I let you take me on that trip you're planning. A joy ride sounds good to me."
