Different Senses

by Ann Somerville

  He lifted his head finally. “I think there is merit in this idea. But what will you do?”

  “Remain missing until I can show my face again. You lost me in the flood, was washed up on Doc Nihar’s doorstep and he helped you get away. All we need is for him and Nikhil, and Nikhil’s cousin, to report one man, not two.”

  “If we involve him, they can trace us to the maglev port, and the cameras will show us there.”

  “Okay, so you floated down river, cadged a lift to the port, and used the paycard to buy a ticket. They can’t trace that easily.”

  “Fortunately, no.” By pure luck, Dandak hadn’t taken our wallets or ID. Luck...or because he already had all the information he wanted about us. We’d made sure there was nothing incriminating in them.

  “Kirin will help you get your auto back too.”

  “My auto is the least of my concerns. I’m worried about you.”

  “Stop, you’re making me all weepy.”

  “If anything happens to the governor’s son, after all, it would be most uncomfortable for me.”

  “Sure it would.” We grinned at each other.

  At our destination, I recognised Kirin’s distinctive auto in the short-term parking lot, and quickly picked him out among the other people waiting on the platform. He waved to Shardul, ignoring me completely as he strode over. “Cursed insanity, Shardul, what’s happened to you?”

  “Tell you on the way, Kirin. This is my friend, Gafur Kawildin.”

  “Nice to meet you,” he said, still oblivious. “Will you be okay in an auto, Gafur? You look pretty banged up.”

  “I’m fine, thank you for asking.”

  “Right. Well. Shardul, where am I taking you?”

  “Your place, and discreetly. I’ll explain on the way.”

  Shardul considerately waited until Kirin had engaged cruise control before he started. “Kirin, you know how you were told that Javen had gone to Kelon? He didn’t.”

  “No? Wow. Where is he?”

  “Right here. This is Javen.”

  Poor Kirin nearly drove off the road. Shardul had to grab the power stick to stop us crashing. “For pity’s sake, man, be careful.”

  Kirin stared slack-jawed at me in the rear-view mirror. “Javen? It can’t be. You look nothing like him.”

  “Kirin, don’t force me to spell out any intimate stuff in front of Shardul. Yes, it’s me, your former lover. Dad can back that up. The important thing is that no one can know where I am.”

  Shardul told him the rest of it. I felt sorry for my ex. I sensed his utter bewilderment tinged with suspicion, and I couldn’t really prove any of it. Only Shardul’s impeccable reputation—and the fact he spoke nothing but the bare truth—could have convinced Kirin, and it still took almost all the three-hour journey to do so. By then, I was lying flat on the floor in the back of the auto, covered with a rug. Kirin’s dubiousness grew the closer we got to Hegal. He’d never been mixed up in anything remotely illegal or subversive before, and had a pathological horror of being suspected of the smallest crime. And here I was, dragging him into something which could land him in prison without trial, possibly for the rest of his life, though I truly hoped it wouldn’t. I didn’t have any other option.

  We drove to his house and into the garage without anyone spotting us—at least, we thought so—and now I could sit up properly and shed the bandages, which had started to drive me nuts. Kirin stared at me. “I would never, ever recognise you.”

  “That’s the point. Kirin, I’m dying for a piss and a cup of chai.”

  “Of course. The bathroom—”

  “Is right where it always was. I used to live here, remember?”

  Kirin wiped his face. “Of course. I’m sorry, it’s a lot to get used to.”

  “I know. I’m very grateful you’ve agreed to help.”

  How paranoid did I have to be? Could Kirin’s house be bugged? Yes. But there was a limit to how many precautions I could take. If Captain Largosen had gone to those lengths, there was no escaping him. I had to go with my gut and assume he hadn’t.

  While we drank chai and stretched our legs, Kirin heated up some leftover kari. Fortunately he was again living alone, so we didn’t have to explain any of this to a confused lover. He served up the meal, and then sat down to stare at me. “You have to go to your father. This is bigger than any of us can handle. More dangerous than we can manage.”

  “I will, but quietly. First, I need somewhere to hide. Somewhere I can be contacted and search for information, without using my own account. Any ideas?”

  He sighed. “Javen, you know I love you, but do you have any idea what you’re asking?”

  “Yes, I do. Can you help?

  “You could stay here, because it’s totally private, and use my account. So far as anyone’s concerned, it would be me logged on. But then I’m up to my neck in this, and sanity, I don’t want to tangle with these people.”

  “Don’t worry, Sri Nel,” Shardul said coolly. “I will make sure Javen is safely accommodated, if you abandon him.”

  I held my breath. Kirin gave Shardul a shocked look. “I’d never—”

  “You did before. Javen, I think it would be best not to rely on him, truthfully.”

  “Shardul, it’s not—”

  “Are you implying I’d betray Javen?”

  “Did I imply? I thought I’d been quite clear.”

  The two of them glared daggers at each other. I clapped my hands. “Knock it off. Kirin, it’s your choice. I have alternatives, but what you suggested sounded perfect. Shardul, you can’t force someone into this.”

  “Why should the security of your people be on your head alone, Javen? Sri Nel has a comfortable life he hasn’t had to risk a thing for.”

  I wished I was close enough to whack him. “Stop it, you’re not being fair.”

  “Yes, he is.” Kirin lowered his eyes. “He’s absolutely right. I did let you down badly, and now’s my chance to make amends.”

  “You don’t have to,” I snapped. “This isn’t about our relationship.”

  “Yes, it is. What kind of friend would I be to let you go through this on your own?”

  “I’m not. I have Shardul.”

  The silence that followed my words was almost visible, a cold, solid presence between the three of us. Kirin broke it first. “Maybe so. But you also have me. You always have, you always will, even if we’re no longer lovers. You’re staying here. Shardul?”

  “I’ll return to my own home, apparently shocked and horrified at Javen’s disappearance and all that happened. You and I will be in contact, sharing our grief.” He even managed not to sound too sarcastic.

  “Actually, we need to keep Kirin out of it as much as we can, so officially, he can’t know I’m missing. He helped you alone, and supposedly believes I’m on Kelon, okay?”

  “Okay. Okay. Right.” Kirin ran his hand through his hair. He was scared, and I didn’t blame him.

  “Shardul, maybe it would be better to go with one of your friends—”

  “No.” Kirin’s sharp response made us both look at him in surprise. “The indigenous community are under too much scrutiny. Too much pressure. If the army finds you with them, there’ll be hell to pay, mass arrests, the lot. They’ve suffered too much already. I’m well connected. I can lawyer my way out of any charges. Buy my way if I have to. The risk is less for me, and it’s right I should take it. You’ll stay at my property, use my account, and that’s final.”

  Shardul raised an eyebrow, then bowed his head. “It’s appreciated, Kirin. Very much.” And that was the nicest thing Shardul had ever said to my ex.

  ~~~~~~~~

  Shardul didn’t hang around much longer. The sooner he returned, the more plausible his cover story would seem, and to be honest, he and Kirin were getting on each other’s nerves, even though they tried to behave. Shardul was naturally anxious about his family and friends, and possibly enquiries from the security forces putting added stress on them. Now he kne
w I was in safe hands—however rude he was about the owner of the hands—he was less concerned on my behalf. But as he left, he hugged me tight. “I am ready to help if you need anything.”

  “I know. You’ve already done a lot.”

  “And yet there is much to do.” He kissed me on the lips, which made my heart flutter and Kirin’s eyes go round. “Be careful.”

  “You too.”

  At Kirin’s invitation, I showered and changed while he dropped Shardul off. I itched to call Dad, but the message would have to come from Shardul or Kirin. Next would be making contact with my team, and that would require a bit of finesse. Captain Largosen had gone to a lot of trouble to isolate me from my friends and family, and now I had to wonder if that had been the primary objective all along.

  Kirin was back in under an hour. By then I’d raided his medical kit to redress my cheek, and taken another painkiller. As hideouts went, this was luxurious—and familiar. Provided no one suspected I might be here, I could stay out of sight of neighbours and passersby for pretty much as long as I wanted. But if I was found in Kirin’s house, his connections—and mine—might not be enough to save him, unless I got to the bottom of this mess.

  He smiled uneasily as he came in. “How are you feeling? You know you really should see a doctor.”

  “Don’t have that option. You know enough medical stuff to tell me if I’m dying.”

  “Not sure I would rely on me in your situation.” He swallowed, no doubt realising how that sounded. “Uh, so you and Shardul...?”

  “Are friends. More has to wait.”

  “Right. Still, I thought it was all over and done between you. Glad to see it’s not.”

  “Are you? Really?”

  He drew himself up. “Of course. I know how you feel about him.”

  “And how he feels about you.”

  “Can’t be helped. I want you to be happy.”

  “Thank you, and thanks for this.”

  He threw himself into a chair. “So, what happens now?”

  “Shardul reveals himself to the captain, and we duck and cover. Meanwhile, I’m hoping my team will do a bit of snooping for me.”

  “Risky for them.”

  “Yeah. None of this is going to be easy, and the worst of it is I won’t be able to do much directly. Kirin, you can be my go-between, not just with Shardul, but with Mum and Dad, and my people.”

  He set his jaw. “Whatever you need. Bad enough what happened to Yashi, but then to drag you into this and nearly get you killed...it’s barbaric. These are the people who are supposed to be protecting us.”

  “Yes. So what exactly do they have to gain by spoiling a set up they created?”

  “One hand not knowing what the other is doing?”

  “Or some internal political game. If I could identify Dandak, we’d have somewhere to start. I need access to the facial recognition database but I can’t do that as Gafur Kawildin. Madan could do it.”

  “I’ll call on him tomorrow.”

  “Let Shardul do that. You have to act as an innocent, ignorant party as long as possible.”

  He rubbed his eyes. “Have to think about the curfew on their people too. I’m so glad Tara and the children are safe and away. Every day brings something worse than the last.”

  “And yet we have to act as if it won’t.”

  “I suppose. I’m going to cook.”

  “And I’ll watch.”

  “Like old times, eh?” He winced. “Beloved reason, I shouldn’t have said that. It’s just so odd having you here.”

  It was. But it was also okay. “You’re doing me a favour, and we’ve moved on, Kirin. My heart’s moved on.”

  “To him. That’s why he hates me.” He laughed. “I should have realised it. It’s obvious now. He’s been jealous for years.”

  Unlikely. Though the idea of Shardul being jealous of Kirin was strangely flattering.

  Four years ago, being in this house—being around Kirin, watching him doing familiar domestic stuff, the way I used to on my evenings off, before we’d go to bed and make love—would have been torture. Now it didn’t bother me at all. Even his embarrassed reaction every so often as he remembered my empathy, didn’t slice me as it once would have done. I had bigger things to worry about. Better things too. I’d always love Kirin, but I would never be in love with him again. It was nice. Relaxing. I could just enjoy him as a friend, and a damn good cook to boot.

  “The way you described things,” he said, as we relaxed over a glass of wine after the meal, “it sounded like Dandak expected someone to try and infiltrate his group, but wasn’t sure when or who.”

  “Or it was an act for his men, and Sanjeev. I can’t figure it out. If I knew which one of them had the connection to the mole....”

  “Had to be him. Nothing else makes sense.”

  “Yeah.”

  “You need the indigenous community to help you on this. How can your father find the connection? He hasn’t got any Nihani employees.”

  “And the Nihan don’t trust him completely anyway. But like you said, it puts them at risk.”

  “Shardul said they didn’t want the terrorists among them.”

  “That’s why he agreed to help.” But also for me, I thought. Captain Largosen had used Shardul’s feelings knowingly and ruthlessly against him. Was the target me—or the Nihan’s most prominent lawyer and a leading fighter for indigenous rights?

  But that was idiotic. If someone wanted Shardul out of the way, there were at least a dozen ways to kill someone and make it look like an accident. Same with me—or Dad.

  “I’m out of my depth,” I murmured.

  He leaned forward. “You can’t do this on your own, but a lot of people want to help. You can do this.”

  “Kirin, three hours ago you were pissing your pants over being involved at all.”

  “Well, now I am involved. Too late to back out now. So now I want the mystery solved, and you to get your life back. And for Shardul to stop wishing me to drop dead because he’s got you.”

  “So it’s Shardul you want to impress.”

  He lifted his glass. “I do have a thing for pretty indigenous men. And cops.”

  “I’d have said you have no chance, but Shardul hated me when we met, so...just keep your damn hands off.”

  He smirked. “No chance of a threesome?”

  “Kirin, behave.”

  ~~~~~~~~

  Left alone the next day, I had little to do but catch up on the news—still depressing—and rest as numerous people insisted I should. I was dozing on the bed in the spare room when a knock on the doorjamb had me vaulting out of bed and looking for a weapon I didn’t at that point possess. The young Nihani woman standing there watched my antics calmly and with no small amount of amusement.

  I stared up at her from the floor. “Uh...who are you?”

  “Sri Nel’s cleaner, sir.”

  I climbed to my feet, glad I’d napped in my clothes. “But he said he was going to cancel you this week.”

  She smiled. “Yes, sir. But my cousin Shardul suggested he didn’t...for practical reasons. I have something for you from Shardul.”

  She held out a datastick, and I took it. “Another cousin, eh? A big family is a blessing.”

  “Yes, sir. I’ll be here a couple of hours if you have something you want to send to Shardul by return.”

  That canny bugger. I thanked her, and fired up the small screen in the bedroom. The disk contained a vid message and some other files. I opened the message. “Hello, Javen. I hope my messenger didn’t surprise you.”

  “You know she did, bastard,” I muttered at his face on the screen.

  “I contacted the captain yesterday evening, and he insisted on a meeting immediately. I have attached a recording of that for your information. He, er, is unaware of it.” I grinned. Shardul routinely recorded most conversations—saved a lot of aggravation later. “This morning I visited the governor’s residence and managed to have a meeting in private
with your father. The captain had already told them you were missing, possibly deceased. I was able to reassure them, and apprise them of the situation in full. They are naturally aware of the need for discretion concerning the truth. They send you their love.” He smiled as he said it.

  “More urgently, I received a message from Nihar-ji. Your friend Nikhil recognised Dandak from my sketch. Dandak’s real name is Darshan Vaanika Kabir. He comes from Neudul, not far from Jirnin Rocks. Nikhil also tentatively identified the other two men from my description. I took the liberty of contacting Nihar-ji via a discreet route, and telling him what we were doing, and our cover story. He tells me that Nikhil can be trusted completely, and so I authorised Nihar-ji to be frank with him. I imagine you may be concerned by that.”

  I hissed in a breath. No shit, Shardul.

  “However, we will need local assistance and contacts, and the doctor and this farmer are well placed to give it. As is Constable Girilal, who is currently stationed in Jirnin Rocks. Jyoti has family in the Flats as you know, and given your history, I believe we could approach them with confidence. I will speak to you first.”

  Now you’ll speak to me. I sighed. It sounded okay, but I barely knew Nikhil—or Doc Nihar for that matter. Okay, the doc had come through in sterling fashion for us, but Nikhil wasn’t proven. On the other hand, Shardul wasn’t even a little stupid. I had to trust him. I did trust him.

  I opened the audio recording. Shardul spoke to me again. “Javen, I’m waiting for Captain Largosen’s driver. I don’t know where he’s holding the meeting, or when I’ll be able to get this to you. Soon, I hope.”

  A bit of street noise, which cut off, and picked up again with the closing of an auto door.

  “Sri Shardul, I’m glad you’re safe, but where the hell is Sergeant Ythen?”

  Shardul truthfully recounted the events from when Sanjeev picked us up to when I was unmasked as a spy.

  “He named the sergeant that clearly? Cursed insanity. What was Sanjeev’s reaction?” Largosen sounded genuinely angry.

  “Shock and disbelief. Javen didn’t tell me if he thought it was faked. I didn’t think it was. Dandak was extremely angry with him. Has he returned to Hegal?”