Senescence (Jezebel's Ladder Book 5)

by Scott Rhine

  “Can I help you?” Kieran asked.

  Freya locked the door behind her. “I hope to God you still can, because I don’t think once is going to be enough.” She was already shedding her uniform.

  “Pardon?”

  “We’ll start on the sofa. You’ll be on bottom.”

  ****

  Once Kieran had satisfied her, the huntress explained, “That Salome tramp came back from Rome. She threw down on your nephew in the dojo. God, from the lust she was radiating, I thought she was going to fuck him to death. Her mother amplified the feeling because she hasn’t been laid in twenty years. That horny Samoan empath just made matters worse. This place is T&A central, and he hasn’t seen his girlfriend in weeks. Damn.” She flushed, remembering the sensation. “I forgot how good you were.” Freya kissed him several times, growing hotter with each contact. “This time, you drive. No speed limits.”

  When he finished, he had a new admiration for the net star. Uninhibited was an understatement. “I missed you,” Kieran said. In truth, he missed any woman who knew about reciprocating hip action. “With your team staying here, this could be a regular reunion.”

  Freya chuckled as she stroked his chest hair. “Push me over again, and I’ll tell you a few things about your naughty nephew.”

  Kieran obliged, generous because of the information and because he appreciated her surprise visit.

  When she lay panting in his well-toned arms, he asked, “What’s the boy done?”

  “Oh, it’s what he tried to do … before Salome distracted the team. Now that you’ve been so helpful, Hans doesn’t dare. Stu wanted to do an episode painting you as some sort of pervert.”

  He stroked Freya’s chest, drawing sighs from her. “I’m a very important man. Who would believe him?”

  “My old boss, Mira Hollis, assigned our whole cast to babysit him. She’s paying all his bills.”

  His hand drifted lower, and she arched to his touch. “But you stood up for me.”

  “Yes!”

  Use her real name and alternate praise with questions. “I’d like to take you to visit my beach house, Francesca. The view is almost as spectacular as the one I’m seeing now.”

  She looked at him with a sigh, and he knew she was hooked. He traced circles over her body to keep her from thinking too much. “After Salome tried to sell his fluids for a hundred million, why would he ever trust her?”

  “The bounty went up to two hundred and companies are still bidding. You are such a tease.”

  Interesting. “I asked about the girl.”

  “I quit the bodyguard business to get away from spoiled rich bitches like her. Stu follows her like a puppy. I know she’s just in it to steal his sample. Stop.” Freya glanced at her wrist comm. “Damn. The lovesick fool sent the team a message. He wants to know where he can take Salome for a romantic walk.”

  The mood was officially ruined.

  Perhaps I’ll cultivate a different mood. “If Stu wants her that badly, he might be willing to deal with his dear, corrupt uncle to save her. How would you feel if I arranged a little time in a filthy jail cell for Salome?”

  Freya chuckled. “I’d pay to see that. Her grandfather, Tetsuo Mori, probably would, too, but I don’t want him involved. Too violent. You could arrange it so no one gets hurt?”

  “The local constabulary doesn’t check international bulletins too closely for the rich, but outside my protection, Salome is vulnerable. His fiancée has outstanding warrants for questioning in a murder investigation. If I dropped a word in the right ear, several civic-minded public servants would assist. No money would need to change hands because publicity alone leads to promotions. I would insist on a velvet glove.”

  “Don’t be too gentle. I still want the cavity search. She’s punched me, hurt Grant, and beat the ambassador up. Thinks she’s such hot stuff. She only managed to fight Stu because he’d donated a pint of blood minutes before.” When Kieran looked at her strangely, she explained, “In case his little friend needed it or he got shot. That’s standard procedure for bodyguard duty. If someone does shoot your client, make sure he survives. People from Sanctuary have disease-free blood. A case of the flu from normal blood could wipe your nephew out.”

  Kieran said, “Recommend that Stu take Salome for a walk to the botanical gardens about eight blocks from here. In the evening, the trees glow with their own light, genetically engineered just like she was. Their eyes will be so full of stars that they won’t see the police vans outside our gate.”

  “I like that,” she said, snuggling against him. “Did you mean what you said about missing me?”

  “God, yes. When you get to be my age, you start to wonder if you might have missed the real thing in all the noise,” Kieran replied, kissing her forehead. “More than your obvious glamour, you appreciate the value of loyalty and trust. I could imagine introducing you on my arm at fundraisers.”

  Her eyes sparkled with the possibilities.

  “Make the call, love,” he said. “But we can’t be seen together until afterward. I wouldn’t want to sully your reputation … again.” At least not until I’ve recovered for a day.

  ****

  Laura wore the flapper dress and a Taser-proof wrap to cover her remaining bruises from the taxi. Stu showed up in front of the embassy building in a stupid Hawaiian shirt, tan shorts, and sandals. “Incognito,” he explained. “Do you have to wear that skirt? When I see it, all I can think of is you taking … it … off.”

  The scent of her not-perfume filled the air. “That’s the point.”

  “Oh.”

  She smiled wickedly. How many times a day can I give him an erection? That sounds like a fun game.

  Stu held out his hand to take hers, and his silly clothing didn’t matter. She practically floated down the street. He said nothing in front of the reporters and news drones. However, he never took his eyes off her, despite the many bikini-clad coeds returning from the beach.

  The leaves of the trees lining the walkway glowed green, blue, and purple as the sun sank behind the mountains. The flowers in the garden below shone in yellow, orange, and red. It’s like we’re crossing into fairy lands.

  Once they reached a private alcove, two corporate guards, one of each gender, blocked them from the view of other tourists.

  Stu invited her to sit beside him on a wooden bench. He said, “So I hear I’m engaged.”

  Laura had the grace to color a little. “That was my mother. Sometimes wishing makes it so for her. Are you mad?”

  “Angry? A little at first, but last night I went out dancing with the swim team. They kept me out till two in the morning. I couldn’t stand all the noise, crowds, and …” He couldn’t meet her eyes. “I had more fun at the lunch where you almost killed me.”

  She felt ridiculously giddy, Julie Andrews spinning on a mountain top happy.

  Stu explained, “I hired Fiona because she saved Joan. Mail has been pouring in from all over the world. Someone has to read it. Everyone and their brother is asking for Magi technology to save their children or feed their country. You Earth people have a lot of problems.”

  He told her about his day, his team’s goals, and the upcoming UN vote. “A third of the nations have already taken sides publicly, but they’re evenly split on our nation status.”

  “After your speech, you’ll get the votes you need,” Laura predicted. “You’re a natural leader.”

  “I’m no Conrad Zeiss.”

  “You’re starting your career ten years before he did. With the right backing, you’ll eclipse him in no time.”

  “I’d rather be a sculptor or a poet than a politician.”

  “The best ones would,” she said, more convinced than ever that Earth needed voices like his. “What’s this scar?” she asked, tracing a finger along his strong right forearm and imagining it wrapped around her.

  “The adventures of Gravity Boy. I have another one here and here.” He touched his middle finger and under his left arm. He told
her about jumping off barns, catching lizard predators, and playing combat hide-and-seek with Joan.

  “Where’s Mo?” Laura asked.

  “I asked him to pick up Lena Maurier and her team at the airport so the good doctor can reach Joan as soon as possible. Thank you for introducing us. I think that family will be an invaluable asset. We just need to give them the Ethics page.”

  “Why?” she asked.

  “To learn their reaction to entering subspace while we have a controlled environment. Not everyone can handle it. That’s why recruiting natural-born talents for the next interplanetary mission is so crucial. As nats, we don’t experience side effects.” Then Stu told her about life in Sanctuary. Best of all, he wanted to introduce her to all its marvels in person.

  When the moment seemed right, she leaned closer, tilting her head for that long-awaited first kiss.

  He blocked her. “We can’t. You work for me.”

  Laura held up her badge. “I work for Oleander, your superior officer in the command chain.”

  “Oh.” His face first betrayed relief and then unease.

  “Don’t worry,” she assured him. “We won’t have sex until you ask for it, but there’s a lot of fun exploration between the two extremes.”

  “Too much. That’s a slippery slope.”

  “Back to the mons again?” she taunted. “Why are you afraid of a little fun between consenting adults? Clearly, I can show you what your body is for. Why resist?”

  His mouth opened and closed a couple times before saying, “I need to be married first.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I want what my parents have.”

  Laura smiled. “They fooled around beforehand.”

  “I’m also afraid that a child with ten talents could tax any doctor, especially outside Sanctuary. I would never do that to you.”

  “As a biology student, I may know a way or two around that problem.”

  He covered his face with his hands. “Once we’re back in the ship I’ll ask your dad’s permission.”

  This struck a chord in her. Laura stood up as she shouted, “My father doesn’t own my vagina. Haven’t you learned anything from your time with the show? Who I give myself to is my choice.”

  He followed as she stormed from the gardens.

  Chapter 31 – Loophole

  Seven blocks later, Laura slowed as she passed a large Catholic church. Had she been hand in hand with Stu, she wouldn’t have noticed the lack of drones or the sniper on the rooftop a block from the school. Stu took her change in speed as a cooling of her mood. “I wasn’t being patriarchal. There are things you don’t—”

  Laura shoved him behind one of the massive pillars, shielding him with her body. “Gunman two o’clock. Armored van at three.” Crouching, she pushed him up the stairs through the open door of the church.

  The priest greeted them. Laura recognized that he was asking a question but couldn’t translate.

  The male bodyguard rattled off a request as the female bodyguard closed and barred the thick door. The priest paled and nodded.

  “He’s giving us the protection of the church until the gunmen leave.” The male native guard contacted the local police on his comm.

  “We’ve been granted sanctuary. How ironic,” Stu said.

  The female guard radioed Oleander.

  Stu and Laura crouched in the far corner, by the votive candles. She reached under her skirt and pulled out a tiny projectile launcher. “This can fire two explosive rounds.”

  “Where the heck did that come from?”

  “I’ll show you the holster later,” she replied. “I have a license to carry.”

  Stu raised an eyebrow. “There’s no way something this small can pack any serious punch.”

  “Maybe it makes up for size with attitude.”

  The priest jogged over waving his hands and saying, “No.”

  “No weapons,” Stu translated. “Mom was Brazilian and wanted me to know a little of the language.”

  Growling, she slipped the launcher back under the skirt. “What happened to ‘God helps those who help themselves’?”

  Stu replied, “This is a place of worship. I’m sure the police will—”

  “Sir,” the male guard interrupted, “the men waiting to ambush you are the police. They’ve promised not to shoot into the church while we negotiate, but the block is surrounded by an assault team.” In Portuguese, he related the same information to the priest, who seemed affronted.

  “They can’t arrest the ambassador,” Laura insisted.

  The native glanced at her in disapproval. “They are not after Senhor Llewellyn. They are here to arrest you, senhorita.”

  She grabbed Stu’s arm in a panic. “If I leave here with them, they’re going to give me a lobotomy.”

  “Why?”

  “That’s what they do to empaths in Active penal colonies.”

  “No one will lay a hand on you, I swear,” Stu said. “I promised your parents I’d deliver you safely to Sanctuary.”

  He’s talking to my mom and Commander Zeiss behind my back? When I was asleep? About what?

  The church’s electricity shut off, silencing the air conditioning and extinguishing the exit lights. Laura prepared for the worst. “Stu, have Lena Maurier take care of Mom. She’ll need to be sedated when she finds out what they’ve done to me.”

  The priest called someone on his cufflink.

  “He’s contacting the bishop,” the male guard explained. “His eminence won’t let them invade a church, especially not for an Italian warrant.”

  Stu was already on his wallet with the vice president. Laura could tell by his pacing and curt tone that things were not going well. After he terminated the call and chatted with the priest, Stu returned to her side. “The police have agreed to stay out of the church until midnight. That gives us four hours to find a loophole.” He looked frantic. “I have one more person I can try—Mary … I mean Mira Hollis.”

  Laura nodded. “I’ve worked with her—not in person, but with Ballbusters. While I was on your legal team, she presented me with an award for innovation in bioscience.”

  “This is the kind of meeting I should have alone,” he explained. “Some secrets aren’t mine to tell.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “No offense, but I’m a bit better at persuading people than you are, and it is my life on the line.”

  He bit his lower lip. “Compromise. I’ll talk with her alone in the confessional for one minute, and then you can come in.”

  She nodded, but started the timer the moment he entered the soundproof box. At around forty seconds into his call, she nudged the door open a crack. The richest woman in the world was reading Stu the riot act. “Shouldn’t have let it get this far. I’m on my way, but you cannot allow Miss Zeiss to be arrested under any circumstances.”

  “I’ve promised her my protection, and I keep my word,” Stu insisted.

  “She’s an employee of the embassy,” Ms. Hollis said. “Surely she has immunity?”

  “Sadly, not for murder. Even being my fiancée holds no weight with the international community.”

  Laura pushed her way into the confessional to stand beside him. He’d use my mother’s crazy lie to protect me. How sweet. The thought of what her family had planned to do to him shamed her. “Ma’am, I know you hate my grandfather, but I’m trying to do the right thing.”

  “Of course you are, sweetheart,” said Ms. Hollis. She gazed at Laura for a moment with inexplicable tenderness. “Well, you are in a church. That would fix things. Make it official.”

  Stu blinked at first, but then recovered. “The cardinal might bend the rules to make his point about church sovereignty. Would he wave the banns?”

  “He would if I asked him,” said Hollis. “He’s the one who confirmed me in the church and the priest I’ve confessed to since Alcantara.”

  “Laura has been baptized, so it could work,” Stu said with a nod.

  “What would work?�
� asked Laura.

  The woman on the screen said, “Marriage would extend Stewart’s immunity to you.”

  Laura flopped onto the narrow bench. “Fuck me.”

  “We won’t have to go that far,” Stu said rapidly. “I can fill out the annulment paperwork in advance. Anytime you want, you can file it and be free. This would be a union in name only to save your life. I’m not asking you to do anything in exchange.”

  “Nice. Just what every girl wants to hear,” Hollis said, dripping sarcasm. “Do it right, or I’ll kick your butt when I get there.”

  Miffed, Stu disconnected the call and knelt in the cramped space. He held her hand and gazed into her eyes until she wanted to melt. “Laura Salome Zeiss, would you do me the extreme honor of being my lawfully wedded wife?”

  Still dazed, she replied, “Yes?”

  “Great,” he said. “I’ll call the crew, and they can bring the props. If anyone can swing a wedding in four hours, it’ll be Hans.”

  ****

  The bride decided to wear her lucky, red outfit from the shipping crates. Out of spite, she used the tiara Fiona had tried on. Kaguya, the Mauriers, half the faculty, and the entire cast showed up in dress clothing to wish them well—except Freya. As maid of honor, Evangeline told Laura all the latest gossip while squeezing her into the dress. A minidrone taped the event for posterity. “Stu has been practicing his speech for the UN assembly. He’s spending almost as much time on women’s rights as the benefits of an independent Sanctuary.”

  “He’s a philosopher like his father. Even if we lose the vote, Stu feels we’ll still win long term if people hear the truth.” Laura held her chest in place while Evangeline zipped. “Is Freya still sore about the black eye?”

  “She’s been more distant than usual lately. Sif complained she’s been mooning around. Themis told me she asked how soon she could get out of her contract. Someone suggested that Grant’s death hit her particularly hard. You think she might have had a thing for him all this time?”

  Laura shook her head. The hairdresser had outdone herself and ringlets bounced. “Rumors mutate faster than the flu and are twice as deadly.”