"Of course you do," Caetano said. "Just as I have a choice on whether or not to charge your childhood friend and his brother with sedition and anti-constitutional activity."
"Exactly my point." Henry forced any ill grace from his voice. Felix and Jules were counting on him. "So, what do you have in mind?"
There was just a tiny bit of satisfaction on Caetano's face, the kind one had when she’d judged a situation correctly. "You are aware of the loss of many ships over the last several months?"
"I am."
"One of the most recent ships to disappear is the Kensington Star from New Cornwall," she explained. "Owned by Patterson & Yarborough. You've heard of them?"
"I have. Roughly. Another of the interstellar transport firms that operates throughout Spinward Sagittarius."
"The word is they have a witness from the ship. One who escaped following its capture." Caetano's stare was growing fiercer. "These disappearances have done damage to our economy. They must be stopped. I must know if there is truly a survivor from the Kensington Star and meet with them to determine the source of these attacks."
"And you want me to pick up the alleged survivor?"
"I do." Caetano folded her hands together. "Her name is Karla Lupa. According to the report, she is in Sektatsh on Harron."
Things fell into place for Henry. "Vitorino has business interests there. You think I'll be taking a cargo there to cover for the trip?"
"I am aware of the nature of his businesses, so yes, you will. I suspect he will give you the order now to get you offworld, since it seems I am interested in you and he will want time to take measures to protect you." She held her hands together in her lap. "I want you to find this survivor. I am prepared to pay you handsomely for the chance to speak directly to her, should you judge her authentic, or for you to provide proof that she is a fraud. Either way, I must know." Caetano raised her hand to cut him off before he could speak, as if already sure of what he would say. "Additionally, I will ensure the party newspaper retracts the claims against the Faith Mission Outreach and provide full official protection for your friend's church." She gestured to Carvalho.
He wordlessly offered Henry the digital reader he was holding. Henry took it and read the display. It was an official order clearing Jules and Felix. It also clarified the extent of his financial compensation if he brought an authentic Kensington Star survivor to Lusitania for her to interview or the proof there was none. It was quite a lot of money for passenger transport.
Caetano smiled thinly. "Of course, you must say nothing of this to Minister Vitorino."
"Very kind of you," Henry said. It was, to the extent that she was putting him in her debt, and he didn't like that. "Although Vitorino's going to be suspicious."
"I will keep up appearances of an investigation," she said. "As things stand, he is already calling my people and insisting on your release, so I will play the magnanimous comrade to my fellow Cabinet Minister with forced grace, as he would expect. Our deal will be off, by the way, should you alert him to your mission on my behalf."
Henry acknowledged the point—and the threat—with a nod. He still didn't like getting caught up with Caetano, not to mention possibly being caught between her and Vitorino, but he knew he had no choice if he wanted to protect Felix, Jules, Tia, and the others, when it came down to it. He fully believed Caetano would be just as thorough and vicious with them as she would be with the Rothbard brothers.
With some remaining trepidation, he offered his hand. "Minister Caetano, you have a deal."
Caetano took his hand and shook it. "Excellent." She looked up to her men and started speaking in clipped Portuguese. "Inform the inspector to release the prisoners and withdraw all personnel from the premises. The mission will remain under observation only."
"Yes, Madame Minister," one said, stepping out.
"I look forward to your success, Captain," Caetano said, switching back to English. "And should you succeed, you may find that in the coming future, my gratitude will be far more valuable than Duarte Vitorino's."
"Yeah," Henry said, considering how things were going on Lusitania. "I think it will be."
And I'm going to hate it even more.
13
The last of Caetano's people left shortly after she did. Carvalho quietly passed a data disc to Henry before leaving, murmuring, "From the minister."
Jules saw them out through the newly repaired front door and turned back. The mess wasn't quite as bad as it'd been after the ransacking, but it was clear that he was looking at another cleanup job.
"You go ahead and stay," Henry said to Felix. He held up his commlink. "Vitorino wants to see me ASAP."
"As late as it is, probably not at his office."
"No. At the spaceport. He's got cargo for us."
"He did help us with Caetano, at least? He got us released?" When Felix saw Henry's resigned expression, he sighed. "He didn't."
"I'll explain when we're back on the Shadow Wolf, Felix." Henry gestured around the church. "It's… well…" He gave Felix a pleading look to not carry on.
Felix narrowed his eyes and shook his head. He turned to his brother. "Jules, whatever's going on, I don't suppose I can talk you into laying low?"
"I have a service in two days," Jules said, "and the soup kitchen hasn't been open all day."
"Right. I don't suppose you've got any staff to help?"
"Probably fewer than I had yesterday." Jules shrugged. "I don't blame them. The PdDN are scary people, as are the security services. They appreciate what I do, but they have families to think of."
"I'd stay and help—"
"Go on, big brother," Jules insisted, grinning with that benevolent, annoying grin of his. "I'll survive. And my people may come back when they see I haven't been taken."
Felix gave Henry a pointed look. All Henry could do was shake his head and chuckle. "That Rothbard stubbornness always wins," Henry said. "Even against itself. We should get going. Minister Vitorino's got limits to his patience."
"Right." Felix was on Henry's heels as they departed.
Before the door shut, Jules bowed his head. "Godspeed," he said just loudly enough that they heard him.
* * *
They returned to the spaceport in another taxi. The driver, a local girl named Zia, left both reasonably convinced they wouldn't live to see their ship again, but since her driving was because of Henry's explicit instructions to get them to the spaceport immediately, he felt obligated to give the full tip he'd intended, even if he was still getting the color back in his cheeks.
Hangar D8 had a couple of cargo trucks against the dock’s loading platform. Vidia and Brigitte were going back and forth with their anti-grav pallet jacks, ferrying cargo into the holds of the Shadow Wolf. Yanik was observing. "Minister Vitorino is taking a private call in the hangar office. He awaits your presence," he informed Henry and Felix on their approach, "and another potential client is in the ship galley, waiting to see you."
A headache threatened to strike Henry. Balancing Caetano and Vitorino was bad enough, but a third client was too much. He was already determined to say no, regardless of the financial reward offered. Knowing my luck, it's Lou wanting another run like the Yan'katar job.
Without asking, Felix said, "I'll go get a jack too. The sooner we get this loaded, the sooner we get this over with."
The hangar office wasn’t meant for a single user but for whoever happened to be renting the hangar. It thus lacked the kind of personal touch that Henry's office on the ship had, with basic furnishings, a simple public commlink connection, and workspace. Vitorino was on his commlink when Henry approached. "…and I am not to be pushed around on this," he was saying, his voice heated. "I am a member of the Cabinet, too, and my party has the most seats." Whatever the response on the other end, his reaction was a cruel little chuckle. "Your read on the political situation is astute, but do not think you are immune to attack, Minister. Keep your tread with the rest of the government, or you may find that yo
u have more than enough enemies to block you. Now, I have business to attend to, so good night." He tapped the commlink to kill the call and turned to Henry. "There you are, Captain. State Security did not mistreat you?"
"Not me," he said, "outside of the wrongful arrest. Reverend Julian Rothbard does have to clean up his mission again, though."
A frustrated sigh came from Vitorino. "I sometimes wish to heaven Caetano was just a brute. The woman's political instincts are sharp. She understands the frustrations of our people and how to direct them."
"That’s never a good combination." Henry kept a straight face when he added, "Thank you for helping to spring us, by the way."
"It took some doing, but I think I can get Caetano to leave you alone. Your preacher friend, maybe not. But right now, the important thing is your cargo. We have a steady contract with a high-ranking nobleman on Harron to provide him with fine wines and liquors from Lusitania," Vitorino said. "He has a taste for our finer drink."
"Aren't the Harr'al even more sensitive to alcohol than humans?"
"So I'm told. It is a status thing, mostly. And, a trade envoy told me, a way to test the loyalty of his household. For all I know, he may even execute people by drowning them in it." Vitorino shook his head before indicating the digital pad on the desk. "The contract is a lucrative one, regardless, and you'll get your usual commission."
"Fine enough." Henry sat at the desk and reached for the pad. The contract language was standard, but he read each line just for safety's sake. "So, the Calnin… which of the enclaves do they do their business through?"
"Sektatsh," answered Vitorino. "It is one of the nicer enclaves on that wretched planet. Although you may wish to be careful outside of the alien zone. Human slaves typically fetch high prices in Harr'al society." There was evident disgust on the Lusitanian man's face. “Barbarians,” he practically spat.
"Lots of those around."
"But few as wealthy. And the Harr'al rulers are quite capable of playing us against our neighbors to prevent anyone from conquering them as they richly deserve."
"Yeah. Bad people aren't always dumb, unfortunately." Henry gave the last lines of the transport contract a final read and signed his name. He presented the digital pad back to Vitorino. "There you go, Minister. A pleasure to do business with you, as always."
"A pleasure indeed, Captain." Vitorino pocketed the device and stood. "And now that you have signed on for the run"—he walked to the door as he spoke in measured tones then waited until he'd quietly shut the door—"I would like to discuss an off-the-books mission."
Henry fought to keep a neutral expression even as suspicion filled him about Vitorino's real angle. "Oh?"
"I admit I have three motives in sending you to Harron." Vitorino folded his hands on the desk and leaned forward. "Obviously, my wines and liquors do need to be delivered. Secondly, I want to keep you off of Minister Caetano's scanners for a while, until I can make arrangements to keep her from acting against you again. And finally, have you heard about the loss of the Kensington Star?"
With his suspicion about Vitorino confirmed, Henry's fight to keep his expression neutral became hard-pressed. "Not about that ship," he lied, remembering Caetano's terms. "Another missing ship already?"
"Not far from Harron," Vitorino confided. "I have friends on New Cornwall."
Henry nodded. Of course, you do.
"Including in their business community and government. They inform me that the company that owns the Kensington Star has initiated an investigation into the loss."
"Obviously, but I doubt they'll do any better."
"They might." Vitorino's voice softened to nearly a whisper, as if he were afraid that someone outside might still hear them. "Because they have a survivor."
It took every iota of control Henry had to feign surprise. "A survivor?" He drew in a breath, taking on a thoughtful look he hoped would fool Vitorino.
"A crew member of the Kensington Star. Alleged, I hasten to add. Currently on Harron, in Sektatsh."
"You want me to look into it?"
"Discreetly. Report to me what you find. If you can convince her to come with you, so much the better." Vitorino's expression was earnestly serious. "As Lusitania's Trade Minister, this situation is my direct concern. The escalation of the ship disappearances must be stopped. The increased costs to interstellar trade will harm our economy. The spending to raise an interstellar fleet capable of patrolling all of the spacelanes would not only strain our coffers but might excite an arms race with our neighboring worlds, which would bring undesired attention from the Coalition and the League."
"With bigger fleets, your participation in the war would be all the more valuable," Henry noted. "All right. I'll look into it when I get there."
"Thank you, Captain. As always, you will be amply rewarded."
Knowing very much he wouldn't be, Henry smiled and nodded. "As always."
* * *
The loading was nearly complete when Vitorino departed. Henry waited until he was gone before boarding the ship and heading to the galley. He found Oskar and Cera present with their guest at one of the two tables. Neither looked very comfortable.
The visitor was dressed like any other Lusitanian. His skin was light brown and his hair dark. Anyone looking at him would presume he was from the Moroccan portion of Lusitania.
Henry knew better. A true headache was coming on. "Major al-Lahim," he sighed.
"Captain." Major Abdul Rahman al-Lahim nodded and offered his hand. "You've had a busy day. I was afraid Caetano might arrest you."
Henry grudgingly took it. The major was the local intelligence officer for the Coalition, working out of the embassy in a covered job. On occasion, he paid for small transport jobs, operatives going to other worlds and the like. When Henry needed the money, he took them. "She almost did," Henry finally said. "So you're the potential client. Sorry, Major, but I've already got a job right now."
"I noticed," al-Lahim said. "But you independent spacers can always use more cash, right? I'm offering you a pretty credit for it." He pointedly glanced at the others in the room.
Not in the mood for yet more conspiring and secrecy, Henry nevertheless relented. On the occasions when al-Lahim gave them jobs, he paid too well to dismiss him. "Follow me," he instructed.
Al-Lahim stood and allowed Henry to lead him through the ship’s corridor to his office. Henry shut the soundproof door and started to walk around the desk, while al-Lahim found the other chair. "Where are you headed?" al-Lahim asked.
"Harron. Sektatsh."
"Ah." Al-Lahim smiled. "Well, how fortunate for me. That's where I want you to go."
Henry forced a wince off his face. The coincidence was too much. He wants the survivor too. "What do you want?"
"While you are present, I'd like you to make contact with someone in the city for me. She has signaled to indicate that she is in potential danger." Al-Lahim pulled a digital reader from his jacket. "And if she asks, give her a ride back here so we can get her out of the region."
"Who is she?"
"One of yours now. A spacer. But she was one of ours once. She did an enormous service for the Coalition, one that has had a positive effect upon the war. She may be the person most responsible for the prospect of real peace talks and bringing our people home."
Henry listened then nodded quietly. An end to the war seemed so unreal. But the word on the GalNet was that peace talks were soon to begin, and the League was even bringing back a whole bunch of prisoners taken over the decades. How many of them will be wrecks from being socialized, I don't want to imagine. At the same time, a feeling of intense skepticism came to him. He'd seen enough of the League to know they wouldn't give up the war easily. They saw their expansion to rule over the entire galaxy as something of a religious writ with scientific inevitability thrown in. But then again, they might decide that a century of peace to deal with problems back "home" is useful.
Either way, that wasn't the point. He wasn't sure al-Lahim w
as being completely forthright, since spies and their handlers never were, but if this ex-operative was responsible for something like that, then helping her seemed the right thing to him.
So potentially two passengers I'll have to keep secret from each other and from everyone else. If only he didn't pay so well. Henry gave al-Lahim a nod. "All right. I'll do it."
The intelligence officer appeared relieved. "Excellent. Here." He activated the reader then handed it to Henry.
Henry looked it over. A woman of faint-brown complexion and dark, chocolate-brown eyes looked back at him. She looked Semitic to him, and the name "Miriam Gaon" at the top of the file identified her as Hebrew, probably Mizrahi or Sephardic. Her service record was entirely redacted.
"You'll find her at the ISU Hostel in Sektatsh," al-Lahim said, standing. "You'll get payment upon her informing me of the contact or her arrival, should she need extraction."
"Agreed," Henry said. "Understand I've got other work to see to, so I might not get results right away."
"I will, but I urge you to make contact with her quickly. The League has an active KC order out on her."
What am I getting myself into? Henry leaned back in his chair, seeking a more comfortable position. Oskar from the League had the same thing: "kill or capture." Regardless, having already committed, Henry went to the door to let al-Lahim out.
Yanik was waiting. "The cargo is secure, sir," he said. "We are overseeing final fuel and launch checks. Tia estimates we can launch within the hour."
"Alert me when we're ready, and escort Major al-Lahim off the ship."
"Yes, sir." Yanik nodded once, in that taciturn way he did, to al-Lahim. The intelligence officer inclined his head and took the first step.
Henry closed the door then returned to his desk. His headache was intense, and he decided to numb it a bit with some of his favorite poison. After considering but rejecting some of the remaining New Virginia bourbon from his family, he opted for the New Hebridean whiskey Felix had given him for his birthday. He poured himself a shot then gulped it down, dealing with the effects as he always did.
Coalition Defense Force Boxed Set: First to Fight Page 66
