Carnevale and Subterfuge (19 page)

“I need help!” Diego called out. He was kneeling on the floor with Tigress in his arms. “I opened the closet and she fell out. She’s unconscious.”

“I’ll get the doc here.” The soldier spoke into his wrist com, then frowned. “No signal. Can anyone call out?”

The other guard tried and shook his head. “Stay here and look around. I’ll try out in the hallway.”

Ana took in the dim room. “It’s too dark in here.” She turned to look for the light switch. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a shadow along the wall. She shook her head and rubbed her eyes. She looked again.

The shadow continued to creep along. Ana watched in horror as the shade drew closer and closer to Diego. She opened her mouth to call out. She looked around and saw the guard was out cold. Realizing she was all alone, Ana rushed over, grabbed the soldier’s gun and moved toward the figure. Her hands shook and she prayed she wouldn’t be noticed.

The closer the shadow got to Diego, the more afraid Ana became. She had done attack drills and knew how to defend herself, but had never used the training before outside of the dojo. Adrenaline and doubt curdled together. Steeling herself, she moved forward with silent steps.

The shadow became solid. The clear outline of a female figure came into view. The threat raised a knife over her head and began to swing it down when Ana struck, hitting the woman with the butt of her gun. The shadow assailant crumpled to her knees.

Diego looked over his shoulder but didn’t move. Ana continued her attack, this time with a blow to the head. The woman fell to the ground with the knife still in her hand.

Chapter Thirteen

Ana’s body shook as the adrenaline began to recede. Her hands quaked as she dropped the energy rifle. It clattered to the floor. The sound was so loud, it made her cry out in shock. She gazed down at the unconscious person who’d come up behind Diego. Anger and fear melded into something she could only identify as outrage. Her leg swung back. On autopilot, she let out a loud scream as she began to kick the body. Each blow made the woman shift a bit, but she didn’t awaken.

“Ana, Ana. Stop.” Diego leaped over the assassin and held onto Ana as sobs racked her body. Tears fell unchecked. The wicked-looking dagger was still in the woman’s hand. Even unconscious, she wouldn’t let go.

“What happened?” This came from the now unbound Tigress who looked ready to rip someone apart.

The words fell out in a babbled rush as Ana explained. Meanwhile, Diego searched the apartment.

Tigress rolled the unconscious body over and shook her head. “Someone get the captain. I need to report what I know.”

“Chief, when did she—?”

Tigress looked up and shook her head. “I was so stupid. I’d gone to the gym for a work out. I pushed myself beyond my limits because I was so pissed over con-boy here. Anyway, I was so deep into my thoughts that I didn’t notice when I first stepped into my room that someone else was there. By the time my tiger managed to warn me it was too late. Bitch got the drop on me, knocked me out with a tranq, and bound me. She’s only been me for what I can surmise to be a few hours. It was soon after our meeting at the cap’s office, so no damage was done on your cover. At least I don’t think so.”

Diego shook his head. “I’m not so sure about that, but your captain was engaged in a fight with another assassin when he came to check on you. He had security with him, of course.”

“Tigress report!” Drogan said over a small com system on the wall.

Tigress rose and rushed over to it. She pressed a button and gave him the details.

“Get the assassin to a holding cell,” said Drogan. “Jesus, this is a nightmare.”

The com went out and everyone was left staring at the body.

“You heard the man,” Tigress said. “Get this bitch to holding. I’ll send for the intergalactic interrogator. Fucking moron will preach prisoner rights to us, of course.”

Ana hid a smile. It was no secret that Tigress hated dealing with the interrogator. Everyone felt that she just wanted the job done, no government assistance necessary. Ana thought it was something else.

Diego drew back and brushed some hair out of Ana’s face. “Come on,
cara
. We have to go see the captain.”

Ana nodded and followed him out of the room, bypassing the special ops guys. “That was so close.”

“Are you all right? Do you need water? A drink? Maybe to lie down?”

“No. Well, maybe something to drink, but later. Right now I want answers.”

“OK.” Diego stroked her hair and gave her a kiss on the forehead before pulling her to elevator.

On the ride to the bridge, Ana moved closer to Diego. “Do you think this is over?”

He shook his head. “No idea. But I’m beginning to think this is more than a grudge.”

“Why?”

“I’ll know when we get to the captain. First, let me call Roberto. He should be there with us. I have some questions about the Chameleon Cyborg units.”

Diego used his AI to request Roberto’s presence at the holding cell area.

“What are you thinking?” Ana asked.

“There were two. That’s two too many. How the hell did they get on in the first place? I think they had help, but the question is from whom—the ambassador’s entourage or someone on the ship?”

“I’d hate to think it was someone on the ship working with the ambassador’s brother.”

“I do too, but something still isn’t right here. How did they get on the ship? And how could they be sure that we would meet and hit it off?”

Ana shuddered. They’d been set up and it had all worked out, probably just as the masterminds wanted. She knew one thing for sure. Her feelings for Diego were real. Ana reached out and took his hand, holding it tight. He squeezed hers in return.

“We’ll be safe, I promise you that.” Diego told her.

She trusted him. It was the other players in the game that she felt uneasy with.

Once they arrived on the security deck at the top of the ship, a sense of claustrophobia descended upon Ana. The darkness pressed against her even though she was still in the cabin. The blinking lights felt like predators watching her every move. Heaviness sat on her chest. She labored to breathe. She wanted out. She wanted to be far away from the deck and never see it again. A cold sweat broke out on her forehead and upper lip.

She lifted her hand to press the button for down only to have Diego grab it. A glance toward him revealed she wasn’t the only one affected by the oppressive nature of the space.

“This is against Intergalactic prisoner rules.” They heard someone say from the darkness. “The lights need to be on, all of them.”

“And I say I don’t care.” Drogan’s voice responded.

With a deep breath Ana stepped out of the elevator, followed closely by Diego.

“Captain—”

“Save it. She tried to kill one of my crew and held my Chief of Security hostage. The rules be damned. I need answers.”

“She held Tigress… I understand the situation, but in order to make sure they are fully prosecuted, all the rules must be followed. I understand your anger, but please, see the other side. If it were you, wouldn’t you want some consideration be paid to you? For you to be treated as a living person rather than a creature?”

“Chameleon Cyborgs are—”

“Are what, Captain? They live, breathe, and eat just like you and I,” the interrogator said.

Drogan sighed. “Computer, lights on full.”

“
Danke schön.
”

“Don’t thank me just yet. Ambassador, Ana, good to see you here. You both can give your statements.” Drogan nodded toward them. The bags under his eyes and they way he held his body taut betrayed just how tired he was.

Ana felt sorry for her captain and wanted the situation to be over and done with. But that would mean that Diego would be leaving her. Her heart clenched but she pushed aside the pain to focus on the inquiry.

“I’ll go first.” Ana sidestepped Diego and went with the interrogator to a small room. She didn’t see any cells or other doors. “Where are the holding cells?”

“Huh? Oh, they’re status pods installed into the walls. The prisoners are made unconscious and put into the pods until they are needed for interrogation or transfer.

“Oh.” She noticed several darkened LED lights but only two were lit up.

“Now, Ms.?”

“Officer Anarrae Lavender.”

“Ah. Officer Lavender, please tell me what happened.”

They stepped into the small padded room, which was furnished with only a table and two chairs. Ana took one and the interrogator took the other. Ana settled into the seat and began her story, leaving out the part about visiting the real ambassador.

“Um, am I being recorded?” She asked when she was done.

“Yes, as soon as we stepped into the room the recorder was activated, as was the camera. I’ll go over your responses, both verbal and physical, to determine if your answers are truthful, but I can say right now you’re leaving something out. May I ask why?”

Ana started. She licked her lips and racked her brain for answers.

“Under ambassadorial code five, paragraph CV, line ten she doesn’t have to answer if sworn to do so by a prominent political figure for the safety of others.”

Ana glanced toward the doorway and sucked in a breath. The real ambassador stared at her, eyes glittering with intense interest. She could tell in an instant that it wasn’t Diego, despite his identical appearance. Ana shifted in her seat, uncomfortable with his scrutiny.

The interrogator nodded. “Ambassador, I’ll get to your testimony in a bit. I’m not done with Officer Lavender.”

“Of course. May I sit in on this?”

“I’d rather you not.” The interrogator’s eyes narrowed. A hard edge in his voice set something off in Ana. The two men glared at each other, but no words were exchanged.

“Fine. I’ll wait my turn. Office Lavender.” The husky tone of the ambassador’s voice made her more uncomfortable.

“May I ask if you’re intimate with the ambassador?” The interrogator asked as soon as the doors whooshed shut.

The question startled Ana, and for a moment she wasn’t sure what to say. The truth was no, but to say that would be lying to him.

“I’d rather not say.”

“Understandable. I believe we are done here for now. Please wait out in the check-in area until I can dismiss you properly. I may need some corroboration from you.”

“Understood.” She slipped out of the chair and left the room, feeling shaken. It was as if the interrogator knew something she didn’t.

In the check-in area she was shocked to see double. Drogan was deep in talk with both the ambassador and Diego. Diego was the first to turn toward her.

“He let me go,” Ana said. “Should be here any minute.”

“I’ll go in.” Diego stepped away from the crowd and headed toward her. She gave him what she hoped was a steady smile. As he passed by, he caught her hand and gave it a squeeze before heading into the room. As soon as the door shut she headed for the group.

“Why aren’t you hiding?” She asked the ambassador.

“Roberto filled me in on what was going on. I felt a need to come here and make sure that the interrogator didn’t probe too deeply. Besides, I have information you need. Roberto is doing more in-depth info diving.”

Ana opened her mouth to ask more, but the arrival of Tigress cut her off.

The Chief of Security nodded first to the captain and then the ambassador. “We have security footage from inside my quarters. She was careless, didn’t deactivate the feed. We have a problem. She’s a Morrigan model. That means she can clone herself three times. We have two, but the third could still be on the loose. She used a mini energy converter to hold her clones. Security found it, but we haven’t been able to bypass her security measures.”

“Diego should be able to help with that.”

Tigress’s eyebrow rose in question but she said nothing.

“Roberto is on his way,” the ambassador said. “I should get back to my shuttle. It was a pleasure to meet you both and see you again, Officer Lavender.”

Ana shivered when the ambassador drew out her last name. Instead of dwelling on it, she turned her attention to Captain Drogan. “Sir, is there anything I can do?”

“No, you’ve done enough. Two of the three assassins have been caught and the ambassador is safe.” He sighed heavily. “I just want the ambassador off my damn ship. That man annoys me. I could have done so much if I had known he was going to pull all this subterfuge shit. My crew is off balance.”

She thought over his words. “Perhaps that was the idea? Throw the crew off balance and the traitor will be off balance too?” The words came out unchecked. She hadn’t meant to say anything out loud.

Drogan’s eyes narrowed. His nostrils flared. “I can see that. Even understand that.”

“And if he thought we’d been impersonated, then he couldn’t inform us of what he was doing,” Tigress said.

“This all reeks. Especially when he claims his brother put a hit out on him. No ship captain would have taken on this mission without all this knowledge beforehand. He said time was of the essence.” Drogan shook his head.

“You don’t believe him?” Ana asked.

“He’s a politician. He can’t be trusted completely. I wouldn’t put it past him to withhold information. The only reason he came out now was because at least two of the assassins have been caught. It’s almost safe for him to roam around. Hell, he’d probably consent to being bait if we offered that up on the table.” Drogan began to pace.

“Do you think he’d do that?” Ana prayed the answer would be yes.

“No, he’s a power player. He’d let a grunt like Diego take his place on the chopping block.”

Tigress muttered under her breath, something about fucking suits and decision makers. Ana smiled. Without doing much, Diego had apparently won over Tigress.

“Is there a way to protect Diego?” Ana asked. It felt good to be say his real name rather than his cover.

“Not sure, to be honest,” Tigress said. “We need to know if the clone is in the box or if it managed to escape. The feed gets grainy in some places after you and Diego get in. Security assumes that that was the result of a power surge associated with Rag Nor tech, which is the energy company that put together the machine used by the Morrigan model. But we don’t know much about the Morrigan model. It’s all classified and even I can’t get permission to glance over the report.”