Dead World 3, page 30
Roark is ours, he said mentally, slamming the thought into Raphael’s mind loud enough for Red to hear it.
Morgan is right. I know you hurt over what he did to Michael, she said.
He destroyed my brother, Raphael said. Gone was the humor. It had been replaced by anguish.
And he will pay, Red said. I promise. But first we have to get through this. She raised her cuffed hands in reminder.
Raphael’s expression soured, but he eventually nodded. I will not harm him—much—if I find him. I’ll make sure there’s some left to chew on.
As reassurances went, it wasn’t the greatest, but it was the best she could hope for under the circumstances. The trip back to IPTT was long and uneventful. One of the few shuttle rides she could say that about as of late. Red was having a hard time keeping her eyes open, so she stopped trying. It wasn’t until the vehicle halted that she realized she’d fallen asleep with her head on Morgan’s shoulder.
“Sorry,” she said as she woke.
He smiled down at her. “It’s okay. It was nice.”
“Ready to go?” her grandfather asked.
Red nodded. “Let’s get this over with.”
Over a hundred tactical team members were waiting at the shuttle lot. She didn’t recognize many of the faces, which meant most had just come here to get a look at the hottest news to hit the planet in a few decades.
Red held her head high. She wasn’t about to cower under their regard. She’d done nothing wrong. And in a couple of days, she’d get her chance to prove it.
Her grandfather and ten armed men led them into IPTT headquarters. There they were processed by more team members. Her grandfather never left her side as images were taken, along with their statements.
Morgan handed over Kane’s journal. These would be logged into the official compunit banks as evidence. The republic leaders would listen to them and read the files, then conduct the tribunal.
Red had no doubt it would take at least a week before they would hear an official verdict in their case. She hoped that Chaos, Raphael, and Melea were released after they gave their statements.
Despite the power cuffs, Chaos was still considered a member of IPTT in good standing. Her grandfather had even discussed promoting her.
As for Bannon Richards, they’d know what had happened to him once the dissecting lab examined him. Red had no doubt he’d somehow become another one of Roark Montgomery’s casualties. With any luck, he’d be the last. Red tried to muster sympathy for him, but she was fresh out.
Chapter 36
The tribunal was long and arduous. Red and Morgan were interviewed together and separately. The republic leaders were particularly interested in the existence of the Others and what affect they’d have on the community.
Once Morgan explained that they’d been living with Others for more than a hundred years, they calmed down. At least most of them did.
A few worried about the safety of so-called pureblood people, but fortunately they remained in the minority. Of course that didn’t mean that they wouldn’t keep an eye on them.
Red and Morgan reassured the tribunal that a tactical team made up of Others was already being formed and would be available to begin policing the Other community within the month. This quieted the last of the dissenters.
Although they did have to agree to allow regular inspections at least until the republic leaders could determine whether the Others posed a credible threat.
Red supposed that was something. Certainly better than the previous policy of shoot first and ask questions later. The next three days were spent testifying about Roark Montgomery’s actions. He’d fled shortly after the broadcast of him ordering the hit and hadn’t been seen since.
The tribunal assured them that they had people looking for him and it was only a matter of time before he was found.
Red listened attentively because that’s what was expected of her, but she thoroughly disagreed. Roark wouldn’t be easy to find. He was used to slipping through nets. And she had no doubt that he had more than a few friends sitting on this tribunal, even if they weren’t actively defending him now.
On day six, Red and Morgan walked into the tribunal to await their ruling. Red had spent the night staring at the ceiling of her old quarters. The place felt foreign compared to where she’d been in the last few weeks.
Nothing smelled right or tasted the same. She’d walked around the room picking up objects that should’ve been familiar, but weren’t. They might as well have belonged to a stranger. Well, everything but the navcom that now encircled her wrist.
She still couldn’t believe that her grandfather had resurrected Rita. She rubbed the familiar band, resisting the urge to power up. Red hadn’t had a chance to see if she still sounded the same.
Her grandfather had assured her she did, but Red wanted to hear her navcom’s voice for herself. Unfortunately, that would have to wait until the verdicts were read. She didn’t want Rita alerting the tribunal to her elevated heart rate or anything else.
Red grasped Morgan’s hand. He squeezed hers back, but didn’t look over. Instead, he stared straight ahead, his body at attention. He looked so proud and handsome that once again she was reminded of why she loved him so much.
Robert Santiago walked into the room and Red automatically saluted the commander. Ten years of training drilled into her head was hard to forget.
“All rise,” the leader of the tribunal said.
Their chairs scraped as they stood.
Red looked at their faces, attempting to read their expressions, but it was impossible. She inhaled, sifting through their scents. Most gave off clean odors. There were a few that held a slightly sour smell, which could be attributed to nerves or diet. Overall, she didn’t sense lies or deception. She hoped that was a good sign.
“Have you reached a verdict?” the leader asked.
“We have, illustrious one,” the group said as one.
He nodded. “What say you on the charges of escaping detention and eluding arrest? Guilty or not guilty?”
Red’s heart thundered and her ears buzzed as her blood roared through her veins. She swayed. Morgan tightened his hold on her hand until pain shot through her fingers. The discomfort forced her to focus and the panic receded.
“Not guilty with special circumstances,” the group said.
Special circumstances was a formal way of saying she and Morgan had just cause to flee.
“The prisoners are to be released effective immediately.”
Morgan turned to her and smiled. He pulled her into his arms a second later and kissed her. “Told you everything was going to be okay.”
He had, but Red didn’t dare hope in case things hadn’t gone their way. “I can’t believe we’re finally free,” she said.
“We can go home,” he said.
Home. The thought was surreal.
“I found out they released Raphael, Melea, and Catherine a couple of days ago.”
“How?” Red asked.
“Your grandfather told me,” Morgan said. “They even gave Melea a chip, so she could stay in the Republic of Arizona.” He grinned.
“He came to see you? He didn’t come to see me.” Red had wanted to see and speak to her grandfather so badly, but he’d never stopped by.
Morgan pulled back. “Don’t be too hard on him. He wanted to see you. He just didn’t want to do anything that could be perceived as giving you preferential treatment.”
That sounded like her grandfather. He always followed the book, even when he disagreed with it.
“What else did he say to you?” Red asked, genuinely curious. How many times had her grandfather visited Morgan? And what could they find to talk about besides her? Suddenly Red didn’t like the idea of her grandfather visiting without her present.
“A bit of this and that. Mainly guy talk. We had to come to an understanding. If you want to know more, you’ll have to ask him, because I’ve been sworn to secrecy.” His lips twitched.
“That’s sounds ominous,” Red said. What were they up to?
Morgan grinned. “Now that this tribunal is over, I’m sure the commander will have a lot to say to you.”
“That doesn’t sound like a good thing,” she said. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“Nothing, I swear.” He chuckled.
It was good to hear him laugh. She missed that sound.
Red fought back a smile. “You’re a terrible liar.”
“Only when it comes to lying to you,” Morgan said. “Go spend some time with your grandfather. Now that we’re free, I need to contact Nuria to have the credits and seeds sent to Jonah. He kept his end of the bargain. It’s time for us to keep ours.” He kissed her on the temple, then strolled out of the tribunal.
Red waited for her grandfather, who was shaking the hands of the republic leaders congratulating them on a job well done. It didn’t take him long. He came over the second he finished.
“So how does it feel to be free?” he asked.
“Good.” Red pressed the power button on her navcom.
A nasal voice came out a moment later. “Gina, where have you been? I’ve been unable to contact you for... My scanners seem to be unable to recall the date. I will have to run a diagnostic on you and my system to see why.”
“It’s good to hear your voice, Rita,” Red said.
“My system detects dehydration and malnutrition. Administering patch fluids now. You really should take better care of yourself,” Rita chastised.
“I was about to ask you if she was working the same,” Red said to her grandfather. “How did you ever repair her after Roark crushed her?”
Robert Santiago’s bushy white brow lowered over his brown eyes. “It wasn’t easy. The tech guys called the job impossible, but they gave it a shot anyway. As you can see, it worked.”
Red stood on her toes and threw her arms around him. “Thank you, Grandpa.”
He patted her back.
She held him for a moment longer, then pulled back. Her gaze met his and her expression hardened. “It won’t be over until Roark is caught.”
“Leave that to the tactical team, special one,” he said, half pleading and half warning.
“Which team? Mine or yours?” Red asked.
“So you’re going back?” Sadness filled his eyes. “After everything that’s happened?”
Red nodded. “I have some things to straighten out in Nuria.” Besides, it was her home now.
“Speaking of Nuria…Lieutenant Catherine Meyers has requested an exchange with the Nurian Tactical Team,” he said. “She thinks it would be a good way to bridge the gap between the teams. Would you have a problem with that?”
Red thought about it. “No,” she said. “Chaos has proven herself to be a valuable asset. We’d be happy to have her.” Red knew of at least one vampire who would be, too. She couldn’t wait to see the look on Raphael’s face, when he heard the news. She looked over her shoulder to tell Morgan, but he was gone.
“He loves you, you know. Very much,” Robert said. “So do I, Gina.”
“I love you, too, Grandpa.”
Red and Morgan returned to Nuria the next morning. Strangely, the town looked the same. She didn’t know why she’d expected it to change. So much had changed for them. Juan and Takeo met them in front of the sheriff’s station.
“Welcome back,” Juan said. “I told Takeo you’d return soon.”
“Saw that in a vision, did you?” Red shook their hands.
Juan blushed. “Something like that.”
“He saw it on the viewer like everyone else in town,” Takeo said.
“Some psychic.” She snorted. “Where’s Raphael and Melea?”
Takeo stiffened at the mention of the woman’s name.
“Is there a problem?” Red asked.
Juan grinned at Takeo. “Nothing that won’t be resolved with time,” he said.
“Don’t you have work to do?” Takeo asked Juan.
“Nope, my afternoon is clear,” he said, then turned back to Red. “We have ten team members now, not counting Takeo, Demery, and me.”
Red tensed. In all the excitement, she’d forgotten all about Demery. The expression on her face must’ve shown her pain because Takeo asked what was wrong.
“Demery is dead,” she said. “I’m surprised Melea didn’t tell you.”
Takeo suddenly looked uncomfortable.
“She hasn’t said much besides ‘keep him away from me.’” Juan gave Takeo a pointed look.
Red’s eyes narrowed. “You better not be harassing that woman. She’s been through hell and she saved my life.”
Takeo held his hands up. “I haven’t touched her,” he said, looking as innocent as possible, but his expression said he would like to. His lovely Asian eyes sparkled with mischief.
She tapped her arm and waited.
“I swear,” he said.
Juan laughed. “He’s telling the truth—sort of. He might not have touched her, but he’s been following her around like a lost puppy for the past two days.”
Takeo shot him a warning look. “I have not.”
Red pressed her lips together to keep from laughing.
“I wanted to make sure she was finding everything. She’s never lived in a town before,” Takeo said, as if that was a perfectly reasonable explanation for his behavior.
“Whatever you say,” Red said. “But remember what I told you.”
Morgan touched her shoulder. “I’m going to head inside. I’m sure there is a mountain of paperwork waiting for me. It’ll take time to get reinstated.”
“I’ll be in, in a moment,” she said.
“So what happened to Demery?” Juan asked, turning the jovial conversation somber.
Red didn’t know how to break it to them gently so she came straight out with the truth. “The leader of the Sand Devils and I killed him.”
The men’s eyes widened and they took an involuntary step back.
“What is a Sand Devil?” Takeo asked. “And do I really want to know?”
Juan scowled. “Why would you do that?”
Red hadn’t had time to mourn Demery’s death. Until now, she’d done her best to forget all about him. But these men deserved an explanation. Demery had been their friend. He had been a friend to them all—at least until things went sideways.
“The trip didn’t go exactly like we expected. Life was much harder than we’d anticipated. Demery didn’t lie about knowing and trading with several bands of people in no-man’s-land. He was known by almost all. He just left out the fact that he’d gambled Melea away and needed Other blood to get her back,” Red said.
Juan scowled.
“The leader of the Sand Devils, the group that held her, raped and beat her repeatedly. She’s been through so much that I’m amazed she’s survived. That girl is a fighter and she deserves our respect.” She looked straight at the beautiful Asian warrior standing before her.
Takeo’s face morphed into a mask of pure fury. His eyes glistened and his fangs flashed. She heard a hiss and watched the viper move restlessly beneath his trench coat, ready to strike.
Juan looked over at his friend, then asked softly, “What happened?”
Red took a deep breath. “Demery kidnapped Morgan and helped the Sand Devil leader bleed him,” she said.
Images of a bloody Morgan strung up at the center of the Sand Devil encampment flashed in her mind. Foolish. They should’ve never taken her mate from her. She’d have killed them all, if given the chance.
“It’s a good thing Demery’s dead,” Takeo said. Or I’d have killed him myself was left out.
His voice was so cold Red shivered. “He paid dearly for his mistakes,” she said. “I ripped Demery’s protective suit open right before Reaper, the leader of the Sand Devils, tried to knife me. He missed, but nailed Demery in the process.”
“So he exploded?” Takeo asked.
“Yes.” Red relived the horrifying moment.
Takeo’s jaw tightened. “He didn’t pay nearly enough, if what you say about the girl is true.”
Red met his gaze. “She was nothing but chattel to this group and they treated her as such.”
“I will make sure that doesn’t happen in Nuria,” Takeo vowed.
Red gave him a small smile. “You do that,” she said, then turned to Juan. “Have you been able to locate Roark yet?”
He shook his head. “The man seems to have disappeared off the planet, which means he’s found a very good hiding place. I’ve sent two wolves to his old office to check out the prison under his building. If they can get a scent of his blood, it’ll be easier to track him. I’m also paying close attention to my visions for clues.”
“Keep me posted.” Red walked to the sheriff’s office, but stopped at the doorway. “I want to thank you both for continuing to build the tactical team and taking care of Nuria while we were gone. I won’t forget it.”
They shifted uncomfortably under her regard.
Red thought she spotted Juan blushing, but he turned before she could be sure.
“It’s nothing,” Takeo grumbled.
“If you hear anything else, let me know,” she said.
“Will do.” Juan still wouldn’t look at her.
Red laughed and walked into the sheriff’s station. She found Morgan standing in his office. It looked like the place had been hit by a sandstorm.
“What happened?” she asked, staring at the mess.
“My guess is either Roark or the tactical team paid the station a visit,” he said, picking up an overturned chair.
“Why didn’t Maggie clean after they left?” Red glanced at the open safe door. The yellowed copy of Little Red Riding Hood was still inside. It had been Morgan and Kane’s favorite book when they were children…and the inspiration behind Kane’s murders.
“She said she didn’t want to get in trouble if they came back,” he said.
“Right.” Red marched out of his office. She’d had enough of Maggie’s crap. Morgan might not believe his assistant turned on her when he left, but Red knew the truth. “This stops now!” she shouted.
Maggie Sheppard let out a startled yelp and her eyes rounded. “I don’t know what you mean,” she said, hiding her trembling hands beneath her desk.
