The Forlorn Hope: An Intergalactic Scifi Adventure (The Fifth Column Book 3) by J.N. Chaney & Molly Lerma

Author:J.N. Chaney & Molly Lerma [Chaney, J.N. & Lerma, Molly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Variant Publications
Published: 2019-11-30T06:00:00+00:00

11

“Vice-Admiral-Kaska’s bottom line is control,” Senator Peralta said. “He wants to rule the Sarkonian Empire.”

Now that Peralta was in a more giving mood, I let him see me relax, leaning back and slinging one arm over the back of my chair. “Yeah, we got that part. I’m more interested in the how, Senator.”

He licked his lips and fidgeted, stopped short by the cuffs. “Are these really necessary? I’ll tell you everything you want to know, but they’re very distracting. You have my word that I won’t try anything.”

“The restraints make it so we don’t have to rely on your word,” Farah said. “Makes things easier on everyone.” Always the better one with people, she managed to make the denial sound reasonable and prudent.

Where she soothed, I abraded. “I guess you don’t understand the concept of prisoner. You’re not getting out of them. Think you’re uncomfortable now? It can get a whole lot worse.”

The new comm in my ear beeped. “Cortez, don’t push him too hard. We don’t want him to clam up,” warned Jax.

I wanted to tell the Void operative that I knew how to run an interrogation. Lucky for him, I couldn’t say anything without Peralta hearing it. But that was just my pride speaking. Truth was, Jax wasn’t altogether wrong. We were playing a dangerous game with the man locked in our brig, and we had to win. My threats toward his family were a bluff, but I needed him to believe we were that ruthless, and that was where the gamble lay.

If I played my part too well, he might freeze up. Not well enough and he wouldn’t believe me. Either way, the result was the same.

“Do I need to remind you that your family’s life hangs in the balance?” I asked, trying to sound like I hated the thought, which was easy since I did.

A tremor rolled through Peralta, but he still managed to jut his chin up in a minor show of defiance. “You’re a bully. Nothing more than a common terrorist.”

I could tell he thought that he’d landed some major blow to my ego by the way he sat back and readjusted, squaring his shoulders and daring to meet my eyes.

I laughed in his face then elbowed Farah. “Aww, now my feelings are hurt.”

My partner didn’t laugh since she was still in good cop mode. “Maybe we should get back to the discussion at hand. Senator-Peralta, I’m not the boss here. She is. I can’t guarantee your safety or the safety of your family if you don’t comply with the captain’s demands.”

He flicked his gaze back in my direction, gauging me. Whatever he saw must have convinced him because he started talking. “What exactly do you need from me?”

“Everything you know about the ingot and how to get it from the facility on Xanderis.”

Peralta made a noise of disbelief. When we didn’t respond, both brows shot up. “You want to infiltrate a Void facility? That’s suicide.”

“With your help, it won’t be. Now, start from the beginning.

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