Third Front (The Dali Tamareia Missions Book 3) by E. M. Hamill

Author:E. M. Hamill [Hamill, E. M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: StarBard Books
Published: 2022-10-17T16:00:00+00:00

"The meteorite hit a little over a kilometer east of Bullialdus. We'll have to stay put while they check out the old city's environmental support, and the rail system is shut down for inspection after the impact quake. There appear to be no casualties." Saetang's relief sang against my senses as she looked up from her device, and I relaxed minutely. "Headquarters reports no damage." She lowered her voice. "Rama says his detainee is shaken up. She's still yelling immunity and wants to talk to you."

"I bet she does." England could sit and stew forever for all I cared.

Across the cavern, Skadi sat on a parts container near the electromagnetic lift. Three officers maintained a human wall between her and Kitryd. The fourth, a young man with deep brown skin and a medic's patch on his shoulder, let the handcuffed prisoner sip at a pouch of water from an emergency supply kit they located in the repair bay.

Even though he stood several meters away, Sumner's usurped frame almost quivered with energy, Kitryd's gaze locked on Skadi. Across the cavern, the crackle of the AI's output still touched the fringes of my empathic nets.

"Some good news, though. Rama found the recording of your meeting with England on Singh's device. We have enough to hold her on smuggling charges and obtain a warrant to search her private records. The bad news is that can't happen until everybody gets out of lockdown. It gives her people ample time to destroy whatever they can."

I groaned, looking up at the ceiling in defeat. "That figures. At least we have Skadi in custody."

"Look at her. She does not like Kitryd. She really wants to be somewhere else right now."

I followed Saetang's gaze. Skadi reacted to Sumner like he was a predator, coiled and ready to flee if he so much as took a step closer.

The captain shifted to face me with her arms wound in a knot over her chest. "What are you going to do about your partner?"

"I don't know yet." I ran my hands through my dusty hair and pretended the bubble of panic in my throat didn't exist. "If we tell the feds Kitryd's executing a galactic warrant, they might be more willing to leave Sumner in my custody."

"But is it, really? Or is it just a bounty hunter?"

"I wish I could say for certain."

The officer who had been tending to Skadi trotted over, and Saetang hailed him. "What's up, Jones?"

"The prisoner asked to talk to Tamareia."

"Clearly everybody wants to talk to you." Saetang raised an eyebrow. "We have an hour or so left down here before we can take her in. She may not be quite as willing to cooperate when she's out of danger and has a chance to retain a lawyer. Can you not punch her in the face again?"

Could I? I shrugged. "No promises."

We crossed the cavern and Saetang drew her officers together to fill them in on the meteorite impact. Kitryd stared at Skadi over their heads, on constant alert, but made no effort to move closer to us.

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