Morgan's Return by Greta van der Rol

Author:Greta van der Rol [Rol, Greta van der]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Pubright
Published: 2013-02-04T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

Morgan wrinkled her nose. That was the thing about vomit. Even after you cleaned up you could still smell that acid stink. Partridge probably still had bits stuck in the tiny crevices of his suit, or maybe it was in the floor. At least the man didn’t look quite so green. The sea gate under the mansion opened easily, flooding the surroundings with light. She eased the sub in under the archway, now fully submerged beneath the water. Fuck. That meant they wouldn’t be going back to the hotel tonight. The skimmer wasn’t made to be ocean-going.

“Looks like we’ll be staying the night,” she said to Ravindra. “The tide’s still coming in.”

He looked as pleased about that prospect as she felt. Still, all in all it had been a good trip. She and Ravindra had worked well together, despite his nervousness. Oh, he hid it well, but they’d been together so long now, she knew his moods better than most. Better even than his late wife, she’d bet.

The sub rose in the canal between the two piers. While the moorings swung into place, Morgan opened the hatch. Ah, a bit of clean air. What a relief.

“Help me with Derryn, will you?” Eastly scrambled up the steps and leaned in, waiting.

Partridge stood on wobbly legs and staggered to the ladder. Ravindra lifted him bodily halfway up and guided him to Eastly, who murmured sweet nothings as they shuffled, arms around each other, to the lift. The admiral stood gazing after them, lips twisted in a look of utmost contempt. Had he finally worked it out? Morgan doubted it. She followed him into the lift with the two men.

“You’ll want to stay the night.” Partridge still looked pale but his eyes had lost their feverish gleam.

“I thank you for the offer, but I wish to return to the rest of my crew. Will you permit us to borrow your skimmer?” Ravindra shot a look at Morgan that said ‘don’t argue’.

To be truthful, she’d be happy to return to the hotel.

“Of course. If you’re sure?” Partridge waited for the nod. “But you’ll stay for dinner, at least? I’m sure you’d like to shower, freshen up?”

The lift slowed and pinged softly, the door sliding aside.

Morgan stared at Ravindra. Don’t you dare say no. She glanced at Eastly who seemed to be happy with the arrangement.

Ravindra smiled. “A shower and dinner would be welcome.”

“Excellent.” Beaming, Partridge stepped out of the lift, Eastly hovering beside him like an anxious mother. “I have a spare suite for visitors just down the hall that way.” He gestured down the corridor to the right. “Perhaps we could all clean up, then meet for dinner downstairs and talk about what happened?”

“Are you sure you’ll be all right?” Eastly said.

“Once I’ve had the medication.” Partridge grinned ruefully. “And cleaned myself up, I’ll be fine.”

“Thanks you,” Ravindra said. “Where should we meet for dinner?”

“Downstairs in say, two hours?”

“Two hours.”

Ravindra gave a sideways jag that meant ‘yes’ in Manesai culture. Here, they probably interpreted it as ‘if I must’.

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