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  RED ANGEL

  Book III: HIJACKERS

  By

  C. R. DAEMS

  Red Angel: Book III Hijackers

  Copyright © 2017 by C. R. Daems

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the permission in writing from C. R. Daems.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  ISBN-13: 978-0-9983251-2-5

  ISBN-10: 0-9983251-2-0

  Check out all my novels at:

  crdaems.com & talonnovels.com

  CHAPTER ONE

  OXAX: DECISION TIME

  CHAPTER TWO

  EASTAR: A NEW BEGINNING

  CHAPTER THREE

  EASTAR: INTERESTING ANOMALIES

  CHAPTER FOUR

  EASTAR: NO LONGER ANOMALIES

  CHAPTER FIVE

  EASTAR: COMPLICATIONS

  CHAPTER SIX

  EASTAR: WHEN IS AN OWLET AN OWL?

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  SOMEWHERE IN UAS SPACE

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  A LIVING INFERNAL

  CHAPTER NINE

  TO CONTINUE OR NOT TO CONTINUE

  CHAPTER TEN

  SEARCHING FOR OWLETS

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  THE GOOD DEAL

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  TEMPTING FAITH

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  HOBO BUSINESS

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  THE OXAX NIA OFFICE

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  DECISION TIME

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  EASY MONEY

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  WANTED DEAD, NOT ALIVE

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHASING HOBOS

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  ONE MONTH LATER

  CHAPTER ONE

  Oxax: Decision Time

  The sound of the front door opening jarred me back to the present, and I sat staring at my computer screen, which was currently cycling through my screen saver's selection of pictures. At the moment a picture of Adrian Shrader, Kristyn Sinclair, Richard Gannon, and me sitting at a dining table at Aughoes, celebrating having successfully concluded the Raiders Case, and Adrian, Kris, and my promotions to commander. Tears slid down my cheeks.

  "What's wrong, Anna?" Alexa asked, as she walked around my desk and took my face in her hands. "Your eyes are red and puffy."

  "The future," I mumbled, leaning against her and sobbing uncontrollably.

  "What's wrong with the future, Daughter?"

  "Everything!" I choked out. "They promoted us to commanders!"

  "Most would consider that a good thing."

  "Kris is being sent to Stone Ring and Adrian to Westar…and they want me to go to Eastar," I whined between sobs. Childish, but I didn't care. "How is a twenty-four-year-old going to command an NIA Office? I've never supervised anyone. And I'm not ready to leave home…you. You're my life."

  "My poor daughter. You finally found a comfortable life and it appears to be crumbling—"

  "It is!" My arms tightened around Alexa, feeling like I would fall into an abyss if I let go. She stood quietly stroking my head for a long while, and I think I fell asleep because her voice jerked me back to the present.

  "Come, Daughter, dinner is getting cold and your mother's legs are beginning to ache." She had a warm smile when I looked up. "Wash, and I'll meet you downstairs."

  During dinner Alexa did all the talking, recapping several of the trials she had resided over. For my part, I was content to ignore my problems and pretend nothing had happened, refusing to contemplate tomorrow. After dinner we retired to the living room and took up our usual positions on the couch, with Alexa at one end and me at the other. I stretched my legs out so our feet touched and sighed in contentment.

  "Comfortable my today, Daughter?" She smiled and I nodded. "You can choose to avoid making any decisions by resigning your commission. You're the love of my life, and I would support you whether you chose to work or not."

  Just then Red chose to make an entrance and wound himself around my neck, lying with his red head hanging downward. I stared at him for a long time, then began laughing. A minute later Alexa joined me.

  "I think Red has developed a sense of humor," I said, shaking my head.

  "Maybe he's reacting to your mood. You relationship is symbiotic after all.

  "True, but I've never known him to react to my moods. He maybe a snake but he has a personality of his own. He shows when he is bored, interested, or disinterested in things and people, and can be defensive, but not happy or sad or…" I lapsed into silence. I wasn't sure what Red was, but he definitely wasn't a normal red-headed krait. He appeared to have chosen me because I had the Coaca Virus—a symbiotic relationship since he lives off my blood and his venomous bite keeps the virus in check. But…

  He had sought me out in the snow—snakes are normally inactive in the cold.

  He killed a man who stole him from me—although the man also had the Coaca Virus.

  He appears to know friend from foe—since he has never bitten anyone close to me like my mother or Kris.

  And I swear his presence makes me smarter and able to detect people's emotions. Conversely, he has never done anything I could interpret as communication.

  "No, Mother. He may not communicate with me, but I can tell when he's disgusted with me because I can't find an answer to something he has already deduced, or interested in something I'm reading or, like right now, that he's acting the clown," I said, certain I was right, although it would sound ridiculous to anyone listening. But after ten years of constant presence, I would wager my life on it.

  "Maybe he wants you to address the issues." Alexa held up a hand before I could object. "The final solution is your decision, and I will support you no matter what you decide. Pick a problem."

  "Yes, Mother," I reluctantly agreed. If Alexa wanted me to discuss my fears I would, but only to please her. "The team is breaking up. Kris is like a sister to me, Adrian a dear friend, Rich is easy to work with, and Stauffer is a good boss who understands me."

  "That is understandable but not uncommon in the military. People come and go as they get new assignments, promoted, or leave the service. For you it's more traumatic than normal because of Red and people's reaction to him and, by extension, to you. Even Kris was nervous when you joined the team. But you made good friends. Nothing prevents you from staying in touch. I'd wager Kris and Adrian will invite you to every major event in their lives: marriage, birth of a child, etcetera. And there is nothing to prevent you from visiting."

  "Admiral Lulltrel wants me in Eastar. Not that it matters, since the Oxax office isn't one of the NIA offices on the list I have to choose from. That means I'd have to leave home regardless. Your adolescent daughter isn't ready. You're not only my mother but my best friend and…island of safety." A tear leaked out and slid down one cheek.

  "Admiral Lulltrel does want you in Eastar. In fact, she called me today and we had a long talk. I explained to her the problems you had growing up and the ones you face everyday because of Red and your age. She was very understanding."

  "How does that help?" I asked, feeling afraid and defensive.

  "There is an opening on the Eastar Appellate Court. It's mine if I want it."

  "You would move?" I blurted in surprise.

  "With or without the job. I've told you before we would always work things out together. I have nothing holding me here that is nearly as important as you. So if you
still want to leave home, I'm willing to move home to wherever you want it to be."

  "But what about an adolescent running a NIA Office?" Fear gripped me and the thought had drops of sweat forming under my breasts and trickling down my stomach.

  "Lulltrel wants you there not only because you have a keen mind but demonstrated excellent insight during the Smugglers and Raiders assignments. She knows you discovered many of the significant clues that led to breaking both cases…and only you had the nerve to invoke P1A on her to find Commander Wright's involvement."

  "Are you sure she doesn't want me there to get even for having her investigated?" I asked, only partly in jest.

  "She admits you were right and another reason she wants you at NIA Headquarters. She will provide you with whatever assistance you need until you feel comfortable with your duties."

  "I hope whoever they are, they aren't planning on retiring anytime soon."

  * * *

  The next three weeks were a whirlwind of activity. Alexa communicated with a realtor in Eastar to identify potential properties for us to view when we arrived. We identified the furniture and personal items we wanted to take, and arranged transportation on a Navy cruiser, which agreed to take my skimmer. On arrival at Eastar, we spent a week looking at properties.

  "What do you think, Daughter?" Alexa asked after having arrived at a list of houses that potentially met our needs.

  "Mother, this is worse than chasing Raiders: the basic cost of the house, the cost of repairs or upgrades, in some cases, and security modifications, transportation considerations, and monthly and yearly expenses," I said, shaking my head, which didn't help as it was already spinning with numbers and issues.

  "Although we agreed not to sell the house on Oxax as a contingency, you and I have very good salaries, generous housing allowances, and a very adequate portfolio. But although our offices will be close to each other, we can't assume our hours will always permit us to ride together."

  For the next two days, we slowly eliminated one house at a time until only two remained. In the end, security took precedence because of Red and his escalating value on the Black Market, which was reported to be as high as two hundred fifty thousand credits. Lulltrel agreed to pay for a Panic Room in lieu of providing security personnel for the house. We purchased a five-bedroom two-story house with a skimmer pad, in a moderately populated area only twenty minutes from our office buildings. Alexa arranged for on-demand limo service for when our schedules conflicted.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Eastar: A New Beginning

  I entered the twenty-story Naval Headquarters building dressed in service blues, feeling nervous, and not knowing what to expect. I couldn't blame anyone from thinking I was a high school kid impersonating a Naval officer as a prank. Therefore I was pleasantly surprised to make it to the weapon detection unit without being stopped. However, one step into the unit and alarms blared, and two petty officers in Naval security uniforms came running with weapons drawn. Everyone in the lobby turned to look in my direction. I had been so nervous about my first day at work, I had forgotten I was wearing a multifunctional weapon. True to my concern, the younger guard, a petty officer third class, smiled after looking at my uniform. He looked to be about twenty, tall lean build, and short blond hair. The chief petty officer's weathered face wasn't smiling. He stood evaluating me as a potential threat wearing a poor disguise, and his multifunctional weapon pointed directly at my chest, whereas the corporal's weapon was held casually, pointing toward the floor.

  "I'm sorry, Chief. It's my first day reporting for work and I forgot I carry a weapon," I said. Judging by how hot my face felt, my cheeks were probably scarlet.

  "Ma'am, may I see some identification?" he asked, his tone was close to a growl and he didn't sound in a good mood. Unfortunately, Red decided to make his grand entrance, wrapping himself around my neck with his head pointed in the chief's direction. "Pets are not allowed in the building. Give it to Phillips," he demanded, while nodding in the direction of the other security guard. I ignored him while slowly reaching into my handbag and removing my NIA identification badge and handed it to him. He scanned it and me several times before waving for me to proceed to the right, avoiding the entrance lanes some twenty steps ahead, to a counter where a young sandy-haired Navy lieutenant and an older female senior chief petty officer stood watching us approach. He handed my ID to the lieutenant, whose face turned to a sneer after staring at my ribbons. Shaking his head, he passed it to the senior chief. She spent a minute tapping on her computer screen. When she looked up a smile lit her round pleasant face.

  "Welcome aboard, ma'am." She straightened to attention and gave me a perfect salute, which I returned.

  "Chief Nelson, Commander Paulus is the new NIA Station Chief and is authorized to carry a weapon…and her red-headed krait." Her smile broadened at the look on the three men's faces. She reached into a drawer and pulled out a badge on a blue silk cord and handed it to me. "Ma'am, your NIA section is located on the sixteenth floor but Admiral Lulltrel said she wanted you to report to her when you arrived. Her office is on the eighteenth floor. This will get you, and your krait, safely past the security checkpoints."

  "Thank you, Senior Chief," I said and made for the closest entrance lane, with Nelson following me. At the gate he waved to the petty officer standing on the other side.

  "Williams, the commander is cleared to carry the weapon and the snake." He pointed to my shoulder where Red lay. "Have a nice day, Commander," he said, but didn't look like he meant it.

  I walked up to the gate, swiped my new identification card through the slot, and a green light appeared. When it did, the bar across the lane released for me to pass through. Red disappeared into my uniform as I made my way to the bank of elevators. I pretended I didn't notice everyone staring at me as I stepped inside the first one to open and continued to examine my new ID. It had the NIA Seal, Commander Anna Paulus, NIA Eastar Station Chief, authorization to carry a gun, a medical exemption to carry a red-headed krait on my person, and Admiral Webb's name and signature. When the elevator opened on the eighteenth floor, I cautiously stepped out as if entering a minefield, and surveyed the area. I probably would have jumped back into the elevator if the doors hadn't closed behind me. Two Navy security men were staring at me and had their hands on their multifunctional weapons. They watched me like a potential terrorist as I took several cautious steps toward a master chief who sat several steps in front of me at a large mahogany desk.

  "I'm here to see Admiral Lulltrel." I smiled at the confused look on his face. "I'm Commander Paulus," I said and handed him my new ID.

  After a minute looking at his tablet, his frown turned to a smile. "Yes, Commander. If you wouldn't mind taking a seat in the waiting room." He pointed to a large area to his right with padded chairs, small tables, and a ceiling to floor window that ran the length of the room. "I'll let her know you're here."

  "Thank you, Master Chief." I nodded and walked over to the window. The bird's-eye view of the city was spectacular. Thirty or more skyscrapers could be seen, and several skimmers were crisscrossing between the buildings.

  "Ma'am, may I get you something to drink while you wait?" asked a young female petty officer.

  "No thank you, Petty Officer. I'm fine for now," I said, noting she probably wasn't but a few years younger than me. I suppressed a laugh at the thought I'd feel more confortable in her uniform than in mine. A lieutenant commander jerked me back to the present.

  "Commander Paulus, I'm Lieutenant Commander Spalding, Admiral Lulltrel's aide. The Admiral will see you now." The smile on the soft round face was warm. He looked in his early thirties.

  "I remember you, Commander. I put you and Admiral Lulltrel through an embarrassing…procedure.

  "Justified and amusing in retrospect. And a gutsy call I doubt many officers would make in a similar position. I'm looking forward to working with you."

  "Thank you, Commander Spalding."

  He extended his
hand, which I shook just as Red made an appearance.

  "And my friend is Red."

  Spalding laughed. "Come, Commander, we don't want to keep the admiral waiting. He led me down the hallway to the end where a gray-haired master chief sat at a mahogany desk, blocking the path to Lulltrel's office. When he saw me he rose, knocked on the door, opened it enough to peek in, and said something.

  "Commander Paulus, the admiral will see you now," he said as he opened the door for me to enter. I entered, braced to attention, and saluted as I heard the door close behind me.

  "Commander Paulus, reporting for duty, ma'am."

  She returned my salute and smiled. "Get yourself something to drink from the sidebar and have a seat, Anna." She gave a snort. "That must have been an exciting entrance…carrying a weapon, ribbons one would expect on a retired admiral, and your young appearance."

  "It was a little exciting when I set off the weapons alarm. But it was cleared up surprisingly quickly."

  "You can thank Jerry, Commander Spalding, for getting your authorizations prepared beforehand and available at the check-in booth."

  I mixed the half-milk and half-coffee concoction I had come to enjoy and sat in one of the dark blue padded chairs she had pointed at. To my surprise, she rose and sat in a chair opposite me.

  "I've talked with Admiral Rawls, Commodore Stauffer, and your mother and understand your reluctance to move to Eastar. Your red-headed friend has made your life difficult and change something to be feared. And being a prodigy is never easy as it makes people uncomfortable. I wish I could say it was going to be easy being so young and in charge of the NIA Office, but I know it won't. However, it's the right place for you, Anna, and I'll do whatever I can to help."

  "Thank you, ma'am."

  "Let's go to the conference room and introduce you to the rest of my staff." She rose and I followed her and Spalding down the hallway. Spalding waved me in, then shouted "Attention." Two men and a woman rose as Lulltrel entered.