Red Angel: Book II: Raiders (Red Angel Series 2) Read online

  "Fredric, find that krait. You two go back to the house. Her mother's due back soon. Make sure she doesn't call for help. Kill her if necessary," she shouted.

  I lay there laughing, almost enjoying the waves of pain it caused.

  "You stupid girl. If you had just given me the krait, we would have left. Now you’re going to bleed to death, and you'll have been responsible for your mother's death—because she's going to try and save you."

  I continued my hysterical laughing, much to her annoyance because she kicked me in the ribs several times when I wouldn't stop. Police sirens stopped her kicking and my laughing. My head spun like a cyclone, and I felt myself being sucked into darkness. I would die happy, knowing those I loved were safe.

  * * *

  "She'll be all right, Magistrate Bellona," said a man's voice. "She's lost a lot of blood, but the wounds aren't life threatening. I've stopped the bleeding for now."

  "And we've caught the four intruders—"

  "Did they have a red-headed krait?" Alexa asked, sounding desperate.

  "No, ma'am. No snake of any kind."

  "Then she's not all right. She'll die—"

  "Mother," I tried to shout, but it came out barely above a whisper. Somehow Alexa heard and leaned closer to me. "Mother, go sit in the trees. Red will come to you, and you can bring him to me," I managed between pauses as I fought to stay conscious.

  "How? Are you sure?"

  "Yes, Mother. Trust … Red," I managed before I was pulled into the void.

  * * *

  I woke to the familiar sounds of medical equipment, the smell of antiseptics, and the feeling of being tethered to tubes and wires like a marionette. The room was dark except for the dim light emanating from the equipment's monitors. Alexa lay with her head on my bed, holding my hand, and I felt the feather light touch of Red's tongue on my cheek. I sighed with relief and drifted back to sleep.

  When I woke, even with my eyes closed I could tell it was morning, as the room was bathed in sunlight. I squeezed Alexa's hand.

  "You're awake." She kissed my forehead. "You were right. I had been sitting on the ground less than an hour—which felt like a lifetime worrying whether he would come—when Red crawled onto my lap and then curled around my arm. Maybe that crazy woman's right, at least in Red's case, and he's a god. He sure isn't normal like the red-headed kraits the medical people have been examining."

  "I know. Just say you found him where I threw him. If anyone knew of his strange behavior, the people wanting him would increase exponentially." The thought was enough to make me break out in a sweat.

  "I agree. It's our secret." she nodded and touched Red. "The security people apologized for not checking out the intruders’ story. They had claimed they were from the Windon Medical Research center and wanted to consult with you. They said you had invited them to meet you at the house. And they had it timed to within minutes. You were only a few minutes from the house when they arrived. Ironically, the man who they talked to actually worked at Windon. That won't happen again." There was steel in her voice.

  Doctor Renata arrived an hour later. "You look better, Anna. You really scared me when they brought you in without Red. Lucky your mother was able to find him. Your wounds were bad but not life threatening. You got hit with shards in the right leg, where I removed three pellets. And a laser cut across both your legs, which required twelve stiches. You’re going to require rehabilitation, but you should fully recover. Thank the space gods Red wasn't hit."

  * * *

  The next day, Adrian and Kris arrived. Kris came to the bed, sat on the edge, and squeezed my hand. "No more heroics, Anna. If there’s even a hint of trouble, you and I are going to be Siamese twins. I knew I should have stayed with you." She gave me a hug.

  I silently thanked whoever might be listening that she hadn't been along. The thought of her being killed trying to save me made my chest ache.

  "It looks like you single handedly cracked the Red God case," Adrian said. "With Ms. Kellum and Mr. Driscoll from the Windon Medical Research Center in custody, I think it will only be a matter of time before we identify everyone involved and recover the kraits. Although next time, Kris and I would like to help so you can skip the hospital stay."

  Before being released, I spent three days in the hospital, another two in a special rehab unit to accelerate the healing, and another ten days in physical therapy. And I was only released then because Alexa rented the equipment I needed to continue my exercises at home. The cuts from the shards, laser, and surgery were healing. It was the damaged nerves that were taking the extra time.

  * * *

  "What do you think Admiral Rawls wants?" I asked as I finished putting on my dress whites.

  "I think your team is going to get some kind of award for solving the Red God case," Alexa said, which felt true but somehow like an evasion. Strange, as Alexa never lied to me, and she knew I could sense her emotions.

  I put it down to still being tired. Recovering had taken a lot of effort. I wanted not only to return to work as soon as I could, but also to be fit for duty when I did. That morning, I flew the skimmer for the first time since the shooting. It felt liberating. We arrived at the office a little before nine and were told to report to Admiral Rawls’s conference room.

  Rawls walked in only a few minutes later. Although average in height, her wiry frame and long stride combined with a stern expression on her narrow face marked her as a no-nonsense person.

  "Attention," her aide shouted as she entered, and we braced to attention.

  "At ease." She stood silent, examining me before continuing. "The NIA's golden team has again solved a high profile case that has baffled the local and interplanetary police. And done it in record time. You not only have identified all of the people who participated in the thefts but have also enabled us to recover the thirteen stolen kraits. In recognition of your work, Lieutenant Commanders Adrian Shrader and Kristyn Sinclair, and Lieutenant Anna Paulus are each awarded their second Distinguished Service Metal. Congratulations. In addition, Lieutenant Paulus is awarded the Purple Heart—her third—for the injuries she suffered in the line of duty … and she's promoted to Lieutenant Commander. Congratulations, Anna."

  Rawls stepped up to me and handed me a gold oak-leaf-cluster collar pin and my new shoulder boards with their trident and two twelve millimeter stripes separated by a six millimeter stripe.

  I stood there with my mouth open, unable to speak.

  She only smiled. "We wanted to give this to you two years ago, but you were too young and it would have caused too much controversy—for the navy and you. We also considered giving you time in grade from that date when you eventually were promoted; however, that idea was thought to set an unwanted precedent. Instead, when Fleet Admiral Webb added your name to this year's promotion list, he moved your date of promotion to one day earlier—meaning you outrank everyone on this year’s list. Congratulations."

  She shook my hand with little concern for Red, who had his head on my shoulder.

  Then she stopped and stared at Red. "If they found a cure for the Coaca Virus, what would you do with Red?" she asked, surprising me.

  Everyone in the room turned toward me and the room seemed to get quieter even though no one had been talking. Although I remained silent for a long time, no one seemed to be pressuring me to answer.

  "Ma'am, I'm not used to thinking about my future. I've always considered myself to be living on borrowed time, not knowing how long Red would live or if someone would steal him. I try to get the most out of each day. But after seventeen years, I think he's earned a home on me until one of us dies." I felt a flick of his tongue on my cheek.

  "Dismissed." Rawls turned to Alexa. "That's some daughter you have, Alexa. I can understand why you adopted her. She's worth saving."

  * * *

  "How does it feel to be a Lieutenant Commander?" Adrian asked.

  "And probably the youngest in the history of the UAS," Kris added.

  Alexa
had taken Adrian, Kris, and me to dinner at Aughoes, one of the oldest and most expensive restaurants on Oxax.

  "Unreal. Like I'm dressed up in my mother's clothes." I found it hard to reconcile my rank with the real me. In many ways, I felt like a child—I still lived at home with my mother and had no intention of leaving anytime soon, and she managed all the financial matters. In addition, I wasn't looking for a husband or considering children and didn't even date.

  "Anna, I hope you don't mind the team getting the credit," Adrian said after our drinks had been served.

  I laughed. "You and Kris did all the work tracking down those involved and discovering where the kraits were kept while I lay around eating ice cream, and I got equal credit, so no. One for all ..." I raised my coffee-milk concoction.

  Alexa smiled as Kris and Adrian raised their glasses.

  "And all for one," we chanted in unison.

  * * *

  As I entered the office the next day in time for our standard ten hundred hours meeting, Adrian and Kris rose.

  "Anna, Admiral Rawls has called for a meeting with us in her conference room. It sounds like we may have our next assignment." Adrian smiled.

  "It's about time," Kris quipped while trying to look serious. "How are we supposed to stay on the Fast Track for commander if we're chasing petty criminals?"

  "Careful what you wish for." Adrian's gaze looked far away—maybe back to almost getting killed by revengeful smugglers on our last assignment.

  I put my laser in my desk, locked it, and rushed to catch up.

  When we entered the conference room, Stauffer was already there, sitting with a cup of coffee and a stack of folders. He looked up from the one he was leafing through and then stood as Rawls walked in. "Attention!" he barked.

  "At ease and sit. We, the NIA, have kept this team together for the next big project. Well, it's here. Two weeks ago an armed group broke into the Eastar Art Gallery and stole artifacts and paintings worth more than four hundred million credits. Normally that would be a matter for the Eastar police; however, that was the third major heist in the UAS in the last six months. Since the thefts have occurred on three different planets, the UAS Security Commission has concluded they're raiders and have tasked the navy with the responsibility of providing the planets protection." Rawls snorted. "A nice bit of passing the buck. Of course, Fleet Admiral Web knows it's impossible for the navy to protect fifteen planets, but he's in the hot seat whether it's possible or not. In a stroke of genius, he passed the responsibility for identifying the raiders to Vice Admiral Lultrel, who passed the problem to me, a Rear Admiral. And I'm passing it on to Commodore Stauffer, since he has the best bloodhounds in the UAS—you. I'll want a weekly progress report. Good hunting." She rose and walked out, smiling and leaving us sitting there in stunned silence.

  Finally, Stauffer spoke. "Admiral Rawls wants to expand the team. She's suggested adding the primary NIA agent from each of the planets hit by the raiders. Although one of those agents outranks you, she has agreed to whoever you select among you being in charge of directing activities." He made eye contact with each of us to emphasize the point. "I know you well enough to know this team is … different. Consequently, I'm concerned Admiral Rawls or I could interfere with your unique style in our attempt to help you. Therefore, I've convinced Rawls to let you decide on how you want to proceed." He gave a wry smile. "Well, to suggest how you would like to proceed."

  "Thank you, sir," Adrian said after receiving nods from Kris and me. "Give us a few days to review the material you've collected, and we'll get back to you with our proposal."

  Stauffer stood and handed each of us a folder. "In these folders are copies of the incident reports from the police and our field NIA agents. When you’re ready, I would like to discuss your recommendation with you before I give them to Admiral Rawls." He rose and left.

  "I suggest we each read the material separately and consider the approach you would take if you were in charge. Let's meet back in our conference room two days from now. I know the Admirals are under pressure to close down the raiders, but I suspect that’s going to take longer than it will for Kris to find a husband and have those kids … the ones Wilbur always joked about. I miss him and his sense of humor." Adrian's voice sounded sad, and I could feel his deep sense of loss.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Raiders

  I arrived home around noon and after a quick snack retired to my office, a converted spare bedroom. I kept it Spartan, as I did everything in my life. I had never felt the need for knickknacks or non-essentials. The drapes were a plain light brown made of synthetic material, as was the beige rug. The walls were a creamy white. I had purchased a standard table computer, a small bookcase, and my only real luxuries—a reconditioned redwood desk and a comfortable padded chair.

  In my bookcase were several language books from the Free People's Union, FPU, and the People’s Republic of Stars, PRS. Languages were a hobby I had pursued over the past two years. By now I could speak and read both of these languages moderately well.

  To me, it was the most luxurious office in the entire galaxy and my own private sanctuary. I spent the afternoon reading the reports from each system, with Red lying on my head and appearing interested.

  The first robbery had occurred on Stone Ring. There, the raiders had stolen a batch of advanced computer chips designed for the UAS's high-end computers, used primarily in research labs. The chips were estimated to be worth more than four hundred million credits in the PRS and FPU.

  The second robbery occurred on Holy Star, where the raiders stole precious gemstones with an estimated market value of more than four and a half million credits.

  The third robbery occurred on Eastar, where the raiders looted paintings and other artifacts from the Eastar Art Gallery worth more than four hundred million.

  In each case, the raid was well planned and executed. The raiders left no witnesses and destroyed all the facilities' surveillance equipment. The raid on the capital of the UAS had elicited outrage, which was what had caused the government to get involved. They had demanded naval protection when they discovered there had been raids on Stone Ring and Holy Star and that the three thefts had a similar method of operation and had all been executed with military-like precision. The raiders were well organized and well informed: they knew the facility's security, what they were after, the best time to strike, and had an effective exit strategy off the planet.

  As I sat there pondering the raids, I heard the front door close as Alexa came home, so I closed the folder and shut down my tablet in preparation for my evening meal with Alexa.

  "You appear to have better working hours than bankers," Alexa quipped when I entered the dining room.

  Scowling with mock indignation, I sniffed. "I object, Magistrate Bellona. I'm home early because it was an exhausting day. I went into the office at ten, had a chat with an admiral, and left before I became too tired to fly home."

  "That was a tiring day for an NIA agent." She laughed. "So what did Rawls want?"

  "There have been high-profile robberies on three different planets. When they hit Eastar a few weeks ago, it caused the UAS central government to get involved. Their investigation has concluded we've foreign raiders operating in UAS space and that it's the responsibility of Admiral Webb—"

  "Who's pressuring Lultrel, who's pressuring Rawls, and so on," Alexa finished. "So the NIA's golden team now has its next big assignment. How do you feel about it?"

  "Red's excited," I said, and then went on to explain what Stauffer had said. "The assignment sounds interesting, but I'm not sure about expanding the team."

  "I can understand. Adrian, Kris, and you are very close, like family. And you never know how a new member will impact the team's dynamics. That's why Stauffer's concerned—will new members help or hinder your effectiveness? An interesting question, and the decision could determine whether you succeed or fail."

  * * *

  Adrian and Kris were already in the conference ro
om when I arrived at work. I made my moo-coffee before joining them.

  "Hi, Anna," Kris said as I entered the room. "Adrian and I were discussing the potential problems ... and advantages of adding new members. Any thoughts?"

  "I would make a poor judge. I'm naturally scared of new environments and people, because I never know how they’ll react to me. I'm usually the youngest, and then there is Red, so their reactions tend to be more ..."

  "Emotional," Kris said. "That’s understandable. You don't fit the mold, and that makes people uncomfortable. At first even I was concerned about your youth and didn't like the idea of a venomous snake." Kris snorted. "Sorry, Red."

  Watching me, Adrian said, "And the fact that we’re in a military organization makes rank an issue. Admiral Rawls may appoint a lieutenant commander to be in charge, but that won’t sit well with a commander or even another lieutenant commander with an earlier date of rank. We aren't concerned about our feelings or our image, just that conflicts could interfere with us catching the bad guys. And we can't replace Wilbur, nor should we try."

  I knew my teammates were concerned about my feelings, and I was touched. "Why don't we do what I always do?"

  "What's that?" Adrian asked.

  A small smile touched Kris's lips as if she could read my mind.

  "Take each day as it comes," I said. It was a defense mechanism I had developed early in my life. "Trying to predict or control the future can be very stressful."

  Adrian and Kris stared at me for a long time. Eventually, Adrian nodded. "Right. Anna wants to take each day as it comes, so we will."

  "And I would like to visit each planet where a raid occurred," Kris said.