The Red Admiral Read online

  "Banner, have the Comm Officer send the following message to Vice Admiral Lulltrel after converting it to Crazy Numbers," I said, giving the message one last look before forwarding it to him. Then I sent him the encryption program I had created years before, which was now a standard NIA program used for private messages.

  To: Vice Admiral Lulltrel

  Working with the police chiefs on Eastar, Stone Ring, and Sudan we have identified fourteen women who met the Magic Act criteria we established on Eastar: six on Eastar, four on Stone Ring, and four on Sudan. Since the missing persons are not navy personnel, the NIA has no authority to investigate; however, while the current sample is insufficient to conjecture on the reason, I believe there is sufficient evidence to conclude it's a potential UAS problem and requires further investigation. Please advise.

  From: Rear Admiral Paulus

  Director, NIA Stations

  "How do I use…Crazy Numbers?" Banner asked.

  "Activate it, then give it the name of the file you want converted," I said. I could have converted it myself, but since he was my aide, I felt he should be aware of what I was doing so long as it wasn't personal or restricted information. He left on a run for the Bridge.

  "What do you think, ma'am?" Carl asked, nodding toward the door.

  "He's eager and smart. I'm not sure following me will help his career, but he seems to think so," I said, having never tried to plan for the future. Focusing on today involved far less stress.

  "He will never be able to emulate you, but I think he's smart enough to learn from you and that can't help but make him a better officer," Stamm said. I wasn't sure what Stamm thought I could teach him, but I hoped he was right.

  * * *

  "Ma'am, you have a reply back from Admiral Lulltrel," Banner said as he burst into the dining room and placed his tablet on the table next to me.

  I looked down at a page of numbers and symbols. "Banner, why don't you translate it so I can read it?" I smiled and took another mouthful of my scrambled eggs.

  "Yes ma'am, how?" he asked, looking at the page as if it would tell him.

  "Click on Crazy Numbers, then give it the name of the file. The program will recognize it's encoded and translate it."

  A minute later, he laid the tablet next to me.

  To: Rear Admiral Paulus

  Since you are bored, Admiral Webb and I have decided you should continue to investigate unofficially. Admiral Webb will discuss it with the UAS Committee. Enjoy.

  From: Vice Admiral Lulltrel

  Director, NIA

  "Ma'am, is this a good or bad thing?" Banner asked.

  "I told Lulltrel I was bored." I grinned. "So it's a good thing, since I now have something to do and won't be bored. In addition, I love puzzles and this one appears to be an interesting one."

  "You told your boss you were bored." He shook his head.

  "It's one of many conundrums concerning our boss. She doesn't care about promotions and yet she's the youngest admiral in the fleet," Stamm said with a shrug. "And she ignores tradition while somehow complying with it. If she isn't careful, she's going to replace Lulltrel—"

  "Carl, don't even joke about that in private! Although I admit I enjoyed being the Eastar NIA Station Chief, I'm not sure I like being an admiral, and I'm positive I'd hate being a vice admiral."

  CHAPTER NINE

  Star System: Zaspa – Old Friends

  My folks are dying to meet you, ma'am," Newman said as we sat in his office. "My people think I'm excessively detailed, as I won't allow them to make unsupported assumptions. You taught me how assumptions can lead one down the wrong path. In fact, just recently we would have missed catching a robbery suspect if we hadn't been thorough. I know for sure that if I had transferred out of Eastar, I wouldn't have made a very good station commander," he said, making eye contact.

  "Officially, I'm on a tour of the NIA stations. A get-acquainted tour. But my overriding issue is…" I went on to explain what I had discovered to date. "You can help Lieutenant Banner get me a meeting with the police commissioner and stay in touch with him to monitor developments after I leave."

  We spent the rest of the day with his staff and getting to know the Zaspa station projects and people. It was a fun day. Newman and his people were open and candid, and there seemed to be no problems.

  * * *

  Commissioner MacGregor was a bear of a man with a full beard and a loud voice to match his size.

  "Let me see if I understand." He paused, stroking his beard and frowning. "You're a senior member of the NIA but the matter you want to look into is a local civilian matter where NIA has no authority. Is that accurate?"

  "Yes and no. Missing persons is a local matter for which the NIA has no jurisdiction or authority to investigate. And I'm not interested in reviewing your missing person cases. I'm interested in sharing what I've found working with the police on Eastar, Stone Ring, and Sudan, as it may be helpful in determining whether you are experiencing the same types of cases. My interest is not local, but I need to determine whether we have a UAS problem," I said, leaving out the detail, hoping to get him interested.

  "I could force you to go to court and I doubt you would win." His frown continued, but I detected amusement. His eyes widened as Red decided to join the discussion, wrapping around my neck. "Ah, that Paulus. The one who uncovered the marines-for-hire syndicate. All right, tell me what you found and what you'd like me to do for you."

  "It began with Susan Guzman…"

  "I can't believe we found five cases that met your criteria," he said as we sat in his office late the following night. "And you discovered this…trend after looking at only one missing person's case." He stopped to sip his dark beer. "What do you make of it?"

  "Insufficient data to say at this point. From what data I do have, I'd say the missing women are no longer on the planet where they went missing; they were physically or mentally coerced to leave, and the profile is an important factor in their selection."

  CHAPTER TEN

  Star Systems: Amend – Smooth Sailing

  The four days on Amend went smoothly. Commander Devries put on a comprehensive show and tell. He was a very straightforward person and appeared to have a well-run station. He was smart and had no signs of resentment toward a young woman fourteen years his junior as a boss or as an admiral. In fact, his curiosity matched mine, and we got along well. He was particularly interested in how I'd discovered the new trend in missing women. In fact, he was so interested he accompanied me to see Commissioner Crowe and worked with me to identify three women who met the search criteria: none three years before, two last year, and one this year.

  I felt good by the time I left Amend. I wanted to meet my direct reports but also hoped to encourage them to notice what was going on around them and to question what they didn't understand.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Star Systems: Oxax – Homecoming

  I ate with Captain Martz twice during the four-day trip to Oxax.

  "How is your tour going, ma'am?" Martz asked after our second dinner. Both of us were amused at her calling me ma'am since she was old enough to be my mother, but military protocol required it when we weren't alone.

  "Being the Chief of the NIA Stations is a new responsibility for me, and I felt I had to meet my direct reports and get a feel for what goes on at their stations. The missing persons puzzle has given me a reason to visit them and provides a cover to keep my investigation a secret until I can find the answer."

  "How are you doing with the puzzle?" Martz asked, sipping her wine as she awaited my reply.

  "It's safe to say it's not a local problem, but I'm no closer to understanding what is going on."

  "Kidnapping," Shelden said, and Martz and Russo nodded agreement.

  "Seems obvious, but why? There have been no ransoms demands; sex traffickers would be looking for younger girls; and why over the age of majority if you are kidnapping them? And then there is the question of physical or mental coercion."


  "Coercion?" Russo asked.

  "What would you be willing to do if you knew for certain I would kill your family—children, spouse, parents, siblings—if you refused?" I asked. "Right now, I know little more than that the disappearances appear to be prevalent across a large section of the UAS and the specific criteria the women must meet."

  "I, for one, hope you discover the answer before the tour is over," Martz said, and I could feel her empathy for the women.

  "And find General Guzman's daughter," Russo said. Although Guzman was clearly volatile, his officers appeared to think highly of him.

  * * *

  I exited the shuttle on Oxax with a feeling of nostalgia. Oxax had been my birth planet, where my mother, father, and I caught the deadly Coaca Virus that killed them, where I had been adopted by Red and later Alexa, and where I had joined NIA and met Adrian and Chris. A torrent of good and bad memories assaulted me like a tsunami, and I stood paralyzed.

  "Are you all right?" Paul asked, leaning close to me while scanning the area, trying to determine why I had stopped so suddenly.

  "I wonder what migrating animals feel when they return home, Paul," I said, not expecting an answer. "A place where you belong, or peace, or just a release from the pull that drew you back?"

  "A place that made you what you are today," Paul said, surprising me. Paul didn't talk a lot. He was my stoic sentinel, who I loved like a dear uncle. "I think you have someone waiting to greet you."

  When I focused, I saw a tall, wiry commander approaching. He was average height, walked with a bounce, and had a boyish looking face with an unruly head of red hair that just covered his ears. He stopped and saluted.

  "Good morning, Admiral Paulus. Welcome to Oxax. I'm Commander O'Brian." He smiled with genuine enthusiasm and interest. "I don't know if you remember me. I was here when you were chasing the marines-for-hire group and they blew up one of the conference rooms where Admiral Rawls and Commodore Stauffer were planning to meet with you."

  "It's nice to see you, Commander O'Brian," I said trying to get my mind back on the business at hand. "I think we are safe this time, at least for now," I said. He smiled, thinking I was joking. I wasn't.

  I spent the morning filling him in on the real reason I was touring the NIA stations, and the afternoon and next day with him and his people. Again, I treated everyone to dinner at one of the local restaurants. I had found that the more informal the environment, the more people relaxed, and the more likely I was to get to know the people and what they really thought and felt. Oxax appeared to be in good hands. O'Brian got me an appointment with Commissioner Weaver the following morning.

  "Commissioner Weaver, this is Admiral Paulus, my boss," O'Brian said after we had entered his very spacious office on the tenth floor of the police headquarters building. It was a no-nonsense looking office: a large but plain wooden desk, several steel chairs for guests, a small bookshelf packed with police and legal manuals, and a small table with a coffee pot, condiments, and cups.

  "I remember you used to work here when Commodore Stauffer was in charge of the group," Weaver said, coming around from his desk. "You were on the team that cracked the Smuggler and Hijacking cases."

  "Yes, sir. Those were interesting times." I shook the hand he had extended. He waved to the table with the coffee. "Help yourself to coffee. O'Brian tells me you're chasing kidnappers."

  "It appears that way…" I spent the morning explaining what we had found so far and the afternoon and the evening going through the two hundred cases dating back over the previous five years. We discovered six cases: one four years before, one three years before, two last year, and two more this year.

  I left Oxax pleased with how the station was being run, with O'Brian, and knowing O'Brian and Commissioner Weaver would be cooperating in the investigation. We left for Fire Rock the next morning.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Star System: Undisclosed - Selections

  "That blond from Amend has great boobs. She looks like she has prize-winning watermelons stuffed under her sweater—and they have a mesmerizing bounce. I'll bet she has men walking into walls and tripping over their feet when she passes them. Wives must envy and hate her," Lucio said and made a panting noise with his tongue hanging out. Although he was dressed neatly in an open-necked silk shirt, tailored slacks, and his mustache and goatee neatly trimmed, his black eyes looked predatory rather than admiring.

  "Yes, most men would ogle and fantasize about having her in bed with them, but she's tall and broad in the shoulders and hips. When faced with a real-life decision, I would think most men would find her intimidating," Silas said as he split the screen into thirds. He was a small man with a round, clean-shaven face, very ordinary except for his penetrating eyes that sparkled with intelligence and were anything but plain.

  The screen divided into three frames, and the blond they had been discussing remained displayed in frame one. He pulled down a menu in the second frame and clicked on Truth Star, then clicked on another menu, where he scrolled through facial pictures until he found the one he wanted and clicked on her image. When he did, the picture of a woman of average height and an hourglass figure appeared in frame two. Then he moved to frame three, clicked on Safe Harbor, and again scrolled through the facial pictures until he found the one he wanted. Another woman, smaller than the one in the second frame but with an equally good figure, appeared. He allowed everyone in the room several minutes to look at the three images, which were displayed on each of the four monitors in the room.

  Then he moved the cursor back to the second frame and clicked on an arrow in the upper right-hand corner. Several seconds later, the woman's picture disappeared and was replaced with a video of her walking, then dancing at a nightclub, then several more clips including one where she was engaged in sex with a young, athletic-looking man. He replaced the vid with her picture and then clicked into frame three and repeated the process. When the vid finished, he went back to frame one with the big-breasted blond and activated her vid. Afterward, with the images of the three women showing, he finally spoke.

  "I would prefer one of the less-endowed women from either Truth Star or Safe Harbor," he said. "Either one would be a better long-term investment."

  "I tend to agree with Silas," Micah said, and Jamar nodded agreement. Micah was a big man in height and build who looked like an elderly statesman with his gray hair and clean-shaven smooth, angular face. Jamar, on the other hand, was wiry and had the predatory face of a hawk, with his hooked nose, short-cut black hair, and black eyes.

  "I still like the blond," Lucio said, and Stefan nodded agreement.

  "Where is the blond in frame one from?" Tashia asked, staring at the monitor in the back of the room. She was dressed all in black: leather pants, silk long-sleeved blouse, and leather calf-length booths. She sat off to the side as if she weren't part of the group.

  "Eastar," Jules said after pulling down one of the menus.

  "How many have we had from Eastar this year and last?" she asked. The eye not hidden by her long black hair looked closed, as if she were sleeping or bored.

  "Three last year and two this year," Jules said, looking back toward her.

  "Then she's not up for consideration. In fact, no more from Eastar this year," she said softly, as if thinking out loud.

  "Why?" Lucio asked angrily as he turned to look back at her.

  "I'd prefer to not to disturb the sleeping pit bull," Tashia said in a lazy voice.

  "Are you referring to that young NIA commander?" Lucio asked but didn't wait for an answer, continuing before she could. "Why would she be interested?"

  "Because we selected a general's daughter." Tashia didn't move nor change the tone of her voice, sounding bored.

  "NIA has no authority to look into civil crimes," Vito said. He was currently a sergeant in the police force. "Besides, the commissioner wouldn't like her poking her nose into his turf."

  "Eastar is off-limits. That dog's dangerous, and I don't want he
r sniffing around us," she said with a slight shake of her head, as if ending the discussion.

  Lucio stood defiantly. "I like that blond. I'm not afraid of some young NIA bitch."

  Tashia shook her head and the hair covering half her face fell to the side, revealing partially hooded black eyes. "Sit down, Lucio. My suggestions aren't open for negotiation…unless, of course, you're ready to take my position." Her face brightened with obvious pleasure. Lucio turned and sat without a word. Tashia's eyes closed again.

  "All right, we vote on the two remaining women," Efrain said. Everyone picked up their tablets and began typing.

  After several minutes, Jules spoke. "The official vote is four for Safe Harbor and two for Truth Star." When no one commented, he continued. "We have six brunette candidates." He began typing on his tablet. The monitors split into six frames and one by one, the frames were filled with an image of each woman.

  "We only need two for now," Tashia's bored voice spoke and all faces turned toward the monitors…

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Star Systems: Fire Rock

  A Lieutenant Commander in his early thirties stood waiting as we exited the shuttle on Fire Rock. He was clean-shaven and looked fit in his dress blues. He saluted as I approached.

  "Good morning, Admiral Paulus. I'm Lieutenant Commander Taber, your Fire Rock NIA Station Chief. I thought I'd meet you and escort you wherever you would like to go."

  I was moderately surprised when he didn't appear to react to my age. Of course, by now everyone knew of my small size and young age, but hearing I was young and seeing me for the first time usually provoked a noticeable reaction.