Chapter Patricia Encounters a Setback

Chapter Patricia Encounters a Setback

Inspector Vance stormed into the chief’s office.

“Good morning, Inspector,” The chief said blowing a few bubbles from within his globe.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Vance demanded angrily.

“Paperwork,” Chief Koloxa said with a little smile. “having a little bit of seaweed, not much.”

“You withdrew the protection detail for Bill Archer?”

“So I did,” the chief said floating idly. “I can’t waste manpower on every deranged human with a blaster.”

“He is in danger!”

“From this... Patricia person. Yes. You have made that abundantly clear,” the chief said cocking a yellow eye at Vance. “I’m certain the Terran deputy ambassador is going to cause a major diplomatic incident over some doddering old fool taking potshots on a fully shielded limo that she wasn’t even in.”

“There won’t be an incident! He will just disappear and-”

“And (chuckle) they will eat him.”

“Yes! That’s exactly what they will do!”

“Inspector, I would think you would have outgrown your, what do you call them, fairy tales by now.”

“They aren’t fairy tales! They are real! You weren’t there! You don’t know what they will do!”

“Look, Vance, you are good man and a great cop but you gotta let this go,” the chief said blowing bubbles of annoyance. “Patricia Hu is the deputy ambassador. Accept it. The Sol Wars were a long time ago. If she was still this blood drinking cannibal wouldn’t you think they would have caught her by now?”

“Not her. Not that snake! Chief, you don’t understand!”

“No I don’t and I really don’t care. I know you and every other human your age is losing their shit but I can’t devote manpower and resources over a century and a half old grievance that didn’t even happen in my jurisdiction.”

“Not yet,” Vance nearly shouted. “Not yet but it will!”

“And if it does we will apprehend them and bring them to justice. This isn’t the Sol system. This is Capital City. We have legions of detectives and lab technicians. They do something stupid and we will apprehend them and if it is some sick shit like you keep on about their immunity won’t protect them. They will go to prison and we will throw away the key.”

“At what cost?” Vance snarled. “You going to wait until humans start disappearing or found with every drop of blood drained? I’m telling you-”

“This conversation is over, Vance. Get back to work.”

“Fuck you... sir...” Inspector Vance strode angrily out of the Chief’s office slamming the door behind him.

The chief just watched him go and wiggled his head. Oh Vance, he thought to himself. If only you knew who agreed with you.

He activated his communicator.

“Director, this is Chief Koloxa, we lifted that protection detail.”

“Thank you, Chief,” Director Axlea said blowing a few bubbles on his vid screen. “Your loyalty to the Federation is to be admired.”

“I just left an innocent sapient being completely at that Terran's mercy. Are you actually going to let them kill that guy? Then again, what is the blood of one more human on your hands at this point?”

“I’m certain I don’t know what you are talking about chief.”

“Yeah, and milt don’t stink,” the chief growled.

***

Jon walked into the lobby of the embassy and looked over at the reception desk. Toby was right. You really couldn’t recognize Dawn anymore.

“Welcome back, Ambassador,” she said in a cool tone. “It’s good to see you up and around so soon.”

“You know how it is,” Jon said as he approached. “Can’t keep a good man down.”

“Indeed,” Dawn smiled and reached for the intercom.

“Hang on a second,” Jon said with a friendly smile. “Dawn, can we talk?”

“Ok, sir.”

“You know Patricia Hu isn’t a good person, right? You know her history?”

“It was a dark time, sir,” Dawn said in a frosty tone. “All sorts of people did all sorts of things to survive and provide for their people. I’m sure if we put a lot of people under the microscope that Ms. Hu has had to live under we would find all sorts of shit.”

“Yeah, there’s doing what you gotta do and then there is doing what she did. You really need to look into your new ‘commanding officer’. If you ever trusted me do it now. She is bad news and you need to be careful.”

“I will... sir...” Dawn hissed. How could Jon not understand? How could he not see true greatness when it was right in front of him? Jealousy! That had to be it. He couldn’t hold a candle to her and he knew it!

“Great!” Jon said with a smile. “Oh, and do yourself a favor. Even if you are starting to believe that tripe keep that ‘True Terran’ nonsense to yourself.”

“Sir?” Dawn said in surprise, her eyes widening. “True Terran? I’m not! I mean I would never!”

“Not what I heard. It comes out of your mouth every time you touch those pearls she gave you.”

“Oh she didn’t mean... that!”

“Well that is a relief! Still, be careful with that phrase. It could be easily misunderstood, you know that, right?”

“Oh! I- I will! I mean I don’t believe that! People don’t believe I... do they?”

“Those of us who really know you don’t. I mean we served together for years. But still... best to drop it,” Jon said with a paternal smile. “Oh I love the new look by the way.”

“Thank you sir!” Dawn said as she almost beamed at him.

“You look fantastic but then again you always did,” Jon said with a smile.

I did? Oh he’s just being kind. I looked awful!

“Well no sense delaying any longer. Might as well go and see the old dragon or is it an old bird?”

“Yes, Ambassador,” Dawn said with a smile. “Deputy Ambassador,” Dawn said as she pressed the intercom button, “Ambassador Wintersmith is here to see you.”

“What a lovely surprise!” Patricia said in a happy voice. “Please, let him into his office!”

“Don’t get up,” Jon said with a smile. “I got it.” With that he opened the door and walked inside.

***

“Jon!” Patricia exclaimed rising to meet him.

“Patricia, looking as lovely as ever,” Jon said stepping forward. “It is simply amazing what the surgeons can do.”

“Oh, when you have my money anything’s possible,” Patricia laughed her musical laugh as she embraced him. Jon was keenly aware of her breasts pressing against him. “You are back so soon,” she said releasing him after holding him just a moment too long. “Color me impressed,” She said as she let her hand drift down his good arm, sending electric surges of excitement through him while staring deeply into his eyes with a look that was unmistakable.

God he wanted her!

“As you said, anything’s possible,” Jon smiled stepping away. “I don’t have your cash but I was able to manage a trick or two.”

“I can see that. I love the arm!” she exclaimed as she took his artificial hand. “What little surprises did you sneak in there?” she asked impishly.

“Oh didn’t have time,” Jon laughed. “I just told them to slap something on ASAP. I had to get back to the henhouse before a certain serpent ate all my eggs.”

Patricia just laughed a delightful laugh.

“Oh you,” she laughed flashing him a seductive smile, “All of your real eggs are quite hard-shelled,” she laughed. “None of them were going to be so easily swallowed.”

“Well, not all of them,” Jon smiled and then stared deeply into her eyes. “If Dawn gets hurt because of your bullshit there will be hell to pay.”

“Oh Jon,” she laughed dismissively, “You worry too much. Dawn is... special. I would never harm that glorious potential. Oh the things she can become.”

“Heh,” Bill said with a smile, “You said there were two options but damned if I only heard one.”

***

Patricia sat at the head of a table deep within a hidden part of the embassy and glanced at her watch. She then glanced over at Marrow who shifted uncomfortably.

They were late. Fang should have been here by now.

Crimson pulled out her communicator. No signal from any of the four. It was like they never existed. She raised an eyebrow and passed her communicator over to Marrow. He frowned.

This wasn’t good.

“My Lady,” Marrow quietly said to Patricia, “We may have a problem...”

***

The next morning Inspector Vance stormed into the Terran embassy with a greatly distressed Detective Freela rushing after him.

Toby, restored to his beloved desk, looked up from his tea.

“Good morning Inspector,” Toby said with just a trace of disdain. “How-”

“Where the fuck is Stephen Marrow!”

“Excuse me?”

“Bill Archer went missing last night! We found his DNA all over the fucking place! I got you you fuckers! I fucking got you!”

“Inspector,” Detective Freela said uncertainly, “Maybe we should-”

“WHERE IS HE?”

Toby smiled with genuine pleasure. Inspector Vance was about to give himself a stroke and that snake Marrow was in the shit. This was a good day!

“Well, I am sure that Mr. Marrow is somewhere in the embassy,” Toby said sipping his tea trying not to wiggle his eyestalks too vigorously, “However I am going to need to see a warrant bef-”

Inspector Vance slammed a tablet down so hard it almost shattered. “Read it and weep, asshole!”

Toby slooooowly picked up the tablet and read it.

“Seems to be in order,” Toby said after a delay just long enough to make Vance even angrier. “Unfortunately this is only for questioning. As much as I would love to wrap him up with a bow and hand him over (and trust me that would make my day) you will have to question him here in the embassy.”

“Bullshit! I’m bringing that fucker in!”

“No, you’re not,” Toby replied as he took another sip. “If you review the applicable regulations and laws concerning-”

“I DON’T GIVE A FUCK!”

“Inspector, sir... He’s right,” Freela said trying to show the inspector her tablet.

“Toby,” Jon said over the intercom, “please invite the inspector into my office.”

Toby rose from his desk and taking his sweet time ambled over to Jon’s door. He hated Patricia and Marrow with a passion but there were certain grudges that had to be honored regardless. After unnecessarily fumbling with the latch he opened the door making way for Inspector Vance and Detective Freela.

***

“... So let me get this straight,” Jon said as he leaned back in his chair, “This guy goes missing and you just happen to find Stephen Marrow’s DNA and hairs all over the scene?”

“Yes, exactly!” Inspector Vance shouted. “They took him! Probably flossing what is left of him out of their teeth right now!”

Jon sighed. There was no way in hell it would be that easy. As much as he wanted to believe the Inspector it didn’t add up.

“I know you are upset, Inspector and I can empathize. Trust me. I know exactly where you are coming from,” Jon said with a grim smile. “However, let’s think about this for just one second before we escalate this into something completely avoidable. This guy goes missing and Stephen Marrow himself, Patricia’s fucking right hand man, personally went to do the deed? Seriously? Not only that but he fucking shot more DNA around the hotel than a teen on prom night? I’m sorry, as much as I would fucking love this to be true it just doesn’t add up,” Jon said as Vance turned red in the face. “I’m not going to allow you to cause a diplomatic incident and give that... give the Deputy Ambassador any more ammunition than she already has by letting you drag Marrow out of here.”

“You don’t understand!”

“No, I do,” Jon said looking at him sympathetically. “I know our history, Inspector and I know the Deputy Ambassador. If I honestly thought this would stick I would hand him over to you and fucking tap-dance all the way back to my desk. Unfortunately this is bullshit and if you would take a deep breath and let yourself to be the lawman that you are you would see it too.” Jon sighed and leaned forward. “I tell you what. I will give you a private conference room so you can question him here and if you give me copies of your evidence I will personally make sure it reaches the hands of the right people in the Republic. I will also cooperate as best as I can within my mandate,” Jon said and then looked Vance right in the eye, “but if you think I will let you just stomp all over my embassy and my Republic you are sadly mistaken no matter how badly I want to just give you the fuckstain. If I do that then I give the Deputy Ambassador exactly the kind of ammunition she needs to get me reassigned and guess who is the Ambassador then?”

Vance just sat there breathing heavily. Detective Freela looked over at him nervously.

Jon pressed the intercom.

“Toby, please set Inspector Vance up with a private conference room and inform Stephen Marrow that his presence is required.”

“Should I summon someone from our legal department?”

“Yeah, unfortunately we need to do that. Also let the vampire know her boy is in the shit.”

“Yes, Ambassador.”

***

Patricia just sat at her desk in silence as Crimson and Marrow knelt in front of her.

Axlea, she thought. Four of her riders missing and now “definitive proof” that Marrow was at the scene of Bill Archer’s disappearance? It was her. It had to be.

She closed her eyes and breathed deeply trying to calm herself. It was difficult. Not only was she unused to such a blow but part of her embraced the rage. It have been so long since she felt its white hot embrace.

No. This wasn’t the time for that. Soon. She just had to remain patient.

“It seems that we suffered a minor setback,” she eventually said in a smooth silky voice. She turned to Marrow. “How conclusive is the DNA?”

“Flawless. It’s a perfect match,” he snarled. “I have no idea how they got it.”

“Obviously you were careless,” Patricia said coolly. Marrow flinched. “That was unkind, forgive me,” Patricia cooed. “We are most likely dealing with Director Axlea. She has had plenty of time to scan you and perhaps even gather samples back on Terra. This wasn’t your fault.”

She stood and drew her dao idly swinging it as she paced. Crimson and Marrow looked at each other with fear in their eyes.

“We have an alibi for you for the entire time, even if it is internal. It won’t satisfy the Feds but it will satisfy the Republic,” Patricia said as she swung her dao in clean perfect arcs. She turned to Marrow and pointed the tip of her blade at him. Marrow flinched. “Sadly, my child, our time here has come to an end,” Marrow’s eyes widened in fear. “You simply must return to the Republic, immediately.”

Marrow breathed a sigh of relief.

“Oh how I was hoping I could rely on you here,” Patricia said sadly. “Your last task will be to coordinate with our legal team to facilitate your escape to the Republic. You will replace Monarch as my lead Bloodlord there.”

She turned to Crimson.

“My child, the time has come for you to finally blossom into your true potential,” she said with kind and loving eyes.

Crimson smiled.

“Crimson you are now my warchief here in the Federation. It falls to you now.”

“Yes, my Lady!” Crimson exclaimed.

“Pull back all operatives to the embassy for now,” Patricia said with a frown. “I do not wish to lose any more of my riders until we know exactly what that eel is capable of.”

“Yes, my Lady!”

“And you must remain inside the embassy at all times. Be sure to be able to document every single second.”

“Yes, my Lady!”

“Leave me. I wish solitude.”

“Yes, my Lady!” both Crimson and Marrow exclaimed and then rose to leave

Patricia sat and leaned back in her carved lacquer throne. The eel was a fool to move so prematurely even if she just cost me dearly. she thought to herself. Then again I was also a fool. she thought as her green eyes flared with annoyance. I was so fixated on Jon I forgot about the eel. The coffee guppy has grown fangs it seems.

Patricia leaned back and smiled. Things were getting so very interesting.