Part 24 (1/2)
Which he quickly declined.
His big mistake.
32.
Kris held her tongue-and acted like a good little princess-all the way back to the emba.s.sy.
The Marine transports had picked up all sorts of bugs while parked in front of the office building. Kris refrained from burning them lest the inspector have to peel more of his time away from the hunt for Gramma Ruth to chide her for destroying private property.
”Burn those bugs,” was her first order the moment they crossed onto the Emba.s.sy driveway.
”Ooo-Rah” answered that order.
”The amba.s.sador wants to see you” greeted Kris the moment the rig's door was opened.
”I'll see him later,” Kris snapped. ”Captain DeVar, do you have a Tac Center?”
”A small one.” He led her to it.
It was tiny. The next room down was the huge conference room Kris had whiled away many a negotiating hour. ”Take over that room. I'll clear it with the amba.s.sador.”
”Ooh-Rah” was the captain's reply.
Kris quick marched for the amba.s.sador's office. She found him sitting at a long table in his huge office, holding a budget meeting with his key staff.
”We need this room. Wait outside,” Kris ordered.
The amba.s.sador started to say something but flinched when Kris snapped at the others, ”You. Out!”
They went.
Door closed, the amba.s.sador tried to seize the initiative. ”What do you think you are doing, young lady?”
Kris stood at the opposite end of the table. Leaning forcefully on it, she corrected him. ”I am not a 'young lady.' I am a serving Lieutenant in the Wardhaven Navy. I am a princess of the blood and a Longknife. I am presently conducting a search for Ruth Tordon. You have two choices.”
At the other end of the table, the little man began to fidget. If there was a question of which end of the table was the head-and which the foot-it was now resolved.
”When next I meet with General Trouble and his good friend King Raymond, I can tell them that you rendered all a.s.sistance to the search for Ruth. And you will still have a career.”
Kris paused to let that sink in. ”Alternately, you can attempt to interfere, and I will send a priority message to both king and prime minister. You will receive your recall in the next priority mail.”
That might or might not be true. While there was no doubt that Grampa Ray would do anything for his old war buddies, both Trouble and Ruth, Father might not like getting a demand from his daughter concerning his Foreign Service.
Kris tossed the bluff out and waited.
Sammy folded. ”Yes, yes, of course, you may have anything the emba.s.sy can provide.”
”Thank you very much,” Kris said. She did a quick about-face and quick marched from the office. In the outer office, the staff members were waiting. ”You may continue your meeting,” she said, and did not look back.
So, she could have anything the emba.s.sy had, Kris thought. I could get to like this.
If only Gramma Ruth's life didn't hang in the balance.
”What have you got for me?” Kris asked as she stepped into the conference room that was now a Tac Center.
”Cara's sc.r.a.p of paper has a phone number on it,” Jack said.
”A phone number. Isn't that a bit slipshod for this bunch?”
”Not so much a phone number,” Chief Beni replied, ”as the impression of the number written on the paper above it.”
”And the number is...?” Kris asked.
”Not on the list I bought,” Bronc said.
”What are the chances it will be in the level five?”
That got Kris shrugs.
She took a moment to familiarize herself with the Tac Center. Across from the door, one wall was already sprouting photos relevant to the case. Front and center was a picture of Grampa Trouble and Gramma Ruth: he in full military splendor, she in a golden gown. They were lovely together.
Beside that photo was a recent portrait of her that might have been from her pa.s.sport. Next were pictures of the Marines, one showing each facedown and dead. Then their ID pictures. If anyone wondered why they were here, the photos answered that.
”Let's go for level-five access,” Kris decided.
”Ah, Kris, there may be a problem with that,” Abby said.
”How so?” Kris asked, turning to her maid...and the two kids that now seemed permanently attached to her.
The boy had a major case of the fidgets. ”Every computer has a permanent ID branded into it. Anything you do on net can get back to you. Even Micky hasn't been able to figure out a way to change that.” Micky apparently was quite a whiz at this.
”If I buy level five,” Bronc said, ”someone will be checking back on me in like, five minutes ago.”
”You're safe with us,” Kris said.
”But my mom. I had to give my home address when I registered the computer. My mom.” It was almost a plea.
”Is a problem,” Kris finished. Without knowing it, she was endangering the most precious thing this poor young fellow had. But then, everyone knew Longknifes used up people. What say we get Gramma Ruth back without using up anyone this time.
She turned. ”Captain DeVar, can we solve this before it becomes a problem?”
”Certainly, Your Highness. Gunny.”
”Yes, sir,” Gunny said, and turned to two Marines. ”You just volunteered for detached duty.”
The two, a man and woman snapped to attention. ”Yes, sir.”