Red Angel: Book II: Raiders (Red Angel Series 2) Read Free Page A

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