The Iron Admiral: Deception Read Free Page B

officials—ministers, mayors, that sort of thing—sometimes have secret service escorts.”
    Frowning, Pyndrees reached over and scanned back through the images of the Lysanda, retrieved from his vehicle. “There. These are pretty clear.” He pulled out his comlink and fed in the data stream. The process took a few seconds. He pursed his lips, eyebrows arched. “Well, well.”
    “What?” Sean said.
    “The system’s ninety-eight percent sure that the man in the skimmer is Grand Admiral Saahren himself.”
     
    He chuckled. “Word was he can’t get it up.”
    Sean snorted. “I couldn’t care less.” He wasn’t jealous; he’d long since realized he had no right to be.
    He wondered how she’d met him. Then again, she worked for the Star Fleet; the grand admiral could probably have his pick of the women there. He certainly would have, in a position like that. “Seems a bit odd, though. That’s a crappy Lysanda. If it was Saahren wouldn’t he be driving around in an escorted limo?”
    Pyndrees pursed his lips. “Point. Maybe this guy’s Saahren’s body double.”
    “I’m not interested in him. I just want her.” Sean wished it didn’t have to be this way. He didn’t want her hurt—but then, he didn’t want to die.
    “Hmm. But Saahren’s off-duty body double wouldn’t have an escort. Might make things a little more difficult if it is Saahren.” Pyndrees paused for a moment, considering. “Or a bit more interesting. I might mention it to Tepich.”
    Tepich. Sean almost shivered at the man’s name. No jolly fat man, Anton Tepich. He’d made the situation very clear; deliver Allysha, or forfeit your own life. Sean wished he knew what they wanted her for. Obviously some information system thing. He consoled himself with the thought that at least they wouldn’t harm her.
    ****
Allysha enjoyed every bit of the day, even when she tried hard not to. Saahren took her into the foothills and showed her waterfalls. That was predictable, really, reviving memories of times shared. They weren’t
     
    as impressive as the one that roared down the rocks on Tisyphor, though. Besides, on Tisyphor she had believed he was an ex-sergeant. She didn’t yet know he was lying to her.
    From the hills they went down to the coast for lunch. She enjoyed sitting at a café on a jetty, watching the sea birds soar on the air currents while waves rolled in to shore.
    Evening was approaching when he landed the skimmer outside a small, unremarkable restaurant in a poor part of town. A torn awning swayed in a gentle breeze but delectable, exotic smells wafted toward her.
    He smiled at her raised eyebrows. “It might not look like much, but the food is wonderful.”
    The proprietor, an older man, greeted Saahren with a huge smile. “Good to see you again; very good.”
    He flicked a glance at Allysha. “Especially with such a lovely lady.”
    “Yes. A very special lady. Somewhere private, Ayub?”
    “Of course.”
    “He knows you?” Allysha squashed down the little worm of jealousy as they trailed in Ayub’s wake along a corridor. Had he brought other girls here? What if he had? She couldn’t possibly ask him.
     
    “We go back to my days as a cadet at the Fleet Academy. His father ran the place then.”
    Ayub bowed them into a small room where they could eat away from the public eye and took the order himself, discussing the menu with Saahren to come up with a selection of dishes. Saahren handed the restaurateur the bag of mamangs and a bottle of wine which he’d stashed in a cooler bag in the Lysanda.
    “Santorini white sydal,” Ayub said, examining the label. “Excellent choice. I’ll open it for you.”
    He bustled out, returning soon with the bottle and two glasses.
    “Smell it first,” Saahren said, lifting the half-full glass to his nose.
    “Mm. Citrusy? And sort of grassy.” She sipped. “Oh, yum. And just a few little bubbles to tickle your tongue.”
    His eyes twinkled. “Very good. You’ll find it