Page 162 of Alien Haven

Chapter Sixteen

At Kalquorian Security Headquarters, in the governmental mini-city ten miles from Sunrise, Dramok Dolgra stood across the room from Groteg. The officer sat at his desk in his office. Dolgra knew he lingered over the view longer than was warranted, but the Nobek never failed to impress him. Much like his clanmates, Groteg’s was a riveting presence. Clan Amgar had a terrible tendency to rock Dolgra’s professionalism when he was on the job.

The Nobek pursed his lips as he read whatever report floated on the holographic monitor over his computer. It said a lot for him that he’d risen to the head of the Kalquorian branch of Haven’s planetary police force. Such an administrative position demanded a lot of work in the office, even if the person in charge was as hands-on an officer as Groteg was. Nobeks weren’t known for their willingness when it came to writing and reading reports. If this particular member of the protective breed had anissue doing the desk jockey portion of his job, Dolgra had yet to see it.

The spy fingered the phase device pinned to the collar of his undercover disguise, a tan delivery uniform. Dolgra gauged the distance between himself and Groteg. He noted which obstacles he could quickly dash to and put between them, mentally preparing himself for the attack that might come.

He deactivated the phase keeping him invisible. At his sudden appearance, Groteg shot to his feet, fangs down and showing. Every tendon and sinew stood out on impressive muscles left bare by his sleeveless armored uniform.

His glare lasted barely a second before he eased. He shook his head at Dolgra. “Gets me every time.”

“Sorry. I’m no fan of people unphasing in my presence either.” Dolgra’s apology was genuine. It was shocking to have someone abruptly appear out of thin air.

“You have no way to warn me first?” To give him credit, Groteg sounded only slightly grumpy.

“Maybe I can toss a small object on your desk to give you a heads-up in the future. It’ll still be abrupt, but at least it won’t trigger you tearing my head off.” Dolgra grinned.

“I make you nervous? I’ll take it as a consolation prize. Door, lock.” He returned the smile and motioned to the hover chair in front of his desk. “I assume you’d prefer to keep this visit secret, or you wouldn’t have crept in here phased.”

“As usual.” Dolgra took the offered chair. The urge to indulge in small talk was resolutely quashed. “I read your report on the stalker at Nobek Detodev’s home.”

“Connelly was hoping to personally question O’Neal first thing this morning, but my Earther counterpart experienced shuttle problems. He’ll grill him this afternoon instead. Anything from your contacts?”

Dolgra nodded. “O’Neal’s from Mercy. His real name’s Kelly Kirk.”

“An alias?” Groteg scowled. “I’m surprised he got through Connelly’s department using false credentials. They’re pretty thorough. Connelly’s no slouch when it comes to keeping Earthtiques off Haven.”

“Kirk got here before Connelly became chief about seven years ago, so his reputation’s intact. Though it might not have mattered. I inspected Kirk’s documents myself, since he came from Mercy. I always keep an eye on those coming from there and New Bethlehem, due to their political leanings.”

Groteg showed no reaction to Dolgra’s snooping. He was aware the spy had clandestine access to the human half of Haven’s security force, and he kept his mouth shut about it. As a matter of fact, he’d never asked Dolgra for any information when investigating cases involving Earthers. It would have been unethical as well as illegal to do so. In Dolgra’s experience, it hadn’t stopped plenty of law enforcement supervisors from pushing for intel when they’d known they were dealing with Kalquor’s spy division.

He'd once mentioned the fact to Groteg. The Nobek’s response had been, “If I had a major problem, such as a serial killer or child abductor, I might appeal to you for information. To my mind, such dangerous situations supersede bureaucratic bullshit. But for regular law enforcement? No. It wouldn’t be right.”

Dolgra had discovered much to respect when it came to the Nobek. Every time they spoke, he found more to like.

He resumed his update on the would-be attacker. “On Mercy, Kirk had connections with lower-level Earthtiques. Mostly town-level militia groups who liked to intimidate those of a more tolerant mindset when it came to aliens, lifestyles, and soon. He’d been jailed on several occasions for threats. Twice for minor assault.”

Groteg considered. “From my limited experience in his company, he didn’t seem smart enough to pick up on Charity’s identity. It seems unlikely he showed up seven years ago to wait this long to attack those who live in opposition to his beliefs.”

“He also doesn’t match the physical description Matara Charity gave of her assailant in the barn.”

“It means he’s working for someone else on behalf of Mercy’s Earthtique faction. Maybe his accomplice told him to spy on her. Kirk must have decided to act on his own when the evening turned friendlier between her and her new friends.” Groteg scowled. “It means we have at least one other person after her. Someone who operates better under our radar.”

Dolgra nodded. “My thoughts exactly. I think we have to get Charity off Haven.”

“What? Where else can she go?” Groteg’s shock was obvious when he kept speaking rather than allowing Dolgra to respond. “Dark Death is running amuck on Earth. The Darks have accessed the rest of the Kalquorian Empire and our home world. They could get to her there. Those bastards leaked the vid footage of Copeland and spread the intel General Borey Nath is alive and well, which set this whole mess off.”

Again, Groteg impressed Dolgra. Charity Nath had been dumped on him with little notice. She’d been staying at his farm for a matter of days, yet he was already fiercely protective of her. He was a true Nobek, eager to fight for the safety of the vulnerable.

Somehow fighting off the smile that would have been inappropriate given their conversation, he said, “We had a last contingency in case she was identified again. I’ll ask the fleet to send a ship. She’ll have to live on it, and they won’t dock anywhere until the heat is off.”

Groteg stared at him. “You could be talking years, her traveling around in such a manner. As long as Browning Copeland lives, if not longer. She isn’t a Coydidak.” He named the group of Kalquorians who roamed the galaxy endlessly in their ragtag vessels, a sometimes lawless bunch who refused to live by society’s dictates. “Do you really expect her to put her life on hold for an indefinite period?”

“She’ll be alive. I see no alternative. She has to leave Haven.”

The Nobek snorted. “You’re forgetting an important detail, Dolgra.”

“Which is?”

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