Page 14 of Zalis
Said. Not suggested. Gemma liked that.
“And you are?” the officer asked.
“Her brother.”
Ren stared down Constable Pama. She stared right back. Gemma begrudgingly admired the woman’s resolve. Ren wasn’t the biggest Mahdfel warrior she’d ever seen. That honor went to Zalis, though Havik was a close second. He was, however, several inches taller than Constable Pama, had that orcish devil thing going on, and had a damn intimidating face.
“And the one lurking outside?” Pama asked.
Zalis lurked in the hallway, silent as always.
“That one is my associate. He was instrumental in locating Gemmarae,” Ren said. “He does not lurk.”
Zalis most certainly did. Honestly, Gemma didn’t mind. No one was going to burst into her room and kidnap her. She knew that, logically, but fear of that exact scenario lingered in the back of her mind. Every unexpected sound or loud noise made her jump and hospitals were noisy.
Having Zalis there was nice. Reassuring. Absolutely no one was getting stolen under his watch. As far as Gemma was concerned, he could lurk to his heart’s content.
Pama tossed her hands in the air. “I suppose it does not matter. The traffickers abandoned the warehouse more than twenty-four hours ago. The trail is cold and the likelihood of capture is slim. A few more hours will not make a difference.”
“That can’t be right,” Gemma blurted out.
“They benefit from a massive head start. Chances are they are no longer in the system.”
“Then get some evidence and find them. We’re not dealing with criminal masterminds.”
“There is a chain of custody. The scene has been compromised.” Pama gave Ren a withering look. “Any evidence we do find cannot be admitted in court.”
“If they are not in the system, then we will find a record of them leaving the planet. Flight plans. Manifests,” Ren said.
“Tholla is a busy hub. Hundreds of vessels leave every hour. Finding one ship will be difficult. If we do, we must assume that their vessel is registered with false credentials and a false flight plan.”
“I gave you a description,” Gemma said. “Can’t you search the security footage? A busy hub has security cameras, right?”
“I have a vague description.” Pama consulted her tablet and read, “Tall. Complexion like an eggplant, whatever that is.Horns. Ugly.The one in charge was aweasel—again, no idea what that is—with a gold hoop in his horn. No indication of which horn.”
She didn’t need to add what she thought about that unhelpful description. Gemma could see it on her face.
Gemma wasn’t an interstellar transportation expert, but she ran a successful small business. She knew all about invoices,manifests, and inventory. “What about searching for a manifest that conflicts with the weight of the cargo? It’s not like the jerks are going to list ‘human cargo for auction’ on the manifest. Or do you not inspect ships that come into port?”
“The port authority manages all incoming ships. I would need a warrant to request such information, and I do not have enough evidence for that request to be granted.”
Oh, that was a load of bullshit. Hot and steaming. Pama just didn’t want to bother.
“So it’s catch them red-handed or nothing?” Gemma asked, disdain in her voice.
“No one’s hands are red.”
“My hands are red,” Ren said, as if that were helpful.
Pama and Gemma both glared at him. He seemed unconcerned.
“And the Suhlik who took Ines, Maria, Scarlett, Amariah, Madilyn, and Jessica? He just gets away?”
“There’s no precedent for such behavior from the Suhlik,” Pama replied, the dismissive answer ready without hesitation.
“They took six people. Six human women.”
“I have heard your claims?—”
