Page 24 of Mongrels United
As there was no answer to that but to affirm he was right, Grady didn’t reply. Instead, she said, “You tested the tablets? It really is Bellish?”
“Yes.” He said it firmly. Without hesitation.
“Perhaps something left over from before?”
“That would make the Bellish at least eighteen years old. The tablets I tested were fresh. Not more than a few weeks old.” Rim paused. “And the chemical components were different. The formula has been changed since I learned it. Not much. Not enough to change the primary effects of the drug. Without further testing and investigation, I couldn’t tell you what difference the changes make.”
Grady nodded. “I’ll be back when Anny is here. Then you and I will talk.”
Rim gripped his hands together once more. “When she is here, it will be safe for me to talk, yes.” There was an odd dignity to his words that overcame his hunched, nervous manners.
Grady returned to her office, troubled. If Bellish really had re-emerged, that might explain the troubling undercurrents circulating the ship, these days. It could be the hidden factor that she had suspected was stymying the Captain’s efforts to restore the quality of life on theEndurance.
How far had this stuff spread? And worse, how many people would die in horrifying agony before she got it back under control and off the ship?
Chapter Ten
Jackalyn’s alert popped up on Grady’s screen ninety minutes later.
Anny is here.
Grady made her way to the Civvie’s station. Anny Greenlaw sat on a narrow bench against the wall by the holding cells, her knees together and her feet skewed. Her hands were on her knees, held tightly together. Anny was in her fifties, with long chestnut hair that was her best feature. Her face was worn. And she looked afraid.
When she saw Grady, she got to her feet and hurried over to her. “Chief Read…will you tell me what is happening?”
“What did the Guards who brought you here tell you?”
“They said it was station business. Please…have I done something wrong?”
Grady rested her hand on the woman’s shoulder. “No, not at all. We were being obscure to avoid scaring you. Djuro Rim asked us to bring you here. I’m about to find out why. You wouldn’t happen to know that, would you?”
Anny looked genuinely startled. “Djuro ishere? I don’t understand…why would he be here? And asking for me?”
“That’s why we didn’t give you details before,” Grady said. “They just throw up more questions. Have a seat and I’ll see if I can get you some answers.”
Jackalyn leaned against the door to her office, with her arms crossed. She was a powerful woman, with well-muscled arms. Crossing them made her appear as though very little would overcome her.
She’d heard Grady’s voice. As Grady turned to head for the interview room, Jackalyn pushed off from the wall and arrowed in that direction, too. They reached the door together.
“Anny has no idea what’s going on,” Grady said. “Unless she’s faking it.”
“Not that woman,” Jackalyn said with flat certainty.
They stepped into the room.
Rim got to his feet. “Anny is here?”
“Yes,” Jackalyn said.
“I want to see her.”
“We talk, first,” Grady said.
“No, I want to see—”
“Sitdown.” Jackalyn’s voice was a whiplash.
Rim sagged into the seat, as if her voice had taken out his knees. He looked up at Jackalyn, his eyes a little wider than before.
