Page 53 of Redstone
Tamara was directed to sit down in front of a stocky, red-haired woman with what seemed like a naturally grim expression. “I’m Commander Grace Grave,” she said without ceremony as soon as her man had backed up. “Warden of Caravan Penitentiary, currently acting-warden of Redstone.”
“I’m Tamara Carson, President Alexander’s liaison here.”
Warden Grave’s eyes narrowed. “Overseeing his brother’s incarceration.”
“As best I could,” Tamara allowed.
“Yes. Warden Harrison didn’t make things easy. Don’t bother to look for him,” she added as Tamara twitched. “He’s currently in solitary confinement and will be until I get to the bottom of the mess he’s made of things here.”
“Ma’am?”
“It’s nothing for you to concern yourself with.” Warden Grave’s voice was as hard as a diamond. “Now. We’re going to go over the log of your activities since your appointment here, and you’re going to correct any discrepancies between what the computer recorded and your own recollection of your time here. You’re also going to answer any questions about your conduct that I choose to ask. Clear?”
“Is that legal?”
Warden Grave smiled coolly. “This prison is currently under system-designated martial law thanks to so many cockups I can’t even fit them all into my implant. According to President Alexander’s own rules, that means I have full autonomy to act in the best interest of this facility and its vulnerable population. So yes, your cooperation is both legal and requiredby circumstance. Any prevarication can and will be met with suspicion of collaboration, and subsequent isolation until a lawyer can be brought to you. Clear?”
Amazing. Tamara had finally met a scarier version of Sir. “Translucent.”
“Good.” The warden proceeded to detail every time Tamara had opened or shut her door in the weeks—had it truly been just over two standard weeks? Was that even possible? —that she’d been there, asking Tamara to explain her actions. She’d replied calmly, and for the most part it was very simple. The questions didn’t get complicated until the very end.
“You briefly shared a room with a man named Wyl Sinclair, just before the riot alarm went off. What did you speak about?”
“Not much.” That was regrettably true. “He seemed very concerned about someone called Robbie. There was a bot; I think he’d done something to customize it … It rolled off at top speed, and that was when he got concerned.”
Warden Grave pursed her lips. “And did you see this man or his bot again?”
“No, he left shortly after that … Is he okay?”
“I have no idea, as he isn’t here anymore.”
It all crystallized in Tamara’s mind.Oh, Wyl. “And Kyle Alexander?” Tamara pressed daringly. “My employer hasn’t been able to tell me if he’s still incarcerated here or not.”
Warden Grave looked at her in silence for a moment, her folded hands tightening minutely. Finally, she shrugged. “I suppose you need to hear this, and it might as well be from me. No, Kyle Alexander is no longer in Redstone. The circumstances of his removal are completely opaque. There are two ships missing from this bay, and one of them belongs to Wyl Sinclair’s husband, who’s also missing. The other was broken into. We’re looking for them, but Redstone’s tracking systems are completely offline.”
Two ships … who had the other one?“Who else escaped?” Tamara asked.Please be Magpie, please be Magpie …
“I have no more information for you at this time, Miss Carson, and no more need for you. The embargo on arrivals and departures will be lifted soon, so I suggest you ask your patron for a lift out of here.” Warden Grave looked back down at the small screen in front of her, and Tamara took her dismissal and left. At least this time she wasn’t escorted.
Demarcos was waiting for her outside her door. “You talked to Grave?” She nodded. “Kyle is gone.”
“I know.”
“Tell me you know where he is.” The strain in Demarcos’ voice hurt Tamara’s heart. “Tell me he’s still alive.”
It was time to read him in. Tamara led the way into her room, locked the door behind them, and sat down on the edge of her bed, pulling her disassembled communicator to her. “I think he’s alive,” she told Demarcos.
“Where is he, then? What happened to him; what’s going on?”
“Before I can answer any of that, you need to talk to someone. And before I can let you do that, I have to know you’re not going to …”Betray me. “Talk about this to anyone else. Because what you’re about to hear could be construed as high treason, and I don’t want to bring you into that unless you’re prepared for the consequences.”
“Do you always talk in fucking riddles?” Demarcos asked bitterly before shaking his head. “Fine. I don’t care what’s behind it, I want to know what’s happening to Kyle. And you can trust me, you know you can. Have I failed to cover for you yet?”
“No,” Tamara admitted, her fingers automatically seating parts and turning pieces until they fit together. “You haven’t. Don’t start now.” She pushed the linkage that should connect her to Admiral Liang.
“What are you …” Demarcos went silent as the communicator lit up.
“Hummingbird, are you all right?”
