Read Online Varken Rise by Tracy Cooper-Posey - Free Book Online
Authors: Tracy Cooper-Posey
Tags: science fiction romance
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“Nicia may be at a loss to deal with a murder, but there are exceptional research laboratories here. We not only scrubbed for any biological traces, including DNA, prints and pheromones, we also took a bio-map image and sent it to other experts to analyze.”
“Are you trying to impress me, Mr. Rison, or do you have a point to make?”
“That was my point,” he said. “Initial analysis pointed toward a suspect, so we pressed on with far more advanced analysis to establish the results beyond doubt. In a situation like this, with so many political ramifications, it is important that no mistakes are made.”
Catherine just looked at him. She wasn’t going to prompt him to provide the kicker. She already knew what it was.
“Bedivere’s fingerprints were on the knife,” Rison said. “So was his DNA, as he thrust so hard that cells were transferred to the hilt. Every other biological trace we found is his or Mr. Rodagh’s. He didn’t try to cover up, or remove his traces.”
Catherine nodded. There was nothing to say.
Rison got to his feet. “Because of the passive tracking that you fortunately put into place, we know that the three of you are all completely innocent. That leaves no other suspect. I will be advising the gendarmerie to put out a warrant for Bedivere’s detainment. Under the circumstances, because of who and what he is, we will recommend the use of any force necessary.”
He nodded at them all pleasantly, as if this was a social call.
Catherine didn’t notice him leave. She didn’t notice Lilly sit beside her and pick up her hand, until Lilly squeezed it.
“I’m sorry,” Lilly said.
Catherine shook her head. “I don’t believe it.”
“You don’t believe he killed Kemp?” Brant asked.
She took her time answering. There were not many people whose good opinion she cared about. Brant and Lilly were among those few. “I will be deconstructing their analysis down to the pixel, to look for biases. If they are right, if they have been fair in their analysis, then it seems that Bedivere did kill Kemp. I just refuse to believe that he did it for the reasons they think he did.”
“They didn’t give any reasons,” Lilly pointed out.
“Yes, they did,” Catherine said.
“He’s recommending any force necessary,” Brant said. “That means they think that Bedivere will be violent. They think they have a rogue Varkan on their hands.”
Chapter Five
Nicia (Sunita II), Sunita System. FY 10.092
Catherine lost track of the days and nights that followed. She kept the artificial sunlight blazing in the common room, so even when it was dark outside, she didn’t notice.
Strangers tracked through the complex daily. She assigned the house AI to monitoring and granting entry as necessary. Nearly everyone who wanted access was associated with the gendarmes, or other Oceania authorities. It was simpler to just let them have their way.
She didn’t want to sleep. She didn’t want to see the empty bed. When she absolutely had to close her eyes, she curled up on the sofa. Once or twice, she asked Lilly to bring her a fresh change of clothes from her room. She refused to step inside the room herself.
For the same reason she stayed away from the office. The big empty chair sitting at the other desk was too much of a vivid reminder, just as the empty bed was.
The Oceania authorities managed to keep the news contained for a whole forty hours. Catherine knew the moment the news broke, because Connell sent her frantic message.
I just heard! Please, can I speak to you?
Catherine sent for Brant, then invited Connell to visit.
Connell appeared instantly, startling one of the gendarmes who were just passing through with his abrupt appearance. He moved toward Catherine as if he would either shake her or hug her. His arms were out at his sides, raising up in the air as if he did not know what else to do with them. “This is impossible! I don’t believe he did it.”
Brant arrived at that moment.
“Are you trying to impress me, Mr. Rison, or do you have a point to make?”
“That was my point,” he said. “Initial analysis pointed toward a suspect, so we pressed on with far more advanced analysis to establish the results beyond doubt. In a situation like this, with so many political ramifications, it is important that no mistakes are made.”
Catherine just looked at him. She wasn’t going to prompt him to provide the kicker. She already knew what it was.
“Bedivere’s fingerprints were on the knife,” Rison said. “So was his DNA, as he thrust so hard that cells were transferred to the hilt. Every other biological trace we found is his or Mr. Rodagh’s. He didn’t try to cover up, or remove his traces.”
Catherine nodded. There was nothing to say.
Rison got to his feet. “Because of the passive tracking that you fortunately put into place, we know that the three of you are all completely innocent. That leaves no other suspect. I will be advising the gendarmerie to put out a warrant for Bedivere’s detainment. Under the circumstances, because of who and what he is, we will recommend the use of any force necessary.”
He nodded at them all pleasantly, as if this was a social call.
Catherine didn’t notice him leave. She didn’t notice Lilly sit beside her and pick up her hand, until Lilly squeezed it.
“I’m sorry,” Lilly said.
Catherine shook her head. “I don’t believe it.”
“You don’t believe he killed Kemp?” Brant asked.
She took her time answering. There were not many people whose good opinion she cared about. Brant and Lilly were among those few. “I will be deconstructing their analysis down to the pixel, to look for biases. If they are right, if they have been fair in their analysis, then it seems that Bedivere did kill Kemp. I just refuse to believe that he did it for the reasons they think he did.”
“They didn’t give any reasons,” Lilly pointed out.
“Yes, they did,” Catherine said.
“He’s recommending any force necessary,” Brant said. “That means they think that Bedivere will be violent. They think they have a rogue Varkan on their hands.”
Chapter Five
Nicia (Sunita II), Sunita System. FY 10.092
Catherine lost track of the days and nights that followed. She kept the artificial sunlight blazing in the common room, so even when it was dark outside, she didn’t notice.
Strangers tracked through the complex daily. She assigned the house AI to monitoring and granting entry as necessary. Nearly everyone who wanted access was associated with the gendarmes, or other Oceania authorities. It was simpler to just let them have their way.
She didn’t want to sleep. She didn’t want to see the empty bed. When she absolutely had to close her eyes, she curled up on the sofa. Once or twice, she asked Lilly to bring her a fresh change of clothes from her room. She refused to step inside the room herself.
For the same reason she stayed away from the office. The big empty chair sitting at the other desk was too much of a vivid reminder, just as the empty bed was.
The Oceania authorities managed to keep the news contained for a whole forty hours. Catherine knew the moment the news broke, because Connell sent her frantic message.
I just heard! Please, can I speak to you?
Catherine sent for Brant, then invited Connell to visit.
Connell appeared instantly, startling one of the gendarmes who were just passing through with his abrupt appearance. He moved toward Catherine as if he would either shake her or hug her. His arms were out at his sides, raising up in the air as if he did not know what else to do with them. “This is impossible! I don’t believe he did it.”
Brant arrived at that moment.
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