Neutral Space(44)

Kheda looked to me “I like her.”

Jeannie led us into her home and base of operations. She sat us down at her table and handed us each a beer. “What do you want, Jackson?”

“Information that only you can get us.” I twisted the bottle in my hand.

“What for?” Jeannie asked as she twisted off the top.

“We’re trying to stop the war.” I looked up at her.

“I think I hit you too hard.” She took a long drink.

“Kheda, show her the list.” Kheda looked to me concerned “We can trust her, I swear.” I said in Kelsairan.

“I may be MI, but Jackson and I go way back,” Jeannie added in Kelsairan. “You’re not the only one who knows that trick, Jackson.”

“Yes and Kheda knows all about us.”

“That’s history. When you disappeared, I had to find someone new.” She grinned. Kheda pulled the list out of a hidden inside pocket. Jeannie watched her the whole time. “God, Jackson; she’s my exact opposite.” I looked to Jeannie realizing she was right. Jeannie was shorter than Sarah with big breasts and behind. She was fit but much more curvaceous. Her hair was red, and her eyes were green. She was more like one of the guys. She wasn’t very feminine or graceful. Kheda was tall and lean with just enough curves to prove she was a woman. She was a trained killer but remained feminine despite her years in the army. Jeannie leaned down “How many times can you get those legs to wrap around you?”

“Jeannie.” She shrugged and took the list from Kheda. She looked over it a moment. “What the hell is going on?”

“That’s what we’re trying to figure out. We’re going to need as much info as you can safely give us and find us a safe place to work.”

“You can’t stay here,” Jeannie said growing concerned. “As a matter of fact, you have to leave before dinner. If Stephen finds you here, he’ll be pissed.”

“Stephen?” I asked.

“I told you I found someone new. Did you think I was joking and he doesn’t know about you?” She sat back in her chair.

“Jeannie, does he know about your work?”

“Only that I’m in the army.” She took another drink.

“Bad news.” I shook my head.

“Jackson, don’t lecture me.” She snapped. “I’ll help you, I swear, but not tonight. I have a safe house built into the cliff. Stay there tonight and come back in the morning.”

I sighed. It was her life though, “Jeannie, can you arrange a secure and untraceable channel?”

“Of course I can.” She snorted. “Who do you want to call?”

“Captain Armstrong,” I told her, and she shook her head.

“Just do it.”

“I’ll give you half an hour to get up there.” She said finally.

I found the safe house and deactivated its shield. I pulled the ship into the hanger and made my way further inside. It wasn’t as pleasant as Jeannie’s home. It was sterile and built for function. A bedroom was to the left, a kitchen to the right and workroom straight ahead. I went in and waited for Jeannie to patch the call through. I asked Kheda to remain in the shadows.

The monitor came up, and Captain Armstrong was surprised to see me. “Lieutenant Peterson?”

“Captain Armstrong, I’m glad to see you remember me.”

“Of course I do. Where are you?” He scoffed.

“No, my location is my business.” I shook my head.

“Lieutenant, we just need you to come in so we can straighten this whole mess out.” He explained.

“I’m not coming in, and there is no mess to straighten out.” I folded my arms over my chest.

“The Kelsairans have made heavy accusations against you.” He reasoned.

“That’s all they are too. Major Artemis Trekes is very much alive.” I tried to relax.

“Can you prove it?” He sounded hopeful.

“Major,” Kheda stepped out of the shadows and into view.

“This man has been wrongly accused of many things as have I. He was held in the Kelsairan prison Kras without your government’s knowledge for nearly nine months. It was there that we escaped.”

“You escape from Kras but how?” His brows shot up.

“That’s not important at the moment,” I told him.

He sighed. “You still have to come in. Some questions need to be answered. Not to mention you are considered AWOL.”

“That’s ridiculous. I was captured protecting my men.” I was getting angrier by the minute.

“But you should have reported back as soon as you escaped prison.” Captain Amstrong was disappointed.

“That really wasn’t an option.”

“Where are you?”

“Ask me one more time, and the conversation ends,” I warned him.

“What do you want?” He glanced at Kheda then me.

“Call off your men and the ridiculous wild goose chase. I can see it on your face that you know you were being used. They wanted to find me to get Trekes back.”

“But why?” He was frustrated.

“For the same reason, she was in prison, to begin with.”

“I don’t know if I can do as you ask.” He told me honestly.