The morning light thru the window woke Marcus, and as he opened his eyes he saw Veronica sitting on a chair next to the bed.
“You’re awake.” she said hardly turning.
“Yea.” he struggled to get up on one elbow.
“You were having nightmares again.”
“Was I? I don’t remember them.”
“You kept calling out “Liars…Liars.”
“I can’t remember.”
She got up and stood at the end of the bed smiling, her hair cascading down her breasts. “Every night since our trip. You should see someone.”
“All I need is right before me.”
“Get dressed. I understand its safe to travel again. I need to get to Dexter and you need to check in on Oz.” she spun around and tossed on a robe, leaving Marcus disappointed that the morning would not end in a tryst.
She was correct however. The nightmares came every night. Vague images of beautiful people, but people leaving him with an overwhelming feeling of deceit. What Veronica had not shared, was that she was having the same nightmares. But before she confided in Marcus she wanted to talk with her therapist..
Breakfast was a cup of coffee and a bit of bread shared in silence. When they finished she walked him to the driveway.
“You’ll come by tomorrow?” she asked.
He kissed her gently. “Yes. Or you could come to the club tomorrow night. Raven is suppose to have several new songs.”
“Ricks it is then.” she kissed him one last time and returned to the mansion.
As he drove his Zephyr to the space port he worried about what he would find at Governors station. It had been almost 2 weeks since he had check in on Cassandra. The business would be fine he was sure. It was what kind of intelligence she had gathered he wondered.
***
After docking at Governors Station the maintence crews swarmed over the “Last Chance”, the lead man waving at Marcus as he left the hatch.
“Glad to see you back Mr. Dinn.”
He only smiled and waved. Fifteen minutes later he sat out side the entrance to Oz watching the foot traffic. The Station was bustling with activity, what with the danger from the Orb under control. Presently Cassandra came walking down the Promenade and spotted Marcus sitting in a grouping of benches.
“Surprise inspection?” she asked as she came up.
Marcus looked up and marveled at his reaction to her. Normally human males were uncontrollably aroused by the presence of an Orion woman. As he had indeed been when he hired her. But now. Now there was only professional respect. What had Veronica done to him?
“No inspection.” He said getting up. “Just well past due to touch base.”
They started for the club.
“Anything of interest?” he asked as they made their way down the narrow entrance hall.
“Not much. What with the recent crisis.”
She walked behind the bar and began checking things. “However, there were two Romulan men hanging about the last couple of days. Looked very out of place.”
Marcus went to a computer terminal and started working. Presently he pulled up a few romulan faces from the security tapes. Cassandra looked over his shoulder, nearly pressing against him.
“That one.” she said pointing. “And him”
Marcus began a facial recognition search against his files. Cassandra was slow to step back and let her hand brush his arm as she did.
It took a minute and then Marcus leaned back against the counter. “First man…no matches. Second man .. Works for T’Ros.”
Cassandra looked up at Marcus. “Any reason T’Ros is keeping tabs on you?”
“None I can think of “ Marcus lied.
Cassandra gave him a mean look. “Just tell me its none of my business, but don’t con me Marcus.
He raised an eyebrow and sighed. “We have a history.”
“Really…? Does she know you have a History? Or does she think you still have a thing going on?”
Marcus stepped from behind the counter and started for the office without answering.
“I would suggest you be very careful with the affections of a Romulan… they don’t take rejection very well.” she called out as the door closed between them.
“Bet little Miss Harringer doesn’t know about this either.” she muttered under her breath.
Off:
Marcus Dinn
Owner of RICKS and Oz
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Federation
Veronica Harringer
CEO and Chairman of the Board
Dexter Industries
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Federation
Cassandra
Manager of Oz
Governors Station
Phoenix Federation
