The Captain of the Saratoga entered the room ready for
the party. She wore a black fitted dress that had a cage of lace over it. She
had her hair done up in a twist. A green jade charm on a gold chain hung around
her neck. "How does this look?" she asked McQueen.
'You know you look good in anything you put on," he
replied.
It wasn't exactly the response she wanted but then
that was all she had been getting for the past few weeks. McQueen had his dress
uniform on and was buttoning up the jacket.
"I wish we didn't have to go to this party. I have
something I need to talk to you about.'
"Well, you'll just have to grin and bear it," Kit said
sounding just a bit annoyed. "The crew wanted to throw an anniversary party for
us and I couldn't refuse them. After all we've been though this past year, I
thought it would give them some time to connect and get back into their duties
on a happier note."
Tyton buttoned the last button at his neck and then
ran his fingers around the collar to loosen it.
"I have to discuss something with you, Kit. You
haven't been free all day and I need to let you know that something's come up. I
have to leave the Saratoga this evening and go to Magna Roma."
"What do you mean, this evening? What's so important
that you have to leave when we've just gotten back onboard?'
Tyton recognized that tone of voice and he couldn't
blame her. There was nothing he could do but tell her and hope for the best.
"I just received a message from Angela. She's asked me
to help with a problem that has come up concerning her husband. She believes I
can help and I said I would."
Kit began pacing back and forth across the room. She
struggled to get a hold of her temper before she spoke.
"Angela? Your ex-wife, Angela?"
He nodded.
"I don't understand you, Tyton. I can't believe that
you would drop everything and run off to help your ex-wife in any
situation. You've been divorced for ten years and have had no contact with her
in all that time. What would possess her to call on you now?"
He reached to take hold of her hands, but Kit pulled
away. "I can't tell you what it's about, Kit. I can only tell you that it is
very important that I go. "
Kit turned her back to him
'You know very well Tyton; the Saratoga will be
leaving in two weeks for Magna Roma. We have to deliver troop replacements and
pickup replacements for the fighters we lost. Why can't you wait until then?
We'll be there and you can take care of whatever it is."
She turned to face him once again.
"It can't wait, Kit. I don't have the time to play
with. I must leave tonight. "
He hated to have this argument just before the party,
but he had no choice.
"Look, everything should be taken care of in two
weeks. You can pick up the shuttle and me when you arrive."
Kit's eye's flashed with anger.
"Damn it, Tyton, I don't know what's going on in that
head of yours but you'd better get your priorities straightened out. You keep
putting a wedge between us and one of these days there'll be no fixing it. I'm
at my wits end trying to understand you. "Kit ran her hand across her hair to
make sure it was still held together."I won't disappoint my people. Are you
coming?"
"Yes, of course. I'll be leaving in two hours though,"
he almost whispered.
She turned and headed for the door. "Do what you will,
Tyton. You always do! "
The USS Saratoga had smoothly slipped into
geosynchronous orbit above the capital city of Magna Roma less than three hours
before. She had covered the parsec distance from Third Fleet Headquarters in
record time at Warp 9. Captain Donaree had ordered top speed for the duration of
the trip. The Captain claimed she wanted to test the warp drive repairs made
during stand down, but Dr. Chris Johnson suspected otherwise. Chris was on her
way to Kirks Folly to confirm her opinion.
She and the Captain had a very long session after Kit
and Tyton returned from Trinity Island on Aldebaran. The rift between the two
was growing wider and Tyton's sudden departure for the home of his ex-wife had
made Kit look at the separation as his solution to their problems.
Chris knew the Captain had not heard from her husband
except for one brief message, two weeks before. It simply stated he had arrived
safely. The Captain had received a private message from the Magna Roma
authorities when the ship entered orbit. No one had seen the Captain since then
and the content of the message was a matter of much speculation.
The doors of the popular crew lounge slid open to
reveal a large room brightly lighted to reflect the midmorning hour of 1000. The
interior had been redecorated during the stand down in the most recent popular
style, Ardanan Stratos. The room was sparsely populated, but the officer she was
seeking was there. LT Diana Varro was standing near a window table, with the
planet visible below. As she crossed the distance between them, Chris formulated
her questions.
"Lieutenant, might I have a word with you?"
As Varro turned and faced her, Chris observed the
young officer had a miserable look on her face.
"Certainly doctor, but I am meeting with the Captain
at 1030 in her ready room."
"I won't keep you, then. I just wondered if you had
enjoyed your leave. I thought you weren't expected back for a few more days and
was surprised to see you."
The young woman across from her gave Chris a crooked
smile and said, "That's true, but this morning at 0730 the Captain contacted me
and ordered me to report aboard immediately. I suppose she realized her call had
awakened me, and told me to report to her at 1030 instead."
Chris sat down at the table and indicted for Diana to
sit also. "I know LT Jun'o accompanied you on leave. As officers representing
the Federation, on a planet seeking admittance, I would have hoped your behavior
would be exemplary. You two didn't get into any trouble did you?"
For her efforts, Chris received another crooked smile.
"Of course not sir. It's really.... not for me to say, sir…"
Chris continued to stare at the Lieutenant in her most
withering senior officer manner, and it worked like a charm.
'What I mean to say, Commander, you being the ship's
counselor and the story all over the news media…"
"Get on with it Lieutenant!"
"Colonel McQueen has been arrested for the murder of
Richard Hardy, his ex-wife's husband. Mr. Hardy's body was found in his home
brutally stabbed. The servants discovered the body draped over a rather erotic
statue of Cupid and Psyche early last Monday morning."
"But why is the Colonel suspected?" Chris just
couldn't believe the "Iceman" capable of such a crime of passion. It was
ridiculous.
"Mrs. Hardy reported her husband and the Colonel had a
violent quarrel earlier that evening. The Colonel was staying at their home and
had begun drinking heavily. I'm sorry Commander, but I really have to be
leaving."
"Certainly, I won't detain you further. Thank you for
the information," Chris ended the conversation mechanically. As LT Varro left
Kirk's Folly, Chris watched the retreating figure and thought to herself she
didn't envy the Lieutenant her upcoming interview.
The woman who entered her office was petite in
stature. She wore a very expensive looking dress and her brown hair was done in
a fancy coiffure. Every inch of her spelled money. What really caught
your attention when you looked at this woman were her eyes. They were large,
brown and soulful. Eyes that spoke of innocence.
No wonder Tyton called her ‘Angel’, Captain
Donaree thought. But, her years in the military had taught Kit that looks were
sometimes deceiving. She believed that this woman was just such a case. "Please
have a seat, Mrs. Hardy. What is it that you wanted?"
"Well, first of all, let me thank you for seeing me. I
know you must be quite upset and worried about Colonel McQueen. I feel that it's
entirely my fault, this mess he's in. I should have never asked for his help."
She blinked her long eyelashes and sighed. "I was wondering if I could speak
with him a moment. I'm not family but I thought that with you being his wife,
you could arrange a meeting."
Kit leaned back in her chair. This interview was
proving to be even more interesting than she thought it would be. "I don't
understand your concern for Colonel McQueen, Mrs. Hardy. After all, he is
accused of killing your husband."
Angela Hardy shifted positions in her chair. "Although
it has been several years since I've seen Tyton, we were very much in love at
one time. I still have warm thoughts of him. When I heard his ship was coming to
Roma ... well… I trust his judgment. Richard needed some help of a private
nature and I thought of Tyton."
"I see."
Beneath the center drawer of the captain's desk was a
small red button. Kit pressed if, turning on the hidden recording device in the
desk's interior
"Do you believe Colonel McQueen murdered your husband,
Mrs. Hardy?"
I just can't believe he killed Richard. That's just
not the man I remember."
"You're testifying for the prosecution. Surely you
told them of your beliefs."
"I wasn't there when Richard was killed. All of the
evidence points to Tyton. I can’t say whether he did or didn't kill my husband.
I do know they had a quarrel that day. There was a great deal of tension between
them afterwards. I don't know what it was all about though. Richard was killed
before I could find out. I can only say I don't believe Tyton did it. As for
testifying, I have no choice I was subpoenaed."
Kit picked up a piece of jade she kept on her desktop.
She liked the cool smooth feel of it. She had a habit of rubbing the surface of
the stone when she was thinking. She sat the jade down. "I must admit I was a
little curious why you asked my husband for help after so many years."
"I can only repeat that I trusted Tyton and knew he
would help if he could. Tyton was a good husband to me. I felt sorry that I hurt
him. I think we've always had a connection even though I haven't seen him in
years. Lovers never forget that special time when they meet and make love for
the first time." The comment stung the captain.
"What business was your husband in?" Kit asked,
abruptly changing the subject.
"Artifacts. He sold artifacts from many different
planets. It is a very good business. We live rather well."
Kit cleared her throat. She didn't like this woman.
She kept getting the feeling that Angela was here for some other reason than
wanting to see Tyton.
"Mrs. Hardy, I only know that Colonel McQueen is
charged with murder. I know he didn't do it. I believe that with all my heart
and I will do everything I can to prove it. But, he has been reticent about what
happened can you shed any light on this?"
"No, I can't. I'm sure though if I can see him he'll
open up to me. We had a long talk when Tyton arrived a few weeks ago. I think we
became closer. I hesitate to be so blunt, Captain Donaree, but I know the kind
of marriage you and Tyton have. He told me all about your relationship. What do
you think you can do? It appears to me that I'm the only one that can help him."
There were sparks in those lovely brown eyes now. Kit
absentmindedly picked up the jade piece again.
"I have a very busy day ahead of me, Mrs. Hardy. There
is no way that I can get you in to see Colonel McQueen. Due to the
circumstances, I don't think I want you to see the Colonel. Now, if you don't
mind, this conversation is over."
Kit rose from her chair. The expression on Angela
Hardy's face was one of pure malice.
"Yes. . . well ... please tell Tyton if there is
anything I can do…"
"Personally Mrs. Hardy, I think you've done enough."
Kit pointed to the door. Angela stood and slowly
walked over to the door. She turned and faced the captain.
'You know, Captain, in our conversation you haven't
called your husband by his first name once. Do you like referring to his lesser
rank? Perhaps you enjoy ordering him around. It must be some power trip for you
when the two of you are alone. Isn't it unsatisfying for you to be married to
someone that doesn't love you?" Her lips parted just enough to sneer.
Kit leaned over the desk. Her eyes flashed in anger.
"Angel, that is what my husband used to call you,
isn't it? Well, Angel, let me tell you something. I do love my husband. I'm
putting you on notice right now that I will be investigating this murder charge
very carefully. I won't give up until my husband is free. I think you know more
than you're telling me. I'm going to be in your face until I find out what it is
you're hiding. If I find out that you are involved in this mess, I'll personally
see to it that your ass is put away. Now get off my ship!"
Once the doors slid shut behind Angela Hardy, Kit
threw the piece of jade against the far wall. It broke in two.
"Bitch!" She whispered under her breath. "Damn it, why
won't Tyton confide in me? He's protecting someone, I'm almost certain." She hit
the comm. button on her desk.
'I want all department heads in the ready room in ten
minutes. Colonel Floss, I would like you present also."
Kit sat back in her chair staring at nothing. Her
feelings had changed toward her husband. She realized she did love him, more
than she was willing to admit.
Kit had seen COL Tyton McQueen in about every
situation possible. She had imagined him in many others that were best left
unmentioned. However, the last place she ever expected to see him was
incarcerated behind a force field on Magna Roma and accused of murder!
"Sane people will do just about anything to avoid
celebrating an anniversary," Kit said as she walked over to stand in front of
the small holding cell
"I told you that I didn't want you to get involved."
His voice sounded as rough as he looked.
"Funny, but somehow I feel compelled to at least find
out what's going on when I'm told my husband is accused of murder."
"It has nothing to do with you," Tyton said. His voice
sounded cold and flat.
"Nothing to do with me? For God's sake, Tyton, I'm
your wife! The least you can do is to tell me what the hell is going on here."
Getting to his feet, Tyton walked across the small
space between them and came to stand in front of her. Kit's fingers ached to
reach out and touch him, hold him.
"Go back to your ship, Kit," he said in that
infuriatingly calm voice of his. "I can handle things down here."
"Yes, I can see by your present success," she said.
Her voice dripped with sarcasm. "Heaven forbid you should accept help from me.
You might have to actually relate to me, or worse yet, come out from behind that
wall you hide behind and act like you give a damn about me or anything else in
your life."
"I'm not going to get into this with you now, Kit.
Just let me handle things and then we'll talk."
"You know Tyton, if you keep pushing me away like
this, one of these days you're going to find me gone. I won't live like this!
I'm tired of feeling like a stranger in my own marriage."
"Just give me time to straighten this all out, Kit,
and I promise you that we'll talk."
She stared into those haunting blue eyes of his, and
was lost. She couldn't walk away from him. Damn it, she loved this stubborn,
emotionally scarred man she called her husband. After taking several deep
breaths, Kit finally felt calm enough to speak again.
"I had a visitor today," she began. "It seems as
though your first wife feels that she alone can get you out of this situation."
"Angela came to see you?"
"Right before I came here. She's almost as determined
as you are that I don't get involved in this situation."
"She told you to stay out of it?"
"In spades," Kit said. "It only increased my desire to
do the exact opposite. I told her I would be using every iota of power my
position in Starfleet allowed, to mount my own investigation."
"No!"
Kit actually took a step back from the force field.
Tyton finally was showing some emotion and it was barely restrained fury. She
had never seen him so angry before.
"I forbid you to do any such thing," he shouted.
"You forbid me?" Kit asked with a brittle laugh. "How
absolutely fascinating. You finally get around to assuming some husbandly duties
and the first one you pick is some archaic one that assumes you have a right to
tell me what to do."
She turned and started to walk away. When she got to
the door, she turned around for one final look. Tyton still stood at the front
of the cell. Their eyes met for a split second and the despair she saw there
nearly overwhelmed her.
"Don't do it Kit, please! Just let me take care of
it," he quietly pleaded.
She turned and walked out. Something stinks about this
whole thing, Kit thought as she headed out into the bright sunshine on Magna
Roma. And, in spite of what Tyton said, she was going to get to the bottom of
this.
