Chapter 56: Grieselda

“We’ve got him.” Grieselda paced the length of the lieutenant’s office. “We got him, we finally got him.”

She gestured animatedly as she spoke. The morning sunlight from the floor to ceiling windows casting dancing shadows with her excited form.

“And he’s dirtier than we initially thought.” She snapped her head toward the lieutenant mid stride. “No, he’s beyond dirty, he’s a fucking traitor, an agent in disguise.”

Grieselda let loose a humourless laugh and continued pacing up and down the office. “All this time he pretended to chase them but he was secretly protecting them but we got him. I got him,” She ranted, still hype from her find.

“Got who?” The lieutenant asked with a frown.

Grieselda swivelled sharply to meet his gaze.

“What do you mean who? My assignment, the captain, Captain Ray Dawn Zappa.”

The lieutenant’s frown deepened. Like she’d said something she shouldn’t have. Something was very wrong. Did he know about how she came into this evidence? Would it be inadmissible in court?

‘No, I’m safe. I covered all my tracks. It was just a happy coincidence and even if anyone believes otherwise they won’t be able to prove it.’

But the lieutenant’s behaviour was odd, also.

“Where’s mentor, I’ve been trying to get a hold of him since last night? He will want to see my findings ASAP?”

The lieutenant’s expression was abnormally solemn.

“I’m not sure,” he said. “Show me what evidence you’ve found?”

Grieselda squinted at him. She didn’t like the vibe he was exuding but she obeyed. She whipped out the documents she’d stolen— No, the documents she stumbled upon in the captain’s apartment while responding to an accident whilst coincidentally visiting his apartment.

“Look,” she said spilling the papers over the large executive desk. The documents were all labelled to a shell company called KompTec. The documents consisted of business portfolios, accounting spread sheets and most importantly the captain’s name on the ownership papers.

Grieselda pulled out her communicator showed a photo of a list of company names. She pointed to the one called KompTec.

“I got this list from BioWear,” she said. “They suspected that one of these companies had planted a Trojan in their database which was how the agents pulled off the BioWear heist.”

The lieutenant had an ugly expression as if she was delivering the most unbelievable news.

“We have him tied to this shell company, I’ve checked the accounting it’s fraudulent. It exists in name only and we have them tied to the BioWear heist. We have him. If were lucky maybe the twins can get him to confess to the other heists as well. Case closed.”

The lieutenant gathered the documents, stacked them neatly together and slid them back to her.

“Grieselda, you should sit on this until we understand last night’s changes.”

“Changes?”

“Yes, last night—”

The office door buzzed and sliced open without a prompt from the lieutenant.

The Governor General Benn Bachman strode in. Draped in a simple black suit. His double peaked bald head reflecting the light.

At the governor’s hip was some female in a black skirt suit with a tablet in hand.

The lieutenant shot up and performed a sharp salute. Grieselda did the same with similar precision.

“At ease,” the governor said.

The dropped their salutes but remained at attention.

“You,” Grieselda muttered.

Eyes stared in disbelief at the short dark skinned woman accompanying the governor. Who was none other than the captain’s minion.

“Me?” The short woman pointed to herself.

“The governor’s secretary,” the lieutenant said.

“Secretary?” Grieselda muttered under her breath.

Her lips quivered.

‘Shorty’s no secretary. She’s the captain’s lackey.’

Her gaze flicked to the movement behind the governor and the short woman.

Trailing behind them were two droids and someone in a gold and black uniform, the same uniform she accustomed with her mentor rather the Lord Protector but she instantly knew it wasn’t Lord Murakami.

This person was sluggish in his approach, his body malnourished, skull like features and the dark ringed uneven eyes she was too familiar with.

“Captain?” She said.

“It’s Lord Protector now,” he yawned.

She stood frozen then shook her head.

Grieselda, you should sit on this until we understand last night’s changes.

“No, No, No, No…”

She seized her documents and sprung to the governor but Lancer and Guardian flashed forward and intercepted her.

“Sir!” She raised the documents over the two droids blocking her path. “That man is a traitor! Her too!”

The words chilled the room.

“I don’t know what he did to come into your service but he is not to be trusted.”

The governor glanced back at the captain who shrugged unworried.

“I have evidence,” Grieselda said.

The captain’s expression darkened and she sneered at him victoriously.

“Ray Dawn, move your machines,” the governor said.

Lancer and Guardian parted for her. The governor motioned for the documents and she handed them to him along with a lengthy explanation of how all this incriminated the captain.

She trained her eyes on the captain, remained alert to his droids in case he tried to flee or take the governor hostage.

The governor took his time perusing the documents.

“These documents have been falsified,” the governor said with unquestionable finality.

Grieselda’s mind shook and for moment she thought she’d misheard him.

“No, sir it can’t be—”

“Question is,” the governor cut her off. “Were you the one to falsify them? All to tarnish the good name of my new Lord Protector.”

She watched dumfounded as he passed the documents to Guardian.

“Sir! He’s an agent! Her too!” Grieselda stepped forward with unfocused eyes but Lancer moved to intercept her again.

“Please listen, you’re in danger sir. This is all part of the AoF’s plan. They aren’t in league with the other barbarian clans, they never wanted war, they want to infiltrate the government and secretly take control.”

“I’ve heard enough of this,” the governor said. “Ray Dawn, arrest her.”

Her heart palpitated. Her gut wrung. Her body was heavy. Why didn’t he believe her? Why was the law she held so dear betraying her?

‘I was tasked with investigating him for heavensake.’

Now that she thought about it, how someone with Ray Dawn’s lowly resume had even got the position was mind boggling.

‘The AoF’s infestation of the government is deeper than I imagined.’

“Sir please,” Grieselda said. “You have to believe me. I promise you I’m not lying. My mentor can vouch for me— No, better yet, I’ll take a lie detector.”

She said hopefully but the governor’s eyes remained cold to her pleas, too cold.

‘Just like Wifey…The synthetic droid…Don’t tell me…’

“You’re not the governor,” Grieselda muttered with wide hazel eyes. She whipped round to the lieutenant. “Listen to me! It’s the syn—”

Lancer threw a hand over her mouth and its other hand wrapped around her waist. Guardian quickly followed up and injected her with something.

“I think we’ve entertained her conspiracy theories long enough,” the captain said. “Aiy, Rafinya?”

“Yes sir,” the lieutenant said. He seemed sceptical but not sceptical enough to help her.

“Coward,” Grieselda snorted. She thrashed but Lancer had her firm and whatever they gave her was working fast.

Her head lolled back within Lancer’s embrace and she met the captain’s skewed gaze as her eyes faltered. In that moment she knew that he had always known about her assignment or always suspected despite how welcoming he acted. The governor’s sudden visit probably wasn’t a coincidence either. He must’ve noticed the missing documents and he’d come to shut her up.

She expected that triumphant thin smile of his.

But he gave her a worse look, an unforgivable look.

He pitied her.

He pitied her, in his own deluded way he felt sorry for her or perhaps it was disappointment in his eye, disappointed she never got round to fully thinking like he did and joining his side like Shenko had. All to become one of his agents so she could also be exploited for his great plans.

Grieselda tried to say something but her tongue had gone numb.

With great effort, she did manage to flail a hand into the air.

She slowly wound up her middle finger.

And remained defiant till the bitter END.