Dark Matters_ Ghost Dance (Book 2) - Christie Golden [71]
One thing she had learned was that, according to Sharibor's team, their chief had not been able to decipher the code. She had gone, apparently unhappily, to report her failure to Jekri that evening.
Jekri had told them to cease their attempts and ordered the message completely wiped from the system. There were a few raised eyebrows at the order, but they complied. She checked a few hours later to make sure her order had been obeyed.
The message was gone, but the mysteries lingered.
Jekri had no family, so she did not have to worry about their being abducted or killed. There was the possibility that Lhiau's spies had traced her activities with the pro-Vulcan group, but if so, why had they not flaunted their knowledge and dragged her for-
ward as a traitor? She would have made it extremely convenient for them to accuse her.
And finally, most perplexing of all: Who was her unknown ally?
The imperial demand came as a shock.
Jekri was in her quarters, three different weapons within easy reach, when the door sounded.
She tensed, as she always did now. The fingers of her right hand closed on the disruptor. "Come," she called.
It was one of her centurions, who saluted briskly. "Honored Chairman!" he barked. "I have a message for you. It is marked for your eyes only."
Jekri tensed, but feigned nonchalance. "Put it on the table," she said, pretending to return to reading a report.
He saluted again-he was obviously one of the new recruits, young and full of a devotion to etiquette-and placed it down. Turning smartly, he left. The door hissed shut behind him.
Jekri licked her lips. She did not want to read this message. It wasn't logical, and no doubt young Tarya would frown in disapproval at her response, but somehow she knew this missive contained bad news.
Steeling herself for the worst, she picked it up and read.
Jekri Kaleh, nominally chairman of the Tal Shiar, is commanded to appear before the Empress tomorrow morning at dawn to answer charges of treason. The Romulan Right of Statement will be observed at this time.
The missive bore the electronic seal of the Empire. That meant the Empress herself had authorized it.
"No," Jekri whispered. "No, Empress, you cannot possibly..." Her voice trailed off.
Her worst fear had been realized. Lhiau had managed to convince the Empress and the Praetor of Jekri's guilt. What kind of evidence had he falsified, or had he even needed to do so? Had he not simply stepped into the Empress's lively mind and raped it, twisted it to his own ends?
She ordered Verrak to come to her quarters. When he entered, she thrust the missive at him. The healthy green bled from his face. His dark eyes met her silver ones over the missive.
"You must act quickly," he said.
She shook her head. "There is no time. And I am still chairman of the Tal Shiar, and a loyal Romulan. No, Verrak. I must go before the Empress. Perhaps she will listen to me."
The words sounded hollow in her own ears, and she saw their emptiness reflected on Verrak's stricken face.
It was not everyone, Jekri mused wryly, who had the opportunity to choose how they would face their own death. She wore her most formal uniform and placed every commendation she had ever been awarded on her left breast. No cosmetics for her. This was life-and-death business, regardless of the formality of the situation. Let them see the wrinkles just starting to appear around silver eyes that saw everything; let them observe the pallor