Alex, do you think that’s an impediment to her investigation?” She turned toward him, held his gaze.
He was in a bind. If he said yes, that would reflect badly on her. And while Jaguar didn’t give a rat’s ass if the gathered governors of all three Planetoids sneered at her, he didn’t want to give them any new excuses to do so.
“I think there’s better solutions,” he said. “For instance, you could have Durero transferred temporarily to Planetoid Three, let her work with him here.”
Take that, he thought. Now you’re in a bind. Unfortunately, one of them found a quick and dirty way out.
“That won’t work,” Richard said, “She can’t investigate without viewing the crime scene.”
“Then I’ll bring her to One, and we’ll take Durero back to Three,” Alex offered.
“You sound like you’re afraid to let her out of your sight,” Susan purred. “Is that a professional concern, or a personal one?”
He brought his gaze to hers and held it. Okay, he thought. Here it is.
People had gossiped about the two of them being lovers for as long as she’d been on Planetoid Three. In the past they’d both simply ignored it, but the gossip had recently become true, and there were rules against such interactions between Teachers and Supervisors. If anyone made a fuss they were up the creek. In the absence of paddles, he’d have to use his hands.
“Both,” he said. “Personally, I’m concerned at the tone I’m hearing about someone whose well-being I value. Professionally, I have prisoner programs to run, and she’s the best Teacher I’ve got, in case you’ve forgotten her success rate.”
“Nobody,” Susan said, “could ever forget what she’s done.” She counted on her fingers. “Blown up a shuttle, destroyed a VR site, helped a prisoner escape. That’s just her public record. Should I name the rumors, too?”
Soft laughter moved around the table. “You left out a few things,” Alex said. “Stopped an Apocalypse on the home planet, kept the Planetoid from being turned into a wasteland, uncovered an illegal moon-mining operation, and—let’s see, saved my life more than once, if that matters.”
The laughter quieted.
“Nobody’s questioning her talent,” Regina said. “We’re just trying to decide what to do with this case.”
Murmurs of assent followed. Alex sat back and drummed his fingers on the table, waiting for what came next.
“I think she should go to One and investigate,” Talek said, “since she’s so talented.”
Governor Karis spoke. “For the record, Talek, you’re suggesting that Dr. Addams engage in follow-up investigation on Planetoid One in the matter of Francis Durero and the murder of Diane Lasher. Is the rest of the group in favor of this?”
All hands raised in the affirmative except for his and Paul Dinardo’s. The others ignored Alex and turned to Paul. He cleared his throat and spoke. “I’m against it,” he said. Alex cast him a glance equally composed of gratitude and surprise.
“Why?” Susan asked, just as surprised.
“Let’s be honest,” he said. “We all know how she is. She’ll be pissed as hell if you send her, and either she won’t get a damn thing done or you won’t like what she comes up with. Believe me,” he added sincerely, “I’ve tried that kind of thing with her. It don’t work.”
“She has to do her job just like everyone else, doesn’t she?” Richard said sharply.
“Refusing would be grounds for dismissal, I’d think,” Karis added, sounding hopeful.
“For anyone else, yes,” Richard said, “but Dr. Addams often gets preferential treatment.” He looked hard at Alex.
“What’s that mean, Dick?” Alex asked, emphasizing the last word.
“My name is Richard,” he replied curtly.
“I’m being friendly. What’s it mean, Dick?”
“Just what I said.”
“Say it again,” Alex suggested. “This time in English.”
Richard puffed up his thin chest and pushed his narrow face toward Alex. “Everyone knows Dr. Addams crosses all lines of protocol, blatantly ignoring code, using methods only her Supervisor countenances, and she gets away with it because…” He paused. “Do you really want me to go on, Alex?”
“Yes,” he said distinctly. “I do. For the record.”
“I don’t,” Paul jumped in. “And neither does anyone else.”
Alex made a fist and hit it against the table. Everyone jumped except Regina.
“Let him talk, Paul,” he said. “I won’t be held hostage by innuendo and supposition.”
How, Alex wondered, would he respond when Richard said something about empaths always covering for each other? Of course they do because no one else will? Or what would he say when Richard asked point blank if he and Jaguar were lovers? Yes we are, and I’m damn proud she wants to be. And then what?
In this moment of white-hot rage, he didn’t care. He’d quit. Go to the home planet with Jaguar and have something like a real life. They’d always be welcome with her people in New Mexico. He stared at Richard, daring him to say what was on his mind.
Richard stayed quiet. Alex had a low-key demeanor which made people forget he was over six feet with a build to match, but those in the room who’d seen his rare displays of anger didn’t want to be on the receiving end. And regardless of how they viewed the empathic arts, everyone there knew he’d gone head to head with a Telekine and won. They didn’t want to mess with someone who could do that. Especially now, when they saw the anger flashing in his dark eyes.
Regina was the first to break the silence.
“This meeting,” she said firmly, “is about Francis Durero, not Supervisor Dzarny or Dr. Addams, both of whom have gone above and beyond their duty, risking their own lives more than once in service to this system. Everyone here knows that. And any question of professional misconduct is a serious matter to be dealt with through official channels, not casual slander. That,” she added, her voice full of reprimand, “is very bad form.”
The others looked down at their folders, away from Alex. Regina turned a reassuring face his way, but it didn’t matter. The main point was already lost.
“At any rate,” Susan said, speaking his thoughts, “she’s going to One. Right?”
“That seems to be the consensus,” Regina said hesitantly.
“What about backup?” Alex asked. “I could release a worker. Two workers. She should have someone there to help out.”
“Kind of you to offer,” Regina said, “but it’s not necessary. We’ll provide what she needs.”
The others nodded. Alex bit at the inside
