Ethan had gone back to his prisoner, but now he was handing him over to one of Pamela’s people.
He moved back to stand beside her.
“If Nostrada wasn’t already dead, he is now,” she said as she took in the blackened, shattered mess that was the third floor windows of Nostrada’s apartment.
Ethan looked over at her. “He was dead already. I don’t think Ferris would have implicated him if he had any chance of contradicting the crap Ferris was trying to shovel at us.”
She didn’t know why that was a relief, but the idea of Nostrada, someone she’d dealt with often, an administrator who’d worked in her department, being blown up while he was still alive, was not good. He was most likely a traitor, but he’d deserved a fair trial.
“I assume you want to inspect the apartment?” Pamela Ingot joined them.
“Yes.”
Ethan spoke at the same time as she did, so they answered together.
“My people will need at least a few hours to clear the scene. Can you do something else for a while and come back?” Pamela put her hands on her hips and looked upward. “The building will have to be cleared and the structural damage assessed as well.”
“I have other things to keep me busy in the meanwhile,” Velda assured her.
Ethan shot her a quick look. “Like?”
She lifted a brow. “Official things.”
His lips quirked. She almost missed it but she was sure he had suppressed a grin.
“Good.” Pamela pulled out her comms unit as it warbled. “I’ll let you know when we’re done.”
She strode away, and Velda watched her wade into a group of uniformed Protection Unit officers and start issuing orders.
“What are you going to do?” Velda turned to find Ethan checking out the crowd.
He swung his gaze back to hers, held it. “I’m coming with you.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I told you, you’re not my bodyguard.”
He shrugged. “I am now.”
3
Velda didn’t poutwhen she didn’t get her way. Ethan liked that about her.
She accepted his company, even though it was clear she didn’t like the idea that he might be in harm’s way on her account.
Even if his breath didn’t catch in his throat at odd moments when she smiled at him or lifted her eyebrows in that way she had, he would have made sure she was safe. She was the Head of Defense for the planet, after all.
They travelled up to the Planetary Admin offices in the lift, but before the door pivoted open, he pressed the button to keep them closed.
“What’s the plan?” he asked.
She sighed and rubbed her temples, pushing back her heavy, dark hair and tucking it behind her ears. “I want to search Henry Nostrada’s office. I sealed it when I was up here earlier and discovered he hadn’t come in today. I also want to question some of the staff who interacted with him. Someone surely picked up something odd about his behavior.”
He nodded, and hit the open button. That sounded like a good use of their time, and he could watch her back as she stirred the pot and tried to flush out any witnesses or co-conspirators.
They stepped into a hushed foyer that smelled good and was lush with green plants and the tinkle of a water feature.
Velda strode toward the reception desk, and Ethan saw the expression of the receptionist change from bored disinterest to panic at the Head of Defense moving with such focus toward him.
He was on his feet before she reached his desk.
