Elise laughed. “Thanks. I think he’s awesome, too.”
Diesel said in a low, urgent tone, “Okay. Elise Phoenix. Elise Phoenix. Elise Phoenix. Maybe if I keep chanting it, I’ll remember.”
“Good luck with that, old timer,” Cam said. “Elise, I’m sorry to lose such a good operative, but you have my sincere congratulations. When do you leave?”
“Well, I can stay until things are sorted in the roster. I certainly don’t want to leave you in a bind—”
Cam stopped her with an upheld hand. “I’m sure The Calderian is needed back on Alpha-Prime, and that you’re both eager to start your lives there together. Let me worry about the schedule. I’ll also make sure you have glowing references from me and our Fearless Leader here to take with you.”
Her cheeks colored and her eyes glistened with emotion. “Thanks, Cam. That means a lot to me.”
“Like I said, you’ll be missed. With your experience, you won’t have any trouble finding a suitable position on Alpha-Prime.” Uncomfortable, Cam looked at Diesel. “Now, back to why I’m even here on my day off. Have you seen Axel today?”
Diesel said, “Nope.” Elise shook her head.
So far, so good.“Did you know that theRoyal Caldera Fortehad to leave early?”
“Yep. I saw the memo. Something about a volcanic ash plume in space on the scheduled route, right?”
Cam nodded.
“Do I win something?” Diesel’s expression suddenly sobered. “Wait a minute. You took a day off? When a ship was docked in Alienn? What’s the matter with you?”
“Bite me, Diesel.” He expected his brother to mention something about the missing passenger, but he didn’t. “Axel had it covered.”Sort of, until he called me about the missing passenger and then the ship left without her.
Did Diesel know a passenger had been missing? Better not find out right now. He’d suck it up and speak to a hostile Axel before admitting anything like that to his eldest brother. A meeting of the council of elders might be called and a judgment rendered. And if anyone there found out where the missing passenger was—rustling up breakfast in Cam’s kitchen after spending the better part of a night and morning rolling around with him in bed—or that an imposter was now aboard the ship, he wasn’t certain what would happen.
Now he was back to discussing this matter with Axel. Diesel would give him a further rash of grief if he admitted to sleeping with or actively hiding the missing passenger.
He left Diesel, who laughed at him openly. Elise at least had good manners. She tried not to smile behind the fingers over her mouth, but her eyes were amused. Cam headed toward Axel’s office with the intention of leaving a note for his brother to call him. No such luck. He ran into Axel right outside his office door.
Axel’s eyes widened in surprise, but he snorted. “What are you doing here? I thought your sacred time off would keep you at home.” His brother was obviously holding a grudge. Cam sighed deeply and bore up to deal with this issue.
“Very funny. I was so exhausted that I went to bed and conked out the moment I got home.” Axel didn’t have to know what happenedbeforehe fell asleep. “I swear, I was only going to rest for a minute…and then you called and I wasn’t awake enough for a second conversation, either.”
“Oh?” Axel seemed to understand he wasn’t getting the whole story, but didn’t press. “What are you doing here now?”
Cam cleared his throat. “I’m here because of your earlier phone call.” This would be a good time to make nice with his brother. He did owe him.
“What about it?”
Cam rolled his shoulders to help relax his stiff posture. “I regret not helping you find the passenger.”
Axel crossed his arms and leaned a shoulder against the doorframe. “Really? You have regrets?”
“Yes. Really. I get it. You were doing me a favor by taking care of this situation even though it’s my day off. I should have been more considerate instead of going home to…take a much needed nap.”Eventually.
“Who are you? And what have you done with my brother, Cam?”
“Very funny.”
“Is this your way of saying you’re sorry?”
He shrugged. “Maybe.”
Axel grinned. “Okay. I graciously accept your thoughtful, totally sincere and totally regret-filled apology.”
“Don’t get crazy now.” Axel laughed and Cam knew he was forgiven. “So, tell me what happened with the missing passenger.”
