"Sure, I can do that. Don't look so worried. Trust me, Blayze can take care of himself."
The same receptionist was at the desk when Belle arrived at the center. Neither woman was happy to see the other.
"Not you again," the receptionist exclaimed. "Listen, I had enough of an ass kicking from my boss yesterday for being rude to the CIA. Don't cause me trouble. I just want to finish this week's shift and go home. Blayze isn't here. You should know since the video logs show he left with you."
"They don't show him returning?" Belle asked.
"Of course not. Why would they? He doesn't come here unless it's a necessity. I wouldn't either, despite the amenities. He could live here in luxury, yet he chooses freedom. It makes me tingle with pride."
It had been a long shot. Belle had gotten the same impression of Blayze's attitude, especially since he'd learned his movements were tracked. "I left my uniform in the locker room," she told the receptionist. "Can I go get it or do you think I'll do something you don't like?"
"Go wherever you please. It's nothing to me. There are no weredragons here to protect today. There seldom is. As long as I get paid, who gives a crap?"
So much for our tax dollars buying the best employees, Belle thought. She hurried to the locker room and grabbed the wrinkled uniform. She'd drop it at a cleaning station and pick it up on the way back to the hotel. As long as she was inside the liaison center, she'd take a quick look around. She actually believed the receptionist, but maybe she'd find a clue as to where Blayze had gone.
Empty lockers hung open showing their shiny, clean interiors. The closed ones had names over the lock controls. Fingerprints were required to open them; only the programmed owners would work. She found Blayze's name, but his locker was open and empty. It had been recently cleaned by the staff; not a smudge remained. Opening every unlocked door, and there were a lot, she found nothing.
Without a clue where to go next, she exited the building. An idea struck just as her COM link sounded. In frustration, she answered. "Good morning, sir. What can I do for you today?"
"You sound awfully cheerful for someone who's on my shit list. Somehow, you managed to tell the Talonians more than they told you! Some of it was classified. Who gave you permission? It certainly wasn't me," the director yelled.
"You told me to ease information out of the weredragon and soften the blow on the king. I had to give him facts in order to do that. You never said he couldn't be told. It's only fair that they know what they're being accused of," Belle argued.
"Not anymore. From now on, Maxxus is to be told nothing. We have intelligence reports that say dragon fire spread the biologic. Both of the dead weredragons are being taken apart and inspected as we speak. I told you they were responsible. We also have reason to believe the Chinese stock exchange is targeted. Why, we're not sure. I think they want to screw up the economy. There's more, rumors only, that claim the oil rigs are in jeopardy."
"I spoke with Maxxus, and he was truly surprised by the news. I'm a great judge of character. He had no idea any of this had happened. His focus is on rebuilding Talonia and caring for his new son. The weredragons have no motive to harm us," Belle stated emphatically.
"Yes, they do. What if their planet isn't recovering as they claim? They would need a place to go, a refuge. They wouldn't want to be under another government. They would want Maxxus to rule. So, bring down Earth's government and economy, then take over. It's a masterful plan."
"It's a ridiculous theory. First of all, the humans who went there to help are back. They have told us how well Talonia is recovering. They brought videos to prove it. Second, and most important, the weredragons need their planet. You know what was discovered; the Talonians and their planet feed off each other. Earth couldn't give them that. Besides, they've never shown aggression toward us. For goodness sake, they saved us from the Xycon," Belle argued.
"In doing so, they saw Earth for themselves. They now know how wonderful it is. They may have saved it for their own use. The pictures could be fake and the space crew could either be involved in the plot or brainwashed to believe Talonia was healing. Don't you see? They've even made infusions that allow their kind to stay here longer. Who's the naive one now?" the director asked.
The director had gone off the deep end. Belle was sure of it. He needed therapy or medical intervention. Worse, he might convince others of his crazy theory, and the weredragons would be targeted for elimination without a trial. The real culprits had to be found, and quickly.
Where was Blayze? She needed to warn him, and in turn, he needed to warn the other weredragons, both on Earth and in Talonia. Plus, she felt compelled to apologize for running out on him with so little explanation. If he couldn't be found, she'd have to go back to the liaison building and convince the receptionist to let her speak to someone in charge, so they could reach out to the rest of the weredragons all over the world. Thank goodness she had held back from telling the director that Blayze was missing.
