\u201cIt\u2019s good to hear your voice, Seph.\u201d<\/p>\n
He meant it, too. It had been far too long since he\u2019d heard his former prot\u00e9g\u00e9 talk, on the comm or in person. Of course, he\u2019d seen her give speeches here and there, but to actually speak with her…<\/p>\n
Not since I died.<\/em><\/p>\n On the other end of the comm, Sephora sucked in a sharp breath, as if she hadn\u2019t quite expected to actually hear his voice. \u201cYou\u2019re alive,\u201d she whispered.<\/p>\n \u201cMostly.\u201d Frederick leaned back in his chair, wincing slightly at twinging muscles and the incessant ache of his bad leg. Truth be known, both legs were bad, and his back was, too, but he tried to categorize them as bad<\/em> and less pristine than they should be<\/em>. \u201cWhere are you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe lighthouse,\u201d she said, her voice quiet, almost choked. \u201cWhere have you been?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere do you think?\u201d<\/p>\n There was only silence for a moment, then, \u201cThe Colony.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBullseye,\u201d he said softly.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy aren\u2019t you dead? Everyone thinks you\u2019re dead.\u201d<\/p>\n He knew what question she wanted to ask. He closed his eyes and tilted his head back, touching the headset he wore to make sure that it wasn\u2019t about to slip off. He was in what had been Zephaniah Grace\u2019s study before his passing years before. There was a secure comm unit tucked into a corner of the room, a relic from the days when Ezra and Kara Grace\u2019s mother was still alive and still plied the space lanes as a free trader. It was quiet at the big house in the wake of the attacks and he hoped it would stay that way for a little longer\u2014but he wasn\u2019t entirely optimistic that would be the case.<\/p>\n \u201cFrederick?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m still here,\u201d he said softly. \u201cI was almost dead. It was months before I even came out of the coma. By then, the universe thought I was dead and it seemed safer to let it stay that way. I\u2019ve been here since then. Daci…\u201d he sighed and started again. \u201cDidn\u2019t you ever wonder why she vanished so quickly? Why she came here and then never left again?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI guess I did, but I always just kind of thought that she was mourning in her own way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe came here to be with me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI understand that, now.\u201d<\/p>\n Frederick stared at the ceiling, heart feeling like lead in his chest. He hadn\u2019t called her to catch up\u2014he wished that he had. There was a purpose to his call, though, an important one. \u201cDo you still have the case?\u201d<\/p>\n There was a hesitation, then she said, \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd everything that was in it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s safe, Frederick.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you alone?\u201d<\/p>\n Another hesitation.\u00a0 \u201cNo,\u201d she said after a moment.<\/p>\n He nodded slightly to himself.\u00a0 \u201cWho\u2019s with you? Ben?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd Padraig Danson. He\u2019s with the Colonial Office.\u201d<\/p>\n Frederick searched his memory for the name and connected it to a face. He nodded to himself. That was safe enough\u2014the three were safe enough, as safe as it would have been if it was Sephora on her own. \u201cAll right. I need you to do something for me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re going to ask me to leave, I don\u2019t think I can.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think you have a choice,\u201d Frederick countered, his voice gentle. \u201cInspector Winston was hurt pretty badly when we were attacked.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou were attacked?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not sure who yet, but it\u2019s only a matter of time before we figure it out. The Commonwealth and whoever attacked us know that. They\u2019ll try again. You need to come before they do, Seph. It\u2019s important.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFrederick, I don\u2019t understand.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s okay,\u201d he said softly. \u201cYou\u2019ll figure it out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t just up and leave.\u201d<\/p>\n He heard Ben swear in the background. \u201cYou can go wherever you want,\u201d Ben\u2019s muffled voice said in the background. \u201cYou\u2019re the fragging Inspector General. Do it, Seph. For God\u2019s sake, do it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBring your family,\u201d Frederick said.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat family?\u201d she countered, her tone a little bitter. \u201cIt\u2019s just me…I don\u2019t know that Ben would want to come.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow could you say that?\u201d her husband asked in the background. \u201cSeph, I would follow you anywhere if you\u2019d let me.\u201d<\/p>\n Frederick\u2019s stomach twisted. \u201cYou were going to start a family, Seph. After Mimir. You told me that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAfter it was settled, Frederick,\u201d she said in a barely audible voice. \u201cAnd it\u2019s never been settled.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd it never will be,\u201d he said firmly. \u201cBring Ben and come, Seph. Bring the case. I\u2019ll explain everything.\u201d<\/p>\n As much as I dare to tell, anyway.<\/em><\/p>\n Some secrets were just too much to share.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cIt\u2019s good to hear your voice, Seph.\u201d He meant it, too. It had been far too long since he\u2019d heard his former prot\u00e9g\u00e9 talk, on the comm or in person. Of course, he\u2019d seen her give speeches here and there, … Continue reading