Page 70 of Badass Alien Boss

The only “proof” they had that Murta was Prellim was Korsan’s say-so. But did he have any evidence? Or had he repeated what someone else had told him?

She hesitated. Should they mention the doctor said the antigen had been sexually transmitted? Was their private, personal sexual activity relevant? “We, uh, didn’t become aware something was wrong until Elyxis 4, but we’d had a meal from the café two nights prior. We picked up a dinner box the night of the big solar flare.” She lifted her shoulders. “We don’t have any direct evidence of criminal activity. We ate Murta’s food, and, some hours later, I went into anaphylactic shock. But I didn’t have an allergic reaction every time. Dr. Kurur says Ruyn was infected with a nanocyte that produces an antigen, which he passed on to me.” She spread her hands.

“That’s everything we know,” Ruyn seconded.

“One coincidence is a random accident. Several? There’s a correlation.”

Something about his tone made her wary. “Are you referring to something specific to this case?”

“Galpol is aware that you, Ruyn, were attacked by Prellims, and that a Prellim broke into your apartment, Michaela. You have been frequenting a restaurant owned and operated by a cartel member who likely poisoned you. Those cannot be isolated incidents. No one else on Luturna has been targeted or attacked by cartel members—let alone several times as you two have. That’s not a coincidence.”

She didn’t like what he was implying.

“The Prellim are excellent at what they do. There are no near misses. If they want you dead, you’re dead. So, how did you two manage to survive three Prellim attacks?”

“We didn’t exactly survive unscathed!” she said. “Ruyn was critically injured; he could have died.”

“But he didn’t.”

“He got infected with a nanocyte that may affect him for the rest of his life! I went into anaphylactic shock. I almost died!”

“But you didn’t.”

“Actually, she did,” Ruyn said. “Her breathing and heartbeat had stopped. If I hadn’t found her in time to perform CPR and give her an injection, she wouldn’t be here.”

As if they hadn’t spoken, Tervik continued, “You knew Murta is Prellim, but you continued to frequent her café.”

“We didn’t know she was Prellim!” she said.

“Didn’t you?”

“No, we didn’t,” Ruyn said.

“What exactly are you implying?” Michaela demanded.

Agent Tervik leaned back and regarded them for a long moment. “Here’s what I think. You two have been working with the Prellim Cartel but ran afoul of Murta, and those attacks on you were warning shots.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Ruyn hadn’t thought the day could get any worse. He had no words to express his shock and outrage. They were the victims, but Tervik had accused them of being the criminals.

“That’s preposterous—and absolutely not true,” she snapped. “We havenevercolluded with any Prellim!”

This was how someone falsely accused reacted. The lack of equivocation in her denial stood in stark contrast to Korsan’s nondenial.

“We are not working with Murta or any other Prellim,” he added his own disavowal, so there would be no doubt. “And frankly, it pisses me off that you would accuse us.” He was getting madder by the second. He wanted to punch something—preferably this idiot Galpol agent!

“I spoke with Dr. Kurur. When he told you about the nanovirus, you immediately said it must have originated from Murta.”

Ruyn met her eyes, trying to send a signal.We have to tell him about Korsan.Implicating him was the last thing he wished to do, but they were facing a serious criminal accusation through no fault of their own.

Michaela gave a slight nod. “Ifyou spoke to Dr. Kurur”—skepticism weighted her tone—“then you’d know, we’djustlearned Murta’s identity.”

“How?”

“From my brother,” he said.

“How did he know?”