Ronan: Ziva Payvan Book 3 (15 page)

Ziva froze, staring straight ahead as her mind sorted through the information and established the facts. Who was her family? Her mother, step-father, half-siblings, Jada. To what had they been exposed? Nostium. What were the symptoms of nostium exposure? Seizures, headaches, loss of motor control, things that all declared a breakdown in the nervous system. What did a breakdown in the nervous system mean? Death. Her family…nostium…death. It was that simple, yet she still struggled to comprehend it.

Stay calm. There are people watching
. “Status report?” she said, suppressing a shiver as the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end.

“I don’t have details,” the probation officer replied. “I’ve only been instructed to escort you to Haphor. Report to HSP Headquarters immediately. There’s a shuttle here waiting to transport us.”

“Copy that.” The words felt mechanical, forced. She killed the transmission and swept her gaze from Baez to Aroska; both were watching her as if they expected her to panic and rush away. “Excuse me,” she said quietly, striding from the room and ignoring Aroska when he called after her.

You know it’s probably too late to help them.

But Jada is there.

These people have done nothing but hurt you for most of your life. Why waste your time being concerned?

Have to get to Jada.

The thought prompted her to pick up her pace and she broke into a steady jog. Somewhere in the back of her mind, Ziva could hear Aroska’s hurried footsteps as he rushed to catch up.

“Ziva, stop!”

The only reason she complied was because she came to the elevator and was forced to wait for the door to open. “This is insane,” she said, giving up on the idea of leaving him behind. “What the hell is Ronan trying to accomplish here?”

“Hey,” Aroska said as he came to a stop behind her. He took her shoulder and spun her around to face him. “I know you’ve had some issues with your family, but it’s okay to be concerned about them right now.”

“What are you even talking about?”

“Look at you, running away like this. You don’t have to pretend you’re not worried.”

A beat.

“I’m not pretending. I was running because I’m in a hurry.” She swallowed past the lump threatening to form in her throat.

“There’s nobody around to put on a show for,” he said, spreading his arms and looking up and down the hall. “I’m the only one here, and I know you better than that.”

“No,” Ziva said, stepping into the elevator as the doors finally opened. She held her hand out to stop him from following her inside. “No, you really don’t know me at all, so stop acting like you do. Yeah, sure, you got me. I’m concerned about Jada. But I’m not running or trying to hide anything, okay? And all that
sheyss
you said back there? I’m not a good person – I’ve told you that before – and I’m just trying to do what it takes to survive. I need you to back off.”

He didn’t try to enter the elevator, but neither did he make any move to leave. “I was going to see if you wanted me to come with you.”

“Stay here,” she answered, allowing her tone to soften a bit. “Make sure that data gets transmitted safely to Na and then report to Headquarters and find Skeet. Tell him I’ll explain everything in due time. Just see what you two can do to help with the investigation, and I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

He gave an affirmative nod and turned back down the hall, moving with a stiff gait that told her he was trying hard to shake off the events of the past few minutes and continue on with business. The elevator door slid shut as she watched him go. She was glad she didn’t have to look at him anymore, and glad he wouldn’t turn around and notice the involuntary trembling that had set in the moment he turned his back.

Ziva whirled and slammed a fist against the elevator wall before burying her face in her hands and screaming into them. She wasn’t sure if Aroska himself was infuriating or if the fact that she didn’t know how to handle him was infuriating. Either way, he wasn’t helping the situation. He’d been hovering ever since she’d confessed to being involved in the attack on Na – he and Skeet both had – and granted, she should expect to rely a bit more exclusively on him as long as he was one of the only people aware of her Nostia. But this business of acting like he knew her, acting like he knew what was going through her head…that was too much.

He’s pushing, so push back. Don’t do it; don’t let him in.

Are you kidding? He’s already in and you know it.

She hit the wall again for good measure and turned around as the elevator reached the ground floor. Aura’s transmission echoed through her mind, drawing her back to the present, and she took off for the parking bay as fast as her legs would carry her.

-25-

Haphor-Noro Traffic Lane

Tasmin Forest, Haphez

Taking Aura’s shuttle effectively reduced the trip to Haphor from four hours to two, but it was still beginning to feel like one of the longest journeys of Ziva’s life. Not only was she concerned for Jada’s safety and angry that the Resistance had managed to launch another attack, but seeing her family again was a bit unnerving in itself. It had been at least a year since she’d spoken to her mother, and Njo and the twins had despised her since childhood. Some of that was probably her fault; she hadn’t been very welcoming when her mother remarried after her father’s death in the Fringe War, especially not after she’d run away to Noro and begun her clandestine training with Gamon. She was content with seeing as little of the Jaroons – with the exception of Jada – as possible.

On top of everything, Aura had been sitting there silently scrutinizing her for the entire flight. The probation officer had spent a while on comm with someone from the Royal Guard, but she’d kept her eyes fixed on Ziva for the duration of the conversation, almost as if she thought she might somehow disappear from the ship. As far as Ziva knew, Aura still wasn’t aware of the reason she’d been at the med center, or that she’d been at the med center at all. She figured she’d have to tell the woman about her Nostia at some point…if she didn’t find out on her own, that was. Ziva imagined it wouldn’t be too hard to put the pieces together, considering HSP had contacted the Royal House about the nostium immediately following a private meeting at which only she, Emeri, and Aroska had been present. Nobody would have to try very hard to figure out where the tip had come from, and she was glad only a few people knew she’d been there.

Aura was on comm again now, and unless Ziva was mistaken she was speaking to the RG’s Supervisory Special Agent Luko Zona. At least she hoped that was the case. She’d never cared much for the pretentious agents who made up the Royal Guard, but Zona had a good head on his shoulders. Their introduction had been a fleeting one in Argall, but if he’d taken the time to submit his data to the magistrates to help her trial end favorably, he was all right in her book.

“Everyone who was involved in the attack has been quarantined inside the house,” Aura said as she ended the transmission. “That includes your family and all household staff and security personnel who were present at the time. Lord Jaril and Lady Jazel were attending a social function and were not involved. They’re currently in the care of the Royal Guard.”

“Of course they are,” Ziva muttered with a wag of her head. “You said they have someone in custody?”

“Yes. A man was apprehended as he fled the property just after the gas was released. He was shot in the leg by security forces, and the injury was enough to keep him from taking some sort of suicide pill before he was captured.”

“And they’re sure this is Ronan? It’s the same as the gas from the Na base?”

“Initial findings indicate so. The labs are working on it now.”

“But it’s got to be a different substance if it acted so quickly.”
Almost like regular nostium
, she thought,
but still too potent
.

Aura tilted her head.

Ziva hesitated for a split second before continuing, mentally running back through what she’d just said to ensure she hadn’t tipped the woman off. “The substance from Na was slightly different than what Kat Reilly was injected with,” she continued, “and it also acted much more quickly. If what we’re hearing is accurate, exposure to this gas tonight produced almost instantaneous results. It makes sense that it would be different as well.”

The look the probation officer gave her just then was rather unsettling. Ziva bristled as she stood up and strode across the cabin, holding one of the grab rings above the seats to keep her balance as she clutched her ever-present data pad in her free hand. “Don’t think for one second that I don’t know, Payvan.”

So she had figured it out. “Know what?” Ziva said anyway, rising.

The height of Aura’s shoes allowed them to see nearly eye-to-eye. “As an admin within the Royal Offices, there are certain things I’m kept in the loop about. One of those things is the fact that we’re dealing with nostium here.” To Ziva’s surprise, she shot a cautious glance toward the cockpit to ensure they weren’t being overheard. “I don’t know who figured it out – you, Tarbic, or Director Arion – but it’s pretty clear to me that it happened right after I left that office this evening, right after Lieutenant Duvo told me
you
asked him to leave.”

Ziva felt her pulse spike but forced her countenance to remain unchanged, not daring to break eye contact. She pictured it as giving Aura a taste of her own medicine.
Two can play this game.

“Considering the fact that you haven’t shown any of these symptoms yet, I’m beginning to think you’re the one who told the director. I think you know something about this stuff, and for one reason or another, Tarbic and Emeri are the only ones you’ve shared that knowledge with.”

“So tell everyone,” Ziva muttered, staring the woman down through narrowed eyes. “Tell them all about this theory of yours. Watch me get arrested again. Then I wouldn’t be your problem anymore. It’s a win for you, right?”

“No.”

“Oh, okay. You just want to make sure we’re aware of the fact that you could fry us all alive if you wanted to. You’re like the Royal Officer’s pathetic pet guhr hound, Aura. So far your bark has been a lot worse than your bite.”

Aura shook her head, letting the insults roll off of her. “Payvan, you are so lucky you’re as important as you are.” She stepped closer still, lowering her voice to an agitated whisper. “I don’t know exactly
what
you know or
how
you know it, but if the Royal House finds out you were the source of this information, they will crucify you. Now the way I see it, this knowledge you have makes you the only person on this whole damn planet who’s qualified to go up against Ronan. That’s why I’m keeping my mouth shut. I don’t like it one bit, but I want this all to end as quickly as possible, even if that means loosening my grip on your leash.”

So Ziva had been right about her after all. It was in her nature as a former agent to bend rules for the sake of addressing a bigger picture. She tried to maintain this cold demeanor, wanted Ziva to think she was only using her as a tool to fulfill her own agenda. No, she was doing this because deep down, she knew it was the best way to get the job done and save lives. She was doing this because she was a good person.

Ziva caught herself.
Oh bloody hell, Tarbic
.

The shuttle pilot’s voice rang out from the cockpit, disrupting her train of thought. “We’re starting our approach into the Royal City, ma’am.”

“Thank you,” Aura said. She stepped back to give Ziva some space, but not before giving her another icy once-over.

The ship swooped down over downtown Haphor and angled toward the massive cluster of white buildings rising up out of the middle of the city. Even from a distance, Ziva could look through the front viewport and see the swarms of police vehicles hovering in the sky above the Royal City, sweeping their spotlights to and fro just as they’d been doing the night she’d broken in after her arrest and escape. Every building within the private community was illuminated, even at this hour. Security obviously wasn’t fooling around.

A space had been cleared for the ship to touch down on the Jaroons’ front lawn. Massive lighting panels had been set up, illuminating the area as if it were the middle of the day, and Ziva had to shield her eyes as she made her way down the boarding ramp with Aura hot on her heels. The whole yard was one big maze of RG cars, vehicles from the Haphor field office, hazardous materials response units, and a dozen other organizations with important-looking logos and flashing lights.

“Agent Stannist?” a voice called out as the speaker made his way toward the docked shuttle. A man emerged from the crowd and jogged over. To Ziva’s surprise, it was Kade Shevin.

“Kade?”

His eyes grew wide but he didn’t break stride. “Ziv— er, Lieutenant Payvan! What are you doing here? I was told Agent Stannist would be escorting Lady Namani’s daught—” He stopped as the realization hit him. “You?”

“I don’t believe it myself sometimes,” Ziva said. “And it’s Captain now, actually.”

Kade hesitated for a moment as he processed the information. “Oh,” he said with a slow nod, telling her he understood she’d taken Dasaro’s place. “I’m glad that all turned out okay.”

“Thanks in no small part to you and Zona’s files,” she replied. “Is he here?”

“This way,” Kade said, turning and carving a path back through the crowd.

Ziva and Aura followed. Most people moved aside upon recognizing the Royal Officer’s insignia on Aura’s suit and data pad, though Ziva had a hunch most of them had also been anticipating her arrival and noticed the family resemblance.

“Look who crawled out from under her rock.”

The overbearing female voice made the hairs on the back of Ziva’s neck stand up and she turned toward the sound. Jazel and Jaril were huddled together on a bench near one of the fountains across the yard, their bright green eyes fixed on her. Sitting there with their tousled party clothes and tear-stained cheeks, they looked so pitiful that she almost felt sorry for them. The sour looks on their gaunt faces were a sufficient reminder that they were two of the reasons she avoided this place as much as possible.

Against her better judgment, she began to move toward them. “Of all the people to walk away from this thing unscathed, it had to be you two.”

The majority of Jazel’s makeup was smeared down her face. “Figured you’d come over here and play hero?” she spat.

“I’m here because Mother sent for me,” Ziva retorted. That was more or less a lie. It was the official reason for her presence, but in truth she was there for Jada and Jada alone.

“Why?” Jaril demanded, leaping to his feet. “Why would she call
you
here? And since when do you ever actually listen to her?”

Ziva had never been a fan of the fact that he had grown to be taller than her. Still, with an advantage in age and maybe even weight, she hardly cared that she had to look up to meet his gaze. “This is part of an ongoing investigation, okay? I came here to see if everyone was all right.”

“We’re not all right,” Jazel muttered, adjusting the jacket of some Royal Guard agent she had draped over her shoulders. “This is probably all your fault. Anything bad that ever happens to us is usually your fault.”

Ziva could only shake her head as she brought her hands to rest on her hips and shifted her gaze between the two of them. Aroska had described the way Jazel blamed her for her misery during the lockdown following Tachi’s murder. Her thought process lacked any logic whatsoever. But now the young woman’s words struck Ziva in a manner she hadn’t expected. In a way, this
was
her fault. She’d brought Kat’s data home, hadn’t hidden it well enough. These attacks were probably Ronan’s way of retaliating against an investigation she’d inadvertently sparked.

Jada’s voice rang out somewhere behind her before she had any more time to reflect. “Ziva, over here.”

Ziva turned and found the girl standing on the walkway where Kade and Aura waited. Her large brown eyes were wide with worry but she appeared unharmed. Then again, initially so had everyone who’d endured the attack on Na. The idea didn’t bring Ziva much relief.

“I thought you were all quarantined,” she called, abandoning Jaril and Jazel in favor of her adopted human sibling.

“We went through a decontamination process,” Jada replied, coming to meet her halfway across the lawn. “They just let us out.”

Ziva took her by the shoulders and looked her up and down, unsure what she was even searching for. “They said the symptoms set in almost instantaneously,” she said quietly.

Jada nodded and glanced around. “Everyone’s fine now, just like what happened with the soldiers.” The look on her face was almost guilty, and tears were beginning to well up in her eyes. “But Ziva, nothing happened to me.”

Ziva blinked. “
What?
”

“The others…they just started convulsing, and I could only sit there…”

In her peripherals, Ziva saw Aura’s eyes widen in response to Jada’s words.
Another person unaffected by the nostium
. She wasn’t sure where Jada had lived before being brought to Haphez as a toddler, but if had been a world controlled by the Resistance, it was certainly possible that she could have been exp—

“
There
you are.”

Ziva looked up to find her mother approaching with the Royal General. They too appeared normal on the outside, even normal enough to maintain their usual condescending and haughty facial expressions. Njo spared her a few seconds for a distasteful glare before heading toward Jaril and Jazel. To Ziva’s surprise, Namani barely gave the twins a second glance.

Aura and Kade moved away, leaving Ziva and Jada alone with their mother. Ziva shrugged and shook her head. “Well, I’m here.”

“I heard those soldiers on Na weren’t surviving long after their symptoms set in,” Namani said, voice devoid of any sympathy. “With as fast as ours manifested, I figured I didn’t have long, and I wanted a chance to see you.”