Chapter 39
JOLAR
We celebrated with dessert before returning, me back to my work and Mitchell to his training.
“You got your wedding all booked?” Peterson asked, looking surprised to see me.
I nodded. “But of course. It was quite simple. Xeranos compiled a list of possible packages that aligned with what Mitchell and I wanted, and we simply chose the one that was best.”
He nodded, looking around. “I would have thought Reynolds and Sachuu would have been back by now. Klora too.”
“You didn’t go with them?”
He grimaced. “Our director called about the dead body we found in the garden. The big wigs have decided that as there is no proof Takahashi did it, and the fake lawyer is in the wind somewhere on our planet, probably in my country, so they are grabbing the case away from you. Sorry.”
I shrugged. “If it turns out it was her, they’ll just have to hand it back along with everything they found out. If they really want to do all the work themselves, that’s fine.”
Klora sauntered in, his eyes excited. “Guys! You’ll never guess what?”
“Reynolds got a match,” Peterson said.
“Yes!”
“What? I was joking! No way!”
“Well, I’m not joking. He really got matched, to one of the shuttle pilots.”
“Holy shit balls,” Peterson murmured, looking shocked. “Wait…as his partner I was getting to stay here with him to work. Does his getting matched mean I have to, you know, put my hat in the marriage ring?”
I looked at him, trying to figure out how he would squeeze his hat through such a tiny object.
“But you don’t wear a hat,” Klora told him, and I nodded. This was very true.
“Perhaps he has a hat at home,” I suggested.
Peterson snorted. “For a second there, I forgot you guys were aliens! I meant will I have to see if I am also a match?”
“I do not think so, but the L.T.C. would know for sure,” Klora replied.
“Are you gay? Only our males are in the program.”
“Reynolds is, but no, I’m not.”
“Then they will not ask you to be tested.”
“Yes,” Klora agreed. “They will not because if you are not attracted to males, you cannot be a perfect match to one of our warriors.”
Peterson looked relieved. “That’s right. You guys do a whole genetics and psych profile thing, don’t you? You guys find soul mates.”
“Precisely.” I was glad to have been able to put his mind at rest. “Though I doubt we will see Reynolds for several days now.”
“What? Oh, yeah. Sheesh. I best go call the Director again.” He scurried off to go find a more private location to do just that.
“A pilot. Do you think they will ever find my match?”
I patted Klora’s shoulder. “I am certain they will.”
“I hope he’s as cute as your Mitchell.”
I clapped him on the back. “I don’t think that is possible. No one else comes close to being as cute as my Mitch.”
He rolled his eyes. “Sure, sure.”
A stressed looking Sachuu came into the office, followed by Peterson.
“As you’ve no doubt heard, Reynolds was matched to Lieutenant Polmar.
This means both he and Polmar are on leave with immediate effect for the next few days.
” He looked over at Peterson. “The quartermaster is arranging your quarters here aboard ship so you may move in when ready once he’s notified you.
” He handed Peterson a tablet. “This is yours. It’s secure, so once you press your thumb on it, it will read both your print and DNA so no one else can use it. ”
“It reads my DNA? Through a screen?” Peterson looked at the piece of tech dubiously.
“There are nanites infused within the screen material, and that is one of their functions,” Sachuu explained. “Commander Gundar has already contacted the director of the FBI, so your transfer has been approved with immediate effect.”
Peterson nodded. “My director back at the field office got the email while we were talking just now. You guys sure move quick. It will take me a few days to pack up and deal with my apartment.”
Sachuu pursed his lips. “We can take care of that for you, probably much quicker. You could be in your new quarters before the end of tomorrow if you’d like.
Of course, you could oversee the actual packing of your things as well as the unpacking.
We can handle your landlord and dealing with your utilities and so on. ”
“Sure. I hate moving, so if you guys can pack it all up and all that, by all means. I’ll need to figure out what to do about my car, though.”
“You can speak to the quartermaster about that when he contacts you. There are a few things we can help you with regarding that.”
Peterson huffed out a sigh. “Looks like I’m really doing this. Christ on a cracker. Yesterday I was a regular field agent, and today I’m in a sci-fi movie.”
I laughed. “Mitch says the same thing. He keeps talking about a TV show called Star Walking.”
Now it was Peterson’s turn to laugh. “I think you mean Star Trek, and yeah, I can totally see that.”
“Even I have heard of Star Trek,” Klora told me.”
“I enjoy watching it,” Sachuu confided and we all looked at him in amazement.
“But if I may get us back to business. Linda Takahashi is going out on tonight’s transport.
The FBI informed the commander that the local police will be working with the FBI to investigate the murder portion of our case, so until and unless it is found to involve her other than it being on her property, that’s no longer our problem.
The dead Mylos discovered yesterday will be our main focus, once the Chief Medic has done his own forensic examination of the body.
The widow arrives tomorrow so will be available to answer questions then.
” He looked at me expectantly. “Jolar, did you schedule your wedding and honeymoon?”
“I did, sir. We leave in three days and will be away for two weeks.”
“Then you are on leave as of now. You can catch up when you return.”
I saluted him, then turned on my heel to go.
Mitch had been in a bit of what he called a tizzy when we’d parted so it would be nice if I prepared the evening meal after picking Neal up from school myself.
I tapped out a message to let him know I’d collect our son so he wouldn’t get there and panic if he was gone.
I had a few hours before school was out.
I could research local jewelry makers and perhaps check out an episode or two of this ‘Star Trek’, I decided.
Entering the elevator, I said, “Take me home, please, Xeranos.”