Tales From The Triple Suns (Chapter Nineteen)

I was on my fifth revision of the Performing Arts Center…fifth of the day, that is.  I had lost count of how many total changes I had made in the past week.  I would find an exterior that I liked, then an interior…only to change one or the other to fit a sudden inspirational idea.  I thought that maybe I should at least find a location for the building first so that I could get a feel for what I wanted, but I kept putting that off.1

Just as I was putting off the hardest part of this project…the funding.  Although, I doubt I could even get funding without a solid plan(maybe that’s why I kept changing my mind).  Hopefully when Craig got back sometime tomorrow he would be able to get my attention back on track.  I think my mind wandering over daydreams of him is what was causing me to constantly change the plans in some attempt to concentrate.2

My leg started to get sore and I stretched it as I read the computer screen.  Over the past week, the muscle pulls had healed quickly, but some pain still remained when I sat for long periods of time.  I looked up as someone knocked on the door and, grateful for the distraction, walked out of my office.3

“I’m coming!” I announced as the knocking advanced to pounding.  I glanced through the small window beside the door, and blinked.  A second look confirmed what I had seen and I opened the door.4

“Calinda.”5

I sighed at Devon Granser; Craig’s old Army buddy.  “Devon,” I replied, and waited for him to at least say hello.   After nearly four years, Devon still annoyed me.  His attitude screamed of insensitivity, and I don’t think he ever reached a maturity state above fifteen.  6

“Craig’s not here,” I finally said.  7

“I know,” he said.  “It’s you I wanted to talk to.”  He looked at me expectantly.  8

“Me?  About what?”9

“About the box you found.”10

Every inner warning went into overdrive.  I stepped to the side and motioned him in, limping slightly as I led him into the living room and sat down.  “Okay…just why are you here.”11

He passed over an identification card and waited as I read it.  “As you can see, System Central Agency is interested in the box, and whatever else you found.”12

I handed the card back, wishing that Craig were here.  “I’ll help however I can,” I smiled sweetly.13

He nodded and leaned back in the chair, making himself a little too comfortable in my house for my liking.  “Tell me about the box.”14

“I found a lot of boxes, Devon.  You’re going to have to be more specific.”15

“The one with the book.”16

I tried to keep the nervousness from my face. “Again, you’re going to have to be more specific.”17

“The box, with the book, with the Esperanto, which caused the dog to be canceled,” he said in a less than friendly voice.  “That specific enough for you?”18

“Plenty,” I replied, the nervousness replaced by annoyance.  “But I didn’t find that specific box…Craig did.”19

Devon sighed.  “Do you actually expect me to believe that Craig found the box?”  He waited for me to answer, but all he got was an interested stare.   20

Something he said when I opened the door surfaced in my mind.  “How did you know Craig wasn’t here?”21

“His head office told me,” he said casually.  “But I wish you would tell me the truth, it would…”22

I stood and motioned to the door.  “Please leave.”23

“Cali…I don’t want to see Craig incarcerated because he’s covering for you.”24

I resisted the urge to pound my fist into his face for that remark.  “Out.”25

“Cali…”26

“You can come back to talk about the box when Craig returns.”  I folded my arms across my chest and stared at him until he got up and started for the door.27

He turned when he got outside.  “Think about telling the truth.”28

“Think about kissing my ass,” I replied as I shut the door in his face.29

~~~~~~~~~~30

Devon’s visit put me in a bad mood for the rest of the day, prompting me to shut the computer off in disgust and fling the building plans across the room and into the wall(good thing it was only a copy).  I had all this anger to get rid of, and since I had promised Craig that I wouldn’t do anything strenuous, I couldn’t even work it off.  The idea of shopping crossed my mind, and was equally dismissed.  I’d have to spend a hell of a lot to get rid of this annoyance.31

I looked up again as a knock sounded and stormed out of my office.  I turned as the door between the living quarters and main offices opened, and Mark peeked in.32

“Gotta get some files,” he said.33

“I wanna talk to you,” I replied and pointed to a chair.  I waited as he sat, a look of guarded suspicion and confusion on his face.  “Do you know Devon Granser?”34

“One of the Assistants to the Regional Director,” Mark said.  “Military Division.”35

“Have you talked to him lately?”36

“Why?”37

I crossed my arms and stared at him.  “Have you?”38

“Last week,” Mark admitted. “He called to arrange a meeting about the dig finds.”  He leaned forward slightly.  “Why?”39

“He just left here.”40

To his credit, Mark looked confused and shocked.  “What?”  He blinked a few times.  “Wait…no…he’s scheduled for two week’s time.”  He looked again.  “How do you know him.”41

“Old Army buddy of Craig’s,” I said.  “He told me he knew that Craig wasn’t here…that the office told him.”42

Mark sighed.  “That would be me.  When he called, I told him that the person who found the box would be away on business by the time he got here, so he scheduled both meeting and room space for two weeks from now.”43

I looked at the ceiling. “He’s staying in the dignitary rooms?”44

“I’m sorry, Cali,” Mark said.  “I had no idea he was here.” He stood and headed back for the offices.  “But I’ll find out why he’s early.”45

“Didn’t you need some reports, or something?” I said, reminding him why he had originally come for. 46

“I can get that later,” he said as the door shut behind him.47

~~~~~~~~~~48

The next morning I was waiting in the small building just off the landing area of the Tarmac, watching as the small shuttle that carried Craig, Tarra and Kai touched down and began it’s required procedure before they could exit.  Since they had not left the planet, the procedure went by rather quickly, and soon I smiled as Craig walked down the ramp.49

Since only authorized personnel were allowed on the tarmac, I had to wait inside, close to the door, bouncing lightly on the balls of my feet.  Craig finished talking with the other two, issuing some last minute orders, then turned towards the building.50

He stopped as he saw me through the window, and the biggest smile I’ve ever seen broke out on his face.  I don’t even remember him walking(or running) towards me.  The next thing I knew, the door was flying open and he had me in his arms before it had a chance to close.  His lips covered mine, and we stood there kissing as people walked by.51

He pulled away slightly to look into my eyes and gently move us out of the direct pedestrian traffic.  “I missed you,” he whispered into my hair.  52

“Let’s go home so I can welcome you back properly,” I said as I took his hand and pulled him towards the outer doors.  We walked to the vehicle and got in after he put his bags in the trunk area.  He didn’t want to talk about his week on the drive back, and made me blush more than a few times while he described what he wanted to do once we got inside our residence.53

Craig glanced at me as we arrived back home, then looked back at the man standing by the front door.  I hadn’t told him that Devon was here since there really was nothing he could have done while he was gone.  Now I wondered if I should have at least mentioned it on the ride back.54

“I’ll get my bags later,” Craig said as we got out.  He walked to the door.  “You’re a little early.”55

Devon leaned against the side of the building, watching as I approached.  “Want to talk to you.”56

“So I gathered,” Craig jerked his thumb at the office section. “In there is business.”  He pointed at our part.  “This side is private.”57

“Craig...”58

“You make an appointment, you get to talk, “ Craig paused, “see how that works.”  He smiled slightly.  “Now…I haven’t seen Cali in a week, so get lost.”59

Devon gave Craig a less than friendly look, then walked pass me and headed over to the office portion.  Craig punched in the door’s code, opened it and ushered me in.60

“Windows, reverse opaque,” he spoke out loud tot he in-house computer.  The room darkened as it became impossible to see in from the outside.  “Lights, mid-setting, music, something soft.”  He smiled as the lights came up gently and soft music swarmed around us.  He turned to look at me.  “Clothes, off.” 61

~~~~~~~~~~62

The next morning, Craig sat at one end of the dining room table, stared at his old friend calmly, not interrupting while Devon spoke, not offering any input during the pauses.63

When Craig finally spoke his voice was polite, even conversational, but there was no hiding the coolness that lay beneath.  “So what exactly is it that you’re scared of.” 64

“What?”65

“Assistants to the System regional director don’t get sent on-planet to check out rumors.”  Craig took a drink from his coffee, glanced in my direction and smiled before turning back to Devon.66

Devon was getting annoyed at the casual way Craig was treating this.  “When I saw your name, I asked to be sent.  I knew that if it was something big, then you could work with me to handle it.”67

“I could, could I?”  Craig ran his fingers through his hair.  “I might have,” he acknowledged with a nod.  “But, now…” He shrugged.  “We’ll see.”68

“Continue.”69

Craig smiled slightly.  “Your first mistake was coming while you knew I was gone, and trying to intimidate Cali.”  His voice grew slightly colder. “Big mistake.  If you ever do it again, I’ll have you off this planet so fast that you won’t notice until you’ve left orbit.”70

The threat was not lost of Devon, who looked like he knew Craig would follow through if so inclined. “Anything else?”71

“The truth would be a nice place to start.”72

“I was going to say the same thing to you.”  Devon stared at his old friend.  “You’re a terrible liar, Craig.  One thing you’ve never been able to do is look a friend straight in the eyes and lie.”73

Craig snorted slightly, stood and leaned on the table so he was staring directly into Devon’s eyes.  “I…found…the box,” he slowly said and held the stare until the other man looked away.  Craig sat back down, casting a smile in my direction.74

Devon’s eyes grew dark as he pushed the chair back and stood. I could tell he wanted to say something to wipe the all too innocent smile off of Craig’s face, but words seemed to fail him.  Instead, he turned and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.75

I turned when the door shut. “Why…”76

Craig put his fingers on my lips to silence any other words.  “Shhh,” he whispered.  “Let’s go for a short walk.”  He took my hand and led me to the door.  Once outside, we headed towards the ‘older’ areas of the community.  Craig inhaled deeply, then let the air out slowly.  “Sorry…I just had to get some air.”77

I walked beside him, my leg a little stiff, but the exercise felt good.  “I thought you couldn’t lie to your friends.”78

Craig glanced down at me.  “I can’t.”79

“But you…”80

“Lied to Deeb?”  Craig finished for me.  “He’s not here as a friend, Cali.”  He lightly squeezed my hand.  “Regardless of what he says.”81