secret rooms of the building where Respel conducted business was nothing compared to being sentenced to the Dirty Hole.
It was where Respel sent his worst enemies. They were chained helpless, sold by the minute to anybody for any activity the buyer wished. The price to partake of an inmate of the Dirty Hole was steep, but some real psychos with unlimited funds were more than happy to pay small fortunes to maim or kill while getting their jollies. Karil had witnessed such an encounter once—the client had enjoyed having an audience while he ‘played’. Karil still had nightmares about that horrific half hour during which the client had enjoyed his sick pleasures, though it had happened over a decade before.
Karil stiffened his knees, gone weak for an instant at the prospect of ending up as that monster’s victim had. He managed to somehow keep a tremor out of his voice. “Where should I go?”
Respel’s outward calm wavered. His tone hinted at the bottomless rage that Karil had learned lived permanently within him. “I don’t give a fuck. Get out of my sight, and stay out of my sight. I’m showing this last mercy for what you’ve done for me in the past. This is where it ends.”
“As you wish.” Karil started to turn, but pain exploded at the backs of his knees. He went down hard. The pair of Nobeks who’d brought him in pinned him to the floor and cuffed his wrists behind his back. They hauled him to his feet, and he glared at Respel in shock and dawning horror.
Don’t beg for leniency. Show them the Nobek you still are. Don’t beg.
Instead, he sputtered, “You’d lie to me? That’s beneath even you.”
The bastard smirked, his ugly fury roiling openly over his expression. “I haven’t lied. You’ll live, but you’ll be made an example of. When they’ve finished with you, you’ll be paraded before the rest who work for me, to remind them who they’d better not fuck with.”
Respel waved negligently to the thugs holding Karil up. They propelled him through the door that led to shame and agony, where the previous victim continued to scream.
As Karil was shoved toward the bench where he’d spend the next endless hour chained down next to the other victim—maybe more—he ground his teeth together, determined he would not add his voice to the Imdiko’s pleas for mercy.
Vax, if it takes me the rest of my life, you will pay for this.
* * * *
Sitting in Bacoj’s greeting room, Vax blinked at Investigator Yas. “You still don’t know where Karil is? That’s bad, isn’t it?”
Yas and Genwa had elected to remain standing for their visit. The Dramok grimaced, looking uncomfortable to be relaying such news. “I can’t tell you if it’s good news or not, Imdiko. Obviously, it’s unfortunate we can’t get our hands on him at this time. It could be he’s gone into hiding off-planet, which means you have nothing to worry about.”
“Or he might be waiting until he can make another attempt to get to you.” Genwa scowled.
“So we should be worried.” Bacoj sat next to Vax. He scowled too.
“An empire-wide alert has been sent out. We’re actively looking for him. But yes, Vax needs to remain on his guard.”
“Have you given any thought to leaving the area yourself?” Yas asked.
Before Vax could answer, Bacoj said, “I have money saved, and we have a few weeks until we report to our duty stations. I thought taking a vacation on Dantovon would be nice.”
“Really?” Vax stared at him in surprise. Worry gave way to delight.
“Why not? We should have some fun. Take the opportunity to be alone with each other.” His gaze sent warmth through Vax.
Yas’s relief was obvious. “That’s a good idea. Let me know where you’re staying once you finalize your plans, so I can contact you if needed.”
After a little more discussion and pleasantries, the officers left. Vax bounced on the lounger’s cushions with childish glee, not caring if he looked ridiculous doing so. “A vacation! I’ve never been on one except with my parents.”
“Then you’re overdue,” Bacoj chuckled. “Although I’m afraid you’ll have to forget survival adventures. Sleeping indoors on a soft mat, eating in restaurants, touring the sights…not the sweaty, rough outing your fathers would take you on.”
“I’ll do my best to cope.” He hugged Bacoj.
“Good. You need to have some fun without feeling like you have to look over your shoulder.”
“Not to mention I’ve been so focused on saving for my restaurant—but Bacoj, should you