proved there was no way to get out of the restaurant, since security had arrived, blocking the exit.
“I’m reading Claraseen,” a woman in the pile on the floor called out. “Give him―”
Vera didn’t hear more, since there was a lot of shouting as additional medical and security people rushed to the scene. Some of them moved to block her booth completely. She was kind of glad to not see that scene anymore.
Minutes passed before they were rushing the poor man away on one of those mobile hover gurneys, and people cleared the area around her booth. She decided she just wanted to go back to the guest cabin she’d been assigned. Her appetite was gone, especially since she didn’t know if she’d just witnessed another person die.
She grabbed the borrowed data device and slid out of the booth.
Four security guards stood by the exit door. She gave them a nod and tried to step around them. The one closest to her moved and blocked the exit. “Everyone is sequestered. Please return to the exact seat you were at.”
She frowned. “Why?”
He was in his forties, bald, and his dark brown gaze narrowed. “A fleet member was poisoned.”
Her mouth fell open.
“Return to your seat. Investigators are on their way.”
She turned and walked slowly back to the booth, retaking her seat. Other people in booths and sitting at tables within her view appeared as shellshocked as she felt. She’d always heard fleet ships were safe. A poisoning was something she expected to witness on a space station. Those bars were rumored to be deadly.
Her wine and food never got served. The patrons in the bar began to grow restless. Vera turned on her borrowed device and decided to keep reading her messages to pass the time. It would probably take a few hours before they released everyone.
None of her friends had heard about the tragic incident with her team yet. Her representative had asked her to keep quiet until the investigation ended. That was fine. She wasn’t ready to talk about what had happened.
Her mind wandered to Roth, as it often had since she’d last seen him. A fresh flood of embarrassment hit. He’d been her lifeline during the worst experience of her existence, and she’d repaid him by molesting his body. There was no way she could ever apologize enough, let alone face him. Not that she figured they’d ever see each other again. He’d be avoiding her at all costs while she remained a guest on his ship.
“It’s done, and I messed up,” she muttered.
Regret was a terrible thing. She missed the big alien more than she wanted to admit. She might have still been a little drugged when she’d thrown herself at Roth…but she’d honestly felt a powerful connection to him.
Her stomach fluttered and she clenched her teeth. Okay, she’d been super attracted to Roth. Still felt aroused just thinking about him. He had the best bod and smelled like someone she’d wanted to lick.
She had, in fact. And he’d tasted good. So damn good.
Her nipples beaded just at the memory, and she hated herself for it. I’m a terrible person.
“Miss Wade?”
She startled and placed the device on the table, staring up at a woman wearing a security uniform. “That’s me.”
“I’m Investigator Clord. Can you please step out from the booth?” The tall woman backed up.
“Sure.” Vera slid out of the booth and stood. “Is that man going to okay?”
“They’re still working on him.”
That meant he wasn’t dead. Which was good news. The security office pulled out a scanner and ordered her to hold still, which Vera did. Then Investigator Clord scowled. “Step away from the table and move right there.” She pointed to an open spot near the center of the room.
Vera went to reach for her data device on the table.
“No! Leave it.”
Vera jerked at the sharp order but backed off, going to where she was told to stand.
Clord scanned the entire booth, from the tabletop, to the benches, even the floor. Another security officer joined her, climbing into the booth and manually searching it.
“Miss Wade?”
She turned at the new voice. This security officer was about sixty, a man with short white hair…and he had a mean-looking face. “Yes. That’s me.”
“Why did you poison Zackary Mule?”
She blinked, gawking at him. “What?”
“The poison he drank came from the beer you gave him from your table. We have it all on surveillance. The doctor confirmed he drank the poison. The glass from his table has traces of the poison. Why