> > > She nods and her chin firms, "Yes, I'll get Rachel back. I WILL!" > > > > Woof nods, admiring the steel of conviction in her voice. > > > > > She pushes Woof back as she tries to compose herself "No, I don't > > > know who they are, but I've got a very good idea who they are > > > working for...." > > > > "Who?" he asks simply. > > > > > She pushes a brown cardboard folder that is lying on the table > > > toward Woof and says, "...and what they want me to do is to destroy > > > *this* and then die. I'm sure that bomb at MNN was meant to kill > > > me and destroy my notes, or at least to destroy the notes on the > > > system in my office, but *I* got out and I had copies." > > > > "You were in your office when they blew it up?" he asks amazed at > > her. > >"Almost. I have been dead if I had been. I grabbed my bag and my notes >and was just stepping into the lift when something exploded down the >hall right outside my office door. It was something in the mail cart, I >think." she says, "The doors closed and the lift went down and I got away." "Thank god..." Woof says softly. > > > The cardboard folder has a flap to hold its contents inside and is > > > held shut with a dark red cloth string tied into a bow. On it's > > > cover Woof sees printed in Lessa's neat hand, "Notes on Hayes and > > > Burke". > > > > "Hayes and Burke?" he asks. Do these names mean anything to him? > >No, they don't. > > > > Lessa says, "I have enough here to clear myself and, I think, put a > > > really big crimp into the Guild's plans, but if I use it then > > > Rachel is dead, so I can't use it." > > > > "Not yet," he murmurs. > > > > > She adds with a hard glint in her eyes, "Not until I get Rachel > > > back." > > > > > > Lessa reaches under the table and picks up her large bag. She pulls > > > a notebook computer from it and lays it on the table. > > > > > > She opens the lid and then stops and says with emotion in her > > > voice, "Woof, I'll understand if you don't want to watch *this*, > > > but I think maybe you should before committing to help me." > > > > > > She waits for Woof to answer... > > > > Woof places his hand on hers. "Let me see. I want to help you. This > > will probably help. And I want to know what it is all about. And > > what you've been thinking of doing. Let me see..." > >Leesa hits a button on her computer and a picture resolves on her >screen. It is a closeup of her 3 year old, Rachel. "Beautiful girl..." he says, watching. He notices Lessa move beyond sight. >She stands and walks around where she can't see what is displayed on the >screen. > >A digitized voice says, as it pulls back to show Rachel being held in >someone's arms, "Leesa Kramer, we have your daughter." Any chance of recognizing the voice? Any accent? >The woman is that is holding Rachel, is masked, and Woof's attention >shifts as the camera continues to pull back showing, a man tied to a >chair, a gag in his mouth. > >The voice continues, "You've been a naughty girl, poking your nose in >where it doesn't belong. My employers are not amused." > >An arm, covered in red fur, appears to the side of the camera shot, >raising a shotgun. Without warning there is a blast and the man is shot >square in the chest. Blood flies everywhere and Rachel begins to scream. >Then her scream is cut off when the woman holding her clamps a hand >roughly over her mouth. "Goddamnit!" he says in Vargr, starting at the shot. "No..." >"Now your *former* husband has paid the price." the digitized voice says >calmly, "If a single word of your prying ever sees the light of day, >Sianna Kramer, your *former* daughter will suffer the same fate." > >Leesa's fists are gripped tightly and her shoulders are shaking. She >isn't watching, but Woof can tell she is again seeing all of this in her >mind. Woof's hands mirror hers, clenched in rage. >"I assure you, the police will find all the evidence they need to arrest >you for this, Sianna." says the voice, "Turn yourself in and suffer the >consequences or run. We don't care. Just remember, if any of your notes >become public you will see your daughter again...dead." > >The voice adds, "On the other hand, if you decide to be a good girl and >keep your mouth shut your daughter will live. She is already on her way >to a new life on a new world." > >The camera scene abruptly changes to a shot of Rachel being carried >aboard a starship by a woman with long black hair. A man is walking >beside her carrying two suitcases. You can't tell from the shot what the >starship's name is, but it looks like the gangway to a smaller ship, not >a passenger liner. Recognize any of them? Where was the ship? Look at the background. Recognize the port? >"Say good bye to Rachel, Sianna Kramer." the digitized voice says, then >the connection is cut and the screen goes blank. > >Woof can hear Lessa breathing in the silence of the room. Woof quietly closes the laptop. He comes and stands behind Lessa, and wraps his arms around her, supporting her, letting her know he's there. "Oh Lessa... How did this happen? Tell me what this is all about." Woof
