Torkel had mentioned having Jaron share the results of his deeper search as soon as the information came in. Bane tied the laces of his boots and stood. “She was assigned late to my case as one of my medic assistants.”
Jaron nodded. “There was nothing untoward in her record though the timing is suspicious. Her reason for leaving early is listed as illness of a parent.”
Moving around the items in his pack, Bane found his black tee shirt and replayed the night before in his head. Had Dharma explained why she was replacing Teyla? He didn’t recall. “Dharma took over her remaining patients for this week.”
“Dharma Volgi?” Jaron asked.
Vee and Kyele hovered close, one on each side of the closed door to his room, guarding it and Bane. As if he needed protection. Bane shot Vee a look that was mostly ignored and answered Jaron. “Yes. She’s been at CV-8 for two years and is due to leave in another week. She and Teyla arrived at about the same time, I think.”
“That is correct. Dharma cleared. My records don’t show anything questionable about her background or work here.”
Bane exhaled the breath he didn’t know he’d been holding and shouldered his arms through the sleeves of his black uniform shirt over his tee shirt and buttoned it.
“The other two suspicious staff members are Reika Mirat and Caris Tiloh. Caris didn’t come to work today nor did she report she would be absent in advance.”
In the midst of reaching for the tracker to pin to his collar, Bane froze. He faced Jaron. “What does that mean?”
Jaron blew out a breath and folded his arms over his chest. “I was able to access the security logs. I tracked back to the day you mentioned one of the staff being attacked in the stairway. Access is restricted to identi-badge users only but the name was wiped on the security logs for the individual who entered after Dharma Volgi.” Jaron smirked. “Breaking it was not an issue and I was able to discover the name of that individual—it was Caris.”
“Caris?” Caris had attacked Dharma in the stairs? Bruised her face and cracked her cheekbone? The communication bud slid neatly into Bane’s ear as he absorbed that. “They seemed to be friends. Or on friendly terms as staff members who worked together tend to be.”
Jaron’s dark brows arched. “Her youth records were sealed, remember?”
“I remember.” He’d held back when Jaron wanted to probe deeper on the anomaly. Strapping his laser about his thigh on one leg and sheathing his knife on the other thigh, Bane asked,” What else did you find?”
“I broke the youth records. Caris has ties to Marenia. Lothar specifically. Torkel believes that one of th—”
The door swung open, cutting him off. Vee and Kyele tensed, their hands falling to the weapons on their hips. Oblivious to their presence, Dharma entered with a welcoming expression on her face.
Bane’s pulse kicked up. After weeks of being subjected to her stern facade, he wasn’t yet used to her giving him such an open look. He couldn’t help smiling back.
“I’m here like I promised. When do you le—”
“You!” Shocking everyone, Jaron lunged for Dharma.
Face paling, she stumbled back in surprise. Kyele kicked the door shut and slid in front of it. Bane jumped forward and placed himself in front of Dharma. He shoved Jaron in the chest and blocked him. “What are you doing?!”
What was wrong with his teammate? Jaron never attacked without provocation.
Jaron shot glares over Bane’s shoulder. Anger rolled from him in waves. He jabbed a finger in the air. “That’s Targa! She worked with The Collector to drug me. She helped hold Sasha prisoner for his sick experiments.”
Everything happened at once. Vee trilled and Bane turned, knowing he was going to be too late. Vee’s speed was unmatched. He reached for Dharma but Kyele shifted in mist form and reappeared behind her with his arm locked about her throat and a blade in his other hand pressed to the tender skin.
“She worked with The Collector?” Kyele asked. The look in his green eyes was one excuse away from dragging his knife slowly across her neck.
“Hold! Fuck, don’t...Kyele, don’t.” Bane had no idea what was going on. He turned to the side, pushing Jaron back and keeping Dharma fully in his sight.
She had her hands on Kyele’s forearm, her nails clawing at the subtle pressure he was applying.
“Kyele!” Bane snapped.
He loosened his hold marginally. Standing near and at the ready, Vee flashed his venomous fangs and flexed his fingers.
Everything was crashing around him and Bane struggled to make sense of it.
“I’ll kill her myself.” Jaron withdrew his laser and aimed it directly at Dharma. Rage burned bright in his blue eyes.
The situation was deteriorating rapidly. Visions of Jaron shooting Dharma in front of him sickened Bane. “No! Something’s wrong. It has to be. That’s Dharma, the medic assistant, who’s been working with me for weeks.”
“Wrong! Her name is Targa and she was in league with Dr. Kirkem.” Jaron sneered. “The only difference is her horns. They’re missing, but I could never forget the face of the woman who assaulted me sexually while I was drugged. She laughed about it and asked for more.”
Dharma flinched and her eyelids drifted closed. Kyele hefted her higher in his grip until only her toes touched the floor. Not that she could get out of the particular hold he used and with his knife so close to slitting her throat.
A drop of blood pearled on the tanned skin Bane had licked and kissed only hours before. Instinct urged him to go to her but confusion held him in place. He locked down every muscle in his body until it hurt to stand still.
There was so much doubt swirling around her and who she might be. Jaron wouldn’t lie. He could be mistaken, but it didn’t happen often. Bane trusted Jaron with his life but...Dharma. She’d spent the night in his arms. He’d performed fila telagrum on her, wrapped her in his silk. It didn’t get more intimate.
Unsure what was going on because there had to be an answer, Bane kept his tone calm and asked, “Dharma, is—”
“Targa!” Jaron shouted, his features darkening with fury though the laser in his hand never wavered. “She’s Targa and she’s a fucking Marenian.”
Alarms blared overhead. Strobe lights in an array of blue and red flashed across the ceiling.
“Warning! Warning! There has been an unauthorized landing. Unidentified transport vessel. Security to docking bay.”
Kyele wheeled Dharma around and slapped plasti-cuffs on her wrists. Stunned, her mouth fell open. “What are you doing?”
“You’re going with us!” Jaron wasn’t nice as he voiced the declaration.
Vee withdrew his laser and stared at Dharma, his eyes taking on a familiar glint.
“Vee,” Bane warned. He wouldn’t have Dharma hypnotized without her knowledge or permission.
“You don’t get it, Bane. This is all a set-up. An unauthorized ship? Here, when we arrive to take you home?” Jaron’s expression creased in disbelief as he flung his free hand at Dharma. “She’s working with Lothar. The attack in the stairs was probably coordinated with Caris to gain your sympathy.”
“Caris?” Dharma spoke for the first time and glanced at each of them. “What did Caris do?”