Deena Grace sat at her table in her tiny apartment. It was covered with prints of news reports. All of them featured pictures of Dace. Deena shuffled through the headlines again. Lurid tabloid reports of pregnancy and lovers and other scandals stared up at her. And on every page was that face, sometimes smiling but not often. She had secrets hidden in her eyes.
She sighed and tapped the table as she thought. This was the woman Tayvis was involved with? This was the one who had finally stolen his heart only to break it?
From what she could see, even discounting the gossip column penchant for exaggeration, the woman wasn't worth his time. The latest, from just last night, was still on top. They'd named her one of the Thousand. She stood in her uniform, with the Emperor and the High Command, looking aloof, her head held arrogantly high.
Deena sighed again. She'd been following Dace for the last week, looking for something that would tell her what kind of woman she really was. She found nothing, other than the gossip and speculation in the news vids. The woman's only appearances were at public functions. Deena had no way to judge her.
Not that it mattered. Tayvis was long gone. She could spend what money she still had to find him, but then what would she tell him? That the woman he loved was engaged to Vance Shiropi? That she was rumored to have at least a dozen lovers in the Patrol alone?
No, she didn't want to break his heart all over again.
She pushed the papers onto the floor. She sat wrapped in her robe, still sipping her breakfast though it was near noon. The drink had gone cold, but she didn't notice. She stared out her kitchen window at the morning traffic flying past.
She should leave Linas-Drias. She hadn't made a vid in over fifteen years. No one recognized her anymore. Once, the fame was enough for her. Everyone knew her name. Everyone recognized her face. It was faded and gone now. She was a footnote, an aging vid star. In the vids, she would always be young and vibrant, but it was illusion.
Her only child was gone. She had hoped to see him marry, to have grandchildren to look forward to someday. His weren't the only dreams in ashes.
She sipped her drink and made a face at the taste. She got up and poured it into the sink. The dark liquid swirled down the drain leaving only a faint stain behind. She had a sister, somewhere. They hadn't talked in decades. Taylissa wanted Dariana to share her fame. Deena tried to explain it didn't work that way. Taylissa left in a huff when Deena wouldn't buy her an audition with a vid producer.
She had no other family. There had been a number of supposed cousins when she first became famous. None of them could prove a family connection. That was one thing that appealed to her when she met Therin. He had family. It was important to him. She loved the warmth of his mother, the friendliness of his sisters and brothers. She had married him, expecting to grow her own family. She had dreams of children, lots of them, and family parties, and her playing the part of mother. She had wanted it with her whole heart.
Things had started to go sour before she even got pregnant. Therin wanted her home, playing the part of dutiful wife. He wanted her out of his spotlight. He looked down on her art, calling it common. He never appreciated what she was.
And then Tayvis had arrived, a squalling bundle with a red face. She had been happy then. But two years passed with no sign of another child. She had an offer to star in a new vid. She didn't accept it for the money, that was never the issue no matter what Therin claimed. She missed the acting, she missed the people she worked with, she missed creating something. Therin gave her a choice, her marriage or her career.
She'd packed up her solemn eyed toddler and left. And that was the end of that dream. She still wanted children, but she contented herself with the thought of grandchildren as she watched Tayvis grow.
She thought she was giving him only the best when she sent him to his father. Therin could give him the advantages she wanted for him. She never dreamed Therin's second wife, Arbella, would treat him the way she had. By the time Deena learned the truth, it was too late. Tayvis was off at military school, only the best, of course. She told herself lies, that it was for his own good. She made vids for a few more years, until the pain grew too much. Her career had been ended by health problems.
They were only a memory now, like her shining fame. By the time she was well again, no one wanted her. She was too old, they told her. She had gracefully bowed out, believing them.
She'd watched Tayvis, proud of him as he graduated first from military school and then from the Academy. He looked good in his uniform. But there was a distance and a sadness in his eyes, he was somewhere she couldn't reach.
She thought this time, when he came back, that she could rebuild a life with him. He was out of the Patrol. But there were shadows in his eyes, worse than before. And an aching loneliness she couldn't banish, except when he talked about Dace, which had been rarely. Then he lit up. He really had loved her. Deena sighed and leaned on the edge of the sink.
What was real and what was pretense? The note, the final note that would have destroyed her son, was false. He'd been gone long before it came. But how much of the news sheets did he read? How much had he heard about her since? If she loved him, as he said, why hadn't she called? It had to be because she really was marrying someone else.
A knock rattled her door. Deena jumped and knocked her cup onto the floor. It hit with a clatter and broke. She picked up the pieces as the knock came again.
"Just a moment," she called as she dropped the pieces in the disposal.
She opened her door. A man stood outside, hands shoved in his pockets as he waited. He wore a hat and dark glasses. His clothes were unremarkable. He'd gone to great lengths to make himself unmemorable.
"Yes?" she asked.
"Dariana Grace?"
"Last time I checked my papers. Who are you?"
The man smiled and took off his glasses. His eyes were bluish gray and looked kind. "Do you mind if I come in? I need to talk to you."
"I'm not in the habit of entertaining strange men in my apartment," she said sharply. "And especially not in my bathrobe."
"I could come back, but I'd prefer sooner rather than later."
"What is this about?"
"The hallway isn't a good place to talk," he said, his smile fading. His eyes were serious now.
She glanced up and down the hall. He was alone, as far as she could tell. She felt a shiver of fear. There was something urgent about him, despite his relaxed air. She felt no threat from him, though. She made her decision. She opened the door.
"Do you mind waiting while I dress?" she asked as he followed her inside.
He closed the door behind him, making sure the lock was on. "Not at all."
She should have been nervous, having him check the lock was suspicious. She had some idea of what Tayvis had been mixed up in the last few years. Maybe he wasn't really out of the Patrol. Maybe he was working undercover. And maybe she was being silly. She left the man sitting in her small front room and went into her bedroom to change out of her robe.
He was leafing through one of her magazines when she returned a few minutes later.
"You still stay in touch with the business?" he asked. "Your last vid came out fifteen years ago. At least here. It finally made it to Ophir only ten years ago. I really enjoyed it. I thought it was one of your best performances. You shouldn't have quit."
"I had reasons," she said. He didn't take the hint.
"Your earlier performances lacked maturity and depth. They were still very good, but the last three were by far your most touching."
"Who are you and why are you here?" It came out shrill. She'd been stalked once, by a fan. It had ended most unpleasantly.
"I do apologize," he said, standing and offering his hand to her. "My name's Henrius Grey, but most people call me Scholar. I work for Commander Lowell. I'm currently looking for your son."
"Tayvis isn't here." She ignored the hand.
"I know that," Scholar said, dropping his hand. "Can you give me any idea where he might be?"
"How do I know I can trust you?"
"Was he in some kind of trouble? I wasn't aware he was on anyone's current hit list."
"Wait just one moment," Deena said, raising one hand. "Why are you looking for him?"
"Because I need his help."
"He doesn't work for the Patrol anymore. You did say you worked for Commander Lowell." She waited for his answer, ready to throw him out if she didn't like it.
"Yes, I do. I work for him personally, not for the Patrol or for his office. He has a vested interest in Tayvis' safety and happiness." Scholar gave her a bright smile. "That didn't work, did it? Look, the truth is that no one knows where Lowell is right now. Lowell didn't send me here for your son. I'm here to keep Dace in one piece. I need Tayvis' help."
She believed him this time, but she wasn't going to break her son's heart again. "He isn't here. And I don't care what that tart needs. She isn't getting him, not after what she did to him."
"This is going well," Scholar muttered. "There's a lot you don't understand. Please, trust me. I can't explain it to you."
"Why not?"
"Because it could compromise people. I don't want to be responsible for getting people killed."
He was deadly serious. She saw it in his eyes. She was startled enough to drop into a chair, staring at him.
"People are getting killed?" It came out too high.
"The Empire is at war, although to judge from what I've seen here so far, you wouldn't know it. And yes, people are dying over it. I'm here to try to help stop it before it goes too far. I need Tayvis to help me do it."
"How well do you know him?" She wanted something of her son, some part of his life that he hadn't given her.
"Don't believe everything you read in the news. I saw what you've been looking at. I assume he told you something about Dace."
"She broke his heart."
"And he broke hers, so they're even."
She looked up, startled.
"You want the truth? She can't stand Vance. It's all an act. It's absolutely essential no one suspects the real reason she's there. And that's one reason I need to find Tayvis."
"How do you know him?"
Scholar sat in a chair across from her. "Tell me where he is, first."
She shook her head. "I don't know where he went. I don't know much about my own son. I don't even know what friends he'd go to."
"No one here?"
She shook her head again.
"Then that helps narrow it down. When did he leave?"
"Weeks ago. He packed his duffel. He left some things behind." She saw Scholar's sudden interested look. "Nothing important. It was only personal items."
"One moment," Scholar told her. He pulled out a flexible pad and slipped his fingers into it. His hand twitched for a few moments. He slid his hand out and put the pad back into his pocket. "I've got people checking records."
"You think he may be in danger?" she asked in sudden fear.
"At this point, everyone is in danger, but I wouldn't worry too much. He's been in worse. A lot worse."
"That's not a comforting thought."
Scholar laughed. "You're not the person I was expecting. You're much better. You want to hear how I met Tayvis?"
She wasn't sure whether she should be flattered or insulted by Scholar. But she had a day full of lonely nothing in front of her.
"Would you care for something to drink?" she offered. "Or are you in a hurry?"
"Not now," he said. "I really am a fan of yours. I've seen almost all of your vids."
"Now you're resorting to flattery."
"Only if it helps. And yes, I would love something to drink. I spent most of the night crawling through shrubs at the zoological preserve. Don't ask why. I'm embarrassed to admit what I was after. I was wrong."
"What are you after?" she asked as she heated more of the drink and fetched cups from the cupboard.
"Evidence." He yawned widely. "How well do you know Sparticus Newellyn?"
She raised her eyebrows as she handed him a cup of steaming liquid. "Senior or Junior?"
"Both."
"Not well."
"Pity." He sipped the drink.
She settled back in her chair. He looked tired, though he tried to hide it.
"Tell me about Dace, since you say the papers lie about her. Tell me the truth."
He looked up, over the rim of the cup, and took his time answering. "She isn't pregnant and she hates lavender silk. Those were the most glaring lies. Other than the big one that she's marrying Vance."
"She isn't?"
"Only if Hades freezes solid."
She laughed. "I haven't heard that expression in years."
"I stole it from your vid." He grinned unrepentantly. "One of your best lines. And very appropriate to Dace's situation. I talked to her yesterday." His grin faded.
"Tell me how you met Tayvis," Deena urged. Enough about the woman.
"It was on Ophir. They had the entire Blackthorne Conglomerate and what was left of Targon Syndicate chasing them down."
"They?"
"Tayvis, Dace, and Jerimon. They crashed on Ophir. I helped them leave again." He studied her. "You really don't have to worry about her, Miss Grace. She would never intentionally hurt him, not without a very good reason."
"Call me Deena." She pulled her feet into the chair, curving her knees to one side. She sipped her drink. "He never told me what he did for the Enforcers."
"He worked undercover mostly."
"And Dace? What did she do? They named her one of the Thousand last night."
Scholar whistled softly. "Someone wants to yank her chain."
"Pardon?"
"Dace hates the Patrol. Yes, she really is an admiral. She enlisted as one." He laughed at the expression on her face. "She worked unofficially for Lowell, until he forced her into a corner. He never thought she'd follow through. But it involved Tayvis. She enlisted for his sake. And then Vance lied and told everyone he'd been shot. Dace went to pieces after that."
"She loves him?"
"Don't doubt her, please. The minute she's got what she needs, she's going to find a ship and start looking for Tayvis."
Deena stared into her cup for a moment, thinking hard. "And why are you helping her?"
"Because Lowell asked me to, and because I like her. And I respect her."
She looked up at him. He met her gaze squarely.
"I can't help you find my son, I have no idea where he went. I do have something that you should see." She stood, placing her cup on a low table next to the chair.
She went into the spare room where Tayvis stayed. She'd put his things away for him. The room looked barren, even with the bright colored quilt on the bed and the touches she'd tried to add. She opened a drawer and pulled out the notes Tayvis had saved, along with the one that had come later.
Scholar was dozing in his chair when she returned. He snapped awake, blinking hard. She handed him the notes. He gave her a puzzled look as he flipped through them.
"Tayvis saved them. He had them hidden in his room. The last one," she pointed to the one on top, "arrived after he left."
She sat in her seat, watching Scholar. He looked through the notes again, then went back and read the notes carefully. She watched him smile as he read the older notes. He knew the people Dace mentioned, that much was obvious from his reactions. He opened the last note. His face was hard as he read through the vicious words.
"Dace didn't write this," he said, holding up the note.
"I figured that out, I was wondering if you'd come to the same conclusion. Who wants to hurt Tayvis so badly?"
"The same people who want Dace dead, I suspect." Scholar stopped and yawned.
"Do you have somewhere to stay?" she asked, on impulse.
"Are you offering?"
"Yes."
"No one will look here. Thank you. I appreciate the offer."
"Are you going to help him?"
"When I find him, I'm going to slap him. Then yes, I'm going to help him. He's an idiot sometimes."
"Aren't we all?"
Scholar bent his head over the last note again. "Do you mind if I keep this one?"
"I was tempted to burn it. By all means, take it."
He slipped it into a pocket.
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Do you know who's plotting treason?"
She went pale, her eyes huge. "Treason?"
"That's what Dace is looking for. And this time we're going to find the source."
"Tayvis is mixed up in this? Do you suspect him of treason?"
"Tayvis? Never. Last time he arrested Dace for it. The charges were dropped."
"I think I want to hear the full story."
"I'll tell you what I can, but later. I have to check some things." He stood. "Were you serious about the room?"
"If you need it, you are welcome."
"And you can tell your neighbors we're having a torrid affair," he said, winking.
She laughed as she showed him out the door. He gave her a jaunty wave as he walked away. She closed the door and leaned against it. Perhaps her dreams of grandchildren weren't dead after all. They would be if she couldn't find Tayvis.
She went to place a few calls to old friends. Someone had to know where he had gone.