Between HeVan and Hell by Lucy Kelly

seen by the other
residents who might make a comment. The security staff has been
temporarily switched out, too. We’re getting you out of that
apartment; it’s not safe.”
    Grace completely forgot that she
couldn’t wait to get out of that dump. “Wait just a minute here,
this is my assignment. You two are just window dressing. Don’t even
think that you’re going to start taking over and giving the orders
around here.”
    “I meant no offense. Did you wish to
return there?” Jalen asked.
    “No, and don’t start trying to placate
me, either. It’s important to me that we nail these guys. They need
to go down. They’re into everything from money laundering to human
trafficking. This assignment is covering the money-laundering part
of their business. We haven’t been able to get anyone into their
organization to get more. Nearly all their people come from the
same neighborhood in Groznyy, which most people think is in Russia
but is actually in Chechnya. My Captain says they’re the Russian
Mafia, and that’s partly right. However, as Chechens, they’re Sunni
Muslims and have stronger links to the Arab countries than they do
to the Russian Orthodox. So I’m concerned they may be connected to
terrorist groups as well.
    “That’s just my personal theory. I
don’t believe that all Muslims are terrorists. In fact, I think
Muslims are the same as everyone else, people living their lives
and worshiping God in their own way.
    “Like any religion, there can be
zealots. And like any group of people, there are those that use
others to get what they want. This group is evil. They were pushed
out of Chechnya, and now they’re here and have become our problem,”
she said.
    “We have been studying your world’s
laws and politics. Do you have permission from your judges to tape
their conversations and phone calls and things?” asked Jett from
the front seat.
    “Yes, only we haven’t been successful
with electronic surveillance. First, we haven’t been able to get in
to place a listening device. And second, they sweep for bugs twice
a day and anything we’d finally be able to put in place would be
found,” answered Grace.
    “Jett is our technology expert. Did
Addie tell you about our nano-patches? Well, we have some that will
relay information over short distances, about one of your
miles.”
    “Oh, wow!” said Grace. “If we could
get those on any of Kadyrov’s people, within a month we’d have
enough to put them away for the rest of their lives. But how can we
use that technology without running into problems? As soon as they
know about it, all the police agencies will want it.”
    “We can say that it’s Jett’s personal
invention, which it is. And that we’re using this as a test case.
It’s not ready for the open market yet. And just in case you might
worry about followers listening in on our conversation in the car,
Jett has built-in a protection against that, as well. A simple
jamming device he placed on the dashboard.”
    “Okay, that might work.”
    She finally noticed where they
were.
    “Hey, this isn’t the way to the condo.
Where are we going?”
    “I told you we had a stop
to make. We’re getting you an engagement ring. And Arjun asked that
we pick out rings for Addie and her Joins . He would very much like to
surprise our new Nam-Nin with a traditional Earth
wedding.”
    “And what exactly is
a Nam-Nin ?” asked
Grace.
    “The Nam-Nin is the Supreme
Ruler Queen of HeVan. Beleti Aditya is our new ruler. She will be returning to
HeVan with her Ankida, her male Joins when the gate is finished.”
    “I remember now. She said
she was the new Queen. I thought she was joking. Ankida is like a group
name for husbands, right? What does Beleti mean?”
    “Beleti means female head of the house or lineage, or it can be a
title, like in your country, England. It means Lady, she is Lady
Addie.”
    “Wow, what does that make
me?”
    “Since you are the elder
sister, you are also Beleti . You