‘gunslinger’ were ever used in this modern time, Harper would be the picture they used in the data file. The cracked lines on the man’s face told Nathan that he’d been places, seen harder times than he could likely imagine. Calloway had done as he planned, getting the slinger to come out from hiding. Deciding it wise to let the pot simmer, Nathan slowly returned his pistol to its holster. After he snapped the leather strap back over the weapons hammer, Harper’s covered hand returned to view, closing the door behind him.
The three said nothing else as they ascended the stairs. Zena led Nathan up the dark stairwell, Harper following close behind. The Agent stopped at the edge of the room, his eyes locking upon whom he assumed to be Yomiel Koranth. Harper brushed past him, taking Zena’s place at the window. The rugged man pulled the drape back a few inches, peering out to the street.
“Mr. Koranth I presume?” Nathan asked, stepping toward the man.
“Yes,” he muttered. “Have you come to arrest me, Agent?”
Nathan had intended to extend his hand, but the trembling body of his host suggested it would only terrify the poor soul. He scanned the room, looking for signs of Lord Elsmere’s ‘property.’ There were doorways to other rooms, blankets hung for privacy. The Agent counted three, suggesting that some of the girls had shared a room growing up.
“Not right now,” Calloway replied, his eyes returning to the terrified host. “I would like to speak with your daughter, though.”
Yomiel looked anxiously to Zena and Harper before turning in his simple, wooden seat to face the Agent standing before him. The man’s large brown eyes looked to the floor, not wanting to make contact with the Agent’s gaze.
“Captain Benson says she knows you,” he started. “How is this possible?”
Agent Calloway looked to Zena, noticing the determined look upon the woman’s face. His memories flashed before his eyes, reminding him of simpler times in his life. Everyone has days or moments in their lives they wished to live over again. For Calloway, the blue-eyed face before him haunted those moments.
“We were partners,” he replied, still looking at the Captain. “Many, many years ago.”
“Not SO long ago,” she whispered, a pleasant smile forming on her plump lips.
“Not long enough,” Nathan finished, turning his attention back to Yomiel. “She probably told you not to worry about me. She’s probably right. I don’t want to talk about Elsmere right now, just want to see your daughter.”
Yomiel looked to Zena, his brows pushed high upon his forehead. The Captain closed her eyes, only offering a nod in acknowledgment. The brown eyes swept the floor as the narrow head turned to face forward.
“Elzana, come out here please,” Yomiel shouted.
From the room to his left, Calloway could hear the shuffling of feet on the stone floor. Slowly, the light brown curtain slid open, revealing a familiar face to the Agent. Elzana was clearly the eldest of the sister’s, the same unmistakable features upon the woman’s face. Nathan felt no shame in admiring the view, this time, the girl’s simple beauty practically demanded his attention. Two darkened bruises covered the left side of the beauty’s face, likely a parting gift from Elsmere.
“Agent, this is my oldest daughter, Elzana,” Yomiel said. “I’m sorry, I would introduce you, but I do not know your name. I don’t wish to call you Agent all night.”
Nathan’s face became red in embarrassment. Even out here, amongst the outer planets, one should not have forgotten one’s manners. He almost felt shame, knowing he’d been raised better than that.
“Forgive me,” Nathan stammered, a sheepish smile forming upon his face. “I am Nathan Calloway, an Agent from the I.I.U. I’m just following up with the incident on Parasus.”
“I am pleased to meet you, Agent Nathan,” she replied, her eyes locking onto the stone floor. Her voice was
The three said nothing else as they ascended the stairs. Zena led Nathan up the dark stairwell, Harper following close behind. The Agent stopped at the edge of the room, his eyes locking upon whom he assumed to be Yomiel Koranth. Harper brushed past him, taking Zena’s place at the window. The rugged man pulled the drape back a few inches, peering out to the street.
“Mr. Koranth I presume?” Nathan asked, stepping toward the man.
“Yes,” he muttered. “Have you come to arrest me, Agent?”
Nathan had intended to extend his hand, but the trembling body of his host suggested it would only terrify the poor soul. He scanned the room, looking for signs of Lord Elsmere’s ‘property.’ There were doorways to other rooms, blankets hung for privacy. The Agent counted three, suggesting that some of the girls had shared a room growing up.
“Not right now,” Calloway replied, his eyes returning to the terrified host. “I would like to speak with your daughter, though.”
Yomiel looked anxiously to Zena and Harper before turning in his simple, wooden seat to face the Agent standing before him. The man’s large brown eyes looked to the floor, not wanting to make contact with the Agent’s gaze.
“Captain Benson says she knows you,” he started. “How is this possible?”
Agent Calloway looked to Zena, noticing the determined look upon the woman’s face. His memories flashed before his eyes, reminding him of simpler times in his life. Everyone has days or moments in their lives they wished to live over again. For Calloway, the blue-eyed face before him haunted those moments.
“We were partners,” he replied, still looking at the Captain. “Many, many years ago.”
“Not SO long ago,” she whispered, a pleasant smile forming on her plump lips.
“Not long enough,” Nathan finished, turning his attention back to Yomiel. “She probably told you not to worry about me. She’s probably right. I don’t want to talk about Elsmere right now, just want to see your daughter.”
Yomiel looked to Zena, his brows pushed high upon his forehead. The Captain closed her eyes, only offering a nod in acknowledgment. The brown eyes swept the floor as the narrow head turned to face forward.
“Elzana, come out here please,” Yomiel shouted.
From the room to his left, Calloway could hear the shuffling of feet on the stone floor. Slowly, the light brown curtain slid open, revealing a familiar face to the Agent. Elzana was clearly the eldest of the sister’s, the same unmistakable features upon the woman’s face. Nathan felt no shame in admiring the view, this time, the girl’s simple beauty practically demanded his attention. Two darkened bruises covered the left side of the beauty’s face, likely a parting gift from Elsmere.
“Agent, this is my oldest daughter, Elzana,” Yomiel said. “I’m sorry, I would introduce you, but I do not know your name. I don’t wish to call you Agent all night.”
Nathan’s face became red in embarrassment. Even out here, amongst the outer planets, one should not have forgotten one’s manners. He almost felt shame, knowing he’d been raised better than that.
“Forgive me,” Nathan stammered, a sheepish smile forming upon his face. “I am Nathan Calloway, an Agent from the I.I.U. I’m just following up with the incident on Parasus.”
“I am pleased to meet you, Agent Nathan,” she replied, her eyes locking onto the stone floor. Her voice was
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