In the Presence of My Enemies Read Online Free Page A

turned to him sharply. “I’m used to this insubordinate questioning my orders,” he said, throwing a thumb in Shawn’s direction, “but I’m not used to it coming from one of my senior wing leaders, Commander .”
       Saltori’s posture stiffened. “Yes, sir. Of course, Captain. I’m only thinking that, with the Agincourt destroyed and the Breckenridge damaged—”
       “I’ll do the thinking around here, Commander. The Duchess of York and her escorts will be here in less than twenty-four hours. I’m sure we can hold the Kafarans at bay until then. Now, it seems to me that you’ve been hanging out with this space-hauler too long. Why don’t you go get some R&R on the observation deck for an hour or three? Do I make myself clear?”
       Saltori looked from Krif to Shawn and then back to the captain. “Yes, sir. Perfectly clear .” He then strode briskly away.
       Krif then reeled on Shawn. “And, as for you . . .”
       “I know when I’m not wanted, Dick.” Shawn slowly turned away from Krif, then made his way in the direction of Sylvia’s Delight , parked neatly at the forward edge of the bay.
     
    * * *
     
       Melissa was lost in thought when the doors leading into the brig’s lobby hissed open. She’d been sitting patiently in her cell, one of the dozen in this part of the Rhea ’s underbelly. With very little to do, her mind was processing everything she had learned up to this point—all the data from Toyotomi Katashi, what she and Shawn had discovered on board the Icarus , and what they had found on Second Earth. There were still so many unanswered questions, and she hoped that by rearranging the various pieces something might fit. None of it was.
       And why the hell hasn’t Shawn been down here to see me?
       Silently hoping it was him, she looked up in time to see two Marines glide past her cell. Wondering if they were going to power down the barrier separating her cell from the hallway, Melissa stood and moved toward the door. As she did, she watched as her father was placed into a cell across from her. Instinctively reaching out for him, her hand encountered the invisible barrier, and a jolt of electricity surged into her fingertip. Pulling away, she cradled her now-numb hand.
       “Daddy?”
       William didn’t say anything as the guards moved him into his cell. Activating the barrier, the guards then placed two Kafarans into nearby compartments. When all the prisoners were secure, the handful of Marines left the brig, leaving one present to keep watch over the detainees. William turned, and he and Melissa stared at each silently for a long moment.
       “What are you doing in here?” William asked in astonishment.
       Melissa blinked in confusion. “Is—is that all you have to say? I thought I’d never see you again.”
       William smiled faintly. “I’m quite al l right, as you can see.”
       “I’ll hold off on believing that until I can wrap my arms around you,” she said, trying to hold back tears. “I thought you were dead.”
       Her father let out a shallow sigh. “There was a time where I thought I was going to be, but everything seems to have worked out all right since then.”
       Melissa waved her hands around the brig. “You call this ‘al l right’?”
       William leaned against the door frame, careful not to br eak the force field. “To be honest, I half-expected Krif to put us in here.” He then tilted his head in the direction of the Kafarans in the next cell. “I explained as much to Commodore Savath.”
       Melissa was beside herself, but still refused to acknowledge the Kafarans ’ presence until she had all the facts from her father. “Then why did you request to come aboard the Rhea ?”
       Her father smiled, then reflected on the words before he spoke them. “Because I had to. It was the only way to make certain assurances were met.”
       “Assurances?”
       William nodded slowly.
       Melissa