Kris Longknife's Bloodhound, a novella by Mike Shepherd Page A

coast.
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 15
     
     
    Despite the massive array of force that followed them to the villa, Taylor persuaded his boss into letting him just walk up and knock on the door.  She did assure that two vanloads of   select SWAT teams were just a short run away.
    Taylor’s knocked but no one answered.
    “Mr. Kittikon, Commander Zloben, I know you’re in there,” Taylor shouted. 
    No one still answered.
    “I’m not going away.  You may open the door, or I will open it, but either way, it is time we meet.”
    The security specialist opened the door a crack.  He was bare chested and in his undershorts.  Maybe gym shorts.
    “I’m here alone.”
    “Then you won’t mind me coming in to talk to you.”
    “As a matter of fact, I do mind , and you may not come in.”
    “Then I will share with you the search warrant I have to go over these premises.”
    “You have no reason to get a search warrant.”
    “Yes.  Your file shows you have a law degree.  However, I know a judge who lost her youngest daughter on the Furious under Kris Longknife’s command.  She has a most intense interest in seeing that her daughter did not die in vain.”
    The door opened.  Taylor was led into a wide sitting room.  Commander Zloben was reclined on a leather couch in a most revealing tank top and even more revealing bikini underwear.
    “Good morning, Commander,” Taylor said, taking a seat in a matching leather chair across from her.
    “And you are?” she said, raising an eyebrow, but not coming to her feet.
    “I am Senior Chief Agent in Charge Taylor Foile.  I have been on your trail for some time.  I am glad to make your acquaintance.”
    “I don’t know why.” she said, waving Kittikon over.  He settled beside her and she proceeded to stroke him in a most salacious manner.
    Taylor addressed himself to the security specialist.  “The ships are fitting out.  When is Commander Zloben taking command of the tender?”
    “You seem to know a lot more about this than I do.  Why don’t you tell me?” he said, responding to her stoking by brushing aside the wisp of her top to begin stroking her erect nipple.
    So Taylor told the two of them the story he had pieced together.  Several furtive and alarmed glances interrupted their affectation of foreplay to confirm Taylor’s suspicions.  
    He had guessed right.
    “So, why don’t you tell me where the fleet is going?” Taylor concluded.  “I suppose we could hold the two Longknife freighters and the tender in port, but I suspect that those three ships are not the entirety of the foolishness.”
    The commander pulled down the security man’s shorts and began fondling him in full view of the agent. 
    “Why should I tell you anything?” she said.
    “Because, if these aliens run true to form, you and your crew will be dead in a couple of weeks if you don’t cooperate with us.”
    The commander actually interrupted her sex play to eye Taylor.  “What makes you think that?  You haven’t told me anything I don’t already know.  I did watch the reports that came back with that Kris Longknife girl.  But as for these aliens killing me, you have not thought this through.  No, not at all,” she said, and returned her attention to her sex partner.
    “What do you think I’ve missed?” Taylor said.
    She didn’t even look back at him, but toyed like a cat with what was in front of her.
    “I command a fast tender.  I refuel the ships when they need it, but that also means I can refuel myself any time I want to.  I’ve got almost unlimited range,” she said, and demonstrated it by roving her fingernails, claw like, over Kittikon’s thighs and chest and all in between.
    “As I see it, when they meet up with the aliens, I hang well back.  If things go well, I’m in on the ground floor of a huge profit maker.  If it goes sour, well, I run,” she said, and ran her fingers up Kittikon’s chest, and back down.
    “After all, someone has to