Sullivan Saga 2: Sullivan's Wrath by Michael K. Rose

her. He clenched his fists and tried to suppress the effects of the adrenaline coursing through his body. “If you touch her….”
    “I only spoke to her. I went to tell her that you were all right. She asked me to tell you that she loves you.”
    “You leave her alone from now on.”
    Liz stepped around Sullivan and put her hand on Allen’s cheek. “That’s up to you. If you do as we say, she will be left in peace. If you do not….”
    Allen moved away from her touch. “Liz, there’s no need to threaten him. It’s not right.”
    Liz’s eyes flashed, and Allen recoiled slightly. Her eyes grew kind again. “I’m sorry, Frank. It’s just that this is too important. We can’t leave anything to chance.” She turned to Sullivan. “I only want you to realize what we can do. We do not want to harm her, but we can.”
    Sullivan nodded. He took a few breaths and tried to regain control of his emotions. He couldn’t win this fight just yet. He knew it would be better to wait. “I understand. But please, just leave her alone now.”
    The entity smiled. “We’re nearly at Abilene. We’ll be dropping out of hyperspace in six hours. When we do, you will contact Eugene Brain and ask to meet him.”
    “Why don’t we just get the weapons from Brain?” asked Sullivan. “Why are we getting credits from him to buy the weapons from a third party?”
    “Because we do not want Eugene Brain to know about the weapons. You will not tell him what you need to buy.”
    “But why?”
    Allen put his hand on Sullivan’s shoulder. “Because those weapons can’t be traced, Rick. No one can know that we bought them.”
    “The people we buy them from will know.”
    “Assuming the deal goes according to plan,” said Liz, “the people who sell you the weapons will be unable to remember who you were or what you looked like. Eugene Brain already knows you well; it would be difficult to alter his memories.”
    “You can do that?” asked Sullivan.
    Liz smiled.
    Sullivan closed his eyes and shook his head. “And why the secrecy? Why do you care if anyone knows that we bought those weapons?”
    “We care,” Liz said, “because we do not like our movements to be followed. There is more going on here than you realize.”
    Allen nodded. “And we need to show proof that we have the credits before they’ll even consider selling us the weapons. It’s standard business procedure. After we get the weapons, we can send a message to Kate to repay Brain.”
    “Why are we doing this, Frank? Has she even told you?”
    Allen looked at Liz. “No. But I trust her. It’s what we must do.”
    “Do you really believe everything she’s said?”
    “I… I do, but….”
    Sullivan turned to Liz. She was staring at Allen, her face hard, her eyes cold.
    “Like I said,” Allen continued, “I trust her. And you should, too.”
     

22
     
    EUGENE BRAIN WAS grinning as he watched Sullivan and Allen step out of the ship that had landed in front of one of his warehouses. He walked toward them, shaking his head.
    He embraced each man. “Never thought I’d see you two again.”
    Sullivan smiled. He glanced at Allen. He was smiling, too, but Sullivan could tell it was artificial. “How are you, Brain?” he asked.
    “Can’t complain. Orion Zednik’s former associates have fallen in line now that they know he won’t be returning.”
    “Good. You keeping the peace?”
    “I’m trying. There are people around here who don’t make it easy for me.”
    “I’m sure that’s true.”
    Brain smiled again. “So what brings you two to this hell hole?”
    Allen put his hand on Brain’s shoulder. “Perhaps we’d better talk in private.”
    Brain nodded. “I have a car out front. We’ll go to my place.”
     
    BRAIN’S HOME OCCUPIED the entire top story of one of the taller buildings in the city. Armed guards were at every entrance. Sullivan could tell that Brain really was a man to reckon with now.
    Brain led the two men into a sitting room