Editing The Sevant Murders (section)

===Back on the Nimitz, Capturing the Puppet Master===


(USS Nimitz - Corridor - Richard Collins - 1910)

Richard stood in front of the door to his quarters, just out of sensor range so it wouldn't open, and closed his eyes. He had been caught, captured, interrogated... And unless that Security Chief was damn good, he was not only going to be spending his life in the stockade, his family would be moldering in the mean time. 

He had several murders on his conscience, but if his family was butchered because of this crazy little stunt, then he would probably kill Sasha and add another stain to his soul. This one would be free of cost to his other nominal employer.  

His employer, that woman, he would have to see her again sooner or later. 

Practically shaking with trepidation, he walked up to the door and into his quarters. He took a quick glance around, everything seemed to be just as he left it. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, then turned his head to look into the kitchen. 

Sitting on the table, alone, was a pristine yellow rose.

Richard's face crumpled, and his arms fell limp at his side. 

Without another word, and in careful control of his feelings, he turned back around for a walkabout. With every step he took, he prayed that the Security Chief really knew his business.