Chapter 24, art of decieption 13

(Callie)

Her chair swiveled as she met each of their eyes, receiving much the same looks from Dustin and Taniya. From Dustin, there was curiosity and a hurt expression that she had never seen on his handsome face.

His lips were drawn to a white line, but there was the faintest spark of hope in his deep brown eyes. Callie's heart raced, and she nervously fidgeted with her middle button on her shirt. Taniya looked confused and had questions in her eyes, but the young woman still gave Callie a smile of assurance.

Lady Veronica, acting spymaster to the emperor, appeared less upset than Dustin at Callie's deception. Dustin and Veronica sat side by side across the table while Taniya sat next to Callie.Callie took in a deep breath of filtered air, calming her racing heart.

It was hard to see that look of distrust in Dustin's eyes, but Callie knew this was only the beginning. What would they think if they discovered the full truth?Callie leaned forward in her chair, the leather creaking softly, and spoke.

"Well, after my mentor was killed, I became an independent contractor. I did odd jobs for a while but decided to come to Proxima to get further in life. It was actually pure luck that I met Ferra, she introduced me to the colonel and that is how I met Dustin."Callie said, making sure not to lie.

"Ferra, the lieutenant? Colonel Herbert MacNair mentioned her when I was asking him about Callie."Veronica said, glancing at Dustin. "If you want to question Ferra in person, I can track her down for you? She is just a freelance mercenary that works for high-end clients on cargo runs."Dustin said, some confidence returning to his gruff voice.

"Do that. She might be a good contact to have if we can rope her into the organization."Veronica said.

"Callie, where did you get your fake ID?" Taniya asked, her tone not accusing but curious. Callie turned in her chair to face Taniya."Well, I made it, for the most part."Callie said, sheepishly. "How did you make your ID good enough to sneak past Dustin?" Taniya asked with genuine interest. "I want to know that as well."Dustin said, his face scrunched up in what she thought might be a pout. She smiled to herself, the man was not near as good at hiding his emotions when he was caught off-guard.

Veronica cleared her throat, drawing their attention to her. "Callie, as much as I want to know how you got your ID, I am more concerned with your brief story. There are so many holes in that vague little story that I could fit a battle ship through it."Veronica said, resting her hand on her chin.

"You own a battleship?" Callie asked, curiously.

"Yes, now answer the question."Veronica said, her tone serious. Callie looked around the room nervously, not sure how much she was willing to reveal. The truth that she was a Secari was not something she could reveal for obvious reasons, but she needed to give Dustin, Veronica, and Taniya something to believe.

"It's true that I stretched the truth when you did your interview Dustin, but I never explicitly lied."Callie said, stalling to give herself time to think.

"Really? So what didn't you tell me about exactly?" Dustin asked, his dark brown eyes boring into her.

"Well, you know how I said I came from Saleia? That wasn't the truth. I am actually from the fringe of the Slax empire," Callie said. She couldn't help but flush in embarrassment from Dustin's glare. Well, that part wasn't a lie at least. Etria was on the fringe of both the Slax empire and the Zrixian empire.

"First off, you told me that you were from Saleia, and that was a blatant lie. Now you are saying that you are a Slax spy?" Dustin asked with a scowl.

"Not as such. I do not work for the Slax or anyone, for that matter." Callie paused and drummed her fingers on the table to show nerves. "Well, unless you keep paying me, I guess. But then again, after today, I might need a new job?" asked Callie, shrugging, glancing at Dustin with a raised eyebrow.

Dustin let out a frustrated breath, gritting his teeth." How can I possibly trust what you say after you freely admit you have been lying about who you are?" Dustin asked with a scowl.

"Maybe you do and maybe you don't trust me anymore. If I was you, I would probably fire me."Callie said, shrugging her shoulders as though it was that simple.

"You want me to fire you?" Dustin asked, confused. "No, but it's the smart thing to do."Callie said, receiving a nod of approval from Veronica. Dustin groaned, glancing around the room, his face a mask of annoyance and concern.

"Callie, I have a question. Is your ID completely fabricated? And are you a citizen of the Slax empire?" Asked Veronica, her eyebrows knitted together in worry.

Callie let out a dejected sigh, as though admitting defeat."If it makes you feel better, I don't work for the Slax at all. I really am an independent contractor." Callie said, folding her arms and looking into Dustin's eyes to drive home her point.

"We are going to have a long discussion later." Dustin grumbled. Callie's heart skipped a beat at those softly spoken words, maybe she would not be fired?

"You have come along way from the fringes of the Slax empire. May I ask why you left?" Veronica asked, her question more of a demand.

"For work, obviously, your empire pays artists a lot more than the Slax and I was in need of some crowns."Callie said with a shrug.

"She has a point mother, the Slax don't pay their artists near as much as we do."Taniya said, coming to Callie's defence.

The Ra let out a deep frustrated sigh and rubbed her temples in an uncharacteristic show of frustration. "Dustin, it is your prerogative who you hire as your partner, but I strongly suggest that you find another more trustworthy person!" Veronica said, not masking her dislike.

"Your suggestion is duly noted, lady Veronica. I will take your suggestion under advisement. However, I'm still unsure if I will keep her on after she lied so blatantly to me." Dustin said, folding his arms defiantly.

Veronica let out another sigh and shook her head disapprovingly. "Dustin, I think this is a mistake, but for now, I am willing to let it slide. But please, can you two let me speak to Callie in private for a few minutes?" Veronica said, her tone light yet assertive.

Next to her, Taniya stood, and Callie glanced back at her. Taniya leaned over to whisper next to Callie's ear."Try to behave, and tell the truth. Mom is really good at catching lies?" Taniya said, before heading out the door.

Dustin was hesitant to leave the room when his mother we obviously hostile towards Callie. He wanted answers from that blasted young woman, but wasn't willing to agree to his mother's demands just yet. For her part, Callie appeared calm, despite the fact she was about to be alone with the empire's spy master.

Callie and Veronica sat in silence as Taniya and Dustin left the room. For a minute they just sat in silence, staring at each other, gauging each other's reactions. "A question for you, lady Veronica?"

"Ask"

"Why didn't you push Dustin to fire me? My story has about one thousand red flags, and yet you didn't push him to fire me?" Callie asked, wondering about the woman's motive.

"Young lady, what do you think is the best way to teach your children a lesson?" Veronica asked calmly.

"You are willing to bet on their safety to help them learn a lesson?" Callie asked with a raised eyebrow.

"They clearly trust you quite a lot, besides Dustin wouldn't fire you just because I ordered him to."Veronica said with a snort of frustration.

"You could have me killed quietly. I hear your agency is good at that?" Callie said calmly.Veronica raised an eyebrow but didn't respond to the jab.

"We could, but that would cause some complications."Veronica said with a raised brow. "I dont know if Dustin or Taniya really trust me, but I like them. They are the closest thing I have to friends from the people of your empire." Callie said confidently.

"You are playing a dangerous game, Callie Mauria. It was risky to come to this meeting and yet you did it, anyway?" Veronica asked. Callie took in a deep breath, allowing some of her frustration to show.

"Well, I wasn't expecting to meet the empire's spy master, of all things! Once I discovered you were Dustin's mother, I realized my cover story was already blown, and the only way to stay employed was to turn myself in."Callie said.

Veronica nodded to herself."And what if I just have you arrested or deported from the empire?" Veronica asked seriously.

"Then I would escape, and just go find another place of employment. Fraud is only a fine and maybe a slap on the wrist."Callie said with a shrug as though it was that simple.

"For someone so young, you sure have a lot of confidence in yourself." Veronica said, her tone calm. Callie shrugged, completely confident in her words. Veronica let out a frustrated sigh and spoke in a low, menacing voice.

"I am short on time today, but I wish to make something very clear. I don't care, if you are a Slax spy a pirate or a Secari of all things, if you hurt either of my children so much as a hair on their heads there is no place in this galaxy that you can hide from me!" Veronica said, coldly, her presence domineering.

"A pirate? You guys have those? I thought that was only on the fringes of the empires?" Callie asked curiously, ignoring the chill running down her spine.

"You are going to be a pain in my ass!" Veronica said, massaging her forehead. The spymaster rose from her seat, revealing her athletic figure and sensible white blouse with black suit pants. For someone in her early fifties, the spy master looked twenty years younger.

"Well, I mean, if you want to meet up tomorrow, I can make extra spicy butter chicken with rice." Callie said, seemingly at random.

"And what does that have to do with anything?" Veronica asked."Well, you people here in the Zrixian empire go light on the spices, I hear that the first time trying it makes for some nasty accidents."Callie said cheerily.

Veronica took in a deep, calming breath, her nose flaring as she calmed herself. "Get out, I have things to do!" Veronica said.

Callie rose, pushing away from the table and making her way towards the door."It was a pleasure meeting you, lady Veronica. Oh, and I wasn't joking about that invite to food tomorrow, if you are still in the city, of course." Callie said jovially, waving as she opened the door.

(Veronica, acting spymaster to the emperor)

The dark-haired young woman opened the door to the impromptu meeting room. Much to Veronica's amusement, the young woman stuck out her tongue at her. Despite being the spymaster of the emperor, that young woman didn't seem to have the fear her title usually engendered.

Or, more likely, she was trained to hide her emotions behind a curated mask. Not to mention all the ridiculous things that woman said to draw attention from what she was really hiding. Even the childish gesture of sticking out her tongue. What was Callie's goal? And who was she really?

Veronica smiled, happy to have had the chance to play that little game. It wasn't often she got to act out her emotions so openly. Dustin peered into the room, his short brown hair covering his dark brown eyes. Unlike her own light hazel, his eyes were a perfect copy of his late fathers.

"Please come in Dustin, I wish to discuss some things with you." Veronica said.

"Do you want Taniya as well?" Dustin asked.

"No, she can go."Veronica said. Dustin stepped back out for a second and Veronica could faintly hear Taniyas laugh. "Taniya, would you like to come back to my place for some lunch? I'm making spicey chicken."Callie said, her voice carrying into the room.

"What kinda spice?" Taniya asked excitedly.

The door clicked shut, cutting off their conversation, and Dustin approached her sheepishly. His expression was reminiscent of when he made a big mistake as a teenager.

"So, how long have you known?" Dustin asked, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

"Shortly after you hired her on, of course. That was when I did a deep investigation." Veronica said, keeping her back rigid.

"I should have known. You are always so thorough when it comes to our friends and the people we work with." Dustin said with a grimace, looking away.

"It's for your own good, besides if I didn't, you still wouldn't know about Callie deceiving you."Veronica said calmly.

Dustin let out a frustrated sigh and tussled his own hair with a grunt of dejection."That woman is frustrating, but she is also too competent to simply fire."Dustin said with a grimace.

"You need to be careful, she is hiding a lot from you, and you need to keep your guard up."Veronica said. Dustin nodded his head, looking thoroughly scolded.

"Now that my brief lecture is out of the way, let's get to the real reason I came to Berdant in person."Veronica said, her tone back to no nonsense.