Free Perfiditas by Alison Morton Page B

you’re ever fed up playing secret soldiers and want to rejoin a proper service.’
    ‘And up yours, too, Lurio.’
    He burst out laughing.
     
    ‘What the hell was that about?’
    ‘Just a bit of inter-service banter,’ I said. ‘You know we worked together at the Department of Justice when I was a custos in his section.’
    ‘Yes, well. But he—’
    ‘Just keep your eyes on the road, Daniel!’
     
    Surprisingly, we reached the PGSF barracks in one piece. I went down to the custody area to brief the Interrogation Service team who were to deal with Caeco, Sextus and the three bystanders. IS had already run the three against Sepunia’s images. So we’d missed one, possibly two other bad guys. I batted the wave of irritation away. They’d have gone to ground by now. Maybe the IS would sweat the names out from the three we’d bagged.
    I heard Paula’s low voice at my side, asking if I wanted to start Aidan’s interview now.
    ‘Yes, let’s do it. You and me in the room; Atria and Flav to observe.’
    A quick glance through the observation panel before we went in. This was the “friendly” interview room, furnished with two couches set at right angles to each other, a low table, two easy chairs and the standard water cooler. Bland chocolate-box pictures hung on three walls, a plain mirror on the fourth. The remains of a sandwich lay on a plate, and Aidan clutched a mug in his hand. Shoulders slumped, he was staring into the far distance as if his eyes had lost the ability to focus.
    He jumped when we came through the door, spilling some of his drink on his pants. His Adam’s apple bounced as he swallowed hard and he switched his gaze between Paula and me. And then the apprehension in his eyes changed to something else – surprise.
    ‘Bruna?’
    ‘Hello, Aidan. How are you feeling?’ Probably wanting to throw up, I thought as I looked closely at him. ‘This is Staff Sergeant Paula Servla who is going to sit with us.’
    He stared at me. His gaze flickered over to my gold eagle pocket badge, the black tee showing at my neck, and then my face.
    ‘You’re a Praetorian! Jupiter save me.’
    ‘That much of a shock?’
    ‘I thought you were a scarab.’
    ‘I’m called “Bruna” sometimes, but my correct name is Captain Carina Mitela and I belong to the special forces section.’ I let that sink in.
    ‘Does Mossia know?’ he asked, processing this information.
    ‘No. She knows I’m something in law enforcement, but not which unit, nor my rank and name. I need you to keep that to yourself. Can you do that?’
    He nodded, but continued to stare at me.
    ‘Now, we only had a few minutes to talk before. I really need you to expand on what you told me then.’
    ‘Bruna – no, sorry, Captain,’ he stumbled. ‘I’m very sorry, but I haven’t thanked anybody yet for rescuing me. I’ve been trying to get my head around it.’ He looked at me. ‘I must be feeling better. I’m starting to analyse myself now. Gods! I’ll be in therapy for years!’
    ‘Don’t worry, Aidan,’ I said, touching his arm. ‘Everybody feels a bit weird after this kind of experience. Call me Bruna if it’s easier or more natural to you.’ I smiled at him. ‘Tell me everything in as much detail as you can. Everything, however trivial you think it is.’
    Paula made notes while I listened, watching Aidan’s face and prompting him.
    ‘…so I asked Tacita to give me information about your legate. Mossia had mentioned that Tacita worked in the military, possibly in the PGSF.’
    Juno. Aburia’s security was crap letting that out. Why didn’t she pretend to be a scarab like the rest of us did?
    ‘Caeco said I must have somebody among my clients I could use.’ He looked down at his hands. ‘I thought Tacita was my best bet. She’d taken a liking to me.’
    Not very glorious behaviour, but I could follow his logic.
    ‘But why did she do it?’ I asked. I’d see the report from Petronax later. His internal security team