Free The Prisoner of Eldaron: Crimson Worlds Successors II by Jay Allan Page A

fast speech typical among Atlantians. “Captain Cain is, by all accounts, a true believer…and a gifted officer. What if he is able to uncover something…inconvenient while he is in Epsilon-14?”
    “Elias Cain will find nothing in his quest. He will return empty handed, having found neither the Carlyle nor any trace of her attacker. We have made certain of this. And the Black Flag will return you half the value of Carlyle’s cargo, a king’s ransom. And a treasure that will be utterly secret. Yours to do with as you please. To enhance your grip on power, perhaps…”
    DeSilva stared across his desk at the woman sitting in one of his guest chairs. She was attractive, there was no question about that, slim, classy, professional. But there was something else too, something he couldn’t quite place. A darkness? To look at her, she could have been the representative of a trading house or a large bank, but when she spoke he felt odd. Like a shiver going down his spine.
    “I appreciate your confidence, Asha, but I still feel we must have a contingency plan in place, just in case Elias Cain does uncover some evidence of the…interception…of Carlyle .” The mysterious emissary had been on Atlantia for two years, and she’d kept every promise she had made. But he was still uncomfortable. He knew little about her, other than the fact that she had powerful friends. She’d aided him in fairly innocuous ways at first, but things had rapidly escalated in recent months. Now he had conspired with her to see an Atlantian ship taken by pirates, its crew murdered and its priceless cargo lost…at least as far as anyone outside his inner circle knew.
    “In that extremely unlikely circumstance,” she replied, her tone cool and professional, but having the usual effect on DeSilva nevertheless, “I would propose that we simply eliminate Captain Cain.”
    “That is easier said than done.” Greg Moore had been sitting quietly in the second guest chair, but now he spoke up. “The Cain family is still revered by the public. Erik Cain is a hero, loved by the people, and his death defending Occupied Space during the Second Incursion only increased his legend. And unlike his brother, Elias Cain has been a loyal Atlantia, widely regarded as an exemplary citizen. There will be considerable backlash if we attempt to sanction him…and certainly if he is condemned and executed.”
    DeSilva sighed. “Public heroes are an inconvenience, but I fear my chief of staff is correct. Elias is the only Cain remaining on Atlantia at present. I’d love to be rid of him, but I am very concerned about potential fallout.”
    Asha looked over at Moore then back to DeSilva. “There are deaths, gentlemen…and there are deaths.” Her intonation changed considerably in the second half of her statement. “If you decide Elias Cain must die, we will have to devise something suitable…an appropriately disreputable death.” She stared across the table at Atlantia’s president. “If he were to be arrested and executed, or even shot by the police, there would be a backlash. But, were he to be found dead of an overdose of some illegal substance, alongside a whore perhaps, I suspect the public reaction would be quite different.”
    Moore had a stunned expression on his face. He looked like he was going to say something, but DeSilva beat him to it. “And if we were to decide such a measure was necessary, are your…friends…in a position to assist us? We couldn’t risk using any of our personnel. Elias Cain is too well-liked among our operatives. If the truth ever came out…” He let his voice trail off slowly. There was no point in taking ‘what ifs’ like that too far.
    “Of course, Mr. President. If you wish to take that step, my associates would be pleased to handle it for you.” She smiled sweetly, as if she’d just promised to help him plan a party.
    “Thank you, Asha. As always, your assistance is greatly appreciated.” He paused for a few