Chapter 10: The Set Up

There was something about a great date that always put Amanda in a good mood. Now that she'd just had the best date ever, she felt like she was walking on air.

She had moved the flowers from the kitchen into the living room, placing them on the second-hand coffee table she'd picked up for twenty credits the week before. Now she could see them whenever she wanted to- and when she saw them she always broke into a smile.

Now it was Monday again- a week to the day since Sarek asked her out. She found she was almost giddy with hope that she might see him that day, even if only briefly. She felt like a teenager having her first crush and was almost ashamed to admit it.

She walked into the lobby, stopping to get her morning coffee from a replicator. Then she made her way up to the small office that housed her and Karen's desks.

"Have a good weekend, Mandy?" Karen asked from her desk. Amanda was surprised; Karen wasn't usually this polite to her. She was suspicious right away.

"It was fine," Amanda replied. "Yours?"

"Fine. So...did you have any dates or anything?" she asked casually, looking at her computer screen.

"Um...no..." It wasn't that she was ashamed of having been on a date with Sarek. She just didn't think it was any of Karen's business, especially since she'd flirted with him before. The fact that he was taken would probably make her more determined than ever to sleep with him.

Wait a minute...since when did Amanda consider Sarek to be taken?

"What a shame," Karen said with a sigh. "I did. The guy was a loser, though. Not even good in bed."

Amanda's eyebrows rose but she didn't reply. Why were they having this conversation, anyway? She settled into her chair to begin work. She didn't notice that Karen was eying her and smirking again.

She lied and that cemented her fate.

Karen had gotten the idea over the weekend...she would be able to carry out her plan by Friday. And it was deliciously evil. This should teach Little Miss Vulcan-Lover for catching the eye of someone who rejected her.

She knew she had no reason to hate her- but who needed reasons to hate someone?

The first thing she had to do was talk to that guy who worked down in Filing. She was sure she'd banged him once- maybe on his desk a few months ago. She was a little fuzzy on the details. She had done a lot of screwing on desks.

"You want me to do what?" he asked nervously as she stood before him on Tuesday afternoon, arms folded over her chest.

"You heard me," she said in a low, seductive voice. She placed one finger on his chest, sliding it down to his belly button teasingly. "Please get those data slates for me?" she asked, sticking out her bottom lip in a pout no man could resist.

"I could get in trouble for that- and so could you," he replied. He was a nerdy-looking little man, not very attractive, but she remembered now- he was surprisingly good in bed. Well, on desk anyway. Especially considering the disappointing size of his manhood.

If she had to she would convince him by sexual means. But she hoped she wouldn't have to- she was limited on time.

"Well..." he said hesitantly. "What are you planning on doing with them?"

"I'm looking into something suspicious. I swear I'll have them back to you before the end of the week and no one will find out you gave them to me."

"Well...as long as no one knows I'm involved in whatever it is..." he said. As he turned to a storage vault behind him she smirked once more. He really was an idiot. It was a good thing she didn't even remember his name- he didn't deserve that honor.

"Thank you so much, sweetie," Karen said with a grin as she took the data chips from him. "This is only between you and me, remember? Tell no one. Or else you'll be in trouble. If anyone comes here for these files- which I highly doubt anyone would- you tell them they're just gone. Stolen, maybe."

He looked uneasy as she walked away, heels clicking on the tiled floor. But the damage was already done.

Now she just needed to talk to Frank Nolan...he would be tougher. But- he was great in bed. And open to persuasion.

It was Friday again, which meant lunch with Sarek. Fridays were definitely Amanda's favorite day of the week. Brief glimpses of one another were fine but it only made her want to see him more.

"Karen, have you seen my employee replicator card?" Amanda asked absentmindedly. She could have sworn she'd seen it on her desk earlier...

"I think I saw you put it in the middle drawer of your desk," Karen replied, not looking away from her computer. Amanda opened the drawer and moved aside a stash of styluses, her data PADD, some spare data slates...and there! She must have stuck it in there by accident when she put her PADD away. She withdrew it, relieved.

"Thank goodness...I thought I might have to get another one. Linette probably would have thrown a fit," she said. She pocketed the card and left.

Karen grinned sinisterly as she watched Amanda leave. "Too damn easy," she sneered, and got up from her desk. She opened Amanda's desk drawer and gathered up the data slates, careful only to touch the very edges. Then she headed toward Linette's office.

"Linette," she said, walking into the office holding up the slates. "We have a problem."

Amanda sat in her usual chair across from Sarek. She'd already finished her lunch, but there was still half an hour left of her break and she had every intention of spending it there.

"If it is acceptable to you, we could have dinner together tomorrow night," Sarek said. "I would offer for tonight but I have a meeting I must attend in an hour. I will be leaving for the day when you exit my office."

"Are you staying around just for me?" she asked teasingly. His eyebrows rose a little.

"I saw no logical reason to cancel the time we spend together on Friday afternoons when there is plenty of time for me to arrive at the conference."

She took that to be a yes. This filled her with warmth for him.

"And what time will you be picking me up this time?" she asked.

"1900 hours seemed acceptable the last time. I do not see why we should change it now," Sarek replied. "Unless you have assignments you must complete for your classes. Have you finished the essay on Vulcans?"

She wanted to laugh; he sounded more like a parent than a...friend? No, but they were more than that now...what was he in relation to her? More than a friend, not quite a boyfriend...

"Yes I finished it. In fact, I got it back yesterday. Full marks and a bonus for the extra tidbits you gave me. So I should be thanking you." She smiled over at him. "So thanks."

"It was of little trouble," he replied.

"So where are you taking me Saturday? Or are you not going to tell me because secrets 'increase anticipation'?" she asked with a sly grin.

"I have nothing of significance planned. I thought we could simply-"

He was interrupted by someone knocking on the door frame. Sarek looked past her and she twisted around in her chair to see who it was.

"Miss Grayson?" asked a tall man in a blue security uniform.

"Yes, that's me," Amanda said slowly.

"Could you please come with me?" he asked. Amanda blinked, confused, but turned to Sarek.

"I don't know if I'll be back before you leave...so see you tomorrow at 1900," she said in a low voice. Sarek nodded once in agreement. She stood from her chair and joined the security man as he led her to the lift. "What exactly is this about?" she asked him.

"I can't give you details yet, Miss Grayson. You'll have to wait until we get to the director's office," he replied, not looking at her. She frowned, brow furrowed as the lift shuddered to a halt on the correct floor.

She was led to the director's office, where she found the director himself seated behind his desk and Linette standing beside it, arms folded over her chest.

"Miss Grayson, the man who escorted you here is Frank Nolan. He's head of security at the embassy," the director said, waving his hand at Frank.

"What is going on here, sir?" Amanda asked, looking around her.

"Do you recognize these, Grayson?" Linette asked coldly. She held up three red data slates for her to see.

"Well...yes, I do," Amanda replied. "They were in my desk."

"Wait...so you admit that these were in your desk?" the director asked incredulously.

"Yes, they were...are you saying I'm here because of a few blank data slates?" she asked, confused and looking from Frank, to Linette, to the director.

"Blank data slates!" The director barked out a laugh. "Don't play stupid, Miss Grayson! You know very well what is on these slates!"

"No, I don't," Amanda said flatly, crossing her arms over her chest and giving him a steely glare.

"These 'blank' data slates," Linette began coolly, advancing toward her. "Have only your fingerprints on them. I know because Frank did a scan and matched the prints to your file in the embassy database. The employee who happened to find them in your desk knew right away what they were by the serial numbers printed on them, and knew right away to report this. These blank data slates contain confidential information. They hold information on recent private dealings between planetary ambassadors. Information that could be misused if it fell into the wrong hands. Just what were you doing with those slates in your possession, Grayson?"

Amanda was stunned, again looking from one to the other. "You can't seriously believe this, can you?" she asked disbelievingly.

"All the evidence is against you," the director said gravely. He stood from his chair and leaned against his desk. "Just answer the question, Miss Grayson."

"I have no idea! All I know is that there are some spare data slates in my desk. I put them there when I first started working here so I can back up my reports! I honestly have no clue what this is about!"

She couldn't believe the situation she was in. Confidential information? In her desk? She felt helpless and frustrated that they didn't seem to believe her.

"Miss Grayson," Frank said. "The slates do, without a doubt, have your prints on them. And only yours. They were in your desk. You admitted to them being there- and they've been reported stolen from Filing."

"I was looking for my replicator card. That's when I touched the slates. But I swear-"

"Miss Grayson, do you realize that this is not only a demonstration of unethical work behavior, but also a crime?" Frank asked. "If you're working for somebody you should tell us now."

"I'm not working for anybody!" Amanda cried, exasperated. "This is crazy- all of it! I have no idea what is happening right now!"

"Calm down, Grayson," Linette said, her eyes narrowed. Amanda took several deep breaths.

"Please listen to me," she said calmly. "I don't know how they got there. But I did not have any part in it."

"What are you suggesting- someone planted them there?" Linette snorted. "Why would they do that?"

"I don't know." Amanda swallowed and wet her lips. "But that's the only conclusion I can come up with."

There was a silence. Then the director spoke.

"We can't do anything about this until the situation is investigated further. But so far the evidence is mounting against you. Frank here is going to go over the security feeds later tonight. By tomorrow we'll know the truth."

"And then we're taking this to the authorities," Linette added firmly. "And we do have contact information for your sister- so don't even think about fleeing. You'll just make it harder for yourself. You can leave now, Grayson- go home. You're dismissed for the day."

Amanda stood there for a moment longer. She didn't feel anything...she was in shock. Was this really happening to her?

"You're dismissed," the director said coldly. She pressed her lips together and left the office.

She now thought she had an idea of what was going on here. She recalled earlier...

"Karen, have you seen my employee replicator card?" Amanda asked absentmindedly. She could have sworn she'd seen it on her desk earlier...

"I think I saw you put it in the middle drawer of your desk," Karen replied, not looking away from her computer.

"The employee who happened to find them in your desk knew right away what they were by the serial numbers printed on them, and knew right away to report this." Linette had said.

She didn't know why or how...but she knew who...

Not only was her job on the line- but she was risking prison as well. And for something she had no part in. She'd been set up.

And there was only one person who could even possibly help her out of this mess.