Previously on Noooo One Suspects the Veila Investigation…
Tahiri thought Ta'a Chume and Lady Tarkin were fiends...
Cem couldn't disagree, and thought he should check up on them...
And...
Tahiri is keeping a whole lotta of secrets...
Season 3
Episode 5
I want a girl with a mind like a diamond
I want a girl who knows what's best
I want a girl with shoes that cut
And eyes that burn like cigarettes
I want a girl with the right allocation
Who's fast, and thorough, and sharp as a tack
She's playing with her jewelry, she's putting up her hair
She's touring the facility and picking up slack
I want a girl with a short skirt,
And a loooooooooooooooooooooooong jacket
I want a girl who gets up early
I want a girl who stays up late
I want a girl with uninterrupted prosperity
Who uses a machete to cut through red tape
With fingernails that shine like justice
And a voice that is dark like tinted glass
She is fast, thorough, and sharp as a tack
She's touring the facility and picking up slack
I want a girl with a short skirt,
And a long, looooooooooooooooong jacket
Short Skirt, Long Jacket/Cake
The Queen's Private Chambers
Fountain Palace, Hapes
40 ABY
Ten And A Half Years After The Yuuzhan Vong War
Tenel Ka lay on her side, staring blankly out the large viewpane that dominated one whole wall of her bedroom. If she were not so exhausted she might have enjoyed the view of Hapes's setting third moon shining brightly on the fresh spring flowers that just the morning before had begun to bloom in the garden below. If her mind were not so preoccupied with the recent information Cem had uncovered, she would have attempted a healing trance to relieve some of the aches her quickly advancing pregnancy was causing. She had been trying for almost a week to find relief from both, but the calming currents of the Force had remained out of reach in her distracted state.
She absently rubbed her live hand over her swollen abdomen, soothing the spot her son was currently trying to put a foot through. The baby was always active this time of day... or night, or morning, and sound sleep would probably have eluded her for that reason alone if her stress hadn't already.
Cem's frantic search through datacards, and the intermittent string of furious expletives she had heard coming from the vid chamber behind their dressing room only added to her agitation and heightened sense of physical discomfort.
She had spent enough time with the Solo family as a teen, specifically Jaina and Han, to be well versed in the art of Corellian swearing, and though growing up in a culture not known for their cursing, Cem's years in the Chiss military added a reservoir of phrases that, when translated to his parent's native tongue had even impressed Jacen. Her husband had been particularly imaginative a couple of hours ago. A low murmur of disbelief, expressed in Corellian slang, no doubt outdated due to his having learned it from his mother, had risen, then he'd been silent for a bit and finally, quite vocal again. She wasn't sure which was worse; the noise or the silence, but she did know that she dreaded learning what he had stumbled across this time.
She had entertained the idea of investigating at one point, but then when she recognized several Chiss words that she thought meant 'a female who will favor many', she sagged back down against the pillows behind her, convinced he had only found more recordings of her grandmother and Lady Tarkin plotting her and Huff's demise.
Cem had found recordings of numerous conversations that had taken place between Ta'a Chume and Kozima during the latter's visit. Not once did they say out right what they were planning, they merely discussed, in hypothetical terms, a situation that if it were to happen, could be very bad for their 'recalcitrant' grandchildren, as she and Tarkin had been referred to.
If Cem and Tenel Ka had interpreted the old women's intent correctly - then their plan was brilliant in its simplicity, which of course was part of what made it so terrifying. It would seem that Ta'a Chume was to send funds to Phelarion, somehow arranging for it to look like Tenel Ka was responsible. Said funds would pay for the procurement of weapons and the training of a militia that would then stage a coup to usurp Wilhuff Tarkin's power.
The support of the overthrow of another planet's ruling body was currently grounds for dismissal from the GFFA because of a piece of legislation Tenel Ka had personally sponsored and co-written. Ironically, she had done this specifically to prevent Ta'a Chume from seeking outside assistance in reclaiming the Hapan throne. If the Hapans valued their alliance with the GA, something Tenel Ka had worked tirelessly to convince them was in their best interests, they could not defend her innocence in the matter if her 'involvement' was uncovered, as she was certain was part of the plan. If, after all the information that was available came to light, and Tenel Ka was not able to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that she had no part in this plan, she would be forced to either give up her throne and go into exile, or face execution by her own people for crimes that endangered the welfare of the Consortium. In that case, the only thing that would hinder Ta'a Chume's clear path to the throne was Talitha.
Her only alternative to exile or execution, if her grandmother were successful, would be to seize complete control of the Consortium and accept expulsion from the Alliance. But that would return the Consortium to an isolationist sector under an absolute monarch, counteracting everything she and her mother had spent their respective reigns trying to accomplish.
While Tenel Ka had never intended to relinquish all control, she had hoped to find a balance that would allow her daughter, and further descendants, to rule with the aid and input of the sixty-three worlds, rather than dominate them completely.
Kozy, as Cem had taken to calling Lady Tarkin, because, he explained, she was anything but, would not come out of this a loser. Cem and Tenel Ka could only assume that the despicable woman would hand pick the group that would receive the Hapan funds, making sure that they installed someone 'Kozy' deemed worthy as Phelarion's new leader.
The Tarkin party had only been off planet for a day, Jag and Jacen a few hours, when she had found Cem in their surveillance room, fear and anger radiating off of him. He had hated to tell her what he had found, hated the heartbroken expression he had later said stole over her features as he replayed the evidence. Hated even more that at no point in all the conversations he had uncovered so far, did either of the old fiends actually come right out and say what they were doing, only discussing how unfortunate it would be if Tenel Ka were to engage in covert activity to overthrow Tarkin's regime.
The royal couple had gone into seclusion immediately, dismissing Talitha's human governess and canceling all of their meetings so they could climb into bed, their cherished daughter nestled between them, watching her favorite educational holovids, and talking in low whispers over her head when she slept.
The hardest thing for Cem, the most frustrating thing, he had said during one of those hushed discussions, was that as tempting as it was to beg her to pack up and flee to the safety of the Unknown Regions, as much as he wanted to protect his wife and children, he simply could not bring himself to ask that of her. Tenel Ka was Hapes. She embodied all that the Consortium had the potential to be, but would never achieve if she surrendered her power to Ta'a Chume and fled. He had told her long ago that when he looked at her he saw more than just the crown she wore, but after all these years of living and working with her, he could not deny that the crown was an integral part of who she was. He had always understood her devotion to duty, felt that devotion himself, and to ask her to turn tail and run would be to ask her to be less than the woman he loved so completely.
Tenel Ka never imagined that she could feel more for her husband than she already did, but in that moment, as they lay curled together around Talitha, Cem's hand resting on the taut skin covering their unborn son, she saw him in a new light, and was swept away all over again. They would stay on Hapes and find a way to fight this treachery. They would do it for the people they were charged with protecting and leading, and for their children's futures, but mostly, they would do it because they simply did not know how to do anything else.
After returning to their duties, Cem brought in his favorite and most trusted Intel slicer to investigate the royal financial statements, and wasn't surprised to find that there was an account missing substantial funds. After a few stops, a corresponding amount was found in an account on Phelarion. Agent Garrick, or Gigi, as Cem called her, had told him that whoever did the work was good, but not as good as she was. She was relatively sure that, if given time and a little hard work, she would be able to tell what bank officer on Hapes had actually executed the task. Maybe from there they would be able to find who that individual was working for.
Garrick... Gigi… was also quite certain that she could find the location of the bank on Phelarion where the funds were actually being withdrawn, but again, it would take time. If they could then get a Hapan Intel agent on Phelarion to electronically stake out the branch, maybe they would be able to get a handle on the situation and clear Tenel Ka of any wrongdoing. Gigi was pretty sure they could accomplish this without breaking many inter-galactic laws.
There were a few too many 'maybes' in the equation for Tenel Ka's liking, and the breaking of laws didn't make her happy, but at least it was a start.
Aside from Gigi, who Cem and Tenel Ka trusted completely, and Prince Isolder, they had decided to not tell anyone else what was happening. If Ta'a Chume found out they were on to her she would either deny it or immediately stop what she was doing. The best case scenario would be that Granny notified Kozy that the game was up and not to expect anymore credits. If Cem and Gigi were able to trace any communication, that could help… but so many things had to work in their favor for that to happen that Tenel Ka was nervous about relying on this course of action alone.
For the time being they would continue as they were and hope that Cem would find more recordings, anything that had one of the old women saying something definitive. They finally decided that if they were patient a solution might present itself. Plus, Tarkin's policies and rule were dangerous; he was a destabilizing force in a fragile region, and they had admitted to each other, very early on, that a coup on Phelarion was not unwelcome. They just didn't want to take the fall for instigating it.
Another part of their early discussions had been their fear of Tahiri being collateral damage in this situation. Though Cem didn't doubt that Tahiri would choose family over Tarkin if the need arose, his concern was that without sufficient evidence, Tahiri might not see the situation as dire enough to have to make that choice, and that by the time they had sufficient evidence to convince her of the danger Cem wouldn't be able to get her away from Tarkin. Tenel Ka had suggested inviting her back to Hapes for an extended stay in order to keep her out of the fray, but Cem was afraid that that would arouse suspicions, and as much as he loved Tahiri, his wife and children mattered more to him.
Tenel Ka had been surprised when her initial feeling upon hearing the first recordings Cem had found was not anger at her grandmother, or even fear for her own or her family's safety, but sadness. Sadness that after thirteen years of hard work, after all the social progress she had led the Consortium to, the personal sacrifices she had made, and been willing to make, the contributions to the galaxy she had watched her people make, first grudgingly, but later with pride; that all of that work would be undermined by a perceived betrayal. She felt sadness that her legacy as Queen Mother could be diminished by a deception when she had spent her tenure working so hard to rid her culture of that very thing.
Lost in her reflections, as she had been so often in these last few days, it took her a moment to notice Cem leaning against the doorframe of their dressing room. When she finally sat up the look of disbelief on his face could not be missed.
"You have found something new."
He nodded and then rubbed the stubble of his three day old beard, shaking his head. "If I didn't know better, I'd swear Tahiri was a Hapan noblewoman."
She snorted softly. "If I wasn't so exhausted I'd probably know whether or not that should offend me."
Cem chuckled. "Sorry, Teeka, sometimes I forget you're a Hapan noblewoman; in name anyway."
She smiled, waving off the remark. "This new information… does it pertain to the coup or did you just catch your beloved sister doing something that surprised you?"
He shook his head again; his momentary lack of speech telling her that his latest find was big.
Finally, he said: "I can't even address that question. You just have to come with me."
Tenel Ka swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood, accepting her husband's hand when he reached out to her.
"Please tell me Tahiri isn't involved with the plot."
"No; but she may end up factoring into that solution we were hoping would present itself."
She began to speak, but was cut off by a swift kiss from her husband, then he leaned his forehead into hers and sighed before saying, "You need to see this. Well hear, and then see. You'd find it hard to believe it if I just told you."
Turning and leading her in the direction he had come from, Cem began to talk quickly.
"I had to play it a few times, and I may have interpreted it wrong, but I don't think so. And if I'm right…"
"Does she know about Ta'a Chume and Kozima's scheme?"
"We should be so lucky, but I doubt it. From the looks of things, they've been too busy with their own schemes."
"They?"
"Tahiri and Jag."
"Tahiri and Jag?"
They entered the small room tucked behind a door in their 'closet', full of banks of computer equipment. Cem threw a stack of datacards and parchment notes off a chair in the corner onto the floor and dragged it over to his desk. He guided her into it, rubbing her belly affectionately before sitting down himself.
"This is going to be a lot to take in, and the second recording has little to do with the first I think, except to convince me that my theories are correct." He took in a deep breath, and again scrubbed his hand over his face.
She hated how exhausted he looked. The stubble on his chin itself indicating how absorbed he was in his quest; the deep bags under his eyes accentuating the fine lines becoming more prominent around them.
"Cem, you aren't making any sense."
"I know, love. And a lot of this won't make any sense until you see it all."
"But it concerns Tahiri and Jagged?"
He nodded, and a tight knot clenched in her gut.
The idea that Ta'a Chume would work to orchestrate her downfall was unpleasant but hardly surprising. That Tahiri might somehow be involved sickened her in a way she was unprepared for, so she clung to Cem's assertion that Tahiri wasn't involved, and hoped that she would still love the woman when this was over. And she simply could not believe that Jagged was involved. Regardless though, her family's safety, and her reign, were at stake and burying her head in the sand would do her no good.
"The first thing I'm going to play for you is an audio feed from the bedroom of the suite Tahiri stayed in when she was just here. She told me that Tarkin had asked her to disable the bugs and cameras, and I said it was no problem; I was curious to see if the new stuff I've bought could really do what Gigi said it could do."
"Which was to go undetected?"
"Exactly. Then, I forgot about checking it after everyone left because I was focused on the feeds from Ta'a Chume and Kozima's suites."
"So all the cutting edge equipment you've bought over the years has finally paid for itself?" She couldn't help but smile, thinking of her husband's boyish enthusiasm for the electronics he insisted would one day come in handy.
"Hopefully. Right now, it's just making me feel like a really thorough voyeur."
He laughed, Tenel Ka assumed, at her expression.
"Listen."
He flicked a few switches on the console in front of them and a soft moaning came through the speaker system.
"What do you want, Tahiri? You want me to just slam it in?"
She gasped, and then began to shake her head in denial of what she heard.
"No, I want you to take your time and not leave any marks."
She covered her face with her hands, then ran one through her hair, not wanting to hear any more, but too stunned to ask that it be stopped.
"You said this would be fast and it wasn't going to hurt."
"It doesn't hurt that much, I thought you were tougher than that. Where is Riina when you need her?"
"Turn it off."
"Wait…"
Tenel Ka stood up, and threw a Force blast at the console. She had no idea which switch would end the recording, but she needed to stop the sounds coming from the equipment and the images her mind was conjuring up.
The delighted laughter coming from her husband was rather insulting.
"I understand that brothers sometimes… discuss things that others may view as too intimate to share, but I really do not see how you listening to Jagged have sex with Tahiri is anything I need to be a part of. And frankly, I am disgusted by his lack of respect for her. I would never have imagined him to be such an insensitive lover, and playing on the damage done to her by the Vong? It's revolting."
Cem's further laughter infuriated her and she began to wonder if they were about to have the third fight of their relationship.
"We should not be listening to this."
She was on the verge of losing control completely and felt a sudden need to slap the stupid smile off of Cem's face when he finally, very quietly, spoke again.
"They aren't having sex."
"Huh?"
He laughed again. "And you are touted as being a great orator."
She clenched her fists and was about to turn and storm out, too tired to even fight, when Cem regained some composure and, reaching for her hand, and using his own fingers to unclench hers, drew her close.
"I thought the same thing when I first started playing this," he said gently. "But then I listened to the rest, and I think that if you can get your brain around the fact that it's not what it sounds like, you'll agree with the conclusions I've drawn. But I need you to listen carefully and tell me what you think so I know if we're hearing the same things."
She was still angry, but had to concede that Cem wouldn't ask her to listen to something unseemly; unless of course there was a really good reason. She sat back in her seat and nodded to Cem to resume the recording.
For the next twenty minutes, she tried to imagine what Tahiri and Jag could be doing that was not what it sounded like. She clearly heard the emotion they felt for each other, in fact, they admitted it outright, though it did seem more like a sibling affection than a romantic one, or even a simple sexual connection. Whatever Jag was doing to her was physically uncomfortable, and Tahiri wasn't happy about it, but she was letting him do it because it would give him peace of mind.
"Your heart is beating fifty-seven times a standard minute."
"Astral. And where in the galaxy am I?"
Tenel Ka reached over and flipped the switch again and stared into Cem's eyes for a while, thinking about what had been said.
"He's implanting a monitoring device."
"That's what I came to as well."
"Why would he do that?"
"I'm going to play you the part where they discuss Tarkin."
"Cem said he was screaming about leaving, how did you convince him to stay?"
There was silence, then she heard what she knew was sadness and regret in Jag's voice.
"Oh… sorry."
But it was Tahiri's answer that first broke her heart, then sent her mind spinning with implications and possibilities.
"Yeah, well, occupational hazard. Let's just say the last twenty minutes with you was more enjoyable than lunch with him, but there was no other way to calm him. He was determined to get out of here and I knew how upset you'd be if I was gone before you arrived."
She nodded, signaling him to halt the sound once more.
"Occupational hazard. Lunch with Tarkin was not enjoyable."
Cem raised his eyebrows, and nodded his head slowly. She knew that he wanted her to draw her own conclusions, so she thought, analyzed; broke down what she had heard so far. She stood and began to pace in the small room. She placed one hand on the small of her back, supporting the strained muscles as she tried to walk, rather than waddle, back and forth in the small space and clicked a nail against her teeth, all the while replaying the words over and over in her head.
"Alright, if one were to assume that Tahiri herself was 'lunch', and that Jag did in fact implant something… a device that could tell him, among other things, how fast her heart was beating, and, apparently her physical location, that the procedure itself was painful… that would lead to the theory that being intimate with the Governor is not something she enjoys. Add to that her use of the phrase 'occupational hazard'…Tarkin is an assignment."
Cem's face broke into a smile and he leaned forward, catching her hand and pulling her to him. Once he had her positioned between his legs, he reached up and kissed her.
"Every bit as brilliant as you are beautiful."
"If we are wrong though she could simply be saying that 'lunch' that day was unpleasant because Tarkin was in a bad mood, and that despite Jag's lack of sensitivity, their encounter was better."
"But that would mean that Tahiri and Jag are simply having sex, and honestly, despite my concerns about Jag and Noya, I know he wouldn't betray her like this, it's simply not in his makeup. Not to mention the fact that I know Jag sees Tahiri the way I do; which would make this incest, emotionally anyway. And Jag would be no more capable of that than I am."
Tenel Ka nodded her head in consent. "Which leads us back to Jag implanting a monitoring device on Tahiri's body. So… for whom is she working?"
"That, I have yet to determine, especially given that Jag is involved."
"I can't think of a reason the Chiss would have to be spying on Phelarion, and Tahiri has no ties to the Ascendancy except through the family."
"And I doubt the Jedi would engage in a secret investigation of a government head, especially this government head, using a former Knight."
"If 'former' is even an accurate description. But no, this is not the kind of thing Master Skywalker would champion. And as incompetent as I think Kalenda may be… surely she wouldn't think using so recognizable a person as Tahiri to spy on Tarkin was a good idea." A sudden thought struck her. "But Jacen did arrive with Jagged. Could he be involved?"
Cem seemed to consider this then shook his head.
"I doubt it, but he comes in later. Though his part probably has no bearing on our life, except to convince me that we're correct about our other assumptions. And you reached the same assumptions without seeing that." He gently pushed her back into the chair she had vacated. "Now, this is what makes me think that any distrust of Tahiri is unfounded and why I think that regardless of who Ri is working for she and Jag may ultimately help us."
He resumed the sound and Tenel Ka was dazed as her words with Tarkin during their meeting came back to her through Jag, who must have heard them from Cem; then what Jag and Tahiri thought of the scenario.
"…I've lived with the man for three years and he still amazes me.
I can see why he was so furious."
"You think he was justified?"
"You know better than that. I think he's a megalomaniac with only a partial grasp on reality, and an even weaker understanding of the nuances of galactic politics. But I know what sets him off - and that would certainly set him off."
So, Tahiri did know that she was living with a monster?
"I'm not quite sure why that should reinforce my trust in Tahiri."
"Because if she truly understands what kind of man Tarkin is, and if our suspicions are right, then she must want to take him down."
"I guess. What does Jacen say?"
Cem shook his head and began pushing different buttons on the console, clearly cuing up another recording. There was such sadness to his smile when he said, "It would appear that I am an insightful genius."
"I have always thought so, but what specifically are you referring to, love?"
"I was right all along."
"About…"
"Jacen likes Tahiri… and if this is anything to go by, she likes him back."
"What did they say to each other?"
"There's no audio on this recording, but at the end of her conversation with Jag, Tahiri felt Jacen approach. She tells Jag that he's coming and to stay in her room and shield because Jacen would only think to feel for Tarkin and probably didn't realize Jag was so close to her.
"I have Jacen on tape from the hallway leading to the outer door of her suite, and the time stamp matches up for the end of Ri's conversation with Jag. Jacen used the Force to scramble the recording on the second camera in the corridor, she'd already taken out the first, but neither realized there was a third."
"You put three cameras in the hall? That's a little excessive."
"If I hadn't caught all this, I might agree with you. Given the circumstances, and what I caught, I'm seriously considering installing another thousand cameras. Thankfully neither Ri or Jace sensed the camera in the anteroom. Of course, I never imagined anything important would happen there, so it's only holo. It was more to keep track of who was coming and going."
"And you caught Jacen coming?"
"So to speak."
The playback began, the angle of the camera giving her a clear view of Tahiri, then Tenel Ka watched her jump into Jacen's arms - not terribly impressed. She knew this was the first time they'd met after Jacen had, once again, narrowly cheated death, and could understand Tahiri's tearfulness.
She was amused when Tahiri jumped back from Jacen and very clearly, and animatedly, began telling him off; she assumed for either the recklessness that had nearly gotten him killed, or how cavalier he'd been about it. Or both. Tahiri continued her ranting for a while, and Tenel Ka was intrigued at the way Jacen followed her across the room as Tahiri backed up and slapped at him, continually trying to get his hands back on her. He finally succeeded, then they began kissing, and she could finally see why Cem was so impressed with himself.
"Well... Jacen's never kissed me like that."
"Or Jaina, I would imagine."
"So, unlike you and Jagged, Jacen doesn't think of Tahiri as a 'sister'."
"As we've long suspected."
She was about to suggest that Cem turn off the player and explain to her why he thought this pertained to their life when she caught a look in Tahiri's eyes that was incredibly tender. Then, the magnitude of what she was seeing began to sink in.
"Ohhhh, Jacen…" she whispered. "He doesn't know why she's with Tarkin."
Her husband turned to her and smiled sadly. "What gives you that impression?"
She shook her head. "You said she asked Jag to shield; she didn't want Jacen to know he was in her room. If Jacen knew that Tahiri was spying on Tarkin then she wouldn't have needed to hide Jag's presence, or, for that matter, his purpose."
Cem nodded. "Which means the Jedi don't know about this."
"At least not this Jedi. And Jag must not know about Jacen."
"Probably not."
Sorrow for the couple overwhelmed her as she watched them continue to talk, wishing she could hear what they were saying.
They laughed lightly for a moment, kissed again for quite some time, then more talking. Finally, Tahiri leaned back from Jacen, and more sadness marred her features when he nodded his head - agreeing to something? Regardless, whatever he'd said inspired a powerful reaction in Tahiri because she threw her arms around his neck again and began kissing him soundly, pulling him along with her as she walked backwards.
Tenel Ka watched, dumbfounded, as Jacen lifted Tahiri onto a narrow marble table sitting against the wall. A table that had been in the Hapan royal family for at least ten generations.
Her mouth fell open as she watched Jacen slide his hands up Tahiri's thighs, pushing her dress out of the way as Tahiri's hands went to his belt, very clearly and easily undoing it before wrapping her legs around him and pulling him closer.
Cem's voice startled her slightly, but not enough to pull her attention away from the scene unfolding before her.
"Clearly they've done this before, judging by how well versed they are in removing any obstacles in the way of getting the job done."
"Clearly. And they certainly use the furniture well, though I must say… I wish they hadn't done that against that painting."
"Wasn't that a wedding gift from your father?"
She sighed. "Yes, and I had planned to give it to Talitha as a wedding gift. I'm afraid I won't be able to look at it again without thinking of this."
"Maybe we should give it to them as a wedding gift."
"Oh, Cem… we shouldn't be watching this."
"I know. I just wanted to see if you saw the same thing I did."
She gave him a pointed look. "I wasn't that innocent when we met."
He chuckled, freezing the recording. "I meant; I wanted to know if it seems to you that she's in love with him."
"And isn't just using him for something? I see why you would confuse her with my aunts and cousins. It's hard to tell, but the way she looks at him, I suspect she is."
"Now, given what you know of Jacen, how well you know Jacen, do you think he's in love with her?"
"Without question."
"Do you think he realizes she loves him?"
"I have no idea, but if he doesn't know why she's with Tarkin… that must be why he has been progressively more sad and distant. It would eat him up inside, watching her walk away to return to a man he despised. If, in fact, this wasn't their first… encounter."
"Teeka…"
She shook her head and sighed, silently conceding her husband's point before turning back to him.
"I do not wish to sound unfeeling about Jacen's plight, but what does this all mean for us?"
"That we need to talk to Jag and Ri. In person. We need confirmation that our conclusions are correct, and to determine what information they already have and if any of that information can help us. And I'd imagine that 'Ri will be most grateful if we didn't bring her anteroom antics up in front of Jag."
"Indeed."
They sat staring at each other for a few more minutes, until another thought occurred to Tenel Ka.
"How long was that recording of Tahiri and Jacen?"
"From beginning to end? Three quarters of an hour, maybe. Why?"
"Jag was stuck in her bedroom that whole time."
A wide grin spread across Cem's face. "Welcome to having siblings, Teeka. Have I never told you about the time Jag and I went skiing and Evlyn Tabory didn't realize I was already at the cabin when she got there?"
Next time on Fear and Love…
How Kyp and Jysella became 'Jyp'...