Chapter 24

Corellia

Liam Durron moved through the apartment of the late Director of Corellian Security reaching out into the Force and tried to find any echoes of emotions that were left from the murder of Myri Antilles-Dello. His eyes were closed and his expression one of deep concentration, as he moved around the bedroom where the actual murder happened. The Jedi had been on the case for almost a week without determining anything concrete. So far all the leads that CorSec had found only led to a highly unlikely suspect. One that none of those present accepted—

The Chief of State and sister of the deceased, Syal Antilles-Barrett.

"What is he doing, now?" the assistant and acting Director of CorSec, Drewmore Pevous asked Valin in a low tone as they watched the youngest Durron. Pevous had been their constant companion every time they had been allowed into the crime scene and, despite his high ranking position, was the chief investigator on the case. Each time Liam tried to get a feel for the place, or any of them seemed to do something that he felt was "odd", Drewmore asked the same question. They were all getting pretty annoyed at the Corellian.

Without looking up as he typed into a datapad, Valin simply said, "He's looking for clues."

Drewmore Pevous stared at the Jedi Master's profile, "But his eyes are closed."

"As they were the other two times my brother tried this." Anakah looked at the older man and tried not to get frustrated with him. But she knew it wasn't just the officer's many repetitive questions or even the many dead ends that was causing her frustration. She was standing beside Valin as the three of them stood just inside the bedroom door. Liam was moving through the room and the connected refresher. She took a deep breath and tried to explain, "He's looking for clues in the Force." At the old detective's dubious expression she added, "Liam has great talent for empathy which means he can feel others' emotions. He inherited the talent from our father. Strong emotions sometimes leave a…finger-print, if you will, in the environment."

The lean middle-aged man snapped his attention back to Liam and asked, obviously missing everything else that Anakah had said, "You mean he can read minds better?"

"Not really." Pevous started and turned sharply to stare at the other Jedi Master. Anakah stifled a chuckle, while Valin all but scowled at Ben Skywalker. The man was already jumpy enough around the Jedi; they didn't need Ben adding to it by sneaking up on him. Ben grinned at the CorSec officer's response to being so surprised and went on, "Jedi don't 'read minds', Mr. Pevous. We can only get impressions of ones emotions through the Force. For example, I just frightened you. You were startled and I felt that response, however, I have no idea what you are thinking." The man glared at Ben but the red-headed Jedi chose to ignore it. He finished by saying, "This sensing emotions is something my apprentice is quite good at."

Pevous looked very uncomfortable and his sudden anxiety flooded the Force, "Well, I don't particularly like the fact that Jedi can read my mind."

Anakah looked at Valin and she rolled her eyes. Valin simply looked at Liam, who was beginning to show real signs of fatigue. His concentration would have been blown anyway with the emotion Pevous was radiating. "Liam, I think that has been long. We may as well stop for today."

Liam opened his eyes and looked over at the others. His expression was pinched and his voice was heavy as he said, "Thank you, Master. I didn't feel a physical confrontation but there was a lot of tension between them. He felt—"

"Wait, you said 'he'," Pevous, despite his ignorance of Jedi and his habit of only hearing what he wanted to, seemed to trust the Jedi insight. Anakah found him an interesting and exasperating mix of contradictions.

"Yes," Liam nodded. "Director Dello's murderer was a male. And if I'm reading the emotions correctly he greatly enjoyed her fear and what he did to her."

"Sick. That's what it was," Pevous shook his grey-haired head. "But I've been doing this long enough to know most murderers are sickos."

Ben nodded toward Liam and said gently, "Thank you, Liam. You've done well."

Liam smiled and bowed his head, "Thanks, Master Skywalker."

Pevous laughed at the exchange, "You know, you Jedi are really strange."

"How's that?" Valin asked as they began to move from the bedroom and the others fell into step with him.

The director looked at the older Master and said, "Well, first of all, I wish I had this kind of respect for authority in the force. Second, aren't you two," he pointed between Ben and Liam, "cousins, or something?"

Ben s miled and nodded, as they entered the comfortable common room of Myri's apartment. "Yes, as a matter of fact, we are. But that doesn't often impact a Master/Apprentice relationship. My first Master was my cousin Jacen; my second, after he left the Order upon becoming Prince Consort of Hapes, was my mother. I still know when to call her 'Mom' and when I had better call her 'Master'," Ben finished with one of his devilish s miles.

The director grinned at Ben and replied, "Too bad that doesn't work in most normal fa milies. I would love to be able to do that with my teenagers. They are driving me to drink."

Once the Jedi and the director finished up their investigation, the Jedi headed back to the suite of rooms that they had taken near the district precinct to get ready to go to dinner. After going to dinner in the tapcafe close by, they returned and began discussing what they knew about the murder case, which frustratingly was very little.

They were gathered around the low table in the common sitting room of the four bedroom suite. Laid out on the table were holos of the crime scene and datapads displaying information that had been both given to the Jedi by CorSec and information that Anakah had been able to slice into from the CorSec computers. Most of the evidence did undeniably point to Syal. Something that Valin whole-heartedly refused to believe, regardless of the fact that she was missing since the murder. He just knew his friend was incapable of such an act, which they all knew as true as well, except for Ben. But then Ben liked to play the devil's advocate in most things.

From her position on a foot stool at the end of the caf table, Anakah began typing into her datapad; she was working on a hunch. She could feel Valin's eyes on her from where he sat on the couch across from her and she glanced up in time to see him quickly look away. She inwardly sighed and tuned out the ongoing conversation between Ben, Liam and Hope. The three of them were arguing over some minor detail. Hope was on the floor by the table at her Master's feet, while the other two were sitting on the other couch across from Valin and Hope.

She and Valin had been mutually avoiding each other; however, considering the five of them worked, eat and lived together, it was becoming increasingly harder to avoid their feelings. She knew that he still felt something for her and she stopped denying a long time ago that she loved him. But she was still engaged to another man, a fact she had to keep reminding herself of, which was becoming harder to do. She was beginning to see the folly of marrying Marko. She wasn't shy about approaching a man to get what she wanted and the reasons that held her back in the beginning when they were on Naboo weren't there. Also, the only reason she had been holding back was slipping away. The voice that kept telling her that she had to avoid Valin because of her engagement was getting smaller and smaller and her words to her brother becoming louder: True love is rare, Zeth. Trust me, I know.

She finished the strand of programming and sent it. As she waited to see what it would discover, she stretched her back by arching it and extending her neck. She again felt Valin's eyes on her and she s miled inwardly and decided to roll her shoulders as well, pulling the thin silky fabric ever tighter over her chest, if only for a few seconds. She had been throwing subtle suggestions out for the past three days, flirting with him. The most blatant reminder of what they had found being the black flared, but tight in all the right places, pants and yellow blouse she chose to wear to dinner that evening. It was the same outfit she had worn that very first night they had surrendered to their feelings on Naboo. Deep down she knew she shouldn't try to seduce the Jedi Master but she had to do something. They had been here a week and she couldn't go on pretending nothing lay between them. She loved him and she wanted him.

And Anakah always got what she wanted.

But you are engaged now, she tried to tell herself again. But did it really matter? Did Marko really expect her to be faithful? Would he? She had no doubt that before his little masquerade was over, he'd sleep with the queen. She knew his list of conquests were nearly as long as hers, and many of them just as prominent individuals. Besides, if he really was starting to feel more for her than friendship, he may sleep with the queen for the same reason he hit on Meri years ago—because he's afraid of love.

Suddenly, a beep from her datapad brought her attention back to the task at hand. She keyed a few more commands and gasped at what she found. Her response earned her the attention of the two Jedi Masters present.

"What did you find, Ana?" Ben asked as he leaned forward.

She looked from him to Valin and said, "I hacked into Myri's personal computer files."

"You can do that?" Ben let out a low whistle and shook his head.

She s miled coyly and shrugged. Liam patted his Master on the shoulder and snickered, "In other words, you don't ever what to get on her bad side. You never know what dirt she could dig up on you, Master Skywalker."

Ben chuckled, "I'll remember that."

"What did you find?" Valin quickly brought the conversation back to Anakah's discovery.

She met his eyes and said solemnly, "I found her journal."

Valin visibly swallowed, she could tell he was suddenly uncomfortable. "Do you really think we need that?"

Anakah held his gaze and replied, "If we are trying to find someone else who would have motive to kill her, we might find something in here. I don't know what we're looking for but I have a feeling, okay?" she added at his pained expression. Myri and Syal were practically cousins to Valin and Anakah knew to go snooping into Myri's most private thoughts wasn't something he enjoyed.

After a long moment Ben, who had been watching the exchange with interest, said, "You know she's right, Valin."

"Yeah, I know." Then Valin looked at the two apprentices. "Hope, Liam, please leave us."

"But Uncle—" Hope began to protest.

Valin grimly shook his head, "No 'buts', Hope."

"Come on, Hope," Liam s miled handsomely, making him look a lot like their uncle Jacen when he was younger. "Let's go down to the tapcafe and get somethin' to eat. I'm hungry anyway."

Suddenly, Hope looked at Liam and s miled sweetly as she stood up, "Okay."

As the two of them moved out of the door, chatting nonstop, Ben chuckled, "There really is no end to how entangled your two fa milies are becoming, is there?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Valin asked sharply, too sharply.

Ben raised an eyebrow and shrugged, "Just that I predict that those two will get together."

Valin let out a breath, "I think it's a bit premature to be predicting such things. Besides, Liam is almost twenty, Hope is barely sixteen."

Anakah raised an eyebrow and met Valin's eyes, "You have an issue with their age differences?"

Valin s miled, his gaze becoming intense, "Only that she is so young."

"But love knows no age differences."

"Really? But there may be someone else who is better suited for her, closer to her own age."

Anakah felt her heart speed up as he pinned her with his silver gaze, "What if she doesn't want that person?"

Ben, becoming ever more puzzled by the exchange, laughed and said, "You two talk as if there was a long gap between them. There's only four years, for Force sake."

Anakah finally pulled her eyes from Valin's and met Ben's, s miling she agreed, "That's what I've been saying."

Ben just shook his head, "Whatever. I just think they would make a cute couple." Then he became serious and leaned forward again, "What have you got?"

Anakah took a deep breath and met Valin's gaze again and he nodded, she then opened the file and connected to two other datapads. The three of them began to read the most personal thoughts of the dead woman they all had known.

After about an hour of skimming the entries of the journal, Anakah found one that caught her attention. "Hey, guys. Go to entry three point sixteen point fifty-eight."

Anakah than began to read:

"I can't believe I'm thinking of him this way. Thoughts of him are driving me crazy. I want him so badly. I thought only Brad could make me feel this way, but when I saw the way he was looking at me last night at dinner, I wanted to fuck him. I don't love him, hell, I don't even like him. He's an arrogant ass who thinks he's so much better than the rest of us, but I want him. I want to feel his hands on me, his lips on mine and other places…"

Anakah paused and said, "There is no way I'm reading the rest."

Valin looked up at her and quirked an eyebrow. She met his gaze and suddenly felt heat on her face.

Ben, who's face was now as red as his hair, cleared his throat and said, "I think that's good. We get the idea." Anakah smiled at her cousin's reaction and suddenly remembered that when he was a teenager he had been infatuated with Myri Antilles.

The next few entries were just as filled with sexual fantasizing. Then Valin drew their attention to one posted about a week after the first one. He read aloud:

"He came over today. I worked last night and was off today. I was shocked to find him at my door holding a bottle of that Naboo wine he loves so much and a rather large bouquet of Naboo roses and Corellian violets. He asked if he could come in and since Brad wasn't home and wouldn't be home anytime soon I let him in.

"We never even made it to the bedroom. I don't know who moved first but I think he did. He kissed me and I was lost. All I can say is that I knew she always had good taste in men, well, his personality still stinks, but the rest him…I would never have guessed it was this good. We didn't just stop with kissing. He pushed me up against the door and before I knew it he was fucking me. Gods, he's good.

"But sweet gods, what have I done?"

They were quiet for a while and finally Anakah asked, "But who is it? She never mentions his name, but I'd guess he's married to someone she knows."

"Yeah, but here's more," Ben said then he read:

"Two weeks now. We've been having this thing for two weeks. He honestly was he best I've ever had, even better than Brad. But then Brad would never have done this to me. I really hate him now and I have no idea how I'm ever going to face him again. I refused to do something today when I met him after my shift at their apartment. I never was into anything, well too wild, and what he wanted just didn't turn me on. I could tell he was drunk. I should have just left. But like the damnable fool that I am, I stayed.

"Well, at least it's over. He will never touch me again. He got what he wanted but it wasn't with my consent. I feel even worse now than before. I don't know what to do. I feel so violated but I asked for this. I'm a married woman, who has a wonderful husband and a beautiful baby. I should have known better than to start this. I can't go to Brad, he'd never understand. He'd hate me and I would only break his heart. I love him too much to ever tell him about this. But I know things will never be the same between us either. And I can't go to Syal. What do I say to her? Hey, sis, your husband and I've been getting it on pretty hot and heavy, and well, when I decided not to do something too kinky he raped me. How can you live with that sleaze ball?"

"Stang, Myri had an affair with Pader Barrett?" Valin asked completely taken aback. "They never even got along. Well, now I know why. That kriffin' bastard."

Ben sighed as he leaned back, "Yeah, but this does little to the case except give more credence to the theory that Syal did this. Maybe she found out about the affair and—"

Valin abruptly stood up and said rather gruffly as he ran his hands through his dark hair, "No. Syal didn't kill her sister. Besides, your Apprentice ID'ed the murderer as a male."

Ben stared up at the older Master and said, "Okay. But all of the evidence is pointing directly to her. We can't deny that. And Liam's visions are not permissible in a court."

Valin glared at Ben, "Skywalker, there is no way in hell that Syal Antilles killed her sister. They were best friends and as close as two sisters ever could be."

Ben opened his mouth to speak again but Anakah interrupted him, "Wait. Valin, Ben's not saying she did, he's just saying what a prosecutor would think. But why does this evidence only point to Syal? Personally, I think it stinks of Barrett, especially if you do consider Liam's impressions." At the sudden pained disbelieving stare from Valin she swallowed, "I know what you both are thinking and no I never slept with that jerk, but not from his lack of trying."

"He wanted to sleep with you?" Ben stared at her and made a disgusted face, "He's our cousin for Force sake."

"I know," she took a deep breath and watched as Valin sat back down. "But really the Barretts and the Skywalkers aren't that closely related. My great-grandmother and his were sisters. But you're right, the idea that he's my cousin isn't a great turn on, no matter how good looking he is," she shuddered and wrinkled her nose. "However, it wasn't just our relation that kept me out of his bed, the man just gives me a bad feeling. I never liked him. And quite frankly, I could see him doing murder more so than the Chief of State. Syal Antilles is a gracious lady and has far too much at stake to murder her sister. However, Barrett stood to loose everything if this little affair ever came out of the closet."

Valin sat forward, "So, you're suggesting Myri threatened to reveal their affair and Barrett killed her to keep her quiet?"

Anakah met his gaze, "Exactly."

Ben looked at both of the other Jedi and then raised another question, "If Pader Barrett killed Myri to keep her quiet, could it be possible that he is also the one who is keeping Syal hidden away?"

"I know for a fact, that Syal wouldn't have run from this," Valin said with conviction. "She would know that her parents would need her and she adores Chase. Not able to have kids herself, she loves her nephew as if he was her own. I'm not buying the statement that she is grieving and needs to be away to do so. She would want to grieve with her fa mily."

X

They continued to discuss this theory for a long time until the door finally slid open. All three of Jedi looked up and were actually surprised to see Liam and Hope walk into the room.

Liam grinned at them and asked, "Wow, you guys are still talking about this?"

Hope sat down on the couch that Valin had vacated and he didn't miss that Liam sat down beside her. Inwardly he s miled and suddenly felt sorry for his sister and brother-in-law. Well, Doran, you may just get to eat your words, Valin thought as he remembered his brother-in-law's snide comments after the announcement of the engagement of Terrik to Meri Durron. Valin had to admit, they did make a cute couple of kids. He said aloud, "We were just finishing up. So, where'd you go for that tapcafe?" He looked at his wrist chrono and raised an eyebrow. "It took you three and a half hours?" Actually, Valin was surprised at the amount of time that passed as well. It was well past mid-night. But he sure wasn't going to let the Apprentices know that they weren't missed.

Liam looked away and Hope blushed. Oh, boy, he thought, I'm going to have to watch them more carefully. Finally, Hope said, "We did go to the tapcafe and we had ice cream and hot chocolate."

Ben raised a russet brow, "For over three hours?"

Liam looked at his Master and answered, "Then we decided to go for a walk. I guess we lost all track of time. I'm sorry, Master."

Ben stood up and looked up at Valin, after flashing a smug grin, he said to the younger Jedi, "Well, it's late and tomorrow is an early day. So, I think you two should head off to bed."

"Yes, Master," both Liam and Hope intoned together and after they stole another glance at each other went off in opposite directions. Liam went to the room he shared with Ben and Hope went to hers.

After they were safely in their rooms, Ben laughed, "I forgot about them."

Valin grinned and nodded, "Me too."

Anakah stood up and looked between the two Masters, s miling she said, "Well, all I can say is I'd have loved to have been a flint gnat following them on that walk. I'm sure they didn't do much walking."

Valin groaned and Ben and Anakah laughed. Ben then slapped the older man on the shoulder and said, "Well, at least she isn't your daughter, Valin. But I do pity your sister and Doran. Although, going back to that conversation we had earlier about their age difference, I bet your father will get a kick out of it."

Valin narrowed his eyes at the red-headed Master, "Why's that?"

Ben snickered, "Well, didn't he try to chase your brother-in-law away from Jysella?"

"Yes," then Valin groaned, understanding dawning. "It only made them more determined. But at least Dad likes the Tainers. Doran isn't a Durron, no pun intended, of course." Even he laughed at that.

Finally, Ben yawned and said, "Well, I'm calling it quits. Good night."

"Good night, Ben," Anakah said and Valin nodded his agreement.

Suddenly, he and Anakah were alone. She had been driving him crazy all night. Well, actually all week. However, he knew that to her this could just as well be a game. A game he wasn't going to play.

Finally, he said, "I—emm—I'm going to bed too. Good night, Ana."

He turned to move away from her when she reached out to touch his arm, "Valin, wait."

He turned back to find himself staring into her blue eyes. Damn, why did she have to be so beautiful? "Anakah, I don't think this is a good idea."

She moved closer and he tried not to breath in her scent. She locked her eyes with his and moved her other hand to lay it on his chest. His deep intake of air betrayed him, causing her to s mile. "Valin, I know you still want me."

He wanted to push her away but he couldn't. He had to find out just what she felt for him. "Anakah, I won't be a play thing. You are engaged to be married and I will not share you with Marko."

"Valin, Marko doesn't love me and I don't love him." She softly said, "I love you."

"But not enough to break it off with him. Not enough to prevent you from making the biggest mistake in your life." Valin sharply replied. "Anakah, you have to make a choice. You can't have us both."

Staring into his eyes she moved closer and whispered, "Maybe I am. Maybe I've decided what I want. I want love, Valin. I want happiness. I want to know that the man I love loves me back." Valin's breath caught at her quiet words. She dropped her shields then and he was bombarded with her love for him and her desire. It was enough to make his head spin. She moved her hands to encircle his neck and he felt like he was drowning in the azure pools that were her eyes. "But I won't hide, Valin. I want you and I love you and our fa milies probably won't accept us, but I won't hide."

Valin felt his heart speed up as she flooded his senses. Was she really choosing him? He wanted nothing more than to pull her to him and make her his. But would she ever truly be his?

"Alright. I agree, if we are to do this we need to be up front with our fa milies. But there's more, Anakah. I won't tolerate being made a fool of. I forgive you of your past, but if we do this you have to be faithful to me. It's not just Marko I won't share you with. I won't share you with anyone. Can you make that commitment?"

Surprisingly to him, she never hesitated. She pressed herself against him and whispered, "I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm your's Valin Horn." And she opened herself to him more. Suddenly, he realized what she was trying to do. They almost achieved it on Naboo, but they both had held back then. Now, even though he really didn't want to hold back either, something kept him from reaching for her through the Force. Then out of nowhere he heard a whispery voice that he immediately recognized in his head:

Love her, Valin.

Valin instantly wrapped his arms around her and crushed her lips with his. He kissed her with passion and longing. Their tongues dueled and they sucked on the other's lips until they were both breathless. Before he broke the kiss he opened to her, reaching for her presence as she reached for his. She moaned and he gasped when the connection was made—a bond. Not just a meld of their minds, but a true bond of two people who love and trust each other. He basked in her love as it flooded him and she actually giggled at the wonderful sensation his caused within her. S miling, Valin pulled away and huskily said, "Stay with me tonight. I can't bear to be away from you any longer."

Although, tears of joy were streaming down her flushed cheeks, she grinned mischievously, "Aren't you concerned about the others?"

He said hoarsely as he closed the distance between them again, "Not hiding, remember?"

He felt her melt into him and again he kissed her until they were breathless, deepening their bond as they did.

"Whoa! Sis!" Liam's surprised voice instantly shot through them and they jumped apart, like too teenagers caught by a parent, Valin thought ironically.

Anakah turned toward her baby brother and glowered, her voice still husky from her desire and the effects of their bonding, "Liam Han Durron, I'm going to kill you! Aren't ever going to learn to stay in bed?"

The youngest Durron snickered, "Actually, I think if there's any killing that's done, it will be Dad killing Master Horn. I can't wait until we get back to Coruscant!"

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