Book 5 in the Huntress series.
President Peter De Crecy rules supreme. All he needs now is to destroy the Hunters and he can execute his plan to take his style of government out into the galaxy. He has a foolproof plan... or so he thinks. The leadership of the Hunters have other ideas, one that will re-introduce freedom to all... if they succeed in their own plans. Cambria Peterson is key to both plans; and before she's done, she will face the return of her worst nightmare.
Excerpt:
“What news, General?” World Council Hunter Cambria Petersen grinned at her lover and boss, General Nathan Caparossi as he walked through the door of their shared apartment.
He gave her a brief, tired smile, his midnight eyes relieved to see her.
“The American Governor disappeared a week ago.” Nathan ran a hand through his dark hair and slumped into his easy-chair. “Rumour has it the Presidential Security Unit saw fit to invite him to the Presidential Palace him for chat with De Crecy.”
Cambria lowered the e-reader, the article on composite blades forgotten. “That’s not good.”
“No,” Nathan sighed, “not for her.”
“She wasn’t...”
“No. As far as Governor Alicia Andersen is concerned, all she’s guilty of is overzealous skimming of Provincial produce and funds. I don’t think she shared with de Crecy as much as he expected. Which makes her...”
“A traitor of the People.” She set the reader on the coffee table. “And dead by now.” She shuddered as she recalled her own execution by de Crecy, had seen the audio-visuals of both the execution and the World Council assembly’s reaction. Fortunately for her, Caparossi had his aide, Tim Sheridan, hunt down the facility in which she was held and bribe the morgue attendant – with a date – to release her ‘remains’ to him.
To her surprise, Tim and the handler of the dead, Tandy Grobelaar, still dated. According to Tim, Tandy wasn’t the most attractive of women, but to his own surprise, they enjoyed each other’s company.
“Probably, yes. De Crecy can’t have Andersen running around talking about a secret facility and the nasty questioning techniques used on her. Her replacement, Grigor Kaspewiscz, is a straight arrow - at least as far as loyalty to de Crecy is concerned. Jerry’s crew have already seen evidence of skimming directed straight into Kaspewiscz’s and de Crecy’s pockets.”
Cambria rubbed her chin. “Release it to the underground media? I’m sure Jerry would love the chance to hack into a few more computers – why not send him into the most secure of all?” She and Nathan both knew the mainstream media was owned lock, stock options and digital access by de Crecy. But certain members of Council disagreed with such a monopoly. With so many unregistered corridors, the alliance of councillors could send out information to underground movements working to improve the lives of ‘slaves’ in the American Province, and other provinces under the boot heel of corrupt overlords.
Those councillors played as much of a dangerous game with the President’s councillors as the Hunter and Retrieval Unit did. If any of them failed... de Crecy’s men would torture then kill them; as a lesson to any who challenged the President’s absolute power.
Nathan shrugged. “Some days, it feels as if I’m taking two steps forward in one job and another one back in the second.”
Cambria rose and went behind him, massaged his shoulders. “You are doing two jobs, Nathan, and Lord Montague doesn’t seem to be recovering. You need to delegate. Either be the head of the Hunters, or the leader of the rebellion.”
