Tears of Time

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CHAPTER XXVIII

 

Julian batted at the leash as he was led up to a stately Cardassian home. He would walk along and behave without it. Hopefully, Tskara could give him some pointers. He thought he had gotten pretty good at reading Garak during the last seven years of his life. Though this wasn't his Garak, he still thought he would be able to better get a read on him than he had been having luck doing.

 

“Agent Regnar, do come in,” a female Cardassian ushered him into the house. “Tskara is upstairs. I can take you there.”

 

“I would not dream of imposing on your time, Inquisitor Ghemor. I know the way.”

 

“Of course,” the woman nodded her head before turning and leaving the house.

 

Julian stared at the artwork on the walls, shuffling along out of reach behind Garak. Garak probably did not believe he had meant the apology. Stubborn Cardassian. Well, he would be nice to Garak.

 

Garak pressed the call button.

 

“Enter.”

 

Julian gasped as he walked into the room. A large round bed covered with lush pillows was at the center of the room. A large computer terminal sat along a back wall. A vanity table set with perfumes and oils with a large mirror was in between two other sets of doors in the room. Through one, Julian could see a bathroom.

 

Tskara clicked something and shoved it under a pillow, sitting up. She was wearing a long flowing blue silk dress that displayed her cleavage to fine effect.

 

Julian stared at her.

 

“You can leave Julian. I will look after him,” Tskara said. Her face was impassive and her voice soft. She lifted a cup of rokassa juice and took a gulp.

 

“I will look after Iliana,” Garak said, making eye contact with the human woman.

 

Tskara nodded. Her breathing was even, and not even one muscle of her face betrayed a thought.

 

Garak tugged Julian close.

 

“Be good,” he said, unsnapping the leash.

 

“Where are you going?”

 

“To attend to business,” Garak said, stroking the soft cheek.

 

Julian glared at Garak. That was a non answer. Tskara already knew his real name and his occupation. What would be the harm in saying exactly where he was going?

 

Garak sighed, turning and leaving quickly.

 

“You're very rude,” Tskara said, sliding a hand under the folds of her dress. “Come here.”

 

“How was I rude?” Julian asked, watching Tskara shift as she patted the bed in front of her. He walked over and took a seat where the woman indicated.

 

Tskara slid her fingers around on the necklace. Her fingers twitched a little and unfastened a small piece of metal.

 

“What are you doing?”

 

Tskara put a finger to Julian's lips. She fiddled with the necklace.

 

Julian shifted at the few tiny clicks. What was she doing?

 

Tskara released it against Julian's neck a moment later. She reached into the folds of her dress.

 

“What did you do?”

 

“Nothing for you to worry about.”

 

Julian was about to snap a reply when he felt the sharp end of a Cardassian phaser press to the back of his neck.

 

“Dr. Bashir, why are you here? I suggest you do not jerk me around. I know how to kill you and leave no evidence of what happened. Start talking.”

 

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