First Episode

The Cost of Power is set in an alternative universe from the main Martiniere Legacy series. In this book, I take a closer look at the mind control technology and…the relationship between Gabe and his father Philip ends up being different.

Additionally, Gabe tells Ruby who he really is much, much earlier than in the main Martiniere Legacy series.

Most of all, I’m freeforming this story. I somewhat know where it’s going to go, but how it unfolds depend on what happens with Gabe, Philip, Ruby, and Justine once they get on a roll in this particular setting.

Enjoy! This is part two of Chapter Two. There will be three parts to this chapter.

July, 2033

RUBY

Ruby got through the rest of her shopping without incident, and fortunately no one problematic was at the self-checkout. As she rolled her cart out to the ranch truck, she startled at the sight of a well-dressed woman in cream-colored slacks, bright tunic, and sunglasses, with a scarf covering her hair, almost a stereotypic example of a movie star trying to hide their identity. There was something familiar about the woman—but Ruby didn’t know anyone who dressed that well in the County outside of special occasions, at least not someone who would be walking across the Food Stretcher parking lot directly toward her.

The woman paused as Ruby stopped by her truck and began unloading her bags.

“Ruby?” She lowered her sunglasses so Ruby could recognize her.

“Remy?” It couldn’t be her old friend Remy Trask? Not this glamorous and polished, surely?

“It’s been a while.” Remy glanced around, a nervous gesture that reminded Ruby of how Gabe acted when they were in public outside of Thunder County.

“I’ll say. I thought you were still in Los Angeles, working for the Feds.”

“Um—well—things blew up.” Remy slid her sunglasses back on and gestured at Ruby’s bags. “You have time, or do you need to get stuff back home in this heat?”

“No, no, just nonperishables.”

“Want to grab a drink at the Lakeside?”

Ruby waved to the truck’s passenger door. “Hop in. I’ll drive us over.”

Most likely Remy had walked over from the Trask Law Office, managed by her father James Trask. Or from the Trask house, located behind the office.

“Thanks.”

The Lakeside Café on the edge of Thunder Lake was in the mid-afternoon doldrums, with a couple of tables occupied on the outside deck. Remy led Ruby through the dining area into the bar after waving off the dining area server. She chose a booth far from the door, and took the side which allowed her to watch the entrances. While she took off her sunglasses, she left the scarf wrapped around her face.

“You’re acting like this is super spy stuff,” Ruby said after the bartender left with their orders—beer for Remy, mint iced tea for Ruby. “What’s going on? I thought you had a good job with the Feds.”

Remy grimaced as the bartender returned with their drinks. She waited until he walked away before she spoke. “I kinda am in hiding right now. You know that big case I worked on five years ago? US vs Martiniere Group? Well, the fallout from that trial just won’t go away.” She sipped on her beer.

“What do you mean?” Oh, she had some idea. Gramps was a big fan of the Criminal Injustice show, and there had been ads all week promoting tonight’s episode, featuring that case. “Is it because of the show?”

Hmm. Gabe got tense every time a teaser for that episode came on the TV. He had said years ago that the Martiniere indenture bounty hunters were the ones after him, so Ruby figured that the repeated mention of Martiniere just made him flinch. Especially since one of the leads was named Gabriel. Gabe didn’t tend to use the full form of his name, but he jumped whenever he heard it. He had said he once knew Gabriel Martiniere, that the two of them had been roommates in military school. Maybe that was it. Concern about someone he had known well.

Then why didn’t Gabriel help Gabe with his debt?

“Part of it. They wanted me to talk on the record, and I wouldn’t do it.” Remy gazed into her beer. “Plus Philip Martiniere is making some big political plays these days with his promotion of that lifetime indenture program.” She scowled. “Making a mockery of every bit of that abortion of a trial.”

“I didn’t know much about it. Granma was really sick when the trial happened.” Ruby stirred sugar into her tea. “Gramps and I were in the hospital with her when we weren’t working the ranch, and we weren’t following the news.”

Remy shook her head. “Martiniere should be in a Federal prison right now. The evidence that his nephew provided us was pretty solid. And when the verdict came back not guilty—well, Martiniere set about making the lives of those working on that prosecution miserable. Those of us who hadn’t sold out to him, that is.”

“It was that bad.”

“Oh yeah.” Remy took several swallows of her beer. “I heard enough about what Philip could do from his own mother. Then Donna Martiniere had to go into surgery and couldn’t testify. If she didn’t already have a history of cardiac failure, I’d have thought Martiniere had something to do with it.”

“Remy, really?” Ruby arched a brow at her friend. “I didn’t think you were into conspiracy theories.”

Remy nodded. “Really, Ruby.” She exhaled. “One of our marshals guarding Gabriel Martiniere managed to replace his underwear with ones that had been psychotropic-impregnated, to make him more susceptible to mind control cues. He wore a set that day, and Martiniere’s attorney triggered mind control programming in Gabriel. The marshal said she had been seduced by Martiniere’s son Joey. But the damage had already been done to our case.”

“Surely you could have done something?”

“We didn’t have enough evidence to charge her with doing that because somehow the recording of her confession disappeared, along with other evidence. And the cavalcade of screwups just kept getting worse. I decided to leave before my career ended up being completely ruined. It didn’t matter what case I was working on. Evidence started disappearing, all over the place. It was just nuts—and, as a married lesbian, well—I’m vulnerable. I hope that coming back here gets me away from Martiniere scrutiny and meddling.”

“Wow.” Ruby sat back. “Maybe I need to watch that show tonight. I had no idea. From what your dad has been saying when Gramps and I have gone in to talk to him, you were doing pretty well working for the Feds.”

“I couldn’t tell Dad what was going on, even the parts that don’t violate confidentiality.” Remy finished her beer. “Martiniere seed contracts might not be that huge here in Thunder County, but they do have an influence. I don’t want to endanger Dad’s contracts with the Grain Growers. He’s better off not knowing about my problems with the Martinieres.”

“Huh.” Ruby brushed away the condensation forming on the side of her glass closest to her. That last sentence sounded a lot like what Gabe said about his past.

You’re better off not knowing details.

She trusted Gabe. But sometimes, she wondered.

“So what are you still doing here in Thunder County, Ruby?” Remy briefly smiled. “I’d have thought you’d be working for one of the big agtech companies like Martiniere or Zingter by now. You sure seemed to be on a fast track to going somewhere with your biobot designs.” Remy frowned at her. “One of us has to make it big, and it sure isn’t gonna be me after all this. I just passed the Oregon Bar, gonna go into practice with Dad.”

Ruby sighed. “Granma. And Gramps. The only reason I was able to try out for Miss Rodeo Oregon and go through that year was due to my boyfriend Gabe running the ranch.” Her voice caught. “Granma was so proud of me earning that title. Insisted that I go ahead and try out for Miss Rodeo America despite how sick she was. I suppose it was a good thing I didn’t get it, because I was home when she died, but—”

Remy reached across the table and rested her hand on Ruby’s. “I’m sorry, Ruby. Your grandmother was a good person.”

“I appreciated the flowers and card you sent.” Ruby swallowed hard. “And Gramps—Remy, if it wasn’t for Gabe, the ranch would be in a lot worse shape than it is now. Gramps can’t do much, and I really can’t leave him.”

“Family.” Remy exhaled. “Dad’s glad to have me back home since big brother Tom’s made it clear he’s not coming back to the County to take over the practice, but he’s a bit confused about why I did it. On the other hand, my wife Shannon spoils the heck out of him, so he’s loving that we’re here.”

“So when are you gonna introduce me to her?” It was a relief to change subjects.

“When are you gonna introduce me to your Gabe?” Remy grinned at her. “I’ve been hearing the buzz about him. Sounds like he’s quite the hottie. And you’ve been together for—what—four years or so? Surprised you two haven’t tied the knot yet. Especially since he seems to be playing a major role on the ranch, from what Dad says.”

Ruby laughed. “Well, he is pretty damn good-looking, if I do say so.” She sobered. “He’s hiding out too, Remy,” she said in a softer voice. “Huge debt. Martiniere indenture bounty hawks after him. I didn’t expect him to stay for very long after I graduated from college, just because I knew he was on the run. But—here he is, four years later.”

“Sounds like true love on his part. How the hell did you end up with someone like that?” Remy tilted her head sideways, smirking at Ruby. “You’re always so cautious about the men you hook up with.”

“I just—fell into it. Met him at a rodeo when I was on the circuit as Pendleton Roundup Princess. He looked me up later on, and—well—Remy, he’s smart. Mannerly. Polite. Fun. Knows his way around a ranch. His degree is in microbials, but it was from one of those spendy for-profit colleges. Plus he does have a gambling habit. Not bad, but sometimes I wonder where he’s getting money. He’s honest to a fault, but—”

“But he’s a gambler.” Remy chuckled. “I never figured you’d hook up with a bad boy, Ruby.”

“Neither did I.”

Not that Gabe’s really that much of a bad boy.

Remy glanced at her watch. “Well, gotta get back to the house. Saw you pull into the Stretcher, so hoped to catch you before you were done. Let’s get together for a barbecue or something, okay?”

“Sounds good.”

Remy turned down Ruby’s offer of a ride. Ruby hummed on the drive home, her mood turning brighter.

Though perhaps she should commit to watching that Criminal Injustice show with Gramps tonight.

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