Page 24 of Polestar (The Global Paranormal Security Agency #3)

Joey hardened her voice. “First, we know they are both highly trained agents and that if they’re in trouble, we need to give them time to resolve the situation.

So we prepare in the event we will have to go in—and it looks like we may,” she added before anyone could interject. “But we have to be careful.”

“Fucking politics,” Ian growled.

“Yes. Fucking politics,” Joey repeated and reminded them of what they already knew. “While we have access to most waters, there are still some jurisdictions we are not free to enter without permission or a very good cause.”

“And you know we can get in undetected,” Carson said. “So, where is the problem?”

“Do any of you know much about the Barentians?”

Aaron and Raya were the only ones that nodded.

To the others, Joey briefly explained their history and relationship to outsiders.

“So grumpy, xenophobic polar bear shifters,” Lirikai said.

“But why? The other polar bear communities don’t go to the same extremes to keep outsiders away,” Raya asked. “What are they hiding?”

“Everyone has their reasons to shut out the world,” Ian said, casting Raya a grim look.

“What else do we know?” Aaron asked, bringing the meeting back to the point.

Jack filled in, “since Magnus identified Aksel Matochkin, our nearly dead shifter victim as his brother-in-law, we dug around into him. He and his sister Ulla are children of King Matochkin of the Novaya Zemlya polar bears. Their territory rides the line between the Kara Sea and the Barents Sea. Matochkin is notorious for his eccentricities and volatility.”

“Seems an odd partnership for Thornsson to make,” Aaron said.

“Magnus told me that his mother was from the Icelandic clan west of Barentia, while Ulla is from the southeast. Other ancestral matrons are from all over the arctic region, including northern Canada, Alaska and Russia,” Joey said.

“Unions with each of the clans,” Lirikai said. “Do you think Thornsson is planning something or expecting trouble?”

Joey hesitated, then blew out her breath. “Yes.”

“Which is?”

How much do I tell them?

“Magnus’ family has been the chosen guardians for an incredibly valuable artifact in the high north; only a handful of people in the world have some hint of its existence.

” She drew in a breath. “But our job is to focus on the human trafficking ring and rescue survivors in order to return them to their families. So, we’ll focus on that. ”

Carson nodded, gaze locked on Joey’s face. “You’ll tell us about this artifact later?”

Joey resumed her pacing, ignoring the question. “Jack, what else do we know that can help us?”

“Matochkin is known to have worked closely with a company that provides renewable energy and satellite connectivity to remote areas like his. I sent you some files on that.”

“Why is this of interest to us?” Joey reached for the device on her desk to switch on the monitor affixed to the wall, then the keyboard to retrieve the files Jack mentioned. On opening the file, several images cast to the screen, including the logo of an octopus with its arms enveloping a globe.

“Embraceable Energy. Embracing responsible technology to reach every part of the planet,” Aaron said, reading the motto.

Jack continued, “I’ve had my tech team investigating to see if we could tap into this network. Most of the satellites in the north are government owned. Some allow us access, some don’t. Barentia isn’t covered because it’s on a blackout list of protected areas.”

“As per U.N. agreements with sovereign shifter nations. And?”

“And—.”

“Look at the logo,” Raya breathed.

Jack continued, “And the logo is suspiciously similar to the sigil tattoo.”

Joey tapped a few keys to split the screen and bring up the images of the sigil. “Eight arms on the octopus. Eight bars on the sigil.”

“Eight major shipping regions that we’ve seized human cargo from,” Raya said.

“What do we know about the company’s owner?” Carson asked, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck.

“Adolf Wulker. Shifter. Octopus,” Jack said.

“Of course,” Lirikai said, rolling her eyes.

Aaron resumed his pacing. “Why have we never heard of this guy before?”

“We’re aware of him. We just didn’t have cause to look into him before now,” Joey said. “He’s good at camouflaging himself and his activities.”

“Slippery sucker,” Lirikai said, crossing her arms.

Jack went on, “I’ve listened to all of Ana’s interview recordings, including her trip into the astral realm with Aksel. She said the ocean was full of a black substance she wasn’t sure was oil or ink. I think it was ink. Squid—Octopus ink.”

“Meaning?” Carson glanced back to the enlarged image of the sigil.

“Meaning, I think Wulker is more than just a shifter. The sigils aren’t just ownership brands.”

“I’ll have the medics analyze samples of Aksel’s skin to see if they made the tattoo of squid ink and any other components,” Joey said, following Jack’s line of thought. “And if we can remove it.”

“In the meantime, I’m going to have my tech department quietly poke around Wulker’s infrastructure to see if they can find a way into his databases.”

“Good,” Joey said. “The rest of us are going to load the jet with gear and make our way to Norway. Whether Wulker has anything to do with the trafficking ring or not, we need to find out why Magnus and Analiese haven’t contacted us via sat-phone.

There could be a good reason they haven’t reached out and I don’t want to blow the mission if there is. ”

“And if not, we’re ready to go in after them,” Carson said, pulling Joey’s attention.

He held her gaze.

She nodded, understanding that if she gave the order or not, he would go after Analiese.

“Dismissed.” Everyone rose to clear out.

“I’ll call in with an update as soon as we have something,” Jack said.

“Prioritize this project above everything else.”

“Understood.” The line clicked off.

Joey turned, startled to see Carson waiting, hand on the doorknob. He closed the door, returning to speak to Joey eye to eye.

Carson’s jaw tightened as he held her gaze, one fist enclosing the other as he considered his words.

Carson didn’t look older than mid-thirties, like herself.

“We’ve both been on this earth for a long, long time.”

Her lips quirked as she nodded toward the closed door. “Lirikai longer than you. I, a little longer than her.”

His expression remained stern. “This artifact.”

The two words stole away the budding smile.

“If this is what I think it is, Kane, it better not be the political road trap in our way of retrieving our agents. I don’t care about that. Ana’s life is worth more than that. And I’d have thought you’d feel the same about Magnus.”

Joey’s throat tightened. “I do. But, he also understands how important this is too, Carson. And yes, part of my hesitance is about the artifact. Magnus knows. He’s always known. He will ride that line. That’s why I’m giving him more time.”

“If he lets Ana—.”

“He won’t,” She cut him off. “He won’t, Carson. I trust him as much as I trust you.”

“If something happens to her…”

“I know. As I said at the top of this meeting, they’re both trained agents. And I have to trust them . So do you. Now go and help Lirikai pack what you’ll need. I can feel how close we are to shutting this case down.”

Carson grunted, held her gaze a moment longer, then turned on his heel and left her office.

She watched him go, blowing out her pent breath, easing her hip against her desk. “Gods, please let this go the right way.”