Books in the EMPIRE Series by Richard F. Weyand: EMPIRE: Reformer EMPIRE: Usurper EMPIRE: Tyrant EMPIRE: Commander EMPIRE: Warlord EMPIRE: Conqueror by Stephanie Osborn: EMPIRE: Imperial Police EMPIRE: Imperial Detective EMPIRE: Imperial Inspector by Richard F. Weyand: EMPIRE: Intervention EMPIRE: Investigation EMPIRE: Succession Books in the Childers Universe by Richard F. Weyand: Childers Childers: Absurd Proposals Galactic Mail: Revolution A Charter For The Commonwealth Campbell: The Problem With Bliss by Stephanie Osborn: Campbell: The Sigurdsen Incident Other books by Stephanie Osborn The Division One Series: Alpha and Omega A Small Medium At Large A Very UnCONventional Christmas Tour de Force Trojan Horse Texas Rangers Definition and Alignment Phantoms Head Games Break, Break, Houston Tourist Trap Mega Moth Coming soon: Byegones Everywhere Signs Shake, Rattle and Roll Die Glocke Diplomatic Catfight Forming Terra Popular Science: INCOMING! The Chicxulub Impactor Kiss Your Ash Goodbye: The Yellowstone Supervolcano Rock and Roll: The New Madrid Fault System The Weather Out There Is Frightful: Solar/Space Weather Sherlock, Sheilas, and the Seven-Percent Solution: Victorian Era Drugs A New American Space Plan, with Travis S. Taylor EMPIRE Imperial Detective by STEPHANIE OSBORN Copyright 2020 by Stephanie Osborn All Rights Reserved EMPIRE Universe and characters used with permission ISBN 978-1-7340758-3-0 Printed in the United States of America Cover Credits Cover Art: James Lewis-Vines Back Cover Photo: Fritz Ling Published by Weyand Associates, Inc. Bloomington, Indiana, USA August 2020 CONTENTS Associations Busted Mergers Rebuilding Problems Skulking Disaster Planning A Big Bada-Boom Reckoning A Decision Interrogation The Other Conspirators The Head of the Serpent New Beginnings Addition Subtraction Division The Jive One Up Upgrades Changes Multiplication And So It Begins Complications Author Notes Associations Newly-betrothed investigators Dominick Xavier Ashton and Callista Elena Ames had just arrived at her childhood home to spend the weekend with her parents, as Cally introduced her beloved to them. Alexandre Paul Ames and his wife Laura Elaine Devin Ames had been a bit surprised upon receiving word of their only daughter’s engagement, and even more surprised upon discovering that Nick was a detective for the Imperial Police. So when the pair arrived, Cally’s parents had a few questions. And more than a few declarations. By way of putting their joint foot down. In the front door of the house. “I’m sorry, Cally,” Alexandre Ames told his daughter, stern, blocking the door and refusing to let Nick even enter the house, “but I’m afraid we don’t approve of this relationship.” “No, not at all,” Laura confirmed. “This is not the man we would have chosen for you.” “No, and we’re hoping you’ll come to your senses soon,” Alexandre added. “We’ll back you on whatever you need to do to get rid of him. Just do it.” “Wha– But Mom! Dad!” Cally exclaimed. “Why in the name of the Empire not?! I love Nick!” “When you moved to Imperial City after graduation, we thought you chose the Imperial City Police Department to stay away from the corruption of the Imperial Police Headquarters,” Alexandre reminded her. “I did! What does that have to do with Nick?” Cally demanded, as a startled, off-put Nick stood behind her, trying not to gape, and wondering why his beloved’s parents disapproved of him without ever having met him before. “Is he or is he not a ‘detective’ in the Imperial Police Headquarters?” Alexandre said with disgust, quirking his fingers in the air to denote quotation marks around the title. But before either of them could respond, Cally’s mother interjected. “How in the name of all that is holy did you get involved with such a man, Cally?” Laura wondered, anxious and concerned. “Does he have something on you? Is he blackmailing you? Did he make something up on you in order to blackmail you? We’ll do whatever we need to do in order to get you out from under his influence. We swear to you, we will.” “How much do you want in payment to be rid of this façade?” Alexandre asked Nick. “We aren’t rich, by any means, but if you’re blackmailing her, we’ll pay you off to get you out of her life, for good.” “Oh,” Nick and Cally said simultaneously. “I get it now,” Nick added. “Let me expl–” “You be quiet, young man!” Laura snapped. “We’re talking to our daughter, not you. You have no right to even be here!” “Mother,” Cally said, in a threatening tone. “Let. Nick. Speak.” “Don’t talk to your mother in that tone, young lady,” Alexandre scolded. “I most certainly will, when the both of you have already reached a judgement without even hearing the facts of the case,” Cally declared, suddenly becoming Investigator Ames as they watched. “And what facts are there to hear, other than what we already know about IPD Headquarters?” Laura wondered, scornful. “How about the fact that Nick was working in the Imp City Police Department when we met?” Cally fired back. At that news, her parents literally, as well as metaphorically, rocked back on their heels. “Wait, wait, wait,” Laura murmured, shocked and confused. “Do you mean to say that this is the nice young man you were telling us all about, the one who was teaching you to be a better investigator?” “The same,” Cally averred. “Why don’t you ease up a little, set aside your preconceived notions for a minute, and let him tell you his story?” Alexandre and Laura exchanged glances, then stepped away from the door arch, allowing the younger couple into the house. “All right,” Alexandre Ames said, grudging. “You get one chance, Ashton. The two of you, come in and sit down.” He pointed at the bags sitting on the front porch. “Cally, grab your things. Ashton, leave yours. If you explain well enough to suit us, we’ll come back for them.” “And it better be good,” Laura Ames averred, scowling. “Oh, it will be,” Cally said, matching her mother’s
