by C. J. Nash
“And maybe discuss things that can’t be said in my presence?”
“You’re too suspicious. But I suppose that’s an asset for an investigator.”
****
Janet opened the door to Lou’s office just a crack. “Lou, are you busy.”
“Never too busy for you. I’ve been expecting you. I’m surprised you stayed away this long.”
“Well Lou, I’m still hurting. And I didn’t want to rush you. I’m not rushing you am I?”
“No. And I was able to access the data you wanted.”
“Good. Who broke into Mason’s apartment?”
“Can’t tell you until you make me a promise.”
“What promise?”
“You can’t tell Mr. Turner that we know who tampered with his LaundryMate.”
“My lips are sealed. Now who is he?”
“Not he—she. Vera West.”
“Vera West? Oh my God! Vera West! She was one of them. Is she in the shop? I need to talk to her.”
“Yeah. I haven’t been sending her out on trouble calls. I’ve been giving her busy-work here in the shop because I knew that, when you came by, you would want to see her. Go easy on her. Stay here and I’ll go get her.”
When Vera arrived, she was obviously nervous. “Good morning, Miss Edwards.”
“Good morning, Vera. It is okay if I call you Vera, isn’t it?”
“Of course. Vera’s fine.”
“Good. And call me Janet. I haven’t seen you in a while. How are things at home?”
“Getting better. Some days, things are almost normal.”
“That’s good. You’ve cut your hair.”
“I thought I’d try it short. But this is too short.”
Janet raised her notepad and captured Vera’s image. “I think it looks good.”
“Delete that, please. It’s much too short. It makes me look like a man. I hate it.”
Janet raised her stylus and began to doodle on the ‘pad. “Maybe a little too short but, with your delicate features, you could never look like a man.”
Vera asked tentatively, “Is this just a friendly visit or are you here on business?”
Janet turned the notepad so that Vera could see what she had added to the photo. “But if you had a beard, you might be able to pass for a man.”
At the sight of the modified picture Vera almost smiled. But that near smile quickly ran away from her face. “You recognized me at the party?”
“No, I did not.”
“But you know I was there?”
“Yes.”
“And you know what I did?”
“Yes.”
“You’ve got to know why I did it. That investigator has no business being here. If he isn’t stopped a lot of people are going to be hurt.” Tears welled in Vera’s eyes. “More hurt won’t kill me, but you know that this investigator can shatter the world for those who were hurt the most.”
Janet deleted the photo. “Mason won’t find anything. No evidence exists that could hurt anybody. Evidence gets lost. The local investigators couldn’t find anything and Mason won’t either.”
“What if you’re wrong?”
“Then we convince Mason to keep silent. I think I can keep the situation under control.”
“And if you can’t?”
“I will do whatever is necessary, but killing Mason would just make everything worse.”
“How can it be worse?”
“Do you think that the governor would just ignore it if his investigator was murdered? He would have Earth send an entire team of investigators—investigators that I can’t possibly control. Mason is not going to find anything and no one is going to tell him anything. I want to keep him alive and ignorant until the next ship lifts for Earth.”
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. But there’s something you need to know.”
“About a LaundryMate?”
“You know?”
“I know.”
“And he’s still alive?”
“He didn’t touch the LaundryMate. I did.”
“Oh my God! No! Are you okay?”
“I’m sore. Mason risked his life to save mine. Another reason I want him to stay alive. I owe him.”
A river of tears flowed down Vera’s cheeks. “I would never do anything to hurt you. I am so sorry. What can I ever do to make up for nearly killing a very dear friend?”
Janet, trying to ignore the pain of her ribs, embraced Vera and stroked her cropped hair. “Shhhh…No more tears. I’m okay. I will continue to control this investigation. Mason will not be allowed to jeopardize the colony and he will be prevented from hurting those who have already been hurt far too much. Now no more talk. Silence will protect us.”
Vera stepped out of the embrace. “But what will happen to me?”
“Lou knows about the LaundryMate, but he will keep silent if I ask him to.”
“So what do I do?”
“Go back to work. Do your job. And I’m going to do my job. The only way the colony can survive is if everyone does his job.”
“There will be no more attempts on his life,” Vera promised.
****
When Mason arrived with the transport loaded with groceries, Janet told him, “I need you to take me to my apartment so that I can get some clothes. If it’s okay with you, I’m going to stay with you a couple more days.”
“Yes, stay. Please.”
“I’m just afraid that I don’t yet have the strength to get around on my own. I’m sure it will be just a week at the most.”
“No hurry. I like having you around. Besides, I’m the one who bruised your ribs.”
“And saved my life. Don’t forget you saved my life.”
“Stay as long as you like. And, now that I’ve got groceries, I can show you that I know how to cook.”
“Well don’t get too fancy. With packaged food, read the directions. If you are cooking fresh food you will have to allow for the fact that the colony is only pressurized to seven hundred fifty millibars. That means that water boils about fifteen degrees cooler than it does on Earth.”
“Fahrenheit?”
“Yes.”
“That’s only what? Six or seven degrees Celsius? That’s not a lot.”
“It doesn’t seem like a lot but expect it to double the cooking time.”
****
At Janet’s apartment Mason asked, “Was Lou able to recover the entry log for my apartment?”
“Sorry but there is nothing there—totally erased.”
“So, there is no way to find out who tried to kill me—who nearly killed you?”
“I’m afraid not.”
“Then they’ll keep trying until we either catch them or they succeed in killing me.”
“No. You should be safe now.”
Mason’s eyes snapped to meet Janet’s. “You know who did this. What do you know?”
“I don’t know anything. I just believe that…that…” Janet felt his eyes burning into her soul.
“You do know who it is. I’ve trusted you up until now. Don’t lie to me about this.”
“Okay. I do know who tried to kill you. And it has been explained to that person that killing you, the investigator that the governor requested, would do more damage to the colony than anything that you could ever learn from your investigation. I am certain that that person will do nothing else that might cause harm to you. I will not give you the name of this person as it has no bearing on the case you were sent here to investigate.”
“No bearing? Maybe he is the one who murdered Mr. Echols.”
“No.”
Mason pounced. “No! You know for a fact that this person is not the murderer?”
“Yes…No. I…”
“Do you know who did kill Mr. Echols?”
Janet stared at the floor and answered very quietly, “If I knew, I could not tell. It happened on The Day of Secrets. Anyone you ask, whether they have any knowledge or not, will tell you the same thi
ng. It was The Day of Secrets and no one will speak of it.”
“But you know?” Mason asked accusingly.
“I may know, and I may not. Either way, I can’t tell you. You will have to conduct your investigation without witnesses. I will not speak of anything that occurred on The Day of Secrets.” Janet met Mason’s gaze with defiance. “The Day of Secrets is off limits. But I won’t lie to you. I trust you and I want you to trust me.”
“Can I trust you?”
“Yes,” Janet whispered once again looking at the floor.
“Then what happened when you went to talk to Lou?”
“Okay, I lied. He was able to access the entry records and he gave me the name of the person who tampered with your LaundryMate. I spoke to that person and explained how their actions would endanger the colony. I told…I told them that I trusted you and that you weren’t like other Earth people that come here. I told her that if anything happened to you that I would take it personally.”
“Her?”
“What?”
“You said her.”
“I didn’t.”
“You did.” Mason waited, but Janet would not break the silence. Mason continued, “You said that you told her that if anything happened. It was a woman that sabotaged my LaundryMate?”
“Does it matter if it was a woman or a man?”
“It matters because the person at the party—the one who gave me that drink—that was a man.”
“No. She was at the party wearing a false beard. I really don’t believe that there is anyone else trying to kill you. And I do know that she won’t try again.”
“Okay, it was a female technician and she wore a false beard at the party. I’ll be able to pick her out, myself.”
“You’ll do no such thing.”
“And why not?”
“Because, knowing her identity cannot possibly help you in your primary investigation.”
“But she attempted to kill me and she very nearly killed you. Shouldn’t she be punished for that?”
“She thought that she was protecting the colony. She understands now that your death would do more to jeopardize the colony than your investigation could ever do.”
“So that’s it? You don’t think I should know who was trying to kill me?”
“No I don’t. There is no longer any danger. And if you pursue this I can guarantee that you will get absolutely no cooperation from any of the colonists, myself included.”
“I thought lesson number two already applied. I’m not going to get any cooperation, anyway.”
“Let this go and I will promise that you will get full cooperation from the colonists.”
“Even what happened on The Day of Secrets?”
“No. I can’t deliver that. But you’ll receive full cooperation, otherwise.”
“Full cooperation.”
“I promise.”
“Then I will trust you.”
Chapter 9
THAT’S ONE BIG HOLE
After instructing Mason on preparation of their dinner Janet slipped away to take a shower. She returned, refreshed, and began setting the table.
Mason turned away from the stove and admired the vision before him. “Isn’t that one of my shirts? I thought you brought some of your own clothes.”
“I didn’t think to bring any sleepwear. And your shirts are so comfortable. I really didn’t think you’d mind.”
“And what if I do mind?” Mason reached forward and poised his hands just above the top button.
Janet spun facing the other direction. “Then you will just have to get over it. I like your shirts.”
Mason caught Janet’s shoulder and gently turned her back to face him. “I have to admit that my shirts do look good…on you.”
****
The next morning when Mason awoke, he smelled bacon. He knew that it had to be chicken, but it smelled like bacon. He found Janet in the kitchen still wearing his shirt. On the stove was a pan with strips of chicken that looked remarkably like bacon. Janet was busy cooking golden brown pancakes.
As Mason approached from the rear, Janet turned and stepped into him. He reached out to keep them from toppling and Janet whispered. “Careful. My ribs are still hurting.”
Mason gently pressed his body against Janet’s. He could feel her warm, yielding flesh through the thin fabric that separated their bodies. His lips drifted downward and kissed the nape of her neck. He expected to be rebuffed, but Janet just snuggled in closer. Mason’s hand traveled downward toward Janet’s buttock, but she caught it and firmly returned it to her lower spine. Mason continued to nuzzle the delicious neck. He knew that a line had been drawn that he dared not cross. But apparently an embrace and a kiss on the neck did not cross that line.
Janet pushed him away. “Set the table. If you don’t stop, I’ll burn the pancakes.”
Mason still stood with his hands on her hips. “I don’t mind if they get burned.”
Janet twisted away. “Well, I do. I’m starving. Get some plates and forks. Butter’s in the fridge. Syrup’s already on the counter. Hurry, I’m starving.”
“You’re always starving.”
“Sit down. How many pancakes do you want?”
“Two.”
“You’ll eat four.”
“I don’t think I can hold four. Maybe three.”
“Go light on the syrup and eat four. I’m going to eat six—maybe eight.”
“Eight! How can you possibly eat eight?”
“I enjoy life. And part of enjoying life is enjoying food.” Janet placed a plate in front of Mason.
“These are delicious,” said Mason, with a full mouth.
Janet attacked her syrup covered stack. “What are we going to do today?”
“I think I should start doing the job I was sent here to do. Do I need to call ahead before visiting the morgue?”
“I can give Tony a call. The morgue doesn’t get a lot of customers so no one’s there. Tony’s primary job is a doctor but he’s in charge of the morgue this month. But not today. My ribs are still hurting and I don’t think I can work today.”
“Well, just give him a call and you can stay here while I’m at the morgue.”
Janet paused with a bite on her fork. “You are kidding, right?”
“No. Why would you think I’m kidding?”
“Lesson number two.”
“Nobody likes me. You mean, he won’t talk to me?”
“He won’t talk to you unless I’m there.”
“What if I get the governor to give him a call?”
“Then he might not talk to you even if I am there. He resents the governor almost as much as he resents you.”
“Okay, when?”
“Very soon. Don’t be in such a hurry. Remember lesson number one.”
“Well, what do you think we should do today?”
“I think we should go shopping.”
“You’re in too much pain to go to the morgue, but you’re healthy enough to go shopping?”
“Shopping is less stressful. Besides, you need more of these shirts.”
“I have plenty of shirts.”
“Maybe enough for you, but I like wearing them, too.”
“Are you planning on taking my shirts with you when you go back to your apartment?”
“When I go back to my apartment? Are you kicking me out?”
“Never. I told you to stay as long as you like and I meant it.”
“I may stay until my ribs are fully healed. The doctor said that could take as long as three or four weeks. Can you stand me that long?”
“And longer. But it won’t be that long before I get to the morgue, will it?”
“No. Just give me today. Finish your pancakes so we can go and buy you some more shirts. And if I’m going to be here for four more weeks, I’m going to need more clothes, too.”
“You brought clothes.”
“But not enough for an extended stay.”
“You could get more fro
m your apartment.”
“Or, I could get more at the store. You’re buying of course.”
Mason paused with the last bite on his fork. Just one last bite and his four pancakes would be eaten. “Okay, today we go shopping.” He popped the last bite into his mouth.
****
At the clothing store, Janet picked out a variety of shirts that she insisted looked good on Mason. She also picked out several smart business outfits and two skirts with matching tops for herself. Then she picked out feminine undergarments, some practical and some not so practical. Janet arranged to have the clothing delivered as soon as they were ready, and Mason authorized the credit transfer.
Mason lifted Janet and placed her onto the transport. “Home?” he asked.
“No. One more shop, then it will be lunch time.”
The next shop turned out to be a home goods store. Mason waved dismissively. “I don’t really need anything here.”
Janet rolled her eyes as she slid from the transport. “Your apartment is bare!”
“Table, chairs, sofa, recliner, entertainment center, beds…It is not bare.”
“It’s absolutely austere. No pictures on the walls. No pillows on the sofa. No trinkets sitting on a shelf—for that matter, no shelf!”
“I’ve got everything I need; I’m comfortable.”
“Do you live like that on Earth?”
“Well, yeah. What of it?”
“I can’t live like that,” said Janet, as she led Mason into the store. “I will probably be spending the next four or five weeks at your apartment and I expect it to look like someone actually lives there. Besides, you’ll like it when I’m finished. I have very good taste.”
“Okay. Okay. You can furnish my apartment. What happens to the furnishings when I go back to Earth?”
“Well you can take some souvenirs home with you if you like. Nothing much. You’re still only allowed twenty-five pounds, but that’s nearly three times the mass as twenty-five pounds on Earth.”
“In a strange sort of way, I guess that makes some kind of weird sense.”
“Look. We really don’t care how much mass you take back to Earth. What we care about is useless mass coming from Earth. We need a lot of stuff here. It is a little over a year between ships coming to Mars—make that a little over two Earth years. The ships arrive within days of each other. The larger ship—the one you were on—is generally loaded down with scientists and tourists and very little of what we need. The smaller ship may carry a few passengers but it is primarily for bringing supplies. But like I said, that is the smaller ship.”