“I’ve told you before that any physical mail takes at least eight months to be delivered.”
“I wrote on the outside that it was very important. Surely, your little fleet could handle just a small task without screwing it up.”
“Mother!” An orange blush crept up Chloe’s face, and her gills twitched. She waved a hand at me. “This is my captain, Elizabeth Laika.”
Chloe’s mother narrowed her eyes at her daughter before turning a dazzling smile on me. “You will need to excuse Chloe for not properly introducing us. I am Madam Persephone Darrian , first child and eldest daughter of the House of Roses, holder of the scepter, and guardian of the rising seed and sun.” She extended her right hand, palm down.
Diplomacy was an area that was as comfortable as breathing, though it had been a long time since I had used my formal introduction. The last time was when I was a witness at my uncle’s trial, where I had been vilified and humiliated.
“I am Elizabeth Laika, the last of the Laika, first travelers of intraspace, captain of—” I stopped abruptly, realizing that I wasn’t the captain of anything anymore. My ship was nothing more than dust in the outer atmosphere of a hostile planet. “It is an honor to meet you, Madam Persephone Darrian. Chloe is one of the best crew members that I have been blessed to work with.”
Madam Darrian quirked an eyebrow and cut her eyes briefly to her daughter before looking back at me. “You may call me Persephone.” She directed her statement to the group but didn’t bother to continue with the introductions.
The fireworks had been providing a shifting light palette to the mother-daughter reunion. The underlying tension built similar to the explosions overhead. It felt like a timer counting down to an explosion.
Persephone snapped open a fan, and we all jumped, even Pox, who peeked out of my shirt to sniff the air. “Where is your luggage? I do hope you remembered to bring your auntie a hostess gift, especially since you forgot to—”
“I did not forget anything. I’ve told you that I can’t run off to every wedding, party, or graduation you invite me to. I didn’t even get the invitation. This was an emergency. Someone is trying to frame Liz for murder!” Chloe yelled at her mother.
I stepped a little closer. “Easy, Chloe.”
She blushed a little and lowered her voice. “We’re in danger. Our ship blew up a few hours ago. How did you not know that? Didn’t you see the explosion on the horizon? Our shuttle exploding?”
“Well, isn’t that just terrible?” Persephone said as though Chloe had just admitted to misplacing her favorite bracelet. “You know, I think I heard about that. The gentleman next to me mentioned something about it at dinner during the cheese course. Cheese is an Earth delicacy. It is so delightful, but don’t ask how they make it. So primitive.”
“And you weren’t in the least bit scared for your oldest daughter?”
“Of course, I would have been petrified with fear if I had known. This is exactly why I told you that you shouldn’t join the foolish fliers.”
Chloe’s face slowly transformed from anger to frustration then embarrassment. “Don’t call the fleet that. We have gone over this a million times. It is an honorable career, and one I excel at.”
“It’s a good career for those who don’t have better options.” Persephone looked at me quickly as though she had just remembered that I was there. “I am sure you and your crew are all very talented,” she said, waving one hand, “but Chloe had all the best growing up and a future ahead of her”—she cut her eyes back to her daughter—“as soon as she gives up her job at the flying circus and comes home.”
Chloe was muttering and sputtering, but tears were also sneaking out of the corners of her eyes. “Mother…”
I stepped forward, positioning myself between them just enough to draw attention to me. “Persephone, now that you have learned of our tragedies, I am sure you can imagine what a hard day we’ve had. We haven’t had a really good sleep in quite a few days.”
“But you can’t miss the rest of the show. After the fireworks are done, they feed the gulpers out in the ocean. They save up all the scrap metal they import from recycling services then shoot it out over the water on the double full moon. It is quite a sight, seeing them breach the surface and snap up anything and everything.”
“I think we’ve seen enough gulpers for several lifetimes.” I made a large show of yawning then rubbing my back as though it had never ached so badly in my life. They said the best acting was rooted in truth, and the truth was my everything hurt.
Persephone grabbed my arm then turned me back toward the cliff. “Let me show you to a set of rooms in the guest wing. The bedrooms are just stunning.”
I saw a lit-up building at the cliff’s edge and some people mingling to watch the fireworks. I patted her hand, which rested in the crook of my arm. “I have no doubt that you will be the most gracious hostess we have ever had the honor of staying with.”
As we walked, she smiled and twisted slightly to speak to Chloe trailing behind us. “You didn’t tell me how delightful your captain was. But don’t worry. We can talk all about it tomorrow.” Her voice held a tone that sent a shiver down my spine.
Chloe sniffled.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
The next morning, I woke up wheezing in panic, which had become my habit over the past few days. But this time, I wasn’t being attacked by spiders or recovering from passing out or being kidnapped. I was in a bed with really soft sheets in a cool room where fans moved the air.
My body still ached all over. When I started to move from my side onto my back, I realized there was a furry weight pressed against my upper back. Adjusting my position made Pox let out a pathetic little squeak. He rolled over, exposing his belly and twisting his head to stare at me with one open eye.
The venom wound already looked much better than it had the previous night. One of the guests was an animal doctor and had been able to give the proper treatment, though she said that what we had already done on the beach had probably saved Pox’s life.
Pox had been changed by the incident. Though he was still hesitant around everyone else, he had declared me to be safe and sane. He stuck close to me while I cleaned up in the bathroom and insisted on perching on my shoulder while the doctor had looked us over. We were beat up and worn out, but safe for the moment.
I rolled out of bed and flinched when my feet hit the cold flooring of some hard substance, possibly natural given the erratic red patterns and the way the floor smoothly transitioned to the same material of the wall and ceiling. I could feel the heat being drawn from my body as I tiptoed across the room. I stumbled and fell to my knees when Pox raced between my feet.
Up close, I recognized the texture as being similar to the flooring of the cave, and combined with the fact we had gone downstairs to reach the bedrooms, I was pretty sure my room had been carved out of the cliff itself. That wasn’t surprising.
I took care of business then splashed water on my face before examining it in the mirror. The pain and drama of the past few days seemed to be etched into my face. The wrinkles around my eyes seemed deeper, my cheeks were hollower, and deep smudges lay under my eyes.
I shuffled back into the bedroom. I knew that my crew members had been given rooms in this wing. Persephone had used false names to introduce us, except with our host who knew the truth and swore she would tell no one. There had even been a guard placed at the entrance to our wing.
I lay back on the bed, breathing deeply. I would go check on everyone in a few minutes, but first, I needed to meditate and pray. I wanted to be at my best so we could come up with a plan.
When I woke up again, I had no idea how long it had been. This time, I felt fully awake, and my mind was clear. I revisited the bathroom then searched around for my clothes. I had slept in a traditional Cerualean night shirt that skimmed my knees because someone had taken my clothes while I was in the showering suite at the end of the hallway. Apparently, no one had returned them, so I had to
go out in the Cerulean outfit.
Pox was balanced on my shoulder and licking at my ear, but it was too much strain on my injured neck, so I put him on the floor. He barked at my ankles then bounded down the hall ahead of me when I exited my room.
At the end of the hall was an open area I had passed through last night. It had chairs and couches that were now occupied by my crew. Plates of food were spread all around. My stomach growled at the sight of them. Unlike the strictly controlled ship food, this meal smelled of yeast, cheese, and sugar.
I didn’t wait to ask for permission. I grabbed a still-warm roll from a plate and bit through the hard crust to the soft interior. I chewed a few times then swallowed long before I was ready. The food felt like it was slicing open my throat, but I pressed on by picking up and sipping a large glass of mystery juice that tasted sweet and foreign.
I drank down half the glass while giving nods to everyone present, which included Chloe, her mother Persephone, Horton, Eugene, and Raph.
Pox crawled up my body by jumping and grabbing the edge of my sleep shirt, then he dug his claws into the material to pull himself onto my shoulder, where he wrapped his tail around my neck. He extended his long snout toward the bit of bread, whimpering and quivering.
Up close, I could see that his black nose faded to a delicate pink in the middle and glistened. I knew it was cold and wet from waking up to it resting on the back of my neck. I held the hunk of bread closer, and Pox bit off a huge chunk then settled down on my shoulder. He munched away, causing a sprinkling of crumbs to fall down my neckline.
“Oh, Chloe, why don’t you eat like your captain? She will plump in no time and look like a real woman,” Persephone said as she wrapped a pastry sprinkled with dark shiny glaze in a napkin and passed it to her daughter.
Chloe’s shoulders rolled forward, and she hung her head low as she grabbed the pink-and-blue roll. She stuffed it into her mouth with more anger than hunger.
I ate a bit more as I tried to get a read on the room. No one was in danger that I could see, but there was a silence that felt stifling. The only one who didn’t seem to be avoiding eye contact or awkwardly eating was Persephone, who sipped her tea.
I finished off my drink and put down the glass. The others were also still in the night shirts we had been provided, except Horton and Eugene, as neither wore clothes at the best of times.
“Persephone, could you please check on our clothing?” I asked sweetly. “I would like to be appropriately attired so that we can thank our host properly.”
She looked at me, startled, and for a second, I thought she might pass the task off to someone else. But I had carefully chosen the wording of the request so she would want to comply.
“Don’t slouch, Chloe,” she snipped at her daughter before putting down her tea and coming over to place a hand on my shoulder that didn’t have Pox on it. “You’re such a gracious guest. I will return soon.” She flowed out of the room, the draped material of her dress fluttering behind her.
I grabbed a cut-up fruit and popped a few pieces in my mouth. “This tastes like garlic and orange. That’s super weird.” I sat next to Chloe. “Let’s huddle up and make a plan.”
She nodded and bit into her pastry. She pulled a face then put it down and turned to me. She opened her mouth to talk, sighed, and closed it again.
Pox crawled down my arm, which involved a lot more pinching than I liked. He put one foot on Chloe’s knee to extend his head and grab the abandoned pastry.
Chloe squealed when she was able to run a hand over his body before he pulled back to eat his stolen goody in my lap. “He let me touch him. He’s so soft.” She sat up a bit taller.
Horton, with Eugene in his lap, pulled over a chair, as did Raph.
I didn’t feel quite as captainly as normal, given my lack of pants, but it wasn’t the time to waffle. We hadn’t been alone since Pox’s injury. “Eugene, did you download that information from the work units in the cave?”
Eugene’s red light flashed. “Yes, but it was an assortment of information from travel brochures, official statements, and current news organizations. Would you like me to repeat it all?
“No, but please fact-check what I have put together. Last night was the double full moon which is why they were shooting off fireworks at the beach.”
“Correct. That occurred around the primary landmass of Cerulea in about a dozen locations, most of which are near towns larger than this one. Ninety percent of the population lives within ten kilometers of the coastline, five percent live at the castle, working for the king. The castle is located in the center. The remaining five percent live in transient locations, such as—”
“Thank you, Eugene,” I interrupted. “That means that over the next two days, the king will hear cases and rule on them. Correct?”
He blinked. “Yes.”
“Then by fleet law, if the king rules on my case, they have to consider that evidence before charging me. From experience, if he rules that someone else is responsible for the murder, it is very unlikely that they would go against that evidence. And since I am innocent and the evidence is just circumstantial, I think they would accept the king’s ruling.”
Raph sucked air through his teeth. “Can’t we just get off this planet? I don’t like this.”
“I’m not crazy about it, either, but all the major hubs of transportation will be monitored as well as our monetary accounts. And right now, I trust an unknown king more than fleet police. If James and Officer Girlfriend catch me first, they’re likely to exact their own justice.”
Chloe patted my knee. “You must have been a really lousy fiancée.” She said it with more than a bit of awe.
I didn’t have time to correct her. “Eugene, I know that the future princess will be taking a train to the castle. Apparently, anyone can take it. Has that already left?”
Eugene’s light flashed as he processed the question. “The train leaves from the depot in four standardized hours. That depot is in the nearest large town, located ten kilometers away. It is between a large retail location and the nearest shuttle launch location. A brochure says that most of the attendees of the wedding will not be taking the train because it arrives two days prior to the wedding. Mostly, it will be filled with people too poor to take a nicer commercial shuttle or skip.”
“What’s a skip?” Chloe asked.
“It is similar to a shuttle but cannot leave the atmosphere. They are much cheaper,” I answered. “I was thinking that maybe I should go alone to the king to plead my case, then—”
Everyone was shaking their heads, but Raph was the first to speak. “No, Cap. Not going to work. At least not for me. We go together.”
I blew out a sigh. “We need a way to alter our appearance in case we run into Vanessa, Wylene, Rick, or Todd.”
Chloe scrunched up her nose. “Who?”
“Vanessa is going to marry the king. Wylene is her younger sister. Rick and Todd were the two men.”
Eugene piped up. “From my records, Rick was registered as the Cerulean ambassador, and Todd is his valet.”
Raph grabbed a roll and bit into it. “If they’re on the train, then why don’t we just corner them and demand they admit that they killed that dude and framed you? Or at least interrogate them?”
“No, no one is doing anything. I’ll plead my case to the king at a public trial. It’s a risk, but it seems like the best chance I have.” I looked everyone in the eye to make sure they understood how serious I was.
Chloe tipped her head. “How do we know they won’t just kill us when we reach the castle?”
Eugene’s light flashed for attention. “Once on the castle grounds during the time of the king’s deliberation, every person and creature is treated as innocent until they speak to the king.”
Raph didn’t seem convinced. “And if the king is behind the murder and wants you to take the fall?”
“It’s a gamble but at least a public one. At the least, I will be able to plead my case in
front of an audience.” I didn’t want to discuss all the things that could go wrong, so I stood up. “So it’s been decided. When Chloe’s mother returns, we will dress and thank our host. I will request—”
Just then, Persephone wafted into the room. Several people entered behind her, carrying large bundles of clothing.
She clapped twice and waited dramatically. “Once you all are dressed and thank our host, I am taking you off-planet, back to my home on Aquaria.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
I stood up and plastered a fake smile on my face. “Persephone, that is so kind of you, but we can’t leave the planet.”
“Pish posh. I’ve already made all the arrangements. The shuttle will be ready in about two hours. Since it is privately owned, no one will be looking too closely. Chloe’s father is already calling the best lawyers to represent all of you. It is the perfect solution.”
I eyed her suspiciously. “Flight manifests have to be public when a shuttle plans to leave the planet’s surface, according to intraspace travel regulations.”
She gave me a wicked smile. “Not if you have an A2B license for low atmosphere travel. You don’t need a manifest, and once we’re airborne, should we just happen to change our minds…”
“That is not what the regulation is intended for.”
She laughed and turned to the rest of the group. “Your captain certainly does know her rules.” She looked back at me. “Honey, it’s called a loophole, and they are intended so people like me aren’t stuck in the bureaucracy meant for the poor. Oh, don’t scowl like that. This is by far the best solution. You all will be safe and protected someplace comfortable while this whole sordid mess is fixed.”
I sat back in my seat. She was right. My own issues were only part of the problem. My crew had saved me at risk to their lives. Even if we got out with our lives intact, their careers were at risk. Eugene wasn’t supposed to exist. Horton was impersonating a sibling. They all had stolen a police shuttle after defying direct orders from the fleet. How had things gotten so crazy? “Persephone, I’m not sure we can trust any shuttle pilot to be discreet enough. Surely, they have all been warned about us.”
Space Murder Page 12