by Don Viecelli
Jack and Ingrid made their way through the docking gate with the other passengers. They saw the Livingston’s and the Parker’s and waved goodbye as they worked their way through the crowd to the main terminal. Once inside, they tried to stay in a group of people until they reached an area of the depot where there were fewer surveillance cameras.
Jack led the way to a public storage room full of lockers to get the backpack and Ingrid’s wallet he stored for safekeeping before they left Mars. He had to enter a six-digit code and place one of his hands on a finger print scanner before the door would open. He removed his backpack and made sure everything was still there. Inside were his credit cards and ID, extra money, detective badge, his handgun, a small laser gun with spare cartridges and an extra smartcom, which he gave to Ingrid with her wallet.
“Here, use this if we get separated. Its signals are encrypted, so no one can listen in. My new number is programmed in. Okay, let’s go.”
Jack and Ingrid walked back to the Ares shuttle terminal. They looked like two tourists pulling their suitcases behind them, wearing too much clothing. No one gave them a second glance. Jack bought two tickets for the next flight to Mars and one return ticket for Ingrid. They followed several other passengers inside a smaller shuttle for the trip to the Mars Space Depot in Marineris City.
Almost every seat was taken. They stowed their bags in the overhead compartment and sat down together. Ingrid held on to Jack’s arm. Jack looked out the window and waited for the shuttle to leave the hangar. As far as he could determine, no one was following them. It would be more dangerous down on Mars. The camera surveillance system was more advanced. He whispered to Ingrid. “When we leave the shuttle, you go first. I’ll follow close behind to make sure no one spots us.”
“What if they find us? Do I get back on the shuttle?” Ingrid asked even though they discussed this a thousand times.
“Don’t worry. We’ll find a way out of the space depot. Just follow me if anything goes wrong. I’ll be right behind you.”
Ingrid gripped Jack’s arm even tighter. She was scared, but determined to see this through to the end. The plan was for Ingrid to get the memcard and the agreement from the storage locker and return on the next shuttle to Ares, and then back to Earth. Jack would contact Ivan and tell him they were ready to negotiate a new deal in exchange for the formula and the drugs. Ingrid would send her copy of the old agreement back to Ivan once Jack’s name was cleared and he was allowed to retire from the police force. Ingrid wanted full credit for the discovery with her father and a percentage of all drug sales when it was approved. In reality, Jack was determined to get proof that Ivan and Captain Black were involved in Doctor Johanson’s murder and see that everyone involved went to jail. Jack hoped to get Ivan or Captain Black to admit their involvement and record the conversation. That was the plan in a nutshell.
Jack knew that a thousand things could go wrong. He had been a police officer for forty years. He was realistic enough to know that the best-laid plans could still get all screwed up. He looked out the window. The shuttle was descending fast through the dust storm. He could just make out the lights of Marineris City below. The shuttle landed without incident. Jack looked at Ingrid and held her hand. He gave her a brief smile. “Keep your head down and don’t look at the cameras. Try to stay in a crowd. I’ll be right behind you.”
Ingrid nodded and smiled back. “I’m ready. I love you, Jack. Be careful.”
“I love you too. Don’t worry. This will all be over soon. Call me when you’re on the shuttle to Earth.” Jack kissed her one more time. They had been by each other’s side for almost three months. Jack didn’t know when they would see each other again. His chest ached and he realized how much he was going to miss her. He struggled to clear his mind and concentrate.
The shuttle doors opened and the passengers began to depart. Jack let Ingrid walk out first. He followed close behind. The terminal was busy, which was good. Jack looked around. There were security guards walking about, but none close by. He was sure they would not recognize him or Ingrid with their hats and sunglasses on. Ingrid was a few meters in front of him. He followed her to the storage lockers. The lockers were off the main walkway near the south entrance just behind the coffee shop where he had met her for the first time. It seemed a lifetime ago. Ingrid found the storage locker. This locker was more secure and required an eye scan as well as a hand scan. The door opened and Ingrid removed the items. She placed them in her handbag and shut the door.
All seemed well. Jack watched Ingrid walk back towards the terminal to get on the next shuttle to Ares. As soon as she was safely on board, he would leave. Jack was about twenty meters behind Ingrid when he heard a loud, banging noise. Something had crashed into the dome ceiling above the central terminal and cracked the glass. Jack looked up briefly, holding the bridge of his hat to cover his face. A small hole had appeared in one of the panels. You could hear the slow whistling sound of air escaping. The dust storm outside must have blown a large rock into the dome or a small meteor had just hit.
Normally, this was not a cause for alarm. It happens occasionally during dust storms and the maintenance crews have plenty of time to repair the hole since the air pressure inside the dome is only slightly more than the pressure outside. Jack did not give it a second thought, but the sudden noise had startled Ingrid. Without thinking, she removed her sunglasses and looked up at the ceiling to get a better look. It only took a second. Ingrid turned around and saw Jack staring at her in shock. She quickly realized her mistake and put the glasses back on and started walking for the gate.
Jack knew it was too late. The surveillance cameras can match a person’s face profile in seconds. He was sure their profiles were programmed for immediate notification at police headquarters and local spaceport security. They would be on to them in minutes. He walked quickly up to Ingrid and called out. “Follow me.” She stopped and turned around. “We have to get out of here, now!”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t think,” she responded as he grabbed her arm.
“I know. Don’t worry. Walk quickly, but don’t run. We need to get to the train station before they find us.”
Jack led Ingrid to the moving walkway. They mixed in with a group of people heading for the train. Jack took a quick look behind them and saw two police officers running up to a security guard. They were fully armed and began looking around, frantically searching for somebody. Jack knew they were looking for them. He could imagine what they were saying. If he and Ingrid were lucky, they could lose them at the train station. If not, they were in trouble. Jack quickened their pace.
Chapter 22
Captain Black received word from the Surveillance Department of Ingrid’s return within minutes of the sighting in the terminal. He pulled up digital images of Ingrid and another man on his video screen. The cameras retraced Ingrid’s movements through the terminal to the lockers where she retrieved some items. Ingrid was positively identified, but the man with her had his face hidden from the cameras. Still, his profile was an eighty-five percent match. Who else could it be? It had to be Jack. He immediately sent word to police officers in the terminal to search for the two and take them into custody.
Captain Black got up from his desk and took the elevator down to the surveillance monitoring room on the fourth floor to speak to the supervisor on duty, a man named Clark and commanded, “What do you have so far?”
“We initiated a grid search,” Clark answered, trying noticeably to impress his boss. “We tracked them to the train terminal, but then we lost them in the crowd.”
Captain Black deflated his ego quickly. “Then find them, Clark. How can you lose two people on this damn system? It’s supposed to track a suspect anywhere in the city.”
“We’ll find them. We’re searching every departure point now. If they’re on one of the trains, we’ll spot them when they get off, sir,” Clark added hopefully.
Captain Black wasn’t so sure. He knew how the surveillance system w
orked, and so did Jack. It took a digital profile and did an automatic search wherever a camera was positioned, but it wasn’t foolproof. If you knew what to do, you could fool the system. Captain Black felt certain that Jack was gone. He wasn’t going to be found on one of these cameras. Captain Black left the room and returned to his office.
He wondered why Jack had risked returning. Jack was planning something, he figured, and it wasn’t going to be good. He was against the idea of framing Jack from the beginning, but Ivan had insisted. What could he do? Ivan had him by the throat. So he planted the drugs in Jack’s place. Ivan had assured him that the case would never go to trial. Ivan just wanted him to get Jack out of the way. And he did, but they never thought that Jack would run and take Ingrid with him? Captain Black almost laughed when he heard what happened at Ivan’s place. Ivan was very angry. Ivan had pestered him relentlessly ever since to find them. Now he had. This time, though, he was certain that Jack was a dead man. Ivan would make sure of that. He wasn’t so certain about the woman, though. He thought Ivan had other plans for her.
It was Ivan’s plan all along to steal the drugs and the discovery. Ivan just needed his help to break into the lab and cover up the crime. Anyway, that’s what Ivan told him. He went along with the plan because he was promised some of the drug. Ivan even promised to help him get elected Police Commissioner in the next election. It sounded so simple at the time.
Captain Black did not think that Ivan would kill anybody, especially the doctor. That was a shock. It made things far more dangerous for him. He had no choice now but to do as Ivan said and make sure no one finds out the truth. He hadn’t counted on Jack’s persistence. He had hoped that Jack and Ingrid would disappear and not come back. He should have known better. After all, this was the discovery of a lifetime, more than a lifetime. It was beyond imagination. Even he knew the significance of the discovery. And word was getting out. He couldn’t stop it. Nobody could. Rumors were spreading on the street that there was a new kind of miracle drug, one that could make you young again. Everyone wanted some. They didn’t care how expensive it was.
He was having a hard time keeping secret what they found out in his crime lab. It just wasn’t possible anymore to keep the truth hidden. Now a battle for control was brewing and he wasn’t so sure who was going to win. He wasn’t even certain he was going to be on the winning side. He figured it was time to cut his losses and run. He just needed one thing. He needed his drug vials back. As soon as he got them, he was gone. He would start a new life somewhere else. It was the only thing holding him together and he knew time was running out. He had to find Jack and Ingrid. Then he was through with Ivan and all the rest. He picked up his smartcom and called Ivan to give him the news that Jack and Ingrid had returned.
*****
Ivan had spent the last five weeks living aboard his space lab in the asteroid belt. Only Wolfgang and Doctor Tanaka were permitted to see him. He felt exhilarated. The changes in his body were dramatic. He would look in the mirror every morning and he could not believe what was happening. He didn’t recognize himself. His face was youthful looking again. There were no lines or creases in his skin from old age. His hair was jet black and shiny. He had perfect vision. His teeth turned white again.
He could walk or run without any stiffness or pain. His metabolism sped up and he could eat anything he wanted. He exercised and turned fat into muscle. He became strong physically and mentally. His mind was alert and nimble. He could remember things easily again and concentrate longer. He looked and felt like he did fifty years ago. He was in the prime of his life. He felt invincible. There was no denying the power of this drug. It was miraculous. It was worth every denom he charged for it.
He had been very busy for the past month. He increased production of the drug by fifty percent to three vials per week by adding a second line. He had thirty vials on hand and had sold ten vials to two wealthy clients recently for 50 million denoms. He was ready to build another space lab. He asked Wolfgang to look for a mining operation site where they could hide it. Things were going well, but it would be so much better if he could find Ingrid and obtain the new formula.
It was almost time to complete his transformation. The old Ivan Hellstrom was soon to be departed and the new “Kurt Ericsson”, a long lost relative, was about to inherit his wealth. The funeral would be private and attended by only a few of his closest friends. Ivan laughed at the thought of his passing. He just had a few loose ends to tie up and he would be free to start over again. The misfortunes and crimes of his past life would be left behind. And so would anybody looking for him. The slate would be wiped clean. The thought amused him.
Ivan checked his video messages for the day. He saw an urgent message from Captain Black, asking to call him back immediately. It was about Ingrid. She had been spotted on Mars. At last, good news! Ivan placed the call on his smartcom, but he turned the camera off. It wasn’t time to show the captain how he had changed.
“Hello, Captain Black,” he said as Captain Black answered the smartcom. The video was a little choppy since it had to be relayed through two satellites. “I see you have news.”
Captain Black looked hurried, as if he were about to leave his desk. “Yes, I do. Your picture is not working. I can’t see you.”
“I’m sorry about that. The camera’s broken. What do you have to tell me?”
“We spotted Ingrid and who I think is Detective Helms on the surveillance cameras in the Mars Space Depot an hour ago. Unfortunately, we lost them in the train terminal. But I’ll find them, don’t worry.”
“And how do you plan to do that?”
“We’ll pick up his trail at one of the train stops. I’m sure he’ll contact someone soon. He came back for a reason. He’ll make a mistake.”
“I hope so. Keep me informed. I’ll return to my office in case you find them. And, Captain—I need Ingrid alive. Don’t let me down.”
Ivan terminated the call. Finally, he thought. Ingrid is back on Mars. She must have come back for the formula. It was the only way she could stop him from claiming the discovery for himself. Or, even better, she was ready to make a deal. He was willing to negotiate. Wait until she saw him. Maybe, she would change her mind and help him build a new drug empire. He would make it worth her while. He thought about the possibilities as he prepared to leave the space lab.
He called Wolfgang to come to his office. It was time to finish the job they had started. “Make arrangements to leave for SpaceMed today,” he said when Wolfgang appeared. “Ingrid and Detective Helms have returned to Mars. I need you to take care of the detective when we find him.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll prepare the shuttlecraft. It’ll be ready to leave in an hour.”
“I’ll tell Doctor Tanaka we’re leaving. I plan to return here as soon as we find Ingrid.” Wolfgang left the room to get the shuttlecraft ready for travel.
Ivan sat down for a moment to think. He knew he had to tie up some loose ends once and for all this time. He was anxious to begin his new life. He had waited long enough.
Chapter 23
Jack and Ingrid caught the first passenger train that left the station. Their destination was near the end of the line on the outskirts of Marineris City. Jack’s friend, Stan, was a real estate agent who had left four months ago to return to Earth. He had asked Jack to help him sell the place. Jack agreed. It was a nice condo with certain amenities such as a good view of the valley and a hot tub. Now it was a safe place to hide until Jack could make new plans.
First, they had to avoid being spotted by the surveillance cameras. Jack picked a seat at the rear of the train for them to sit down. He told Ingrid to change her sunglasses, coat and hat. He did the same. They got off the train two stops short of their destination. He showed Ingrid where the surveillance cameras were located. They mingled with other passengers and avoided the cameras. After that, it was a short walk to the condo, which was located at the end of the block. No one followed them. Jack was pretty confident they wer
e safe for now. Inside, they remove their hats and coats. Jack carried the suitcases upstairs to one of the bedrooms to unpack.
“It’s nice here,” Ingrid said, looking around. She was worn out from all the travel and strain.
“You look tired. Why don’t you rest while I order some food? I need to make some calls.” He unpacked his suitcase and hung up his clothes. He planned out his next move. The situation had changed. In a way he was glad Ingrid was here with him, but it was a risk he hadn’t counted on. He needed a way to get her off Mars.
Jack went back downstairs while Ingrid tried to get some sleep. He checked the refrigerator and food cabinets. They were bare. He made a call and ordered a few items to hold them over for a couple of days. By then, it should all be over, one way or another.
Then he called Tom Wilkerson. The smartcom buzzed twice before Tom answered, “Hello, Detective Wilkerson.”
“Hello, Tom. It’s Jack.” There was a moment of silence on the other end.
Tom was taken by surprise. He was at his desk and immediately got up to close his door. “Jack, where are you?”
“I can’t say, Tom, but I’m back on Mars. You probably heard by now.”
“That’s for sure. I was hoping you would call. Where’ve you been? Captain Black is going crazy. He’s got everyone out looking for you and Ingrid. You’re in a lot of trouble, Jack.”
“We’ve been on Earth for a while. Listen, Tom, you know I didn’t have anything to do with the crime and I’m going to prove it. That’s why I came back, but I need your help.”
“Anything, Jack. Just name it.”
“Are you still working the case?”
“Yeah, but the trail is getting cold. We brought in Wolfgang Strossberg for questioning after you left. He had an alibi of course. We didn’t have enough evidence to hold him. Captain Black shifted the focus to finding you and Ingrid. Since you fled, everyone thinks you both are involved in the murder. I know it’s not true, but the captain is keeping up the pressure. I’m getting nowhere on the case. You need to come in.”