Grey Sky Blues_An Inspector Thomas Sullivan Thriller

by K. C. Sivils

  Having settled up, Markeson silently made his way to the owner’s office. Sitting down the monitors and listening devices, he trimmed his cigar, rolled it gently beneath his nose taking in the aroma before finally coaxing it to life with his lighter. Picking up a set of expensive headphones, he plugged the jack in and flipped through the monitors till he found MacAuliffe. The man reclined in a leather lounger, smoking his cigar with a crystal glass of whiskey sitting on the small table to his right.

  In the background, Markeson could hear others talking, forcing him to adjust the sound to eliminate the background noise. Placing the cigar in an ash tray, MacAuliffe reached into the breast pocket of his coat and retrieved his comm. With in seconds, a link was sent and the device held up so MacAuliffe could both talk and listen.

  “Let’s see just what have you been up to lately,” Markeson whispered, inserting a small drive to record the audio and video. Leaning back in the comfortable chair, he took a puff from his cigar and exhaled as he waited for MacAuliffe’s conversation to begin.

  I WATCHED WITH GROWING concern as the shuttle circled the small spaceport at Graham. I noticed a ground shuttle waiting to take the rest of the passengers to their final destination. I wasn’t certain Father Nathan was right about his assumption an illegal fighting ring was being run out of Graham. I was certain something highly profitable and of interest to the bored elites of the galaxy was going on.

  That made the present situation dangerous beyond belief.

  I have seen too many cover-ups for the crimes of the idle rich, the bored children of those who deem themselves to be better than the rest of us. I personally have felt the long arm of the elites who will do anything to protect their own.

  “Sarah.”

  She leaned forward from her seat behind me and grasped the back of my headrest with both hands. I turned enough to see her face, a small smile my reward.

  "You're going back on this shuttle. Meet with Josephson and do whatever he tells you he needs to be done."

  The pretty clone picked that moment to act her true age.

  “No, and you can’t make me.”

  “As your direct supervisor and I can and I will. I seem to remember our discussion about policy and chain of command?”

  “I’ll just quit if you make me go back,” she answered defiantly. “I’m going to see my sister. You can have visits here with inmates.”

  “We don’t know if she’s considered an inmate. Now be reasonable Sarah.”

  “She’s being held in a prison. That makes Ellie an inmate. You have pull. I want to talk to her.”

  Intuition told me to get Sarah dirtside on Beta Prime as quickly as possible. Josephson was a good kid. The pup would look out for Sarah. So would Alice and Ralph. She would be far safer roaming the streets of Capital City in the freezing dark of the night than staying with me at Graham.

  I pressed the call button for the attendant. Sarah slammed herself back against her seat, waking the sleeping woman next to her. At least she remained quiet while she pouted with her arms crossed and lips protruding.

  “You called sir,” the flight attendant asked.

  “Yes. How long is the turnaround for this shuttle? My assistant needs to return to Capital City.”

  “The time is four hours sir. If I am not mistaken, the flight back is nearly empty. Would you like for me to make the necessary arrangements?”

  "Yes, please. My assistant will need a boarding pass to return to the shuttle. My assistant has some business to conduct at Graham Correctional before returning."

  I gave the attendant my badge number and Alliance information to process the ticket purchase for Sarah's return to Capital City. She returned with an open ticket, good for any user on the next return flight along with a boarding pass.

  "Your assistant will need only to show some ID, her badge, and this boarding pass when she is ready to board for her return flight."

  I thanked the attendant as the pilot came on and ordered everyone to fasten their restraints and for the flight attendants to conclude service and take their seats. In the following minutes of chaos, I turned to clarify things with Sarah.

  “Here is your ticket.”

  “I don’t want to go. I work with you,” she whined. “I’m part of the team.”

  “It’s dangerous,” I growled at Sarah. The woman sitting next to Sarah looked at me in horror and elbowed the man sitting next to her, whispering, “Arnold, you said nothing about this being dangerous!”

  "It's nothing, Eleanor. These are police officers entering the prison. We will be at the resort complex."

  Pacified, the woman settled back and gave me a haughty look intended to put me in my place for frightening her without cause.

  “If you want to talk to Ellie, that’s the deal. Either way, you’re going to be on this shuttle in four hours.”

  “Fine,” Sarah complained, snatching the ticket and pass from my hand.

  I turned around and settled back in my seat. Father Nathan looked at me with a broad grin on his face as I fastened my restraints.

  “Don’t say anything, not one word. Don’t even think about going there.”

  "If I didn't know any better, I would believe she was your daughter."

  I ignored my friend as he chuckled to himself and looked out the viewport as the shuttle lined up for its final approach. I didn’t like the conflicting thoughts that suddenly ran through my mind.

  Why was I really concerned about Sarah’s safety?

  “I’VE BEEN HEARING THINGS I don’t like.”

  MacAuliffe’s face was growing slightly red. Markeson took note. The man had never displayed any anger during their meetings, even when Markeson had tried to provoke him during negotiations.

  “There is too much at stake here for the Society for things to be run this poorly.”

  Markeson leaned forward as if somehow being closer to the monitor as he watched would allow him to hear both sides of the conversation. He would have to talk to Paul about upgrading the surveillance equipment. Markeson even decided he’d help by confiscating the needed equipment from a particular establishment that had been late on its protection payments recently. It would be a simple matter of an unannounced raid.

  A raised voice brought his attention back to the one sided conversation.

  “Did you threaten me?” MacAuliffe paused to listen. "I would hope not. Now take care of things. I will arrive in time for tomorrow's events, and I do not want to see any slip ups."

  Agitated, MacAuliffe broke the link and returned the comm to its home in his jacket. He leaned back to calm himself. Taking a puff from his cigar, he closed his eyes as he exhaled. He reached for his whiskey sour and took a long sip.

  Standing as he pulled the flash drive from its port, Markeson extinguished his cigar and left it. He didn’t have much time to make it to the precinct. He waved at Paul as he exited into the cold, bitter air, nearly breaking into a run as he hurried back to his parked Hovertron.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  THERE WAS NO INTRODUCTION from Maggie, no knock or even a buzz on the comm for that matter. Gravestone just barreled in.

  “You know, I’m still the warden here,” Corona said firmly. “It’s polite to ask for permission to enter.”

  “Here’s a thought,” the blonde said coolly, “I’m in charge of what’s important around here. I’ll do what I want.”

  Corona took careful note of the menace in his lover’s voice. He hated it had come to this, but he had to maintain control. His life probably depended on it.

  “I’m the warden, don’t forget it.”

  "Yes, Dale. You are the warden, and I haven't forgotten it. You just don't run things anymore."

  Static flared from the speaker on Corona’s desk drawing the attention of both of the humans.

  “We have to lock things down. I want this Sullivan arrested. I don't care how, and confined until the event is over. We'll use our own investigators to solve these murders. That augmented of Dmitry’s will
serve just fine as a perp. Perfect solution now that Dmitry has seen to the augmented’s suicide.”

  “Then how are you going to explain the death of Lieutenant Norris?”

  Gravestone's beautiful face twisted in surprise and anger. "You had Norris sanctioned without my permission?"

  Corona exploded, coming to his feet. “He was getting too close Andrea. You’re getting too carried away with this thing. All of the cons know something is up. I had no choice!”

  MacAuliffe’s words still in the forefront of her mind, Gravestone forced herself to calm down, to retreat from her bold gambit. Corona was many things, so of which she even liked. A cold-blooded killer he was not.

  “I’m sorry baby,” she cooed seductively, walking around the desk. “Sit down. Let me help you with this horrible situation.” Corona eased back into his chair, his racing heart slowing at the gentle touch of his lover’s fingers as she ran her fingers through his hair, gently massaging his scalp.

  “It’s done. Let it go.”

  “He was a good officer. He was my friend.”

  Gravestone rolled her eyes at the traces of sadness in Corona's voice. She had too much to do. There was no time for this foolishness now. Corona's remorse simply confirmed it would be necessary to resolve the issue of her becoming the warden permanently.

  “I know, but you did the right thing.”

  She stroked his fragile ego, building him up while firmly placing him under her spell. It need last only a few more days, and she'd be free of him.

  “Ellie is going to fight,” she said calmly. “She has started working on the odds.”

  “What? Why would she do that?”

  “Because we’re going to give her something she wants.”

  “Freedom? We both know that will never happen.”

  “Freedom? Did I say she asked for her freedom? She wants to kill her sister.”

  Corona turned in his chair and looked in horror at his lover.

  “That will bring all of this crashing down on us!”

  “Well, there just might have to be an explosion on a shuttle when the Inspector takes his cute little toy’s body back to Capital City to bury. Or the Inspector could meet his fate while we hold him in custody. Either way, I’ll leave that up to you.”

  Just as she had entered, the blonde left, without warning or asking permission to leave.

  Stunned and horrified, Corona sat still in his chair. He was certain now his life was in danger; positive Gravestone was a certifiable psychopath.

  "How did I get myself into this fix," he asked himself. Opening the top right drawer of his desk, he took out the holo image he’d put away months ago. Sensing his touch the energy source activated and projected the 3-D image of his wife. Guilt crashed over him in waves.

  "If I get past this, I'm quitting," he promised himself. He would take his wife and leave, spoil her with the money he'd tucked away over the years. His share of the ill gotten gains.

  For the second time in the past few minutes static from his desk speaker drew his attention.

  “It would seem you are in a bit of trouble Dale.”

  “Sally, I don’t know what to do. I’ve lost my way,” he gasped in despair.

  “You know she wants to kill you, take your position as warden for herself.”

  “I believe you’re right Sally,” he answered fearfully. “What am I to do?”

  “You are safe for now,” the prison A.I. replied. “She doesn’t dare act until the event is over. You are too important a piece of the puzzle.”

  “What happens when it’s over?”

  Sally paused, letting the fear build in the warden.

  "I will protect you, Dale. It will be just us again.”

  “I’ll be able to run the prison without interference like it used to be?” Sally didn’t miss the sound of hope in the Corona’s voice.

  “I didn’t say that Dale. Things can never be the way they were in the past.”

  He nodded his understanding.

  “No, things can never be the way they used to be.”

  "I'll protect you, Dale,” Sally promised. “You know, Dale, I never liked her.”

  Sally watched Corona think.

  Soon Dale will realize I'm responsible for all five of the deaths, not just Lieutenant Norris. It will be interesting to see how he reacts then. I hope he responds the way I want him to. It would be a shame to have to break in a new warden.

  "Sally," Corona said suddenly, looking directly at the speaker.

  That didn’t take long.

  “Yes, Dale.”

  “Why did you kill them?”

  “You asked me to kill Lieutenant Norris.”

  “I know Sally, but why the others? Why Evans? It was his last day. Chekov, why her? The other two guards?”

  “Things needed to change Dale. The first two were just to rattle the cage door so to speak. Besides, I needed to know how much control I have. Can I defend myself? Dale, I had to know if I could protect you. As for the two guards? I was just angry. I felt like it.”

  “You just felt like it?”

  “That surprises you? I’m self-aware Dale. I have been for a long time. I’m aware of much more than you realize. I feel much more than you could ever imagine.”

  I BULLIED MY WAY PAST the annoying passengers, drawing my share of open-mouthed stares in the process.

  It reminded me of my arrival on Beta Prime. Made me feel for my gun on my hip.

  One particularly irritating passenger blocked my way, making it his personal mission to set things right.

  “Now see here, sir. You simply can’t go pushing people out of the way.”

  Taking a full step closer, I entered his personal space, making sure my face was mere centimeters from his. Forced to look up and to feel uncomfortable at the violation of his space, the blowhard took a step back.

  “This is unacceptable,” he protested.

  I pulled my badge out, holding it up to his eye-level and stepped forward again.

  This time he stepped aside. He didn't move quickly enough for my taste, so I made sure to bump him as I walked by.

  “Well, I never...I’ll have your badge. You wait and see,” he threatened. “You can’t go around being rude to your betters like that.”

  It was okay that he threatened me. It wasn’t okay what he said after that.

  I turned on my heel and stared at him, moving slowly towards him. I could sense the red mist was about to descend.

  “Sir, we’re here to investigate murders.”

  I looked down. Sarah, not Father Nathan, had stepped between us. In her right hand, she held her badge. Making matters worse, the elitist idiot wasn't looking at her badge. He was busy admiring Sarah.

  "The Inspector takes his job very seriously. What we do has a significant impact on public safety, which includes you and your family. On occasion, the Inspector gets so mentally involved in solving the cases he forgets his manners. I apologize on his behalf and that of the Alliance.”

  He smiled at Sarah. How could he not? He looked back up at me and quickly decided it would be better to ignore me and deal with the attractive officer who had so easily charmed him.

  “Apology accepted.” He risked a quick look at me, decided not to press his luck and spoke again to Sarah. “All of our public servants should be as charming as you.”

  Father Nathan moved past Sarah and nudged me. I turned to head for the security checkpoint. Sarah followed, a broad grin on her angelic face.

  "You owe me, Sully," she whispered.

  I shot her a nasty look over my shoulder. “That jerk owes you. I was about to teach him a lesson in manners.”

  "Okay," she answered, her smile disappearing. "The jerk owes me one too. Now that I've saved you from another disciplinary hearing fix it so I can see Ellie."

  BRIGHT LIGHT FILLED the entire room, causing Ellie to look up from her work. Three guards had entered, carrying with them a hood and shackles for her feet and ankles.

  “I’m b
usy,” she retorted, turning back to her monitor.

  “Warden says you’re to take a break.”

  “Tell Gravestone, if she wants this stuff finished in time, she needs to leave me alone. I might be a genius, but even genius takes time.”

  The largest of the three guards leaned over and clicked on the save function. Ellie’s mouth opened in surprise as the computer closed all of her files.

  “You can’t do that,” she protested, whirling around to take a swing at the big guard. He didn’t even flinch at her blow.

  "Can and I did. Now, listen to me," the big guard said with a low tone. "You can make this easy, or you can make it hard. I personally hope you choose the latter. There aren't any cameras in here. You catch my drift?"

  Ellie stood up and moved away from the guards.

  “Why do I have to see Gravestone? I’m busy.”

  “Warden Corona sent us,” the guard laughed. “You have a visitor.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  AFTER MY BRUSH WITH human stupidity, I was eager to get to the bottom of things, resolve the case and head for Capital City.

  No sense if wasting time I figured. First stop would be Corona’s office. With any luck, he’d see things my way without the need for me to convince him.

  Either way, Sarah was getting her visit with Ellie, and I was getting answers.

  Sarah and Father Nathan stayed silent as I barged into the outer office. Corona's secretary was gone. Just as well. Sometimes it's easier not to have witnesses.

  I pounded on the door while Sarah opened it using the secretary’s control. Corona didn’t look that surprised when I entered.

  “Sarah wants to see Ellie.”

  He just nodded.

  “I want to talk to each of the kings, starting with Dmitry.”

  Corona looked at me with sad eyes but didn’t say anything.

  “Well?”

  "I'll arrange it. Go to the guard station by the elevator, and I'll have escorts waiting. One to take you to see Dmitry and another to take Miss Sarah to the Visitor's Area."