by Terry Mixon
“Does that make you the old guy?” he asked with a smile.
“Only on the inside. Let’s go down and see what Breen didn’t want anyone else to see.”
The answer was “everything.”
Brad eyed the office and workshop in the basement. He couldn’t speak for what might be in the computers, but the shop held something he recognized.
“These were the computers that the burglars took off Heart of Vengeance,” he told Falcone as he gestured to the cores on the table. “I guess Breen was behind it after all.”
“Check them out while I look in the office,” she said. “Be sure there aren’t any remote means to turn them into slag.”
He walked into the workshop and examined the cores’ exterior casings. They looked intact, but Breen might have installed something. Or it could’ve been there before Brad captured the ship.
Brad used some handy tools to carefully open the access panels. Once he could see inside, he examined everything for remote-kill devices.
“Nothing,” he said. “These look fine. We’d have to plug them into an appropriate control system to get at their data, but they seem intact. How are you doing?”
“I’m pulling some remote-controlled explosives,” she called back, as if she’d told him she was considering noodles for dinner. “Someone really wanted to make sure no one got at his home computer. It’s wired into both security systems. Good thing I’m an amazing burglar.”
He didn’t think he’d ever understand her.
“I’ll search the rest of the workshop while you clean that out.”
The workshop was a pretty big room and it was far from empty. Various bins and shelves contained a lot of equipment and parts. It looked as if Breen enjoyed working on computers.
His examination of the contents was relatively straightforward until he found one of the lockers filled with explosives. A lot. All seemingly wired into a remote panel and com unit.
That wasn’t good. There seemed to be enough here to blow up the entire house.
“This place is wired for remote destruction,” he called out.
Moments later, she stood next to him, examining the setup. “Yeah, this is pretty extreme,” she admitted. “It looks as if he wanted to make sure he could eliminate all the evidence. I’d best disarm this first.”
“That pretty much matches my feelings,” he agreed dryly. “Is the office safe?”
She nodded. “I still need to complete disarming the remote-wipe functions, but the equipment won’t burn.”
He headed into the office to take a look around and stopped dead in his tracks. He’d already been able to tell that the office was as well decorated at the rest of the house, but that wasn’t what captivated his attention.
The near wall had a piece of art that he hadn’t been able to see from outside. It was worth far less than most of what he’d seen elsewhere in the building, but one that was infinitely more valuable to him.
It held the intricate curtain of metal strands that he’d last seen aboard Mandrake’s Heart before the Terror had sent him Dutchman. The artwork he’d made his uncle that had sat on the bridge of the lost freighter.
“Are you sure that’s yours?” Falcone asked before waving the question away. “Never mind. Of course you are. Well, that’s a pretty direct link between the slavers and the Cadre, I think.”
Brad stood there grappling with his spontaneously aroused anger and captivated by the unexpected ghost from his past. “A recent one, too. That means someone close to Breen had been aboard Mandrake’s Heart. That really makes me wonder if my uncle or any of the other crew are still alive.”
He forced himself to turn away from the sculpture and faced the computers. “The answer is on those.”
“Maybe,” she said. “Maybe not. You might very well have another avenue to find your uncle, though.”
He shifted his gaze to her. “Like what?”
She held out a tablet. It showed the image of a small device. “This is a portable course plot. The kind a harbor pilot might use to mark all the local landmarks when piloting a foreign ship through familiar space.
“It’s the same kind of thing that the slavers said their pilots used to keep the location of their base from anyone on the crew of a ship they brought there.”
Brad examined the image. “Where did you find this?”
“Here in the office. I took the tablet with me when I ran back in to deal with the bomb. I think the accompanying text might interest you.”
It took him a few moments to bring that up. The image turned out to be an attachment to a message from a nondescript account. All it said was make sure to get the computer cores, helm memory, and this.
“That’s why they wanted to destroy Heart of Vengeance,” Brad said as understanding flooded him. “This is somewhere on my ship. It’s probably in a bin with all the other detritus that Randall hasn’t finished processing yet.”
“Or he’s already broken it down,” she said softly. “Our luck hasn’t been that great so far.”
“We’re still here, aren’t we? Do we have enough proof to bring in some of your people now?”
Falcone looked around. “With your computer cores linking him to the slavers and the sculpture tying him directly to an act of piracy, I’d say we do. Still, we don’t want to tip our hand. I’ll bring in some people I can trust to start digging into the computers quietly.
“Meanwhile, you need to get a message back to your ship. Have your people find this device and get their asses here. I want the scientists on Marie Curie to examine it. As with everything else these bastards have done, it’s probably booby-trapped.”
Brad nodded and stepped away from her, bringing up his wrist-comp. Using the number Dr. Keller had provided, he called the scientist.
The man appeared on the display. “Keller.”
“Doctor. I was wondering if you could send a message to Heart for me. Something inconspicuous.”
“Of course.”
He took an image of the tablet screen and sent it along. “Let them know I want them to search the salvaged gear for this device. It’s incredibly important that they find and preserve it.”
“What is it?” the man asked as he leaned forward to examine the image.
“It’s potentially the key to locating the slavers. It’s a device used by pilots to hold course data. Once they find it, they need to get to Ganymede so your people can unlock it. I’d count on it being encrypted and on it having self-destruct programming if someone attempts to get into it without the right codes.”
The other man smiled. “You do know how to provide some interesting projects, Captain. I’ll get the word to them at once. Was the rest of your mission successful?”
Brad looked over at where Falcone was summoning assistance. “Very much so. Remember, keep everything calm and low-key. We don’t want to tip anyone off.”
“Trust my discretion, Captain.”
“I do. Thank you, Doctor.”
Over the next hour, a dozen men and women infiltrated Breen’s residence. None of them looked like security, but Falcone literally welcomed them with open arms. That was good enough for him.
The newcomers quickly made a plan to get all the gear out of the house and began executing it. While they worked, others started searching the house from top to bottom. No stone would remain unturned and they’d scan every wall, ceiling, and floor for hidden doors or compartments.
“I want this removed, too,” Falcone told them, gesturing at Brad’s sculpture. “It’s important evidence. Treat it with kid gloves.”
He was ridiculously grateful for her concern for his feelings. Then it occurred to him that she might be telling the man the literal truth. His artwork was the link tying Breen to the Cadre.
She stepped over to him. “They’ll take care of this place. No one will ever know you or I were here. We don’t have enough data to wake anyone up yet. We might as well get out of here and get some sleep.”
“Do we have a pla
ce to go?”
Falcone nodded. “I had them get us a pair of rooms at one of the local hotels. A decent one but nothing that would stand out.”
Part of him hated leaving the search for evidence to others, but he knew this wasn’t his strength. Let the professionals do their part. He’d be at the forefront of the fighting once they located the slaver base.
The two of them quietly extracted themselves from Breen’s neighborhood and made it to the hotel without comment.
Brad showered and fell into a dreamless sleep. One that felt it had barely begun when his wrist-comp signaled for his attention.
He grabbed it off the nightstand and sat blearily up. “Go.”
“Captain Madrid?” It was Dr. Keller.
“Yes. Sorry. I was asleep. Is something wrong, Doctor?”
The other man smiled. “No. Something is right. Your pilot just called. They’ve located the device. They’re on the way.”
Relief flooded through Brad. He’d been afraid the lead wouldn’t pan out. “That’s good. What’s their ETA?”
“They won’t arrive here until early afternoon local. Rather, they wouldn’t if they were actually coming to Ganymede.”
He felt himself frowning. “I don’t follow.”
“Your man said that the reasoning behind you taking our ship was still in force. I’m having my people move Marie Curie to meet Heart away from Ganymede. We’ll shave a number of hours off the time until my specialists get the device and draw less attention. I hope you don’t mind my altering your instructions.”
Brad rubbed his face. “No, that’s actually sound thinking. You need to be ultra-careful with that device, though. It’s the only directions to get to the slaver base we have.”
“You may count on my people’s skill and discretion. We’ll do everything within our power to get the information safely and quickly.”
“Call me the moment you have access, Doctor. And thank you. I won’t forget this.”
“Neither will I. Sleep well, Captain.”
Brad disconnected and looked at the time. He wasn’t going to be able to go back to sleep now. He’d be getting up to start the day in an hour anyway, so he might as well make an early start of it.
Today was going to be critical. He had to corral the support he needed to take the slavers without tipping his hand.
He had to assume the Cadre and slavers had the Mercenary Guild as penetrated as everything else. They’d get a report if he just showed up. So, he’d need to make contact in a way that wouldn’t draw undue attention, yet get him in without any fuss.
Brad smiled. He knew just how to make that happen.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Unlike the Mercenary Guild, the odds of anyone watching the Arbiter Guild offices were slim. After all, he’d already won that fight. They wouldn’t waste personnel at unlikely areas.
Arbiter Kenna Blaze’s building was almost tranquil so early in the morning. The only person who’d shown up so far was the young man Brad assumed was manning the desk.
“Is that her?” Falcone asked, sipping her coffee as she leaned against the wall along the street.
Brad looked at the image she was transmitting to his wrist-comp. He’d elected to stay out of sight in a sheltered alley behind the agent.
“That’s her.”
Falcone pushed away from the wall and casually headed to meet the other woman. “Excuse me. Are you Arbiter Blaze?”
The angle was bad for Brad to see anything, and the image from the agent’s wrist-comp was even worse. All he could detect was the surprise in the arbiter’s voice.
“Yes. Do I know you? If so, I apologize, but—”
“You don’t know me, but you know this man.”
The image on the wrist-comp moved until Brad saw the arbiter. “Arbiter Blaze, if I might have a few minutes of your time, I think you’ll want to hear what I have to say.”
The woman’s eyes widened. “Captain Madrid. I must confess I didn’t anticipate meeting you again so soon. If you need to speak with me, might I suggest my office?”
“I’m a little concerned that the people who damaged my ship are trying to kill me, so I’d rather not be seen. Do you have a back way in?”
“You do know how to make a mysterious entrance. Yes, the building has a place around back for deliveries. No one will be there now. Should I let you in now?”
“That would be wonderful.”
She smiled a little. “I confess that I can’t wait to hear what is going on now. I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
Brad made his way around the building on one side while Falcone took the other. Neither of them saw any indication the building was being watched. The wide dock used for deliveries led up to a double-wide door that opened at their approach.
“Captain Madrid and mysterious friend,” the arbiter said from just inside. “Please come in. We can go directly to my office without Achmed seeing us. No one will know you’re here.”
Falcone nodded approvingly as she looked around the arbiter’s office a minute later. The pale wood paneling and plush white carpet seemed to meet with her approval.
Blaze sat behind her desk and gestured for them to take seats across from her. “What brings you to see me in such an unusual manner, Captain?”
Brad settled into his seat. “I assume you heard about the battle at Io.”
“The ships that attacked a Commonwealth cruiser? It’s all over the news. Were you involved?”
He nodded. “I was traveling with the cruiser. The attackers thought they were getting me because we fooled them. They were slavers.”
Arbiter Blaze made an expression of distaste. “I’m glad you blew them up. Those people are a scourge on the universe. How can the Arbiter Guild assist in that task?”
“Perhaps it’s time for me to introduce myself,” Falcone said. “My name is Kate Falcone and I’m an agent of the Commonwealth Investigative Agency. Captain Madrid is assisting me in taking on the slavers. We need your help to move the investigation to the next level.”
“Then you shall have whatever assistance I can provide,” Blaze declared, “though I’m uncertain how settling a dispute will impact this situation.”
Brad smiled. “We’re certain they have the Mercenary Guild under observation. We need to get access to forces that we know won’t get word to either the slavers or the Cadre.
“I’m hoping to convince you to call Factor Sara Kernsky and invite her here. Then I could speak candidly with her and no one would associate the meeting with me.”
The woman reached out and touched her com panel without taking her eyes from his. Moments later, a male voice inquired what he could do for her.
“Paul, please call Factor Kernsky at the Mercenary Guild. I need to speak with her about a case. I’m afraid it’s urgent, so if you could get her right away, that would be wonderful.”
Once the call ended, Blaze considered them. “You’ve been very busy since you took possession of your ship, Captain.”
“You could say that,” he said with a wry smile. “It’s only been a short while and we’ve had three battles with the slavers. Four, if you count when I seized her.”
“I’ll wager you won’t be on their Christmas list.”
“Only as a gift, perhaps. I’m definitely on the naughty side of the equation. On another note, I found the computer cores that were stolen from my ship.”
The woman perked up. “You’ve secured my complete attention. That theft was a black mark on my guild and I’d love to see it erased. Where were they?”
“In Fabian Breen’s basement,” Falcone said. “We believe he’s in the local leadership of the slavers.”
The other woman frowned. “Breen? The man was an ass, but I’ve known him as a businessman in the area for decades. Are you sure?”
Falcone nodded. “The proof we found is beyond circumstantial. It’s a definite and solid link.”
“Okay. Assuming he’s part of the slavers’ organization, why break into a s
laver ship and steal the computers?” Her eyes widened. “They had something important on them.”
Brad smiled widely. “We think we’re going to get coordinates to a major slaver base. Once we do, the Mercenary Guild is going to be the hammer that smashes them flat. We can’t let them know we’re coming.”
The com chimed and Blaze answered it. “Blaze.”
“Arbiter Blaze, this is Sara Kernsky. My schedule is fairly packed today. Could we meet tomorrow afternoon?”
Blaze shook her head as she looked at the screen on her desk. “This is far too urgent to delay. I can’t go into details over the com, but I need you to come to my office right away. Alone.”
There was a long moment of silence. “I’ll be there in twenty minutes. I do hope this is worth all the cloak-and-dagger.”
Blaze smiled coldly. “I think you’ll love it. See you in twenty.”
Sara Kernsky stopped in her tracks once Arbiter Blaze opened the door for her. The factor raised an eyebrow and stepped inside.
“Captain Madrid, this is an unexpected surprise. Is there a dispute between the Mercenary Guild and you that I’m unaware of? I assure you, we can probably come to terms without involving the Arbiter Guild.”
He smiled. “We have no problems between us, Factor Kernsky. Arbiter Blaze is merely assisting me in making certain this meeting is private and unremarkable. I don’t want people to know I’m even on Ganymede.
“This is my associate, Kate Falcone of the Commonwealth Investigative Agency. If you’d come in and have a seat, we’ve got quite the story for you.”
They all sat down in a set of comfortable chairs and Brad told them the whole story: what they’d accomplished, what they hoped to do, and how they needed help doing it.
Once it became clear he was talking about the slavers, the factor’s expression became quite serious. She listened intently and asked no questions.
After Brad finished, she remained silent for a few moments. “This is the most extraordinary tale I’ve heard since the Guild went after Black Skull. I can see now why you’re worried they’ll find out what you intend.”