The Tender Shore: A Matt Ransom Mystery

by Bobby Underwood

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  For the line between right and wrong is never blurry, never gray or obscured, but it is often a razor's edge so fine, the consequence of one slip is the loss of our mortal soul

  Rio was always buzzing, even in the early morning hours this side of midnight. I'd rented a ground vehicle because it suited my purposes better. I walked through the door of the Greyhound terminal as one of the glider coaches took to the skies. I found the locker, scanned Danny's eye, heard the click, and tossed the last remembrance of Stacy's ex into a nearby trash receptacle. It was crushed into oblivion, quietly and efficiently. An envelope marked Stacy was all that the locker held. I slipped it into my pocket and walked out.

  There were glider and ground cabs outside but mine was the only passenger vehicle without the Greyhound insignia. The cabs were most likely legitimate. Since they hadn't reverted to subterfuge before, I doubted they would here. Watching a place 24/7 required shifts. Senior and more experienced operatives would always pick the day shift, leaving those coming up and not ready for the big show with the crappy hours.

  They were watching from the outside this time, probably so they could have a smoke. I'd spotted one on the way in and was looking for the second one as soon as I felt fresh air. He was leaning against the back of a ground coach, having a smoke. The first one I'd spotted was directly across from his partner. They were waiting for me to walk past and have me in a crossfire. The one to my right, the one leaning against the bus, was reaching casually into his pocket, preparing himself.

  I shot him with the quiet Nakra without losing stride, confusing the shooter on my right for a split-second as his partner slid to the ground. He recovered more swiftly than I'd expected but not quick enough to prevent his death. I never broke stride. No one had heard or saw anything. I was on a mission and had no time to consider the moral consequences to my soul. I drove the vehicle about a mile from the scene and stopped to read the letter. There could be some very personal stuff in there, things no one but Stacy was meant to see, but what I needed to know might be in there too, or else people were dead for no reason.

  Yet I hesitated. I sensed I was crossing some moral line greater than I had in shooting the two Mars thugs behind me. I punched in her number. It would be late there, but not as late as it was here in Brazil.

  "Hello?"

  She sounded a little breathless. I heard a muffled voice and then a partial giggle before I heard nothing. She wasn't alone. I allowed myself a second to smile and let the outside world in before shutting down again.

  "Sorry," she said, "I had company, I mean…I was with Pedro, he's here in Miami, and we're going to marry."

  "I'm happy for you, Stacy, it sounds wonderful," I said mechanically.

  "What's wrong, Matt? What do you need?"

  I told her. There was silence for a while.

  "Of course, Matt. You have to read it. You didn't even have to ask, but thank you. I love you. I love LeAnn. I trust you."

  "I love you too, Stacy."

  The world was creeping in no matter how hard I tried to be numb.

  "Do you want me to read it out loud?"

  "No, I'd rather read it in private when I do. Just bring it back with you and I'll read it then. Just make sure you come back, no matter what you have to do. LeAnn needs you."

  "Alright."

  I ended the call and opened the letter. They were the words of someone who had gone over a cliff, and was desperately attempting to save others from following him:

  Stacy,

  Things have spiraled so out of control that I know now it may be impossible to make it back. When I finally came to terms with my humanity, or lack of it, which I know was our undoing, I took one step in the wrong direction and afterward it just kept dragging me deeper and deeper into things I wanted no part of. Someone in the Mars government I'd known contacted me, and the next thing I knew, I'd betrayed Edna, who had given me a chance after we split. Please tell her I'm sorry. You'll know by now how I betrayed her. I thought I could win you back if I became more human. But it all got screwed up Stacy, and now I'll never know. They didn't want to help people, like I thought, it was just about the money and the cover for their real activity. They are monsters. I don't think the Mars government is behind them. It is a faction, and they want revenge. Getting the formula was leverage so I'd have to help them. I was part of the terraform crew, a big part, so I knew plenty. They have the means now, Stacy, because of me. But I am trying to make it right. The ship is off the coast of Rio, and it has the surface to air projectiles to detonate in the atmosphere over Earth. Earth will be reborn, and look like Mars, a fresh start for man. Except that all remaining life on Earth will be destroyed. It is mostly bio-organic, and that is their revenge for what is in the file. Giving as good as they got by destroying us all. The few humans like you left on Earth are just collateral damage, Stacy. They don't care, and once it happens, they believe everyone on Mars will be so happy to have Earth back as it was that few questions will be asked. There are only humans on Mars, and they would never tolerate our kind arriving in droves, so they believe it is the only solution, to take their revenge and force it to happen. They believe there are those in very powerful positions who will look the other way. I am sorry. I probably will be dead when you read this, but please do not blame yourself. I know how you are Stacy, but it was not your fault we didn't work, it was mine. And now, I realize a weakness in myself, a terrible flaw in my character that probably would have remained even had I been given a soul. The equipment is on board the same ship as the terraforming projectiles. They laugh when they take money from people who have figured out they aren't human, and in their shame attempt to get a soul. They laugh behind their backs because they are going to die anyway. They have used the money to finance getting the terraforming materials. They are human, but inhuman. I make no excuses for what my kind did to the human race, but I can't imagine they were any worse than these soulless animals. I have only now realized there is more to having a soul than just possessing one. You must use it, and some people do not, while others who would die to have one, but can't, would use it always. It was my fault, and my terrible choices which made this happen, Stacy. You had nothing to do with it. Your soul is wonderful. I was only angry and confused. Please forgive me, and please do one thing for me, Stacy. Love someone, be happy, make a life. And once in a while remember us before Paris, before all the ugliness, before the world changed, before I changed, because I couldn't accept the truth. Let me be a nice memory. It is how I'll always remember you. Goodbye, Stacy. — Always, Danny

  I folded the letter of confession, tucked it safely in my pocket, and headed for a ship of fools…

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  For only when someone loves us do we begin to love ourselves, for in seeing ourselves through their eyes we finally realize how truly wonderful we are

  Stacy was wrestling playfully with Pedro on the bed. She had on the sexiest orange lingerie money could buy. Orange lace looked beautiful against her long blonde hair and her milky white skin. Pedro had nearly died when she came out of the bathroom wearing it. She'd pushed him away, teasing him and calling him a silly Mexican boy before he'd given her a wonderful and surprising swat on her gorgeous butt. It was so loud Stacy was afraid Annette and Pablo might have heard it all the way across the mansion. She laughed and shrieked as he chased her around the room. It was the kind of bedroom play only couples secure in their absolute love can have. She let him catch her, giggling as he lifted her waist on the edge of the mattress. She made other sounds as he drove his love deep inside her and made her happy. She knew it made him happy too. He whispered how he adored her afterward, both of them breathless and hungry for more. The telecom beeped. It was Matt.

  She covered the phone — Annette had her calling it that — just in time to prevent him from hearing another swat, this one softer and sweeter, accompanied by an I love you and responded to with a kiss. That the second locker contained a letter from Danny s
tunned her a moment, but not as much as Matt had. His voice was different somehow. At first she thought it might be the connection, but remembered to trust her instincts. There was something almost cold and distant in his voice, as if it was coming from some place far away, and deadly.

  Once the call ended, she sat on the edge of the bed. Pedro sat next to her, running his hands through her hair. He waited, not asking about the call. She told him anyway, as he knew she would. He was going to be her husband soon, Stacy realized, and he had a right to know these matters, no matter how private or sensitive they may be. Not business perhaps, but this was not business, this part of Edna's life, what was Stacy's life now. She would always be open and honest with him. He knew about John, of course, but slowly, quietly, she told him about Danny. It just came spilling out. She was surprised at how distanced and objective she was in relating to Pedro what had happened, how she'd felt, how it had put her in an emotional holding pattern for so long. And then John had happened. She realized there was no anger or disappointment anymore. Whatever was in the letter, she knew it would be okay. Maybe it would give her that tiny bit of closure for what might have been. She was sad for Danny, but not sad because things hadn't worked out. If they had, there would have been no John, and no Pedro, with whom she felt she belonged.

  Pedro listened for an hour as she poured out her heart, exorcising all her demons. He listened because he loved her. It was quiet in the house, the patio doors open so the breeze could keep them cool. Stacy was talked out. They sat in silence now. Faint laughter could be heard followed by a loud shushing noise. Stacy knew her new home well enough now to discern that it was coming from the kitchen. More faint laughter, then the unmistakable sound of a loving spank, followed by giggles and what sounded like someone bumping into a chair in the dark. She and Pedro looked at each other and smiled. She put her arms around him, sliding over in his lap. She felt his hands adoring her rear and they returned to making wonderful love.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  For it is when we are most in danger of losing our way that angels guide us, so that we may not succumb to the darkness, and lose our soul as well as our life

  Rio's port was on the western coast of Guanabara Bay. According to Danny's co-ordinates, the ship was at the Wharf of Gamboa. I turned off the lights as soon as I could do so safely. I finally shut off the motor and coasted. The nightlife of Rio did not extend to shipping ports, which were much more spartan than in previous centuries. It made it easy to spot the big tub since it was the only one in port really big enough to be called a ship. I parked behind a building in case anyone was scanning for intruders. I tried to stay hidden as I worked my way forward to the loading area. I didn't know how many I was up against, but with the cargo they had on board there were two possibilities. There could be a ton of heavily armed guards or, not wanting to draw attention to the freighter, there might be only a bare minimum of surveillance personnel. If the latter, they wouldn't be armed as heavily.

  I watched for fifteen minutes but saw no sign of a sentry on the gangplank. There were no loaders, which led me to speculate on why it was down. Were they expecting someone? A lone Rio patrol boat made a pass through this end of the lengthy port and continued on its way. I waited to see how long it took for it to return. Thirty minutes. As soon as it was out of sight this second pass I dashed for the ship under cover of darkness. I took out my Howzer and crouched down behind a cargo container, waiting. I wasn't sure what I was waiting for, but it didn't look right. Another thirty minutes went by and the patrol boat made another pass. I began to feel foolish and then I saw the lights.

  It was a dark limousine, moving slowly but methodically in this direction. It swung around and parked as close to the ship as the port layout made possible. I was surprised to see a woman step out of the back. I could tell she was pretty, even in the darkness. Something about her struck a chord. Maybe the way she moved, easily but with purpose. Her hips swayed naturally in a graceful feminine motion as she walked up the gangplank. It might sound crass, but I'd seen that ass before. I had trouble with faces sometimes, but I never forgot a rear end. It finally hit me and I was stunned. I had seen her perhaps only once since Paris, after she became Edna's personal secretary. It was Daniella, another Cherry 6. She had been Arthur Ballard's personal secretary before Edna saved her. I let the world creep in a moment and my heart felt heavy. She had reasons to hate, just like Jennie.

  I slipped up behind the limo driver, who it turned out was also female. She saw me out of the corner of her eye just as the butt of the Howzer hit bone and put her to sleep. I grabbed her before she could slump over on the wheel and hit the horn. As I did so, I saw the circled V. Damn. A Cherry 6. I knew then. It was the Cherry 6s. Daniella was in the perfect position to seek out and recruit them. She had power, and access to all kinds of sensitive material because of the position she held with Edna, and now Stacy. She would know who the Cherry 6s were and how to feel them out, discover which ones were bitter. Which ones could be manipulated, have their resentment fed until it became hate, and their hate fed until it became obsession for revenge. I was sure if I looked very deep, I would find a connection between she and Danny. They both worked for Edna. He would know her, trust her, believe her. I just couldn't quite make the connection with Mars. There was a piece missing.

  I made my way on board as quietly as possible. Ships have a certain smell and it wasn't Joy. I followed the scent of the expensive feminine fragrance, treading carefully but moving slowly forward, deeper into the bowels of the vessel. The intoxicating aroma was getting stronger. A sudden sound of footsteps startled me. I froze, listening. It was her. I realized now there was no one else aboard. It was brilliant. No one in their right mind would leave a ship unguarded if it contained unscrupulous cargo. She just relied on the patrol boats. They probably knew her, knew this was Edna's ship. Only it wasn't Edna's ship, it was Daniella's. And its contents were capable of destroying all human and bio-organic life on the planet. She was no Jennie, sad and lost. Daniella was cold and calculating.

  I found myself in a huge cargo hold full of equipment I couldn't recognize but which I knew must pertain to creating a soul. I looked away, not wanting to know. On the opposite side were translucent torpedo-looking devices. Terraforming had never been used as a weapon, but soon would be if Daniella wasn't stopped. I had lost the scent and it worried me. Matt. The voice came from behind me, but no one was there. She's up there. I saw Jennie then, or thought I saw her. She was a soft light in the darkness behind me, pointing up and to my right. I followed the direction of her gaze and made out Daniella, hiding in the shadows above me. I looked back. Jennie, if she'd ever really been there at all, was gone.

  From somewhere inside the ship, the soft, melodic voice of Tracey Thorne started singing Mirrorball. I heard a gasp from above, and she fired wildly, prematurely. I took aim at the flash and knew I'd hit the mark. She fell at my feet. I hadn't hit her cleanly, but it was only a matter of time. I didn't know why the music had spooked her so. Or who had turned it off now. The Howzer had blown a hole through her stomach, ripping her apart. She was trying to say something. I leaned down and put my ear to her lips. Her words were barely audible, but calm and cold. Your kind will get yours one day…

  I rang Stacy and in less than thirty minutes patrol boats were carefully unloading the terraform torpedoes and transporting them far away. Underwater divers set the charges as I'd instructed. I watched from the port as the explosion lit up the night like a huge sun exploding. For almost forty-five minutes it was like daylight even though hours remained until dawn. Finally, the big ship collapsed in on herself, all evidence of souls, lost at sea.

  The story had broken already, news crews taking pictures of the spectacular explosion while reporters stood on the docks capitalizing on the misery of others. Stacy called me back as I was driving away. Mars had confirmed the entire file was a forgery. An immaculate forgery, able to fool all but the finest of experts with access to deeply classified information, b
ut a forgery nonetheless. They were tracking down the factions within their human government who had bought into Daniella's deception. She had needed their muscle to carry out her revenge, so she had devised an elaborate ruse to get their support. I only found a single item upon Daniella's person, an old photograph of two little girls, Daniella and Jennie. On the back was written: My Awesome Big Sister and Me! There was a smiley face for punctuation.

  LeAnn was still sleeping when I arrived home. She seemed further away from me than just meters or feet. I knew I could not touch her. She was good and decent, and I was…something else. I closed the bathroom door and numbly undressed. I leaned against the shower wall, finding it difficult to breathe. I closed my eyes and listened to the sound of the water streaming against glass and tile, trying to focus on something other than the ugliness endeavoring to get out.

  I didn't hear her come in, but she was suddenly there, staring at me through the glass door. She lifted the long T-shirt over her lovely shoulders and stepped into the shower with me. I couldn't move. What was she doing here? Didn't she know what I was? She took my hands in hers and put my arms around her waist, placing my hands on her beautiful rear. She kissed my lips softly, stroking my face tenderly. Her hand ran slowly down my chest, finally reaching what belonged to her and no one else. It grew as she caressed it and I began to feel again. I didn't want to feel but her hands were feminine and hard to ignore. I loved her so much.

  Finally, I couldn't take it any longer. I lifted her up against the glass so hard it shook the shower stall. Her legs clamped around my waist in a lover's embrace as I found her tender shore. The girl I loved and adored navigated me through her sweet velvet sea until I was safely home.