“To what end, Sir?”
“I’ve been told not to ask. Senator Malory has confirmed that Doyle is an agent of his and was operating under his orders.”
“So we’re being left out of the loop. This stinks, Sir.”
“Agreed. However, when a Senator overrides our authority we can do little but jump.”
Kaufman could not believe what he was hearing. After all the corruption that had plagued the colonies, he had hoped for better.
“Sir, is this not exactly the sort of situation we exist to investigate?”
“Indeed, but that does not extend to detaining a Secret Service agent against the order of a senator. We may still pursue this further after the release of the prisoner, but I advise you keep any inquiries off the grid.”
“You believe corruption to be rearing its ugly head?”
“I wouldn’t like to say, Captain. However, I can say that we have a duty to investigate all such matters and I will continue to do so from here. For now, I want you to continue getting the new team up to scratch and operational ASAP. We may need them rather sooner than we expected.”
Kaufman lowered his head. They were in the shit once more.
“Captain, this is just another case, we’ll get through it. Our remit is to root out corruption in all corners of humanity, and I do not intend to stop for anyone or anything!”
“Yes, Sir!”
Kaufman was reassured by his leader’s resolve, but he was still concerned about the mountain they faced. There had been plenty of rumours of politicians being involved with major crime and corruption, but nobody had ever dared to pursue them officially.
“I will leave you to arrange the prisoner transfer, Captain. If you can gather any information from him regarding his involvement with either the Senator or the Northside Crew then do so, but do not push him! The last thing we need is to make an enemy within the Senate before we have any real facts.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Great work today, Captain, Denton out.”
The transmission cut off and the glass display folded back into his desk, silencing the room once again. Kaufman rested back in his chair and picked up the cigarette lying next to his hand. He drew back on the Baracoo and contemplated the situation he faced. The agent’s location and purpose was dubious, but he had little more than his doubt to work with.
He realised there was not much time left before the transfer, so Eric leapt to his feet and stormed out of the room as quickly as he’d entered it. He rushed back to the party and honed in on Barski. He was sitting alone waiting for him to come back. Despite having no indicator as to the nature of Denton’s call to Eric, he suspected it would require his attention.
“Max, get four officers with vests and sidearms, and meet me in holding ASAP!”
“What the hell’s going on?”
“Secret Service want their guy back and they aren’t waiting a minute longer than they have to.”
“This stinks!”
“Agreed.”
Barski rushed off to do as ordered. Sergeant Lin was walking past with a fresh drink as he left. Kaufman grabbed her arm and turned her around.
“Hey, Sir, what’s up?”
“Lin, we are making a prisoner transfer shortly and I need you on duty.”
The petite Asian officer shook her head. Like everyone else, she had already had a few drinks.
“Yes, Sir, what can I do?”
“Get two of your team to the shuttle docking bay to await the arrival of a transport. You are working security at the transfer point. With any luck, we’ll have this over with shortly and we can return to the festivities.”
* * *
Kaufman stood in front of Doyle’s cell. It was in reality the former living quarters for a colonist family. The weak door had been removed and replaced with a barred security door that was a quick and cheap way to make it into a detainment room. The Captain had already had twelve such rooms converted. Along with the installation of observation cameras, and an overall security gate for the sector, it provided an adequate detention centre.
Kaufman’s imagination went wild when he looked in on the agent. He thought of the potentially wicked and corrupt actions that could be achieved with the power and resources of a senator. The man, who they had come to know as Doyle, was sitting on a bed that was visible from the doorway. The colonist rooms were small, even by the standards of Kaufman’s old apartment in Los Brezos.
With so few people on such a vast ship, they had plenty of room to spare. But the original occupants would have be crammed into the vessel in their thousands, along with a vast quantity of supplies to maintain them.
He turned back to look at the female guard. The woman, Rachel, was the wife of Officer Campbell. Like everyone who lived on the Starforce Ganymede base, she was expected to assist in the upkeep of the community. Her previous job in a psychiatric hospital had landed her the role of prisoner management and control.
“Open it up,” he said.
She tapped in a number on the keypad and the barred door slid open.
“Thank you. Barski and a team will be along soon, please send them to me.”
“Yes, Sir.”
He walked into the small room. Doyle was sitting forwards with his head in his hands. He had removed his jacket and was wearing a scruffy shirt. Sweat soaked his armpits and collar, despite the temperatures being within a normal comfortable range. His body language had already shown Kaufman that the man was worried.
Doyle looked up to the Captain and into his eyes. It was even clearer now that there was fear in the agent’s eyes, but it was not Kaufman he feared. Without a single word, he had learnt several vital facts about the man. No agent who was acting with legitimate reasons would be dreading his return home.
“My lift here?” he asked.
“Almost.”
The man gave yet another look of dread. A highly trained agent giving away so much information in his emotions meant he must indeed be in trouble.
“What was your mission on Damasia?”
“It doesn’t matter now.”
“Why?”
Doyle looked up with a pained expression in his face, and with a desperate tone he continued.
“Can you stop me from being collected and guarantee my safety?”
“My orders are to hand you over to the Secret Service agents which are already on the way. Are you not keen to return to the Service after your time undercover with that scum?”
The man shook his head. He had the despairing look of someone who had given up on life and accepted their demise. Kaufman could not understand the man’s attitude, but his gut told him that the agent’s location and purpose was dubious. Now he knew more than ever that he must pursue this matter.
“You are acting like a man condemned to death.”
“And?”
“If you have nothing left to live for, tell me what is going on here.”
The man shook his head. Kaufman felt that with a little time with the agent he would likely get some valuable information from him, but it was already too late. Campbell appeared at the doorway.
“Sir, the shuttle is preparing to land.”
“Thank you, Rachel,” he replied.
He looked back to the man. The frustration of having to give up the suspect to the Secret Service was immense. He could not help but think that there was more going on than typical procedure. The Service was using its power to do as they pleased, without justification or reason. The entire situation stank of corruption, and it was clear that Denton thought the same.
“Alright, on your feet.”
The man wearily stood up. Kaufman wanted to bind his hands, but now the man was identified as being in government employment, it would be illegal. He led him out of the door where Barski and his team were waiting. The group looked dazed. They had made the most of the party.
“I know we’re all tired and have had a few drinks, but let’s keep this professional. All we have to do is safely make
this hand over.”
“If he’s an agent, why are we running cover? This is more like a prisoner transfer,” said Barski.
“Quite frankly, I am not sure, but we have been ordered to and so we must comply. Let’s move.”
Barski took up position at the front with two of their team, the other two formed up behind Kaufman and Doyle. As they started towards the docking bay, Kaufman desperately tried to find a way to wean some shred of information from the man before they lost their grasp on him for good.
“Give me some information to work on and I may have a reason to hold you here and protect you.”
The man did not answer, as if he didn’t care or believe he could be saved.
“Will you do nothing?”
Doyle continued to walk on and ignored him. Kaufman wasn’t getting anywhere, so he became quiet. They trundled on through the corridors until half way to the docking bay and the man spoke.
“If you wish to hear what I have to say, you will have to guarantee my safety. Not just from the gangs, but from the Senator and his people.”
“Protect you from what?”
“If you are willing to go against a Senator, and become a fugitive in order to pursue it, then I will talk. Until then, your assistance is worth nothing to me.”
“Why? If you have valuable information, it can be handed to the authorities and dealt with correctly through the appropriate channels. You would come to no harm.”
He turned to look at the Captain.
“That is where you are wrong, Kaufman. This is far above your pay grade and at levels you could never begin to imagine.”
“Then what can I do?”
“Refuse to release me, and not just to these agents but all others. Once I am given up you will never know the truth.”
“What truth? Why would you tell me anyway?”
Kaufman was getting more frustrated in every step they took. The man could well be playing for time if he was in serious trouble, but his gut still told him that the case was far from over.
“Captain Kaufman, there are extreme illegal activities being pursued by some of the highest officials on Earth. If you are willing to break from protocol and do whatever is necessary, I will help you.”
“Corruption should be rooted out at all levels of society, but how can I do what you are asking of me? The second we refuse the orders of a Senator and the Secret Service we will all have our heads put on spikes.”
“Then I cannot help you.”
“God damn it, man! If you can help in a criminal investigation, you are obliged to assist.”
“I am sorry, Captain, but if you are not willing to do what needs to be done, then I cannot.”
Kaufman shook his head in astonishment. He now knew he was not going to get anywhere in pursuing any further communication with the mysterious agent. Instinct told him that he should do what the man was asking. But if he were wrong, it would be the end to his career and likely the IBI as a whole.
The group of officers reached the last door and went through into the docking area just as the shuttle touched down. Lin was waiting with no clue that the situation was far more complex than it had first appeared. They stopped and held Doyle between them as the ramp lowered onto the deck.
Three men in dark and impeccably well-cut suits stepped out. There were no guns visible. They were all concealed beneath their fashionable attire. Kaufman gasped as he saw a recognisable face at the front of the group. It was Ray Denver.
“Captain Kaufman!” shouted Denver.
The three agents continued to stride confidently towards them.
“Denver, I am sorry that I no longer know your rank.”
“Agent will be fine.”
He walked right up to Kaufman, who was still uneasy with the proceedings, and outstretched his hand in a greeting to his former commanding officer. Kaufman took it and was glad to see the sergeant who had served him well. Denver was a respectable and trustworthy man, so this further confused Kaufman’s understanding of what was going on.
“Congratulations on the launch of the second vessel. Though I don’t envy the new crew. I’m sure you will be giving them a thorough going over.”
“Indeed, so you work for Senator Malory these days?”
“That is my assignment, yes.”
“How is he treating you?”
“Pretty good, a few less gunfights and a few more state dinners.”
“Sounds tough,” Barski laughed.
Denver grinned. He was as confident and friendly as ever. Kaufman found it hard to believe that the former sergeant could be entangled in a web of corruption and organised crime. Yet he also knew that may be the reason he was sent. Anyone concerned about Kaufman’s interaction with Doyle would possibly send Denver to calm the situation and ensure a clean transfer.
“Doyle here was found with one of the gangs we arrested. Do you know the reason for his placement? It is highly unusual for him to be in such a place.”
“I am sorry, Captain, but even if I was privy to such information, I would not be at liberty to divulge it.”
“Understood.”
Kaufman turned back to the agent in custody who stared back with a grim expression. It drove Eric mad to know that there was so much going on behind the scenes of which he was unaware. He could feel that he was close to unravelling some important information.
“Agent Doyle, I hereby transfer you into the custody of Agent Denver.”
Kaufman’s men moved aside and allowed the man to pass through to the other agents. It was obvious that he didn’t want to go, but he made no effort to resist and walked slowly out from the line of officers.
“Good to meet you, Doyle. We’ve got places to be.”
The two other agents led him into the ship as Denver turned back to them.
“I am sorry I cannot join you for a drink in your celebrations, Captain, but we have our orders.”
Kaufman nodded, and he could see that he still had the friendship and trust of the man. That could well prove very useful in the future.
“You watch yourself. After your time with us, you should be well aware that there is no place free of the greed and violent ways of some.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Denver did a friendly but relaxed salute as he turned and followed the others into the shuttle. For the rest of the IBI officers, it was a relief to see the agents leaving. They would be free of the prisoner and continue their party. Kaufman and Barski knew better, and they could not enjoy that evening. As the engines fired up, Max turned back to his weary team.
“You can fall out. Get back to the party.”
The officers smiled in appreciation as they strode back through the doors to continue the festivities. Kaufman turned to watch the shuttle lift off and noticed that Barski was still by his side.
“Did you get anything from him?” asked Max.
“Nothing solid, but a few ideas to work with.”
“Think Denton will have got anywhere?”
“If the situation is as I am guessing, he will have hit a brick wall.”
“So what next?”
“For now, there is nothing. We have to get the new crew up to scratch and that must be our main goal for the time being.”
The party continued on that night, but Kaufman couldn’t relax no matter how many drinks he knocked back. Dealing with criminal gangs was a dangerous affair, but not nearly as dangerous as mass organised crime with links to political figures.
Chapter 3
Kaufman sat in the mess hall slowly and uneasily eating breakfast. He was the first up that morning, but his concern and deep thoughts masked the hangover that should have left him sprawled in his bed.
After the first few minutes, the crew began to trickle in to settle down for their food. Most of the new recruits were in before the Intrepid’s crew, eager to please their new captain. Barski strolled in looking worse for wear and slumped down beside Kaufman.
“How the hell can you be this awake?” he aske
d.
He didn’t answer and was too fixated on the events of the previous day. He was so distracted that the presence of the crews had gone largely unnoticed.
“Eric?”
He finally snapped out of it and looked at his old friend.
“Yeah, what?”
“Looked like you were miles away.”
“No, no, I’m here. Today we have to sort out the new crew. They are trained and capable, but we need to bring them up to speed on some of our latest equipment and get their command structure sorted.”
“Denton has already established the Sergeants among them in relation to their previous positions and performance during trials.”
“Good, that’ll help. In this situation you would be normally promoted to lead the new taskforce, but I’d be far more content having you with me. We live in as uncertain times as when this began.”
“Fine by me, I don’t want to take on a new crew and have to be in charge.”
Kaufman nodded. The promotion would be a huge advancement for his friend in both status and pay. He knew without a doubt that at least part of Max would want the job, which made him appreciate his friendship all the more.
“There are five Sergeants, so do you want me to assemble them?”
“Yes, have Lin and Davis get them started on our procedures and equipment. I want the them in my office in thirty minutes.”
Eric continued with his breakfast. He knew that getting the team up to scratch was vital, but he couldn’t get his mind off the Doyle case. He was just waiting for the shit storm that was building.
* * *
Kaufman sat staring at the intercom, impatiently waiting for a transmission from Commander Denton. He hoped for a moment that the matter was all above board and now closed, but he knew in his heart that it was not the case. The door entry light flashed along with the alert buzzer, snapping him out of his dreamlike state.
Pressing the entry switch, Barski led three men and two women into the office. Each was as confident as the next. Denton had very carefully selected the crew and Kaufman could already tell from their body language that they were capable and suitable personnel. His office was much larger than that on the Intrepid, a luxury of being stationed on the vast old colony ship.
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