“Then, Morel, we’re fucked. The Senator won’t stop and he cannot leave us to walk as free men. We all joined this Bureau because we don’t take no for an answer, and we don’t take cash to stay quiet. It’s him or us!”
* * *
There was no grand return for the wounded officers, little more than a pat on the back. The crew were too demoralised for anything else. Kaufman had led them into the briefing room where the crews were still working. He took up his place at the head of the table.
“I’m not going bullshit here. We need results and we need them now! I’m glad to see that we have got our people back. I have promised we will lift off in a matter of minutes, not doing so will result in a world of pain that none of us want. Sosa, give me an update!”
She shook her head, clearly unhappy with their progress.
“Sir, we have a few potentials to follow up, but most of them are proving difficult to track down. A number of people we would like to talk to are spread across the colonies, others have no fixed address. Malory’s military record is quite frankly, strange. I believe we can find out more but it’s going to take time. As for a private security and contract agency, there are several dozen on Earth alone.”
“Lin, you got anything?”
“A few connections to business which we believe Munoz is controlling and using as hubs to many more. We could do with being on the ground to contact them in person.”
“You can’t do it through comms?”
“Well, Sir, many will not answer our calls. I am also not sure of the security of many of the conversations.”
Kaufman looked back at the board. His attention was immediately drawn to the photo of his father. He turned back to the two crews and panned across their faces. He pointed to his father’s picture.
“It’s highly likely that my father died on Munoz’s word. We may not be able to prove it, but we do not have to. One thing I remember about my father is that he was one hundred percent dedicated to his work and thorough in his documentation of it. Barski, get onto the old precinct! I want every file, diary and log my father made in the year leading up to his death.”
“You think he will have logged information about his own killer?” he asked.
“Possibly, but that’s not what I am getting at. If he was killed because of what he knew, then that information was clearly vital and is probably logged somewhere, and I want to know that that is!”
Chapter 7
Kaufman knew they needed more time to work together on the case, but it was not a luxury they could afford. They had narrowly escaped a major tangle with the local authorities and to stay any longer would be inviting trouble. The two vessels launched and drifted casually into space. As soon as they were clear of the Moon, he opened a channel to Sosa on the other ship. She had evidently been waiting and answered immediately.
“Sir, you wanted us to investigate the identity of your attackers. We have a few leads on Earth, and I’d like to put down there and see if we can’t make some progress.”
“Affirmative, do what you can. You are new to this organisation and were not previously a target of our enemies, but know that from today you are every bit in their sights as us. You watch your ass, you hear me?”
“Yes, Sir. I’ll be in contact shortly when I have something to report.”
“Good luck, Lieutenant, Kaufman out.”
He cut off the channel, got to his feet and strode to the briefing room. A few of the team looked up as he entered but quickly returned to their display screens. He sat down in his usual position next to Barski.
“You got a plan?” asked Max.
“Sort of, but you’re not going to like it.”
“Go on.”
He brought up a collection of documents that his partner had sourced through their old precinct. He had already pored over them once and was going through them again.
“There is a pattern here. If you look at the data my father collected of any known locations of the people involved, the majority are still in the city.”
“Yeah, but that’s the one place we can’t go. Malory will have our balls.”
“Perhaps.”
“What are you thinking?”
“Sure, we could spend days trying to track down those contacts who have moved off-world, but it doesn’t need our whole crew and it sure as hell will not be a complete investigation. We need to drop off the grid.”
Barski shot a surprised look at him.
“We’re probably the highest profile law agency in the known universe, so how the hell can we just disappear?”
Kaufman looked up across the room.
“Kaminski, what’s the closest station that has ship dealers?”
“Uh, I guess L2, Captain.”
He hit the intercom to the bridge.
“Anders, plot a course for L2, inform the Victory that we are picking up supplies before we continue on.”
“Got it, Sir.”
The faces of his crew he could tell that they were all straining to understand his logic.
“Let’s not fool ourselves here. The core of the contacts and leads we have are back in Los Brezos, and they always were. Everything else is merely a way to draw us further from the case. Malory is in the city, and it is certainly equally as important to Munoz. I’d be willing to bet good money he’s still there.”
“But, Sir, how can we return there?” asked Morel.
“As a crew we can’t. We cannot pursue any official business there for the time being. Our very presence could be enough to start an avalanche. Therefore, a small band of us will acquire a new vessel and work independently while the rest of the crew and the Intrepid will continue investigations off-world.”
“What happens when news of this gets out?” asked Lin.
“It won’t. As far as all records and documents go, we never left this ship. Any communication where I am requested will be re-routed to my location.”
“Is this strictly legal, Sir? Going onto sovereign soil to pursue a case without informing the authorities?” asked Davis.
“No, but we have no other choice. We have alternate IDs ready for us and we’ll enter the city as civilians.”
“Without support and heavy hardware, you’ll be vulnerable to all sorts, not least the fact that you’ll be treated as criminals,” said Singh.
Kaufman sighed and looked around at their faces. He knew it would be difficult for them to understand.
“You’ve seen the evil we face. The Senator is willing to kill any and all of us, and will not likely stop. We can no longer play by the rules. Ultimately, the end game is what matters. Now, I have thought this through and it is the best way, but I need your support more than ever. Do I have it?”
Many wiped their brows and looked down at their case files. He was asking a lot of them, to lie to the authorities. Eventually, a few of them nodded in agreement.
“Sir,” said Lin. “You’ve come through before, and we’ll stand by you. We only ask that you pursue this case for the right reasons, to bring the Senator down and make all our lives safe, not for revenge.”
Kaufman shot another quick glimpse at his father’s ID photo on the board. His heart burnt with desire for revenge, but he knew it was wrong to be thinking of it in their time of need. It would have to wait.
“Agreed, Sergeant, let’s do this right. We face a most dangerous adversary. A gangster with a gun can be handled, but this is of a far more delicate nature. The Senator has power and support all around the System. Remember that. It is still vital that he believes we are not pursuing his case, as he would only increase his efforts to finish us.”
The room fell silent once again. Splitting the team was the last thing he wanted to do, but he saw no other choice.
“All agreed?”
Several nodded and grunted in agreement.
“The ship’s crew are a target, remember that. As long as everyone believes that we are all aboard, this ship will be the number one target. Sergeant Lin, I am leaving yo
u in charge. I want you to stick to safe zones only. Stay together and be ready for anything.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Barski, Morrison, Kaminski and Wells, you’re with me.”
“You’re taking two rookies, Sir?” asked Lin.
“Their faces are the least associated with our organisation, and we need to blend in as much as possible. They were both capable officers in their previous line of work and I have every faith in them to pull their weight. Lin, I want you to pursue all off-world leads that we have. Give no notice of your arrival, do not stay in any location more than a few hours and do not disclose your location to anyone.”
“What about the Commander, Sir?”
“Not even him. We can trust Denton with our lives, but we have no idea who is looking or listening in. You route calls directly to me, and be sure to bounce them around a few satellites. If you are forced to talk to him, then be deliberately vague. He will understand your reasoning.”
“Sir, I am not sure I like this. We are going it alone against one of the most powerful men alive, surely there is another way?” asked Lin.
“We have all seen the face of hardened criminals. When have we ever been able to reason with them? There is no place for both us and the Senator in this universe. We take him down or we go down trying. Any more questions?”
It was not an easy situation to digest, but they all knew that there was no changing it.
“Right, those staying aboard continue work on the leads you had. My team, head to my cabin. From now on, you’re in charge here, Sergeant.”
She nodded uneasily as they left the room. Protocol would have him leave Barski in charge, but he needed his closest friend now more than ever. The door closed behind them and they all sat around the Captain’s desk.
“First thing we are going to need is money. We need a ship, something small and fast. Denton established several untraceable off-world bank accounts for such emergencies. The numbers of the accounts are not linked to any individual.”
“There really is enough put aside to get what we need?” asked Morrison.
“That and more. The Commander has liquidated many seized assets from our previous missions, and that has provided for a healthy relief fund in such dire times. Barski and I will look for a vessel the moment we put down. The three of you are to split up and head for these banks. You are to clean out the accounts.”
Kaufman handed them an envelope each. To be doing anything in hard copy was an oddity to the crew.
“No records exist of these accounts, not in our logs or the agency’s files. They are completely untraceable.”
“Off-world serial numbered accounts? Sounds like the kind of thing tax evaders and corrupt politicians would use,” said Kaminski.
“Indeed, because they are safe and secure. Such people, as well as gunrunners and drug dealers, but also those with extreme paranoia frequently use these accounts. Denton knew that the time would come when we would need such anonymity. With the credits in these accounts, we will have more than enough to get a ship and continue our work. I don’t want the cash transferred to any accounts. We need notes, you hear me?”
They nodded in agreement.
* * *
Kaufman watched their approach to the L2 base with little excitement. It was yet another hulking trade station. With a population of half a million, and many millions passing through, their presence would be well camouflaged. He looked around at his crew on the bridge as they watched the landing site. There was a sad air amongst them; they knew they must separate for what could be their last mission.
“Listen up!” he shouted. “Our presence will not go unnoticed. We only depart when we are certain that eyes are off us. We need to make it clear that we have a purpose here. That will be to attempt to gain information from a major player in the Cosaline trade, Martin Chambers.”
“Sir, what the hell does he have to do with this?” asked Lin.
“Chambers has no direct link that we can find to Munoz. However, he is a big player and has connections. Our primary purpose is to be seen with Chambers. This will justify our visit. We’ll find him in a bar that he owns. On our return, Barski and I will split off from the crew and you will continue on to depart the base. Morrison, Kaminski, Wells, you will set off shortly after we split off.”
He lifted up his datapad.
“I have already diverted all transmissions which are sent to my cabin to come directly to me. That transmission is bounced around the satellites with proxies and is as safe as we can make it. Put off any calls you can, but if you have to, direct calls to my cabin. We can do this, good luck to you all!”
The ship put down on the vast base, but the excitement of a new job was missing from the crew. As they stepped off the ship, a team of local officers led by a captain met them. Kaufman already knew that they were not present to offer their assistance.
“Captain Kaufman, I have been ordered to inform you that you are welcome aboard while the peace is maintained. Our Mayor does not want a repeat of your last job. He says you have twelve hours to finish your work here and be on your way.”
“The fucking cheek of it...” said Barski.
Kaufman lifted his hand to stop him in his tracks. Barski was ready to floor the law enforcement officer who was more than merely rude.
“We’re only here to talk to one of your residents, so we’ll be gone well before that time comes,” replied Kaufman.
“Well you’d better keep your people in check, Kaufman. This is a peaceful colony, and the last thing we need is trigger happy glory boys.”
Kaufman could feel his blood boil and wanted to lash out, but there was too much at stake. He nodded in agreement. He didn’t want to incite any argument with the locals.
“Alright, you may pass, Captain.”
Kaufman edged forward with his crew. He felt utterly disgusted by the welcome they had been given, or lack of. He calmed his nerves and told himself that they were only doing their jobs and basing their actions on misinformation. Barski looked around to see that they were out of view and then looked forwards as they walked down a long corridor.
“Damn warm welcome here,” he said.
“No cop likes a higher authority treading on their turf,” said Kaminski.
“Ain’t that the truth? You remember when we had nationwide agencies stepping in on our investigations, were we ever any nicer to them?” asked Kaufman.
Barski nodded, but he liked it no less. Few of them had ever been to the L2 colony and they looked around with fascination as they headed towards the central district. Being one of the LaGrange points closest to Earth, it was one of the earliest human colonies off Earth. It had been repeatedly expanded over many decades, so the structure could vary drastically from one corridor to the next. Many of the ceilings were low and claustrophobic. They were built when constructing in space was far more difficult and costly.
“This Chambers, what do you know about him?” asked Wells.
“He’s British, from London. Born into a successful crime family, he continued on in his father’s work.”
“Yeah, I remember some stories about him a few years back, so what’s he doing on L2?”
“From what I understand, the European authorities were clamping down on him more and more all the time. Up here, he can live like a king with little worry from the authorities, providing he pays his way.”
“You think he has the locals in his pocket?” asked Kaminski.
“At least a good few, no doubt. But he’s a Cosaline dealer, so for now that isn’t our concern. We only want to talk with him and to avoid conflict at all costs. This isn’t our fight and we can’t afford anymore PR grillings.”
They continued on. Kaufman was keen to be seen by as many civilians and officials as possible. Evidence that they were on L2 would prove that they were staying clear of Earth as agreed.
“What do you expect to get from this guy?” asked Kaminski.
“Based on the things I have heard over the y
ears, it would be my guess that Chambers is competition to Munoz. But he’s not in his league. I believe he’d do anything to push ahead. He’s young and strong-willed for the power and position he has, so the chance to quash a rival without even having to lift a finger could be appealing.”
“And if he works for Munoz, we could be walking into a hell hole,” said Barski.
“Always a possibility. Remember though, while some might want us dead, nobody that powerful would want to get their hands dirty. The punishment for killing an IBI officer is just as severe as any other cop.”
“That’s a hell of a gamble don’t you think? You’re assuming this guy’s smart enough to have thought it all through.”
Kaufman turned and smiled; he knew this type of criminal well. They stopped as they reached a busy intersection. It was a domed structure with three storeys of shops and traders. Space was tight and the corridors between the establishments were barely a car width. Narrow metal staircases led up to the lines of businesses.
A large projection screen played the news twenty-four seven with subtitles, due to the constant noise of thousands of people passing through. Yet again, the scene of the aftermath of their recent gun battle was on display.
“Christ, Eric, do they never give up?” asked Max.
“It’s a targeting approach to create a System-wide dislike for our organisation.”
“It’s working, Sir,” said Morrison.
“We have to weather it, and all will be resolved if we can get the job done.”
Kaufman looked at the map on his datapad.
“This way.”
Fifteen minutes later they were in a darker district with low ambient lighting. Bars, clubs and casinos were in abundance, as was every other vice. Prostitutes paced up and down touting for trade as the pickpockets went to work. Sleazy doormen in cheap and garish suits tried desperately to reel people into their grim and seedy looking establishments. They were pushing through the crowds of passersby, when they heard a gunshot. Kaufman’s gun was drawn and he was running towards the origin of the shot within a second.
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