by John Bowers
“Thing is, when he gets mad, he really gets mad.”
“You mean, he throws things?”
“I’ve never seen him throw things, but I’ve heard him scream at people. He can get really abusive, especially toward the girls.”
“He has girls?”
“Several of his staff are girls.”
“Does he hit them?”
“I haven’t seen him do that, but I’ve seen some of them reduced to tears after he ripped into them.”
Trevor frowned.
“You ask an awful lot of questions, Vicky.”
Victoria covered her face with both hands and laughed.
“I’m sorry. I used to work as a news reporter. I guess asking questions became a habit.”
“Used to? What kind of work do you do now?”
“I’m actually between jobs. That’s why I have a little time to tour. I’ve never been to Lago District, and I heard it was real pretty here.”
“Yeah, it is.”
“So, do you actually live here in this—what do you call it, a castle?”
“Yeah, it is sort of like a castle. I actually live in Lago, but I have a room here when I’m on duty.”
“Inside the building?”
“No, I’ve never been inside. My room is just inside the wall.”
“How do you get to it? I don’t see any doors anywhere.”
“There’s only one door, at the main gate. But once you get inside that, there’s a courtyard that extends around three sides of the castle. My room opens onto the courtyard.”
Victoria nodded, filing away the information. So far she hadn’t learned anything of specific value, but had no idea how much of what Trevor told her might be useful later.
She glanced at her watch.
“You know what—it’s almost time for my ride. I should head for the road.”
“Did someone drop you off?”
“I came in a taxi. I told the driver to come back for me. I should get going.”
She extended her hand.
“It was nice meeting you, Trevor. Maybe we can talk again somet—”
Victoria was barely aware of the crunch of gravel behind her. Before she could turn to look, she felt the muzzle of a gun shoved against the side of her head.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Miss Cross.”
The next sound she heard was the pistol being cocked.
Chapter 22
Hardwood – Tau Ceti 4
“Gawd a’mighty!” Sheriff Thomas sighed as he and Nick stepped into his office. “What a day!”
“I guess you don’t get many like this around here,” Nick said.
“Are you kidding? We don’t get any like this. In an average year we might get one or two killings, but they’re usually the result of bar fights or family feuds. This is outright homicide, stranger killings. It’s been at least a decade since we had one, and two in one day is unprecedented.”
Nick dropped into a wooden chair, surprised at how weary he was.
“I hate to say this, but you may see more killings like this over the next few days.”
Thomas glared at him. “You still think Saracen is behind it?”
“I do. I can’t prove it, but I think he knows I’m on the planet and he sent someone to take me out.”
“Then why didn’t that someone kill you and leave the others alone?”
“I was in Orosi all morning. The killer couldn’t find me, so he—I mean, she—is trying to draw me out.”
Thomas settled into his own chair, twisted his aching back until it was comfortable, and sat back.
“That sounds awfully thin, Walker. I can call you Walker in here, can’t I? With nobody around?”
“Yeah.” Nick shrugged. “In fact, we might as well drop the Nick Jones charade. That was to keep Saracen in the dark, but I don’t think it matters anymore.”
“Well, I was about to say, your theory sounds a little egotistical, if you don’t mind me saying so. Like it’s all about you.”
“I believe it is all about me. Saracen doesn’t want me to find him, so he sent a hitter to stop me.”
“When I talked to you at the train station, you didn’t seem so sure.”
“When you talked to me at the train station, I didn’t know about Viola Fricke. The Harry Jones murder could have been a coincidence, but two killings in the same day, both of people I’ve interacted with, stretches the coincidence theory.”
Thomas wiped a hand over his face.
“How does killing Viola help Saracen?”
“Maybe it doesn’t, but I spoke to Harry this morning and Mrs. Fricke last night.”
“That suggests that someone was watching you, to know who you talked to.”
“Could be. Or maybe the killer went to the hotel first, asked about me, then killed Mrs. Fricke to keep her from telling me about it.”
“And Harry Jones?”
“Same thing. He might have told her that I bought a ticket for Orosi, then she killed him for the same reason.”
“So you think Viola was killed first?”
“I don’t know. The time of death for both victims will tell us that.”
“Did you speak to Viola this morning?”
“No. She wasn’t at the desk, but the lights were on and she may have been back in the office. She could have seen me walking toward the train station after I left the hotel.”
Thomas rubbed his mouth again with a grimace.
“Well, you could be right. I don’t know what to think.”
“If I may make a suggestion, ask your men to keep their eyes open for a young woman, probably in her early twenties, who dresses like a clown—”
“A clown? What are you talking about?”
“All of Saracen’s girls that I’ve seen were dressed in wild, weird clothing that didn’t fit in with normal fashions. They tend to let their hair go wild, they don’t wear cosmetics, and they rarely bathe. That blouse that Billy found in the lady’s room is a good example—under all the caked blood, the pattern is random flowers in vivid colors that don’t match. And the blouse itself is shapeless, like a tent.”
“I noticed that.”
“It fits my theory. If the killer really is a girl—and I’d bet a hundred terros on it—she may not be wearing any shoes, and if she is, they’ll probably be sandals or moccasins.”
“Even in cold weather?”
Nick nodded. “These people pride themselves on non-conformism. They like to shock people, when they’re not blowing them up.”
“You think the killer is still in town, then?”
“Almost certainly. She may or may not have a gun, but she certainly has a knife and is willing to use it.”
Thomas sighed, looking troubled. Nick, watching his face, felt a tug of sympathy for him.
“Sheriff, I’m truly sorry this happened in your town. In a way, I feel responsible.”
Thomas shrugged. “Don’t see how it’s your responsibility.”
“Well, Barnes said it best—everything was fine until I showed up. And now here we are.”
Thomas released a sigh, looking abashed.
“I’m sorry about Barnes. He’s a good man, but he lets his emotions run a little hot sometimes. Once he gets a bead on something, he’s like a bird dog—can’t see anything else. But if you’re right about Saracen being a terrorist, then something like this was inevitable eventually. The sooner you get him off our planet, the better.”
Nick nodded, feeling a measure of reassurance. If Thomas had thought he was a quack last night, the killings had apparently changed his mind.
But he still had one problem.
“Do you know a man named Tinker-Smith?”
Thomas crossed his arms and pursed his lips, staring at the wall as if in thought. At length, he nodded.
“Yeah. Lives in Lago District.”
“How long have you known that Saracen and Tinker-Smith are the same man?”
Thomas fixed his gaze on him, but did
n’t blink.
“From the minute you told me who you were hunting. There was only one person it could have been.”
“But you pretended you didn’t know.”
Thomas shrugged.
“I told you before, I had to check you out first.”
“And after I checked out, you still didn’t tell me.”
“What are you getting at?”
“Are you on Saracen’s payroll?”
“No.”
“Would you tell me if you were?”
“No.”
Nick grunted. “Why didn’t you update me about Saracen after you checked my creds?”
Thomas turned his gaze away, then back to Nick. He still sat with crossed arms.
“I’m a cautious man, Walker. I don’t panic easy and I don’t jump into things. Yes, your story checked out, but I didn’t see the rush. Since he settled on Tau Ceti 4, Tinker-Smith hasn’t even farted in public, much less caused any trouble. He’s donated a lot of money to Lago District, and a few others as well. I figured if you wanted him bad enough, you’d learn his identity on your own. And you did.”
“You could have saved me a lot of trouble.”
“I doubt that. You’ve only been here a day—how much trouble have you gone to?”
Nick clenched his jaw in frustration.
“Okay, you played it safe. I can respect that. But now you have two murders in your town. Does that change things at all?”
Thomas uncrossed his arms. He nodded.
“It changes everything. But I’m not completely convinced that Tinker-Smith is behind the murders.”
“What will it take to convince you?”
“Hard evidence. Find the killer and interrogate her. If she’s Tinker-Smith’s girl, then I’m on board.”
“Let’s assume he has nothing to do with these murders—he still has to answer for three thousand killings in the Federation. I’m still here to take him back. Do you have a problem with that?”
Before Thomas could answer, they heard the front door open and heavy boots thumping the wooden floor. The deputies gathered in the hallway outside the office. Hugo Barnes shoved his head inside.
“We’re all done, Sheriff. Nothing else we can do tonight.”
Thomas waved the four men forward and they entered his office.
“Close the door.”
Billy Stanfield obliged, and Thomas leaned forward.
“Before we go any further, I’ve got an update for you.” He glanced at Nick. “Show them your badge.”
Nick reached into his pocket and pulled the badge out, handing it to the nearest man—who happened to be Hugo Barnes.
“Nick Jones isn’t really Nick Jones,” Thomas told his men. “His real name is Nick Walker, and he’s a United Federation Marshal.”
Barnes gazed at the badge and scowled, then glared at Nick as he passed it on to Mike Scott.
“Why the deception?” he demanded.
Thomas nodded at Nick.
“Go ahead, Walker. You can explain it better than I can.”
“I’m here on a manhunt,” Nick told Barnes. “The man I’m looking for knows me by name and by sight, so I was hoping to keep under the radar by using an alias.”
“You didn’t trust us with the truth?”
“When I got here yesterday, I didn’t know anybody on this planet. Not a single soul. I had no idea who I could trust or who I couldn’t. It only seemed prudent to play it safe until I had a chance to scout the territory. I took a chance with Sheriff Thomas because he is the sheriff, but even that was a risk. And I didn’t know shit about the rest of you.
“The man I’m after is very rich and very persuasive, so any of you, without knowing his record or his true character, could have become his friend. Sorry, Barnes, but I simply couldn’t take the chance.”
Barnes, still scowling, seemed to relax a little.
“Well, shit. I wish I’d known this earlier. Maybe I wouldn’t have given you such a hard time.”
“I tried to tell you,” Thomas said.
Barnes, looking a little shame-faced, nodded.
“I have to admit that you pissed me off,” Nick told him, “but to be fair, I would have been asking the same questions if the situation was reversed. In any case, I think my fugitive knows I’m here, so there’s no point in using the alias anymore.”
“What makes you think he knows you’re here?”
“Walker thinks his fugitive sent someone to kill him,” Thomas said. He went on to explain Nick’s theory to the deputies.
“Who is this guy?” Barnes demanded. “The guy you’re looking for.”
“Kenneth Saracen. That’s his real name.”
“You think he’s using an alias?”
“I know he is.” Nick glanced at Thomas, then back to Barnes. “Ken Tinker-Smith.”
Barnes reacted in surprise.
“The rich guy over in Lago? Are you sure?”
“One hundred percent.”
Barnes looked thoughtful for a moment, then nodded.
“If there’s anything we can do to help out, let us know. If he’s responsible for the killings today, then I want the bastard’s head in a bucket.”
“So do I. But I’ve got first dibs.”
“And why is that? He’s on our planet.”
“I’ve been chasing him a lot longer. The Federation wants him for over three thousand murders.”
Barnes whistled. “Three thousand? Jesus!”
“Let’s catch him, then we can decide how to divide him up. I’ll take his head and his hands, and you can have the rest of him.”
Billy Stanfield’s eyes widened. “Are you serious?”
Nick managed a grin.
“Not if he’s alive, Billy. But if we have to kill him, you can keep the body. I just want proof to take home with me. Fingerprints, dental records, and DNA.”
Thomas cleared his throat.
“Okay we can figure this all out later. Everybody get some sleep. Who’s on night duty?”
Mike Scott raised his hand.
“Okay, you can hold down the fort here, in case there are any more killings. But I don’t anticipate anything tonight. See you guys tomorrow.”
The deputies shuffled out. Once they were gone, Thomas turned to Nick.
“Walker, what are you going to do?”
Nick rubbed his face. His instinct was to head out looking for Victoria, but after his sleepless night and the events of the day, he was dead on his feet.
“I’m gonna have to sleep for a few hours, then I need to find Victoria. I’m going to need a vehicle, if you have one to spare.”
“I can probably scare something up for you. A private car, no official markings.”
“Good. I’d rather keep things innocuous.”
“Check with me in the morning, say six o’clock.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
Nick turned for the door, then turned back.
“What do you know about the kid I sent to find you? Mijo.”
Thomas frowned. “What about him?”
“Who is he? Is he homeless?”
“Is that what he told you?” Thomas shook his head with a half-amused grunt. “He told me he lives with his grandmother. He shows up here every week or two and roams around looking for stuff to steal.”
“He doesn’t live in Hardwood?”
“Lago District, about seventy miles up the line. I actually don’t know that much about him, except he’s a pain in the neck. I don’t even know his real name.”
“How old is he?”
“Eleven, twelve—something like that. Why are you so interested in him?”
“I’m not sure. He kind of took me by surprise. I didn’t expect to find any street waifs in your town, but just when I needed a runner, there he was.”
“He’s not really a bad kid, just sort of footloose. I’ve had to haul him in a couple of times for petty theft. Minor stuff, usually candy or snacks. I think he was hungry—saw him eating a sandwich
out of a garbage can once—but I had to discourage him from stealing.”
“What did you do to him?”
“Threw him in a cell for a couple of hours and let him think he was doing hard time, then let him go.”
“If Lago District is seventy miles away, how does he get here?”
“On the train. Sneaks aboard, hides from the conductor, then jumps off just before it hits the station. I think he roams all the districts, but like I said, I don’t know too much about him.”
Nick nodded.
“Okay, Sheriff, I’ll see you in the morning. Thanks.”
Lago District – Tau Ceti 4
Victoria felt her heart leap into her throat. She stood perfectly still, fully expecting the next sound she heard to be her last. In front of her, Trevor’s face had gone white.
“What the hell, Brandy!”
“Shut up, Trevor.” The voice was that of a woman, a young one.
“We were just talking,” he said. “Why are you doing this?”
“She lied to you. Her name isn’t Vicky Jones.”
“How do you know that?”
The gun muzzle nudged Victoria’s head forward.
“Tell him, Miss Cross. And if you lie, I’ll kill you.”
Victoria’s gaze locked onto Trevor’s. Her tongue traced across her top lip.
“Victoria Cross,” she said. “Attorney at law.”
Confusion filled his eyes, but before he could speak, the other woman was talking again.
“On your knees, bitch. Hands behind your head.”
Victoria obeyed. She still hadn’t seen the other woman, but the voice was hard, unforgiving. As she placed her hands on the back of her neck, she picked up a whiff of bad breath from behind her.
Her captor kept the gun against her head while she checked Victoria for weapons. Finding none, she shoved her face-down on the gravel and buried a knee in her back, pinning her while she pulled her arms back and snapped on a pair of wrist cuffs.
“Get up.”
Victoria struggled to her feet. Her immediate panic began to abate as she realized the other woman wasn’t going to shoot her just yet. As her fear faded to a tolerable level, her sense of failure mounted sharply. It had been a risk to come here and nose around, and now it had backfired. Even if she lived through this, she wasn’t doing Nick any good.
Once on her feet, she got a first look at her captor, a tall, slender girl with short, spiked hair and tattoos on her neck. She looked about nineteen. The haircut was actually rather attractive, or would have been without the bizarre colors. It was dyed blue, cherry red, and lemon yellow.