Assassination Anxiety (The McKenzie Files)

by Barry K. Nelson

  Colin pondered this idea. “Hold on. Doesn’t the CID have a covert section to deal with paranormal cases?”

  “We have. Section Blue,” Captain Carter replied. “Our so-called secret paranormal investigation and research division that’s been featured in more news reports and macronet web sites than I care to mention. Section Blue does have the ability to investigate strange cases like this assassination attempt on the President. But they have their limits when it comes to dealing with threats like this.”

  “Silencers will be working under the jurisdiction of the CID,” Larkin added. “You will also be affiliated with Section Blue and have full access to their resources when needed. And I’d like to point out that this is a probationary program. A trial run for the three of you. Your performance in this case will determine whether this will be permanent in the long run.”

  “Putting it bluntly, don’t screw up,” said Captain Carter, almost pleading.

  “There is one other thing that we’d like to show you,” said Larkin. “It’s unrelated to this case, but you might find it interesting.”

  With that, Captain Carter used the remote to summon the image of a silvery table that held a large black laser rifle with a cylindrical barrel that appeared to be about two feet long. On the top of the weapon was a foot-long, rectangular scope. On the side of the weapon was a metal disk with a black cable inserted in the middle.

  Larkin explained, “What you’re looking at is a new innovation brought to us by the Brelac. This gun was captured three weeks ago on the planet Margolis. A team of commandos staged an assault against a Brelac heavy artillery base. Two Brelacs that they killed were carrying these weapons. It was reported that half the team of twenty men were cut down by this weapon. It’s powerful beyond measure, and the Brelac have been putting more of such weapons into the field. Our technicians took it apart piece by piece and couldn’t find a battery pack or other power source. We suspect that these weapons are somehow powered by a form of psionic energy. The cable on the side of the gun was connected at the other end to the side of the Brelac soldier’s head.”

  Colin studied the image of this strange Brelac weapon. “Psionic energy. That’s the basis of our powers. It looks like the Brelac are trying to come up with their own super-powered soldiers.”

  Larkin nodded. “Yes. But not quite on the level of you three. At least not yet. Our troops in the field have called these things psycho-guns, and the Brelacs who use them psycho-gunners. It’s a well deserved name. This weapon is powerful enough to single-handedly take down a fully shielded battle cruiser. If the Brelac are employing more of them in the field, or even larger variations of this weapons technology, then we’re in trouble. This war is already going badly for our side. But if the Brelac are sending more of these psycho-gunners at us, or an army of super troopers like yourselves, or even more ships like the Viperhawk, then there’s no way we can survive. And this psionic weapons technology is currently beyond our ability to reproduce.”

  Colin turned his eyes back to Larkin. “Especially without Doctor Fenlow’s help. But what about Doctor Trevors?”

  Captain Carter stepped forward. “Still missing. We think that he’s holed up in some Vendetta safe house on some outer planet or moon. Or a hidden starbase. We know that Carp Technologies has a few. We’re still looking for him, assuming that he’s even still alive.”

  Colin pondered the details of everything he had heard so far. An assassination attempt on the President, new Brelac weapons, and the missing Doctor Trevors, who worked closely with Fenlow. How do we even begin to deal with these problems? “Sounds like we’ll have a lot to keep us busy. I suppose the best thing to do first is to interview this Agent Stevers.”

  “I was about to suggest that,” said Larkin. “You’ll find him in the First Veteran’s Hospital here in Navarone. But first we have to take the three of you upstairs to get processed for the proper identification.”

  Diane raised her hand to speak. “We’ll be carrying badges?”

  “Correct,” said Larkin. “As government agents, you’re going to need them. You will also be given your own office space.”

  Diane raised her hand again. “Are you going to give us a ship?

  Kelly raised his hand while looking over at Diane. “Are you going to give us a pilot too?”

  The cheerful banter between Diane and Kelly, Colin thought. Something I haven’t missed.

  Larkin hesitated before replying. “Let’s just take this one step at a time.”

  Colin picked up and read over the presidential order that Larkin had placed before him. Silencers. He, Diane, and Kelly were now a special investigative and response unit. And of all the people in the galaxy, the President herself is depending on us. That notion alone was overwhelming. He felt a knot tighten in his stomach. Then he looked up at Larkin. “Let’s get started.”

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  Chapter 4

  “Are you people serious?” Diane groused after seeing the office space that she, Colin and Kelly were provided. It was a small room, seven feet long by six feet wide. The black swivel chair and wooden desk sitting in the center of the room were the only striking features against the gray floor tile and plain white walls. “This is supposed to be our office?”

  “This is the best we can do on such short notice,” Captain Carter replied. “You may have noticed while walking through the corridors that this is a heavily occupied building with a lot of people working here. Office space is limited right now.”

  Diane gave a nod. “Okay. So at the last minute you guys cleared out a men’s room stall and shoved a desk in here?”

  Colin, containing his irritation, agreed with Diane. “She’s got a point. And you might have noticed that there are three of us. But you only gave us one desk.”

  “Don’t worry. We’ll bring more chairs,” said Carter.

  Kelly walked inside the small room and looked at the desk. He then looked back at Captain Carter. “Are you at least going to give us a computer?”

  “You’ll get a computer later today,” said Captain Carter. “You’ll also be given a filing cabinet and waste basket. You just have to give us a little time. I don’t want you guys to think that we’re deliberately screwing you around. It’s just that General Larkin wanted this done on such short notice, we didn’t have time to collect the available resources – resources that are stretched a little thin right now. I mean, we are fighting a full-scale war while also having to deal with Vendetta. I’m asking you to be a little patient.”

  Colin let out a sigh. “Be patient. I guess we can hold out until you get things organized.”

  Captain Carter smiled. “Now that’s what I like to hear. And besides, you’re not going to spend too much time here anyway. You’ll be out in the field. Remember your interview with Agent Stevers at the First Veteran’s Hospital. Also, there was another burning death that you might want to investigate right here in the city. Last night there was a suspicious apartment fire that took place in the Hill District. 2311 Hatcher Street. Forth floor of the Tykowski Building. Apparently an officer, Lieutenant John Mertz, deserted from his ship and was hiding out there when the fire took place. The circumstances surrounding Mertz’s death are strange enough to deserve our attention.”

  Colin wondered if there could be any possible connection between a trooper in desertion and an attempt to assassinate President Drennan. “We’ll get right on it. And could you give us any information on his unit?”

  “I’ll have it on your desk within the hour,” said Captain Carter. “You three will be given a lot of autonomy here. We won’t be watching you the way we were before; so, for God’s sake, don’t screw up.”

  “We’ll keep that in mind,” Colin told her. “And maybe it will be a good idea to keep tabs on any other strange deaths that might occur. Especially involving red lights.”

  “We can do that until you get your own computer set up,” Captain Carter replied. “I have some work of my own to get to. Is there anything else?”


  Diane pulled a black billfold out on her right front pocket. “Just one more thing. You gave us these fancy badges. You think I can have a gun to go along with it?”

  Captain Carter smiled as she looked back at Diane, hesitating a moment before giving her answer. “You guys want weapons? You’ve got to be kidding me. You guys are weapons.” Captain Carter turned and said over her shoulder as she walked away from the office, “You guys are on your own from here on out. Remember, don’t screw up!”

  After Captain Carter turned down the hallway and disappeared from view, Kelly looked at Colin and Diane. “Don’t screw up. She keeps saying that.”

  “Maybe she’s psychic,” Colin said. He took the black billfold out of his back pocket and opened it. The top half held a small identification card with Colin’s Photograph on the right side. CID was emblazoned at the top of the card in bold black letters, with a bright red strip at the bottom. A gold badge with the raised letters CID on a star superimposed over an oval shield occupied the bottom half of the billfold. For a moment, Colin studied the badge, mystified by the authority that it carried. “She does have a point.”

  Diane placed her badge back into her pocket and said in a tone heavy with sarcasm, “I glad to hear that she has such faith in us. At least they won’t be breathing down our necks every minute to watch us. Since we’re now this hotshot investigative team, we might as well get started. Our first stop is my place.”

  “Your place?” said Kelly. “What the hell for? We have to go to the veteran’s hospital.”

  “Yeah. But first I want to get out of this uniform and into some more comfortable clothes. It’s supposed to be hot today. And I want to get my sidearm.”

  Kelly let out a brief laugh. “What the hell do you need a gun for? You have powers, same as us.”

  “Not like you and Sarge,” said Diane, pointing a finger at Kelly, then Colin. “My power requires me to get up close and personal. I don’t have the same long-distance capability like you guys. I’d feel a little more comfortable having a gun at my side.”

  “Wait a minute. You have a place of your own?” Colin asked, intrigued.

  “Sure. I’m not going to spend the rest of my life living on some military base. I’ve had the place for about two weeks now. The rent is pretty cheap. I’m still in the process of putting everything together.”

  Colin shook his head. He’d been sleeping in that small room on the military base. The idea never occurred to him to find a better place to live. He couldn’t wait to see what Diane’s new dwelling would be like.

  * * * * *

  They caught a public shuttle down the street from CID headquarters and flew to the North Oakland section of the city. After they departed the shuttle, Diane led them up a street with rows of two-story houses on both sides. They went up a short hill, then turned at the corner. Diane led them to a blue, two story house with a chain link fence surrounding the small front yard. Colin looked over the outside of the house as he entered the yard. “This is your place?”

  Diane went up the steps to the front porch and reached for the door on her left. A matching black door on the right indicated this was a multi-unit rental. “I’m renting the top floor.” She took a key out of her pocket and unlocked the door. Colin and Kelly followed her inside and down a short hallway that led to a flight of stairs to the second floor. When Diane opened the apartment door, Colin and Kelly were greeted by the sight of a large living room with white walls and tan carpeting. The only furnishings appeared to be a tan reclining chair sitting in front of a large flat vidscreen sitting on top of a white plastic box. At the other side of the room was an open doorway.

  Diane’s face beamed a broad smile. “This is it. Home, sweet home.”

  Kelly looked about the room. “This is it? There’s nothing here.”

  “I’m not rich, kid. I can only afford to do so much. I’m going to furnish this place in bits and pieces. My next paycheck goes for a coffee table. After that, a sofa and a few other things.”

  Colin looked to his right. A small black counter separated the living room from the kitchen with black countertops and white sink. A shiny metal refrigerator and metal stove completed the small room. The eat-in dinette area stood empty, begging for a table and chairs. At least she has a kitchen, Colin told himself. He just had a cot, a table, a lamp, a clock, and a small bathroom.

  “You guys make yourselves at home,” Diane said. “Let me go to my bedroom and change. This won’t take long.” She headed for the open door across the room.

  Colin and Kelly both looked at the reclining chair. Colin shrugged. “You take the chair. I can stand.”

  Kelly sat in the chair while Colin looked about the nearly empty room for a second time.

  “This is a pretty nice place she’s got here,” Kelly said. “At least, it would be if she had some furniture.”

  “Give her time,” Colin replied. “She’s come this far – a lot farther, compared to us. I’m assuming that you’re still living on the base like me?”

  Kelly gave a nod. “Yeah. I’m still sleeping in the barracks with a bunch of other guys.”

  “Have you ever considered getting your own place?”

  “Like Diane? I never gave it much thought. I guess I was a little afraid.”

  “Afraid?

  “Afraid of trying something new. Especially by myself.”

  Colin was not surprised to hear that confession from Kelly. So far the kid has been the least outgoing member of this cheerful little group, he thought to himself. “You shouldn’t think that you’re alone. Not when you have Diane and me to back you up. We’re supposed to be a team. Especially now.”

  Kelly looked at Colin but said nothing.

  Colin decided to take the subject further. “I was wondering what you and Diane have been doing in the way of building lives for yourselves.”

  “Building lives? What do you mean?”

  “Making friends, connecting with family. That sort of thing.”

  Kelly stared back at Colin again, then shifted his gaze to the floor. “I haven’t done anything like that.”

  “Why not?” Colin asked.

  “I don’t see any point to it.” His voice betrayed a tone of bitterness. “Are you forgetting that none of us is real?”

  Colin shook his head to disagree. “You’re wrong, kid. We’re as real as it gets.”

  Diane came out of her bedroom and walked over to Colin. She had exchanged her fatigue uniform for civilian blue jeans and a loose gray tee-shirt that hung down past her waist. She knelt down to tie the laces of her white sneakers. “What are you two talking about?”

  “I was asking Kelly about his efforts to create a life for himself,” replied Colin. “By getting this apartment, you seem to have made some progress yourself. But I was wondering what you’ve done.”

  “Like what?” Diane finished tying her shoes and stood up.

  “Like making friends and getting together with family.”

  Diane looked into Colin’s eyes, hesitating before saying, “I know who some of my family members are. I’ve contacted them. But I put off trying to meet with them.”

  “Why?”

  Diane hesitated again. “I was afraid.”

  Colin was tempted to laugh. “Afraid is a strange word coming from your mouth. Afraid? Why?”

  Kelly rose out of the chair. “Afraid that somebody is going to find out that none of us are really what we say we are. Afraid that somebody is going to wave an obituary in my face and ask, aren’t you supposed to be dead?”

  “Then you tell them it’s a typo. Look at me. I’ve made contact with family. In fact, in a few days I’m attending a family reunion on the planet Narcos.”

  Kelly’s eyes widened at this news. “What?”

  Diane burst out in a short fit of laughter. Taking a step back, she put her hands on her hips. “A family reunion? Are you kidding me?”

  “I’m serious.”

  “Sarge, do you really think that you can jus
t horn into the real Colin McKenzie’s life and not have anybody notice?” She shook her head in disbelief.

  “They’ve already accepted me,” Colin insisted. “I’m going. I was told that I can bring friends. So you’re both invited to come if you like.”

  Diane laughed again. “Sure. We’ll pass ourselves off as your wife and kid. That will really raise some eyebrows.”

  I can see that this subject is going nowhere. “Maybe we should talk about this later. We’ve got a huge job ahead of us, and we have to get to the veteran’s hospital to speak with this Agent Stevers.”

  Diane pointed her hand toward the front door. “Lead the way.”

  Colin looked back at Diane and her attire. “Where’s this gun that you wanted so badly?”

  “Here,” said Diane. Lifting up her shirt to reveal a black gun belt strapped around her waist. Her oversized tee-shirt kept it well hidden. She took out her weapon from the holster and held it up. The black pistol with a rectangular barrel appeared to be almost a foot long. “Check it out. A Griffin-90 laser pistol. It switches from single shot to full auto fire. You can get fifty shots before the energy cell is drained. I had to save for a month to get the money to buy this.”

  The size of the weapon concerned Colin. “You couldn’t have bought anything smaller? We’re not immediately going into a war zone.”

  “Maybe you should have saved your money for something else,” Kelly added. “Like a bed.”

  “I have a bed, kid,” Diane retorted, putting her gun back in the holster and securing it in with the sharp click of a safety strap. “This gun might come in handy. It pays to be prepared.”

  Pays to be prepared, Colin’s mind repeated. He had a brief thought about their case. Are we prepared to deal with what’s going to be waiting for us? It seems like this case they dumped on us is a bit over our heads.