by Rob Guy
There were murmurs from the gallery. Harry caught sight of Heidi and Dolores. They were talking quickly between themselves, and neither one looked happy. He grunted a laugh as he thought how the two women would deal with the Judge after handing down such a heavy fine. But he had to admire Smitkin’s guts. He clearly did not like the fact that two women had manipulated his court, and felt the excessive fines were his way of extricating some sort of puerile revenge.
“Are you in a position to pay the fine and costs?” the Judge asked.
Harry could feel the officers of the court take a step towards him. He glanced quickly at the gallery. Heidi gave a curt nod and glared at Smitkin.
“I am, your Honor.”
“Do you clearly understand now the terms of your release?”
Of course, I’m no idiot. “Yes, your Honor.”
“Counsel?”
“I do, M’lud.
“Good. Then, Mr Watt, you are free to go. Court adjourned for twenty minutes. I need a drink after that.” Smitkin banged his gavel, and slow shuffled it out of the courtroom.
19
Back In Court
Next up was Angel. This was not so clear-cut, even with Hamm out of the way. Harry was seated between Heidi and Dolores, and a very nice place it was, too. Little Chisato sat to the right of Heidi, quietly playing with a couple of her dolls.
These ladies knew how to treat a man. When she thought no one was looking, Heidi’s hand would decide to go walkabout over Harry’s lap. She quickly withdrew it when it came into contact with another hand. She looked over to see her aunt smiling. Heidi was put off for a moment, before she too started smiling, and poor Harry had to sit there and endure a double grope.
“Court is back in session. All rise. Honorable Judge Smitkin presiding.”
“Looks like you’ve risen already,” whispered Dolores. “Who’s a good boy, then?”
Harry fended off their wandering hands and did well to conceal the swell in his pants.
Below them the entire courtroom stood up, including Angel and Luke. She looked so tiny and lost, and for the first time since Harry had met her, she was wearing more clothing than skin. He tried to catch her eye, but her mind was elsewhere, quite understandably. Harry could see Gruber, his arm in a sling, wearing a neck brace, and a solid looking cast round his torso, making movement difficult.
Hope it hurts, you idiot.
“Next case. State versus Akiko Matsui, case number 12345Z.”
“Thank you,” said Judge Smitkin. “I am familiar with this case. The defending counsel has entered a plea of guilty with one mitigating circumstance, it being the protection of a minor, in this case one Chisato Matsui….”
“Hooray!” shouted Chisato from the gallery. She clapped before being hushed by Heidi.
“The defendant’s four year old sister,” the Judge finished. “In light of this I accept the plea. Miss Matsui is fined 1100 credits plus court costs, and sentenced to six months suspended for two years. In that time she cannot leave the System. That is all.”
Bang!
“But M’lud,” pleaded the prosecutor. “A case such as this needs evidence to be heard.”
“No it doesn’t. I have made my decision. The hammer has gone down on this one, Mr White. The defence has pleaded guilty. What more do you want?”
“We believe the defendant used excessive force.”
Smitkin removed his glasses again. “Excuse me?”
“Miss Matsui is expert in tae kwon do and karate, as well as boxing. She overtly used those attributes to gain an advantage.”
“Gain an advantage?” Smitkin threw his spectacles across his desk. “Do you really want to do this, Mr White?”
“M’lud?”
“If I read the police report correctly, it clearly states that Miss Matsui only reacted the way she did after her sister was man-handled by the troopers. Yes?”
“Er, yes. But…”
“But nothing. I put it to you, Mr White. How would you react if you saw your little sister treated so?”
“I don’t have a sister, M’lud.”
“And that’s your answer, is it? Brother? Do you have a younger brother?”
“No. I’m an only child.”
“Why am I not surprised? Well, it is still the ruling of this court that Miss Matsui reacted as any sibling or mother would react when confronted with such a situation. Therefore bail is not required, fine and sentence stands. Six months, suspended for two years.”
“Fair enough, M’lud, but surely you mean she can’t leave the Station, not the System.”
“Fair enough, you say? Fair enough!” Smitkin rose and leaned forward over his desk, knuckles pressed hard against it. He glared at White, who leaned back slightly. “And it sounds to me like you are challenging my ruling.”
“Err, not at all, M’lud.”
“I should think not. Any more lip from you and I will hold you in contempt.” Bang! “Next case.”
The prosecutor turned to Gruber and shrugged his shoulders. They were all ushered out of the courtroom as quickly as the disabled Gruber was able. Angel embraced Luke, and kissed him quickly on the mouth. Harry saw it, and noticed Luke’s reaction as Angel pulled away to wave at them. They all waved back, but Harry kept his eyes on Luke. He was happy, obviously, with the outcome, but any man who has held affection for a woman from afar and not had that affection returned, would recognize what Harry was witnessing.
Well well. Our splendid defender is in love with the defendant. I wonder, does Heidi know? For it doesn’t look like Angel is aware. There’s non-so blind….
20
Raquel Reunited
Heidi had come through with her promise, and with Dolores’ help had used their collective influence on the Station to delay the launch of the Infinity Wing by twenty-four hours. Harry was counting up the favors he owed these two remarkable women. Dolores had seriously suggested he come and work at Delilah’s on his return trip to pay off his debts. She knew many a frustrated wife and widow that would gladly pay for his services. Heidi pointed out to her aunt that Harry had saved Angel’s life, or had certainly rescued her from a nightmare ordeal, and that that should expunge any debt. For the briefest of moments, Harry saw himself as the handsome, rugged gigolo, attending to the amorous needs of the Station’s lovelorn. But the image didn’t last for long. There was no denying his growing affection for Heidi. He heard the passion in her voice as she argued the point with Dolores. She did not like the idea, and to him it was obvious she was arguing because of her need for him, rather than as an insult to expect him to pay for his gallantry.
He looked at her as she spoke, wagging her finger at Dolores as her aunt rolled her eyes. In so brief a time he knew his life was changing, and he wanted Heidi to be a part of that change. She was more or less his own age; whereas Angel, as cute, beautiful and downright sexy as she was, was pretty much only a girl in his eyes. Maybe if she were ten years older…. He thought then if he should tell either of them about Luke, but decided against it. No sense rocking the boat. Besides, he was a great believer that love will out eventually, and would need no guidance from himself.
The two women finished their little spat, and the one thing evident other than Heidi’s defence of him, was their differing opinions of Angel. To Heidi, she was her daughter and heir, someone to love and protect, whereas with Dolores it was different. She loved Angel of course, and Chisato, but it was more out of sympathy than anything unconditional.
Dolores kissed Harry on the cheek, bidding him good luck. She made it clear she hoped their next meeting would be just as pleasurable as their first. With a cursory peck on the cheek and goodbye to Heidi, she was gone.
Heidi shook her head, and for a moment looked like she was about to cry. But she set herself, and settled for a hug from Harry. He didn’t know what to say, and so said nothing, always wise, he thought in these circumstances. It was never pleasant to witness disagreements between family members, and it wasn’t helped by the fac
t that he still considered himself something of an interloper. But it felt good to hold her. He knew he would never tire of it.
“We board in three hours,” Heidi told him. “If you’re not back in two we leave without you.”
“Understood.”
Harry wanted to return to his hotel room to collect his gun and luggage. Not that he had much to collect. But he had been wearing the same clothes for the last two days. There were a few articles of male clothing in the apartment, left by the previous occupant, including some particularly horrendous colored shirts that Harry wouldn’t be seen dead in. He’d joked that he would have to be really down on his luck to wear one of those.
“I mean it, Harry,” Heidi continued. “This is just a waste of time. I can get you a new gun once we get to Mars. It’s still a bit of a wild frontier out there. Pretty much everybody carries firearms. As for clothes, the Mall is full of places to buy.”
“I know, I’m aware of that.” Harry was starting to get irritated. “But I already owe you so much. I can’t have you buying me clothes as well.”
“You think I care about the money?”
“I know you don’t. But I have to do this, can’t you see that? As a ….”
“As a what? Man? Is that what you’re going to say?”
Harry sighed. “Yes, as a man.”
“Pfftt.”
“What, you think that’s stupid?”
“Yes, stupid. But I’m not. You’re going to try and get this Raquel off the Dragonfly, aren’t you? Didn’t Larry tell you that was taken care of?” Heidi hung her head and laughed. “Christ, I’m talking about a damn ghost. This is so weird.” She looked back up to see Harry smiling. “Well, that’s the gist of it, isn’t it?”
“It is. I’m not going to lie to you.”
“I should think not.”
Harry hesitated. “Besides, I have a score to settle.”
“Huh! A score to settle indeed. What good will it do any of us if you’re locked up? I can’t bail you out again.”
“Who’s getting locked up?”
“What if you find this Hackman? What then?”
“That’s a different matter. But I’m not about to kill that bastard. I’m not that stupid.”
“So?”
“I’m not sure what I’ll do when I see her, or him, but it won’t be anything that will make the news. Sure, I’m pissed at Raquel, but I’m also concerned. Larry and I both think she acted under duress. Are you listening to me?”
Heidi had turned away. “Do what you will. Chisato? Let’s get some lunch.”
“Hey, don’t be like that.” Harry took her arm. “I’ll be back, don’t worry.”
“I’m not worried. You can take care of yourself, as can we.”
Harry groaned. “Whatever.”
Chisato came up to him, and he bent to hug her and kiss her. “See you later, little one,” he said, stroking her silky, black hair. “Soon we’re going on a big ship.” He stood up and met Heidi’s angry look. He quickly kissed her on the cheek, bent to do the same to Chisato, and was out the door.
“Men,” said Heidi.
As he walked, Harry couldn’t help but think if Hackman was about, if the bastard was watching him right now. It was pretty evident that he and Headlock were working together. Just how deep that co-operation was, or how sophisticated their surveillance, he didn’t know.
He reached his hotel, checked with the lobby clerk for any messages, (a brief, ‘Naw bud,’ and shake of the head), and walked quickly to his room. He was not surprised to find it had been ransacked. All his clothes had been either taken or ripped to shreds. The gun safe was open, and his weapon and all the ammunition were gone.
“Well, so much for part one of my plan.”
The thief, (he knew all too well who), had left his calling card, a Hansel & Gretel business holo-card on the table, arranged in plain sight amidst the detritus. Harry looked about the cramped room, twisting his lips, ruminating. Now what was he to do? He couldn’t go back to Heidi with his tail between his legs. All that would get him would be a big, ‘I told you so.’ Not a very manly thing to do. Besides, he hadn’t seen Raquel yet. He wondered just what Larry meant by, ‘events set in motion.’
He left the building, but not before giving the clerk his best, and meanest, square jaw glare. Once outside, he stood for a moment, considering his options, watching aimlessly the people bustling through their day. He was thinking hard. Then struck with a sudden idea, he reached into his pocket and took out a prepared sample of BrainTicker. Heidi had employed her chemistry skills, and had diluted the mixture into ten vials, all of which he now carried inside a small box. Harry scrutinized it, turning it between his thumb and forefinger, allowing his mind to configure all the implausible scenarios should he be stupid enough to take it. Huh. There was that word again, stupid.
He popped the cap and swallowed it. He waited. After a minute, he grunted, and decided to keep walking. He had experimented with hallucinogens in his youth, and through his founding days on the Bureau, but nothing during the last three years or so. He figured his body was pretty free of contaminants, and so was a little disappointed when he felt no effects.
Harry headed in the only direction he could think of, towards the space port. As he approached, he could see the Arrivals and Departures board clearly visible above the main entrance. The Dragonfly was still docked, awaiting security clearance. Evidently the authorities had still not released the ship for departure following Bruce’s untimely death. Harry pulled an ugly face when he thought about the poor guy’s demise at the hands of Hackman. Who else could have done it?
Whatever his feelings towards Hackman, they offered no advice as to how he was to get inside and reach Raquel. He shook his head, and began to think seriously of returning, yes, with his tail between his legs, to Heidi. As if to prompt him into action, the Departures board abruptly blazed into action once more, indicating the imminent departure of The Infinity Wing, in five hours and thirty-three minutes. This sudden announcement seemed to galvanise those wretched souls waiting in line to action, and each took up their baggage and shuffled forward, though there was really nowhere to move forward to.
At that, Harry took a moment to gaze upon the scene before him. The check-in area was a microcosm of human behavior. On one side was the calm and serenity afforded to first class and suite passengers; those people for whom a trip to Mars was an exercise in how to spend as much money as possible in as short a time as possible. And on the other was the bedlam of steerage. Here you had the almost haves, and the definite have nots, those who had pretty much spent their last credits securing passage to the new frontier.
Now, the queue for economy class was glum and sweaty at the best of times, but a twenty-four hour delay had only exacerbated the misery. Harry felt a tiny pang of guilt as he watched the snake of passengers, stuffed into disorderly, single file rows, fumble and mumble to themselves. Some stared with seething malice at the empty line reserved for the first class and suite passengers. A red carpet, with gold braided rope on brass posts on either side, led the way to check-in Nirvana. And beyond that was the executive lounge, with its massage chairs and spa pool, as well as complimentary fellatio or cunnilingus for all Diamond Club members, courtesy of the resident hooker.
Having booked a suite, Heidi and her party, together with all the other filthy rich passengers, were allowed to board whenever they wished, up to an hour before departure. Currently the line had only one elderly couple in it. At its entrance stood a very tall, male flight steward, all teeth and muscles, pressed into his navy blue uniform. Next to him was an auto-butler, ready to serve chilled champagne and strawberries so soon as any more of the filthy rich decided to arrive.
The steward dipped his cap to the withered couple, and indicated the check-in desk. On seeing this, one disgruntled man, about a third of the way along the plebs queue, broke ranks, and set about the steward, relating his complaint in a variety of carnal verbs and hand gestures. The steward h
id his total disinterest with practiced calm, continuing to smile his smile, while covertly catching the attention of security with a deft wiggle of two fingers. Abruptly, the man was picked up via the armpits by two officious figureheads of the Line, and deposited at the back of the queue. His protests went unheard, and no-one was about to let him re-enter to his original spot. Even his wife had gone deaf.
As Harry watched all this unfold, it suddenly struck him that he was a bloody idiot.
What the Hell am I doing? I truly am stupid. To Hell with this! Let’s get back to that scrumptious woman, beg for forgiveness, take your punishment, (yes please!), and start enjoying the pleasures of a first class suite and all the accoutrements. Sounds like a plan to me.
He turned around, and looked about him. All around, humanity was busy going to and fro, selling this, buying that. What was it all about? Why did they do it? He smiled, which quickly turned to laughter, as he agreed with himself that what he was trying to do was a complete waste of time. Larry had told him that Raquel, somehow, would be onboard The Infinity Wing. When had he ever been wrong? And right there was Harry’s problem. He always found it difficult to trust someone else’s instincts.
He continued to smile, smug and satisfied with the knowledge that his abrupt and self-deprecating epiphany had cleared his head, and the way, to all things glorious and blonde.
Yes, he saw it only too clearly now, like the Heavens had opened up and shone a bright beam of golden light upon him. In fact, there was a light, enveloping him in all its shimmering glory. His smile grew broader and broader, and he opened his arms to this splendid, luminous, wonder.
Suddenly, everything around him lit up in mind-blowing colors. He was only a bit surprised when he saw a purple unicorn, wearing a brown homburg, ride past, with a jolly, green clad leprechaun astride it. The little fellow tipped his hat and blew smoke rings from an enormous clay pipe. Harry grinned from ear to ear as all the passengers took a partner, and began dancing and singing about how wonderful it was to wait in line. A chorus of baby elephants trumpeted the arrival of a dazzling damsel riding a llama. Harry stared with all the wonder of the brainless as the lady slid off her unusual white steed and approached him. She was clad in furs, and her eyes, steel blue, held him for all eternity that lasted a second. She stopped before him, and began to spin on one leg, like a dervish, until she was just a silver blur. Her eyes still held him in that second, not allowing him to turn away. And why would he want to? Why…..?