by Neil Hunter
‘When you go for it, T.J., the sky’s the limit,’ Milt Schuberg remarked sourly.
The NYPD detective was surveying the mess the firefight had left behind. There were bullet holes in the walls and dark patches of drying blood staining the expensive carpet.
Regis’s indiscriminate shooting had killed two of the guests and wounded five others. The casualties had been taken away by the paramedic team summoned by Cade, and the remaining guests had been moved to another room in the apartment complex for questioning by Schuberg’s squad.
Randolph Boon was held in an isolated room, under close police guard.
‘All I wanted was to make an arrest,’ Cade said. ‘Regis decided to make things hot.’
‘Yeah, yeah, I know,’ Schuberg groused. ‘Look, I think it’s time you leveled with me. Just what has been going on the last few days?’
‘I think it’s time you told him,’ Janek said, glancing up from inspecting the rips in his clothing.
‘He’s right,’ Schuberg insisted, glad of an ally. ‘Hey, Janek, you should claim for that through the department.’
‘Don’t you start, Milt,’ Cade growled. ‘He hasn’t quit moaning since it happened.’
Schuberg had helped himself to a slice of cold chicken from the buffet table and was now busily stuffing it into his mouth.
‘Quit stalling, T.J. ,’ he mumbled around a huge mouthful.
Cade gave him the whole story, from the time he’d picked up Bernie Stenner, then brought him up to date with the attempt to make himself and Janek disappear in the wrecker’s yard and the confrontation at Boon’s apartment.
‘Hell, it has to be true because nobody could make up stuff like that.’ Schuberg shook his head as he absorbed the enormity of Cade’s charges against Boon. ‘Can you make it stick? Let’s face it, pal, you don’t have many witnesses. And Boon is going to deny it all.’
‘I’ve got all the facts and figures in here,’ Janek said, tapping the side of his head. ‘The cash transactions alone go a long way to convict the man.’
‘But we’re not dealing with street riffraff here,’ Schuberg pointed out. ‘Boon has a lot of contacts. Powerful people. You met one of them tonight. Senator Griswald. Boon can call in a lot of favors, Cade, and he will.’
‘So can I,’ Cade said, ‘but do something for me, Milt. Book the son of a bitch and make it hard for him to get bail.’
‘My pleasure,’ Schuberg said. ‘Hey, what about Kate? Look, pal, I know how you two fit together. I hope she comes out of this okay.’
‘So do I. Milt, I’m going to make this thing stick. Boon’s not walking away free and clear.’
‘You figure on producing witnesses?’
‘Yeah. It’s going to take a while, but I have a feeling I can do it.’
‘Things could get sticky for you around here. You figuring on leaving town, T.J.?’
‘A lot farther than that, Milt,’ Cade answered. ‘A hell of a lot farther.’
Chapter Thirteen
Janek turned from the viewport, away from the black void of outer space with its sprinkling of stars, and faced the lean, earnest features of the U.S. Marine.
‘Major Bronson sends his compliments, Detective Janek, and asks if you’d like to join him on the flight deck.’
Janek nodded pleasantly and followed the young Marine, who wore the full uniform of the Space Corps, through the narrow companionways.
Around him the ship pulsed with contained power. Janek could sense the enormous potential within the sleek craft’s fuselage. He was more in tune with the vessel than its human personnel. The cyborg’s machine vibes responded in sympathy to those of the spacecraft.
Like its sister ships in the Marine Space Corps, the Nui Vu was named after an outstanding campaign in the Corps’ history. Back in 1966, during the Vietnam War, a small contingent of Marines fought a classic battle against overwhelming odds-and won. The Nui Vu honored the battle and the men who took part.
The Nui Vu was a pursuit ship of the Suribachi Class, barely four years old. Powered by twin Pratt & Whitney nuclear fusion engines, it was capable of the highest speeds yet achieved in deep space. The product of long research, its engines derived their terrific thrust via fusion reactors fueled by Helium 3 that came from the moon’s unlimited supply. Helium fusion reactors, though well developed, had been held back from full use until intense lunar production the element became a reality. Previous to this breakthrough the standard drive for deep-space craft had been the efficient but comparatively slow ion drive. The emergence of nuclear fusion engines had opened up the far frontiers of space for future explorers.
At present only the U.S. Marine Space Corps had opted for the NF-drive. They were quickly finding that the power gave them a distinct advantage over conventionally powered craft.
Ducking his head as he reached the hatchway, Janek entered the flight deck. He was immediately impressed by the unhurried efficiency of the area.
As expected, the flight deck was a wonderland of technology and electronic sophistication. Every bulkhead and space was crammed with consoles and instrument banks.
Glowing readout screens threw subdued light across the deck. There was little sound, nothing more than a low electronic hum accompanied by the soft clicks of responding machines.
On the far side of the flight deck, Cade was in deep conversation with Major Bronson, the Nui Vu’s commander.
Bronson was a tall, tanned Texan who spoke slowly and quietly. He was a career Marine and had earned his rank through serving in a number of global hot spots. Now he was working deep space. His main task was patrolling the traffic lanes between the Earth’s orbit platforms and the Asteroid Belt. His brief was to maintain order and keep an eye open for illegal cargo runners.
Janek joined his partner, nodding at Bronson.
‘What do you think of her?’ the Marine asked. His pride in the Nui Vu showed in his tone.
‘A fine ship, Major.’
‘According to the computer, we should easily be able to make up lost time. Lexus-6 might have a few days’ head start, but those Mitsubishi ion-drive engines are no match for us. Those ore freighters aren’t built for speed. Just dependability.’
Cade glanced at his partner.
‘We’ve got some time to kill,’ he said. ‘You have any ideas?’
Janek smiled. ‘There’s a great selection of music discs on board,’ he said. ‘Including a lot of jazz tracks I haven’t heard. So I’m going to be fine, T..I.’
‘Couple of my crew are into jazz in a big way,’ Bronson said. ‘What about you, T.J.?’
Cade stroked his bruised face. ‘A few days in the solarium might help. First thing I’m going to do is get a good meal inside me, then hit the sack. Catch up on some sleep for a few days.’
‘Marine training showing through.’ Bronson grinned. ‘Eat and sleep when you can, because you don’t know how far off the next chance might be.’
Leaving Janek to have a detailed look around the flight deck, Cade followed Bronson back to the recreation area, where they got themselves coffee and sat down.
‘Glad we could help you on this, T.J.,’ Bronson said. ‘Always helps having clout when an emergency comes up.’
‘Colonel McClain nearly did a back flip when you called him. He practically put the whole damn fleet on standby. Way I heard, you two go back away.’
Cade nodded. ‘We served in the same outfit. Had our best time during the '34-to ’36 war. McClain was heading for the top back then.’
‘You made yourself a reputation during the war,’ Bronson reminded Cade.
‘We had a job to do,’ Cade replied. ‘We did it. Mind, there were some hairy times.’
‘Hairy? Mild way of talking about the raid on the Islamic Federation’s nuke facility. lf you guys hadn’t put the place out of action, we might have had more than those chemical missiles landing back home.’
Cade emptied his coffee cup. ‘Wild times,’ he reflected, almost as if he were alone, and there was
a trace of regret for glories in his tone.
‘When we reach Platform-12, you and Janek make your landing by hired cruiser,’ Bronson said. ‘I’ll stand by and wait for your call to come on in. We’re monitoring all communications with the Asteroid Belt. If we hear anything that could be a warning to Lexus-9, we jam it. Problem with somebody like Randolph Boon is his connections. You might have the main man under lock and key, but how many more are there on his payroll?’
‘At least my contact on the NYPD latched on to the leak in his department. The guy was in the communication section, so he had an ear open for anything coming in that might involve Boon’s organization,’ Cade said. ‘I’m hoping we got to the main people in time. I don’t want to get to Lexus-9 and find all the Darksiders have been buried underground somewhere because someone knew we were coming.’
‘The one they ought to bury is that bastard Boon,’ Bronson said, allowing his professional mask to slip for once.
‘He isn’t getting away with this,’ Cade said. ‘I’ve already made that promise.’
‘Are you sure you don’t want immediate backup?’ Bronson asked. ‘You only have to say the word.’
Cade shook his head. ‘Just Janek and me. I want to get to them before they know what’s hit ‘em. Too many bodies could give the game away. The things I have to do I can do best on my own. Just you keep your ear to the radio and come running when I give the word.’
Bronson nodded. He knew about Cade’s personal stake in the venture and admitted the logic of the Justice cop’s approach.
‘We won’t let you down,’ he promised.
Cade stared at him. ‘Hell, Bronson, that never even crossed my mind.’
He stood up, stretching tiredly. The effects of the past days were really catching up now. He felt dog tired, bruised and battered. Even the past few hours, with the drive to the Newark shuttle port and the transfer from earth to Orbit Platform Pegasus-2, where he and Janek had been met by Bronson and escorted to the Nui Vu, had been intense. Adjusting to the shuttle flight and the blast-off from the platform had drained the last of Cade’s energy. He was ready for a good meal and then sleep. After that he would face whatever lay ahead.
And hoped he would still be in time to find Kate before…
Before what?
Cade decided he didn’t want to pursue that line of thought. Not yet.
Chapter Fourteen
Time passed with agonizing slowness for Kate Bannion. The grip to Lexus-9 seemed to be taking forever. The problem her isolation from anything she could relate to. Although she had been allowed out of her cell after the first week, accompanied by the android that brought her food, Kate’s contact with other occupants of the freighter was scarce and when it did happen the meetings were less than satisfactory.
Her short stretches of freedom gave her opportunity to take showers and have her clothes cleaned and returned. It only after the third visit to the shower that she realized she was being watched. The android, who accompanied her everywhere, and who even stood by as she took her showers, caught her attention. Kate became aware that the robot’s close scrutiny of her actions was more than just casual.
She realized that the android’s amber eyes were taking too much in. Especially when she realized it was focusing on certain parts of her anatomy.
A cold shiver ran through her, despite the heat of the water spraying her body. The android was recording her taking a shower. It was being manipulated from elsewhere on the freighter. Someone was using the android’s vision, coupled to a vid-recorder, to get her on disc. With great self-control Kate carried on showering, her body reacting to the thought that she was being seen by human eyes. She could have shown her feelings in anger, or even embarrassment, she wasn’t going to allow them the pleasure of seeing her squirm. Instead she completed her shower, dried herself, then dressed.
She strode up to the android and confronted it.
‘If I was you, I’d give up that bad habit,’ she said defiantly. ‘Too much staring at naked ladies will make you go blind.’
She turned on her heel and walked back to her cell.
The android’s voyeurism continued each time Kate showered, but she could handle it now. The knowledge that her unseen audience had been caught out took the edge off the practice, and Kate didn’t even think about it any longer.
The problem with being isolated meant she had plenty of time on her hands. Kate used it to make decisions about what she would do when she reached Lexus-9. Whoever was controlling her life would have to decide what was going to happen to her. It had occurred to Kate that her death might not be imminent. If they had wanted her dead, why go to all this trouble? She could have been killed back in the underground tunnels when Rolf had caught her, or she could have been dumped in space during the trip to Lexus-9. Maybe they were keeping her alive so she could be questioned about her Darksider investigation. Not that she had much to tell.
True, she had established Lisa’s story about Darksiders being hijacked. That part was no secret. What she hadn’t figured yet was where the tunnel dwellers were being taken. She felt she had an answer in part. Kate felt certain that if she checked the freighter out she would find Darksiders on board.
She knew that Lexus-9 was part of Lexus Incorporated, the mining division. Her agile mind tossed the facts back and forth until she came up with the only explanation that sounded right. Mines were dark, underground places. The Darksiders lived below the surface in dark, underground places. Mines plus Darksiders? Workers for the mines? It all she could come up with, and it sounded logical.
Dredging up all she could about the Asteroid Belt mining operations, Kate recalled that despite machine advances, mining was still an occupation best suited to the adaptability of human workers. It was hard, backbreaking work, and the mines were dangerous, inhospitable places. The men who worked in them were a special breed. Tough, courageous men who accepted the risks for the high wages they earned. But the Darksiders were not miners, nor were they experienced. So it didn’t make a lot of sense for them to go down into the lonely tunnels where inexperience could add to a high death rate.
She thought long and hard over that part of the puzzle.
Why would Darksiders be used to replace skilled miners?
Because they were plentiful according to the numbers taken. Easily replaceable if they died off.
Something struck a chord in her mind. How would the contracted miners react to Darksiders being worked alongside them? The answer was simple. They wouldn’t know about it. The miners had a strong union. It would refuse to allow unskilled workers alongside its members. So the Darksiders would be used in a part of the mine away from the regular work force, someplace where the miners themselves might refuse to work. A location that was so dangerous the union men would refuse to go in. A faulty section? Liable to cave-ins? Something illegal?
A rich seam in a dangerous corner of the mine. Maybe one that had been posted off-limits.
So the only way to work it was to ship in helpless Darksiders. Work them till they dropped, then replace them.
The conclusion of her deliberations scared Kate. If the people who held her captive were as ruthless as that, then she wasn’t going to cause them any grief.
The fear she felt was quickly pushed to the back of her mind. She was still frightened, but that was good because it kept her on her toes. That apart, Kate maintained her self-control with the thought that as long as she remained alert there was a chance she might come out alive. She felt safe in the knowledge that she would remain unharmed until she actually reached Lexus-9. Her captors would want to find out how much she knew and whether she had passed any of her information to other parties. Her usefulness would cease once they established her story. Until then she had to fight for time. She would have to watch for her chance, keep her eyes open for any help on the asteroid. Lexus-9 was a company rock, but Kate refused to believe that everyone there was in on the conspiracy. If she could contact someone who would listen, then she might get
herself some help. And wasn’t it true that the U.S. Marine Space Corps was around the Asteroid Belt? They were there to maintain the peace.
There was also the slim chance that the NYPD might start to look for her once she failed to report back to the newspaper. Jerry Konsaki would file a missing-person report eventually. But would the local cops do much about it?
They were overworked and under a great deal of pressure. And would they even bother about going down into the tunnels? If they did, the Darksiders might not cooperate. Unless Lisa was found.
Maybe. Perhaps. If only.
Even if something was done, it could easily be too late. Time was slipping away, and if Kate had judged things correctly, time was something she didn’t have the monopoly on.
Kate ate and slept, exercised and slept some more. She sat out her solitary existence, filling the long hours with memories of her life. Friends. The important events. The good and the bad times.
She also thought about Cade a lot, mostly when she was on her bunk, in the darkness, drawing comfort from the shadows.
Thomas Jefferson Cade.
Most people saw him as a hard, uncompromising lawman with little time for anything but his work. Kate knew better. She would be the first to admit that when he carried his Justice badge he gave everything he had to the job - which he had to if he wanted to survive. Away from the violent, decaying streets of the city he showed another side to his nature. A side few ever saw.
He could be a stubborn, argumentative individual if the need arose, and throughout their relationship they’d had some stormy times. But she had never once found him to be anything but honest and sincere. He wasn’t the kind to lie or cheat. Those faults didn’t exist as far as Cade was concerned. He couldn’t be petty or jealous, but he could be warm and understanding and loving.
Those were the qualities that drew Kate to him and kept her there. Right now she would have forgiven him anything just for him to be at her side.