The iFactor

  “Is that what you really think?” she looked directly into his eyes.

  “What else could it be?”

  “Woman’s intuition.” She laughed.

  “I’m sorry.” Matt changed the subject. “This day has been beyond messed up.”

  “Well, since I met you, I can say my life hasn’t been boring.”

  “Nowadays, I’ll take boring.” Matt looked toward her apartment building. “We are almost there.”

  “Thanks for walking me home.” Jill walked toward her building with Matt watching from the walkway. She turned walked back to him and kissed him. “See you in the morning. Pick me up for our deposition.”

  “Yes,” Matt told her. “If you like. Maybe tomorrow will be a better day.”

  “Who knows Detective; maybe it might be more eventful.” She smiled mischievously, planted a firm kiss on his lips and sauntered into her building.

  Chapter 29

  The lights along the walkway dimmed as the rising of Sirius’ larger sun started to brighten the horizon. The city planners set the lights to go off as the sun’s illumination increased to save energy, but they did not have it timed correctly and the city walkways were dimmer than at any other time of day. The situation usually lasted for about seven or eight minutes. The colonists called it the shade, it was thought of warmly as a twilight time of contemplation, relaxation, a time for the romantically inclined to stroll hand in hand. It was also a great time to ambush an unwary pedestrian from behind a bush.

  Matt’s assailant wore dark black clothing; it was an unfamiliar uniform style with no logos, markings or insignia. His head was covered with thin, stocking mask. Matt couldn’t make out enough facial details for identification, not that it would matter, once he made it back to the station, he would run a trace on his palm chip. The shining needle in the man’s hand told him, however, that however this clown was serious. The man had to know that there was no way he’d get away with this, maybe on earth, but not in the dome. The ineptness of the entire situation made Matt want to laugh. The sound stuck in his throat as a second set of black clad arms grabbed him from behind, pinning his arms to his sides.

  Suddenly, the man closing on him with a nasty looking syringe seemed much less funny. Adrenaline surged through him, sped along by panic. He had lost control of the situation and he wasn’t happy about it at all. Instinctually, his leg sped forward and kicked the intimidating apparatus from his attacker’s hand. What did they say about riding a bike? He’d been trained in unarmed combat more than a decade ago, yet when he was threatened, he didn’t need to think through his actions? His elbow struck the assailant behind him with enough force to leave him doubled over in pain.

  The ambusher to his front dodged, attempting to reach the syringe where it had flown into the grass. Matt leapt at him using both his hands clasp together; he drove them down on the back of the man’s neck as he reached to grab it. The man crumpled under the blow. The other man rushed at him, colliding with enough force to send them both tumbling over the body of the man he just flattened. As the men twisted, rolling on the ground, Matt’s knee came up and caught the man in his private parts. Matt rolled back up to his feet and kicked the now gasping man in the face, sending him flat on his back unconscious.

  Panting, sore and still hyped on adrenaline, Matt left his subdued attackers and went to a community terminal a little ways up the path. He swept his palm over the panel and activated the police link. “Detective Matt Dales, Authorize location search, send officers to assist, physical assault. Two assailants, one armed.”

  “Confirmed,” a voice returned. “Situation?”

  “Assailants neutralized. Require apprehension and investigations teams.” Matt would love to have done the investigation himself, but as he was the victim, there was an obvious conflict of interest and procedures on Sirius were less flexible on the matter.

  “Officers dispatched.”

  “Confirmed.” He waved his hand over the panel again to deactivate the connection

  Matt looked up at the sunbeams as they spread across the top of the dome. It would be a lot easier to make observations vis-à-vis his attackers in the growing light. As he approached the spot where he’d been attacked, he could see the place where the ground was disturbed, but the men were gone. He’d been gone less than a minute. Matt was sure that the two had been unconscious. Had they been acting, or did they perhaps have help? He looked around. Visibility was getting better by the moment; but he couldn’t see any traces of men limping, or being carried away.

  Chapter 30

  “Trouble seems to be following you around like flies Matt.” Vanderhaar looked over the report.

  “Lucky me.”

  “Could you tell what they wanted?”

  “No,” Matt responded. “I do not think it was random.”

  “Stocking faces, black clothing, attacking with what did you say.” he glanced over the paper again. “A syringe as a weapon, even on Sirius it is possible to obtain a knife. No, I do not think it was random. These men, whoever they were, targeted you for a reason.”

  “Who did I piss off? I do not recall being overly obnoxious lately. Why a needle?”

  “Huh, other than me you mean.”

  “Why did they want to inject me with something?”

  “Until we know what was in it, we don’t know. We can only speculate.”

  “Okay.” Matt said. “What are your thoughts?”

  “There are easier ways to kill someone than injecting them with poison, so I don’t think it was an assassination attempt.”

  “Could they have been trying to inject me with an illegal drug to discredit me?”

  “Who would want to do that?”

  “Maybe our mystery blip from the rape case, we never found out who that person was, if they think I was close, well what better way to take me off of the case than to have me wandering around the dome stoned off my head. Or maybe our killer hired some help.”

  Vanderhaar looked troubled for a moment then shrugged, “We are still looking into that, don’t worry Matt, we’ll track the culprits down. I think it might have been an abduction attempt.”

  “Me? Who would want me? The department doesn’t pay ransoms. It doesn’t have to.”

  “I’ve warned you Dales, you make too many lucky guesses. You are very good at keeping your hunches to yourself.” Vanderhaar sighed. “I think someone might have taken notice.”

  “You’re talking about the Trust again?”

  “Who else?”

  “Those guys, they were amateur. I think if such an organization did exist, then their operatives would be better trained.”

  “Maybe or maybe they just never had to deal with a police officer with self-defense training.” Vanderhaar offered. “You know how they feel about crime here. I doubt if there are more than a handful of officers on the entire colony who are trained in hand to hand combat. Suspects here know there is no point in trying to escape. There is nowhere to go and the computer tracks them.”

  “Well when we get the trace report back on these two guys we can ask them why they tried to jump me.”

  “We’ll get on in immediately, until then, I want you at home and resting.”

  “I don’t need to rest.”

  “You were up all night, and with all the stress you’ve been under… yes, you do.” Vanderhaar stood up.” I’m making this an order. Take the day off. I’ll have Kramer escort you to your apartment. Just in case who ever attacked you has thoughts about trying again.”

  “Yeah, sure, whatever.” Matt wanted to talk to Kramer in any case, and he was too tired to argue.

  Chapter 31

  Officer Perry was waiting outside his office.

  “Well,” Matt asked. “Find out anything on our blip.”

  Perry looked around cautiously and then turned and spoke a little louder than he usually did. “No, I think the new uniforms will be just as ugly as our current ones.” Matt, in a state of confusion, kept up. Perry started to w
alk with him. “Kramer is waiting in the lobby.”

  “Uniforms?” Perry knew he was talking about the unidentified man in the park. Why the change of topic. Did he suspect they were being spied on? Matt tried not to look alarmed.

  “Molly showed me some pictures, the committee has decided on the new design. They say it will soften our image with the public.”

  “Alright,” Matt responded. He could play along. Everyone who entered or exited the building was cataloged and tracked; surely he didn’t suspect people in the department. “Are we currently having public relations problems with the colonists?”

  “Not that I am aware of.” Perry continued to look furtively.

  “Then why do they need to make us look “softer”?”

  “Sociologists think our image might become a problem.”

  “Preemptive fashion faux paus?”

  Perry stopped without warning as they rounded a corner. “Quiet, listen.”

  Matt nodded.

  “Understand, if we are to talk about this anymore, we do it my way. In my time.”

  “Sorry, is there a problem?”

  “Dales,” Perry shook his head. “You still don’t understand. You’re part of the system and you still don’t get it. They can follow us, Dales, they can track us. Every camera can be set to watch us; every com unit can record every word spoken near it. I think were safe here.”

  “I think you’re getting paranoid.”

  “Coming from you that’s a joke.”

  “It takes warrants, and judicial approval to do what you are suggesting. What makes you think smugglers and drug dealers have that kind of access?”

  “The ID code, Dales. It was executive level.” Perry spoke softly and scanned the path in front and behind them. “The connection was someone in the colonial government, someone high enough up to block access to their data. You don’t think they can track us.”

  “There isn’t supposed to be crime on Sirius.” Matt’s heart dropped. He’d seen enough corruption back on earth to know that people with power, particularly political power had ways of making themselves invulnerable. That kind of power in a world with total surveillance sent a cold chill down his spine that settled in the pit of his stomach and almost made him vomit. “Especially not white collar crime.”

  “There is crime everywhere, and every government has spies. Be careful to keep your thoughts quiet. Be especially careful around anyone who may have entered your life recently.”

  “Are you talking about Miss Cochetti?” Matt’s mind rebelled at the thought. She had been the only good thing that had entered his life in the past few weeks.

  “It is possible, or maybe your partner. Whoever it might be would have to be placed to keep an eye on you. Someone who will gain your trust, to learn what you know, and keep taps on your movement.”

  “Not Jill.”

  “Whatever, man,” Perry retorted. “Have you ever heard of a spy who acted like a spy? Dales,” he whispered. “Maybe we should let this wall stand.”

  “The men who attacked me?” They could have been hired thugs. If their boss had that kind of authority, could he also have their ID’s classified? Do you think we’ll get an ID off of them?”

  “No.” Perry turned and continued to walk. “I’ll let you know when I find out more. Nevertheless, I’m going turtle on this, sorry. If something comes my way I’ll pass it on, but I am not looking any deeper.”

  He turned and walked away just before entering the lobby. “Feel better?” He spoke loudly again.

  “Just tired.” Matt responded, more than happy to the change the topic. Could Jill be a spy working for someone who is running drugs into the colony and hiding their activities behind a wall of political influence? He didn’t want to believe it. Nevertheless, he did meet her shortly after being taken off the investigation. She did know a lot about the drug trade and, and he was attacked leaving her apartment. No, he wouldn’t allow himself to believe that, his gut wouldn’t let him. He didn’t know why, but he trusted her and he needed to believe that she was trustworthy.

  Kramer was waiting for him, thumping his feet impatiently. “See what a promotion does? It makes you slow.”

  “Back off, I’ve had a long week.”

  “Who’d you piss off this time?”

  “Wish I knew. Let’s get this over with. Chief said you are my escort. I just want to get home.

  “Good. I hope we don’t have to make too many rest stops before we get you home, I got work to do.”

  “Don’t worry about me.” Matt thought about the last thing he ate. What was left of the chilidog sat heavy in his stomach.

  “Dales, how did a wimp like you make detective?”

  “Just lucky I guess.”

  Chapter 32

  KEEP AN EYE ON THOSE CLOSE TO YOU.

  The handwriting had become disturbingly familiar. That was what Perry had told him. Was it Perry leaving the notes, could Perry be the killer? He knew that he was on the case, hell he knew about the black-outs, He had enough knowledge of the synapsis to cover his tracks. Perry? It was possible, and that possibility stripped him of one of the few allies he had. Whoever was putting the notes up, they were toying with toy with him. Did the note represent a warning or a threat? How long had it been there? He’d never made it home the night before. The note could have been there since the last blackout, the last killing. He was glad that Kramer left before he entered his building. He didn’t want to have to explain this.

  Matt’s head hurt, there was too much to think about, too much to keep straight. Prioritize, he berated himself. Take it one at a time. Start with the killer. No, he thought it didn’t start with the killer, it started with the screamer. Okay. then, the drug case first, he thought.

  He entered his room and did a quick security check. The apartment was empty and as far as he could tell, no one had been there. One of the neighbors might have seen something that could help identify his mystery note placer. Once he had some rest, he would quietly inquire.

  The bursar’s connection was in the government, someone fairly high up, high up enough to block their palm chips from giving the colonial computer tracking system identification. It would have to be someone connected with Inter-world Transit, the port authority, colonial security, or the governor’s office. Wow! That was a much larger list than he’d originally bargained for, it needed to be narrowed. Okay count out Inter-World Executives. They would not, he sincerely hoped, have access the colonial tracking system. That left port authority, colonial security, everyone in the governor’s office, his staff and all the elected representatives, and of course (he chuckled to himself) the mythical Trust. He would need more information in order to pare down that list.

  Okay then, he thought. Focus on Sirius’s most successful serial killer.

  Fact one: the murderous bastard only kills at times when the system is down and he cannot be tracked.

  Fact two: the times when these security failures occurs is tracked, monitored and is one of the most closely guarded secrets in the colony.

  Fact three: any one with the knowledge of these failures and anyone they know has been traced and cleared of the murders. Perry had reported the blackouts; they would have checked him out. He would have already been cleared.

  Fact four: new fact, the government can block the cities computers from identifying certain ‘privileged people’ and Perry definitely wasn’t one of those. Although he was good with the system, not even he could find out the identity of the mystery executive.

  Fact five: he had no idea where to start, nothing made sense, and he should have stayed on Earth where he could have gotten a job guarding a shopping mall. It was the first thing and the only thing that had made any sense since he started this investigation.

  Matt went to his cabinet and pulled out his pills, and downed two with some of the remaining orange flavored drink from his refrigerator. He needed to clear his head, and needed to rest. He slumped into his lounge chair and retrieved his gaming control.r />
  “Computer activate.” the screen lit up, with the typical preprogrammed presentation. His inbox was full, there several news alerts, most of which dealt with murder in the park. Although the official release determined it to be an accident, it was impossible to hide or pretend it was other than murder. Rumors spread around the colony quickly. The people were starting to suspect that there was a monster in their midst, hunting them, preying on them. Like any other herd animals, the colonists were spooked and starting to digitally band together for protection. Matt, however, would deal with all that later, he needed to relax and let his medicine take effect. “Run latest prescribed interactive simulation.”

  The game appeared on the screen at the last place he had saved the program. He focused on saving the civilians on the screen. It felt good to save someone, even if it was a computer generated someone. After a few moments, exhaustion took him and he fell into fitful dreams.

  The images on the computer faded into real screams and shouts, crowds pushed against him, a scream built up in his throat. As the sound emerged from his open mouth, it wasn’t his. Jill’s terrified scream filled his mind. She stood there shivering as the dead man floated by in the fishpond.

  “Maybe tomorrow will be more eventful,” she said outside her apartment door. The world faded away leaving only her face lying on a pillow, smiling contently. He could feel her naked flesh pressed warm against his. He felt at peace.

  The feeling of love and contentment turned suddenly. He could hear the song in his head. Faces appeared, blank passionate. Rows of chanters all strapped to chairs staring at him.

  “Go to sleep and go insane,

  Past and future all the same,

  See the world turn inside out,

  All you’ll do is scream and shout.”