Pausing at the shuttle’s open cargo hold door, Lauren shouted outside to be heard over the rolling thunder and roaring rain.
“Maddie, you find anything?” There was nothing to hear but the rain hammering the muddy ground and the shuttle’s metallic exterior. Lauren assumed that Madison replied, but she couldn’t hear it, so she added, “We’ve seen enough. Climb down and let’s head back.”
A few moments without seeing Madison or hearing her climbing down, Lauren jumped from the shuttle and peered up at the shuttle’s roof. No Madison. With panic now seeping into her heart, Lauren did her best to navigate the slippery ankle-deep mud, repeatedly making circles around the shuttle calling out for the corporal. Even though there were no clues to follow, all the commander could do was keep circling and shouting, desperately hoping to find her.
And after spending several hours seeking her friend, Lauren was eventually forced to give up the search. The sun was beginning to set. After giving up hope of finding Madison, now the commander felt anger seeping into her heart. And as she marched back through the mud, she decided that the three Clarissa’s had some explaining to do. It was time to get some answers.
*****
After showering, Lauren dressed in clean fatigues in her quarters. She sorted through her backpack and grabbed an MRE. And after she ate, she grabbed her rifle and returned to the rec room.
There were only two Clarissa’s in the rec room, standing at opposite ends of the bar. The younger Clarissa sipped water while the third one, still in a ponytail and drinking red wine. Both were now wearing the rangers’ olive-green fatigues and both had wet hair.
Lauren pulled one of the wooden chairs from a table halfway between the two and spun it around to face both. She sat down and pointed her rifle in their direction as she spoke.
“What happened to Maddie?” She said with a sneer. “Which one of you is the dead woman?”
Both looked back without a reply.
Taking a different approach, Lauren turned her attention to the younger Clarissa. “Where were you all day?”
“I was supposed to wait for orders before investigating that research station, but I couldn’t find the radio. Anyway, I left when the others did and I found it in the jungle, maybe twenty yards from here.”
A bullshit story.
“Enough,” Lauren interrupted her. She pointed her rifle at the other Clarissa. “What’s your version of what happened?”
“The rain was too heavy.” She paused to take a sip of her red wine. “I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face.”
“Riiiight,” Lauren drawled, “but you spent the day in the rain anyway.”
She gestured with her glass at the younger Clarissa across from her. “Want to change your story? One of us knows what really happened at that research station, so just go ahead and admit it.”
“Stop it, you two,” Lauren said. “Just tell me where the older Clarissa is.”
“I found her drowned in the sinkhole,” the first woman replied.
“And how did you find the sinkhole?” Lauren raised her brows at her. “When you couldn’t have known where to look, how was it that you accidentally stumbled upon it?”
“I told you. I was going to stay here, but I also know that one or both of the others are setting us up.” She glanced at the other Clarissa, “So, when they both left this morning, I followed them, trying to see what they were up to. They split up, so I decided to follow the older Clarissa. I lost her for a while, but once I found the sinkhole, I also found her. She was floating face down. Dead.”
“So, that’s how you want to play it, huh?” The other Clarissa interjected. “You’re right. Two people left, but it was you and the other imposter. And you two went off together. And it was me that followed you two, not you following her. You obviously didn’t know I was tailing you, but I lost you all the same. I wandered around for most of the goddamn day trying to find you two, but when I got back here, you had already returned. And since you were alone, I’m guessing its true the other woman is dead. You killed her, didn’t you?”
“You’re such a liar.” The first Clarissa laughed in irritation. “Keep it up and I’ll kill someone, alright. I’ll blow that lying head of yours right off your shoulders.”
“Try it, bitch,” the other Clarissa said coldly.
“Enough!” Lauren shouted. When she had both of their attentions, she continued. “You two can kill each other as far as I’m concerned, but I’m going back to my quarters. If I see either of you tonight, I’ll kill you. If either of you knocks on my door, I’ll kill you. And tomorrow? Fuck you two. Weather permitting, I’m hiking my ass out of here, bright and early in the morning.”
December 24, 2255
MONDAY
Rising at dawn, the first thing Lauren did was peer out of the only window in her quarters. The entire outpost was awash with mud. There would be no more hiking anywhere as long as the rain continued pouring down like a waterfall.
With nowhere to go, Lauren stayed in her room. She read from a book she had in her backpack. When she got hungry, she ate the last of her MREs, then she rested quietly in her bunk, reading again for most of the day. Only once she got so thirsty, and got to the point when a bathroom trip was absolutely necessary, did she decide to leave her quarters. At that point, she grabbed her rifle and left her room.
The rangers’ barracks were located just outside her quarters. And after leaving the barracks she entered the long hall that led to the kitchen, rec room, and the showers. The shower room had the nearest restroom, so that’s the direction Lauren headed. Once inside the white-tiled shower room, she stopped in her tracks. It was here that she found one of the Clarissas. She had been hacked to pieces with a hatchet. Blood had spurted and sprayed all over the white wall tiles, and all the body fragments, and all the internal organs and been tossed into the communal shower area in a pile. Blood still swirled the drain.
Based simply on the remains of a protectorate uniform in the gory pile of body parts, this was certainly one of the Clarissas, but without a face to be seen, there was no way to tell which Clarissa had killed the other. And Lauren had no intention of digging through the carnage to find one.
There was no doubt in her mind now. One of the three Clarissa’s were sent here to kill everyone else. And that meant Madison was also dead. And that Lauren was next.
*****
Stopping in the kitchen to quench her thirst, the strong aroma of chili simmering on the stove caught her attention. The last thing Lauren planned on doing was eating anything from anyone. She decided the outpost’s supply of MREs would be her meals until she could find a way out of here. But first, she needed to know if she was alone. And after two glasses of water, and with rifle drawn, she cautiously made her way down the long hall to the rec room.
At the doorway, she paused to scan the room. On the long oak bar were two dinner place settings on opposite ends of the bar, facing one another. Bowl, empty wine glass, saucer with sealed cracker packages, and spoons. Otherwise, the room was empty. Lauren slipped behind the bar and sorted through the refrigeration units until she found a chilled and unopened bottle of white wine. As she stood up, the third Clarissa with the ponytail entered the room with the pot of chili. The woman stopped at the place setting nearest the door and proceeded to dish herself two ladles full of chili. Then they locked eyes.
Lauren wasn’t sure what to do. This scene made no sense. If this woman were the murderer, then why would she be casually making dinner?
“Looks like it’s just you and me now,” Clarissa said.
“Looks that way.”
Clarissa motioned at the other place setting. “Can I dish you up some chili? Or do you want to help yourself?”
“I’m not eating anything you make,” Lauren shot back.
“Ah, you think I’m the murderer, so therefore, you won’t eat my food as it might be poisoned. Am I right?”
“The thought had crossed my mind.”
“Relax. If
I kill you, I won’t use chili.”
Lauren shrugged.
The woman rolled her eyes, then proceeded down the bar to the second place setting. She dished out two more ladles of chili, then walked back down the bar to her own dish. She set the steel pot of chili on the countertop, then grabbed her spoon. Once more she walked down to the second bowl of chili. She scooped up a big spoonful, showed it to the commander, then promptly delivered it to her mouth.
“See?” She said with her mouth full. “No poison. Please eat.” Then she returned to her own place setting.
Lauren grabbed a corkscrew from the counter below the wall of liquor bottles, then crossed over to the far end of the bar and at the second place setting. She couldn’t deny the chili had been good yesterday. And she was hungry. She slid her rifle onto the bar beside her. She eyed Clarissa as she used the corkscrew on the bottle of wine. With a pop, she pulled the cork from the bottle.
“Can you pass me the corkscrew?” Clarissa asked.
Lauren underhand tossed it across the room. After Clarissa snatched it out the air, she too walked behind the bar. And moments later she returned to her chili with a bottle of red wine. After removing Lauren’s cork from the corkscrew, Clarissa also popped open her wine bottle.
Lauren eyed her chili for a long moment before she broke the silence. “Why are you feeding me?”
“Two reasons. A... It’s Christmas Eve. I’m returning the favor for you feeding me last night. And B...” Clarissa paused to pour herself a glass of red wine. “I’m trying to prove to you that I’m not the murderer... I guess there’s a C in there too. I’m hungry.”
“Hunh,” Lauren said. “You see the shower room yet?”
“I saw it,” Clarissa dug into her chili. “Wasn’t me,” she said with her mouth full.
“Right.” Lauren laughed as she filled her glass with white wine. “It was either you or me, and I know it wasn’t me.”
“You’re assuming what the imposter told you is true. She said that older woman is dead.” She paused to look Lauren in the eyes. “What if she’s not?”
“And what if she is? That makes you the murderer and me your next victim.” Lauren patted her rifle. “Potentially you’re next victim.”
Clarissa straightened up and reached for the weapon in her holster.
Lauren immediately snatched the rifle from the counter and pointed it directly at Clarissa’s face.
The woman froze.
“Ah, ah, ah,” Lauren said. “I’m an excellent shot with this thing.”
“Relax, commander.” Clarissa’s hand slowly returned above the counter with her pistol dangling from her finger. “I’m trying to show you that I’m no threat.” She carefully sat her weapon on the bar, then raised her open hands. “Truce?”
Her weapon was perhaps a foot from her, certainly within reach.
“Push it further away,” Lauren said.
Clarissa shoved the pistol. It came to rest about three feet from her. “We cool?”
Lauren sat her rifle back on the bar. “For now.”
“There’s one alternate explanation,” Clarissa said around another mouthful of chili. “Maybe the murderer wasn’t one of us. Maybe she’s hoping we’ll kill one another. Either way, I think we can be sure of one thing. There’s no shuttle coming back for us.”
“Or it’s you.” Lauren tasted the chili. It was delicious. Not too hot. Not too spicy. “That’s my working theory at the moment.”
“Think about it,” Clarissa continued. “What if someone back home knew exactly what was here and didn’t want this place discovered? And what if this person sent two others here, posing as protectorate, because they had crossed her somewhere along the line? Then, after those two are on their way, a third person is sent, but this one’s different. She’s a cleaner paid to make problems go away. So, as you can see, someone may be using this as an opportunity to get rid of several problems at once.”
“Interesting.” Lauren grabbed several packages of oyster crackers, and one by one, she opened each and poured the contents into her bowl of chili. “Was that you? Did those others cross you somewhere along the line? Are you the one who doesn’t want this place discovered? Do you know exactly what’s in that research station?”
“Who me? I know nothing at all. I’m just a cop.”
“I doubt that,” Lauren said dryly. “I should just shoot you. I wouldn’t have to worry about you then.”
“If you’re sure I’m the killer, then why don’t you?”
“If I was sure you were the killer, I would’ve already done it. I still have my suspicions about your story, but... we’ll see.” Lauren stirred her chili, then took a big bite.
“I happen to be a pretty good judge of character, commander. And I don’t have any suspicions about you. You don’t seem like the murdering type. You seem more of a do as your told type. You know when to keep your mouth shut and when you’re out of your league. Politics just isn’t in your genes. I’m guessing you’re more interested in getting back with your girls and patrolling the jungle. How did I do? Am I right?”
“You think so? There’s one way you can find out if you’re right about me.” Lauren glared at Clarissa. “Do something I don’t like. Try me.”
“I’m just making an observation, commander. There’s been enough killing for one weekend, wouldn’t you agree?”
“There might be one more if you do anything stupid.”
“If anyone tries anything stupid, it won’t be me. No, I’m simply waiting for the storm to pass now, just like you. Hopefully, another shuttle will arrive so I can go home to my wife.” Clarissa showed Lauren her left hand. With her thumb, she tapped her wedding ring.
“And if there really is another person orchestrating this conspiracy of yours, then it’s logical to assume that shuttle won’t be sent, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Perhaps.” Clarissa slurped a big mouth full of chili from her spoon. “Then again, if there’s really a third person involved, they probably already have a way to leave here.”
“Possibly.”
A long moment of silence passed as they each alternated between bites of chili and sipping from their glasses of wine.
“How long do you think this storm will last?” Clarissa asked.
“Who can say? It’s the monsoon season. There might be another three months of this shit.”
“Hmmm... And how much food do we have in this shithole?”
“There’s enough food in the pantry and freezer to last a couple weeks. Plenty of MREs in storage. I’d guess there’s enough food for two people for a little over a month. More or less.”
“That’s it? Obviously, this place hasn’t been restocked in a while.”
“Obviously.”
Another short period passed before Clarissa spoke again.
“And what if there were only one of us?”
“One of us just might make it out of here alive.”
“Interesting...” Clarissa raised her glass to Lauren. “At least we have plenty of this, right?” After Lauren nodded, Clarissa downed the remainder of wine in her glass, then she refilled it.
Still suspicious of the woman’s innocence, Lauren decided to interrogate her further.
“What happened to Maddie?
“She’ll turn up eventually.”
“She dead?”
Clarissa shrugged. “How should I know?”
“What about my girls? They okay?”
After another spoonful of chili, Clarissa replied. “I’d imagine they’re simply being entertained for now. You know, since they don’t know anything and all. I’d guess they’re all happy for the moment, just enjoying the luxuries of a ranger base.”
“What about Roxanna? She saw the research station. Is she in danger? Or dead?”
“No, she’s in the rangers because she couldn’t cut it in the school system. A harmless little thing. So, if I were in charge... which I’m not... I’d make sure she had a sudden case of amnesia when she wakes up
. A little shot in the arm during surgery and she’d remember nothing at all.”
“Very clever. You thought of everything.”
“Not me. I told you. I’m just a cop.”
“That’s what you keep telling me.”
Finished with her bowl of chili, Clarissa slid the bowl aside. “Well, since we aren’t going anywhere, how about we play a game of chess when you’re finished with dinner?”
Lauren eyed the woman as she took another bite of chili. “I thought that’s what we were just doing.”
“Fine. “Clarissa leaned on the bar on her elbows. “Then, what do you want to do?”
“In a few hours it’ll be Christmas Day.”
“So what?” Clarissa smirked at her. “Aren’t we a little old to believe in Santa Claus?”
Although Lauren wasn’t finished with her chili, she slid her bowl aside, then sipped at her wine. “Well, if you’re not in the Christmas spirit, why don’t we get comfortable.” Lauren slid her rifle directly in front of herself. “Let’s sit here for a while and see what happens next.”
After a moment, Clarissa narrowed her eyes. “I see what you’re getting at. People give gifts on Christmas Day, don’t they?”
“That’s how I look at it.”
“Hmmm...” Clarissa paused while studying Lauren’s eyes. “Question. Do you know who I am?”
“No, and I really don’t care anymore.”
“Do I look familiar to you at all? Do I remind you of anyone?”
“Not in the least.”
“Good.” Clarissa gave a single nod. “And, if you had one wish come true, what would you want for Christmas?”
“What you said earlier.” Lauren gestured at Clarissa with her wine glass. “I’d be happy just patrolling the jungle with my girls.”
“And if that happened, what would you remember about this place?” Clarissa pointed a finger at the countertop in front of her.
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