by KD Jones
“Lial, it’s me.”
“Daniela? Where are you?” He sounded almost angry.
“I’m home.”
“How? When did this happen?”
“I did the bail bond agreement thing. What happened to the lawyer you were supposed to get for me? I waited two whole days!” She was angry and ready to ring someone’s neck.
“I…couldn’t pay for a lawyer because the bank account was frozen. I was trying to find someone who would do it pro-bono but I couldn’t find anyone available on such short notice. Stay there, I am on my way home.” He hung up without saying goodbye.
Daniela slammed the phone down. Damn it! He had just left her in lockup without letting her know anything. What kind of boyfriend does that? When all this crap was settled she was going to have to rethink her relationship.
She went to take a quick shower. She couldn’t stand to smell herself any longer. She was not about to take a shower in that jail. The guards didn’t give them any privacy at all. It was creepy having other people watching her all the time.
She soaked in the warm water and fresh scent of the soap she used. By the time she was out of the shower and had changed into clean clothes, Lial was there and he had brought her pasta from her favorite deli. At least he got something right.
“Thanks.” She took the food and sat at the table to eat. “What have you found out so far?”
“It’s not looking good right now. But I am not giving up. The problem is I need more time. I heard the judge wants to speed up your court date. We can’t let that happen.”
“What can we do about it?” She took a sip of tea.
“I need you to leave town. No, you need to go further away. You need to get off the planet entirely.”
“You have to be kidding me. I am not jumping bail. No way.” She shook her head in refusal.
He knelt down on the floor in front of her taking her hands in his. “Baby, I know you’re scared. But you leaving is the best solution we have right now. It will keep you safe while I continue to search for the true thief and get them brought to justice.” She pulled her hands from his. He took them back even though she tried to avoid it. “Honey, I can’t have my fiancée going back to jail. Please.”
Fiancée? What was he talking about? “What do you mean?” Her heart started to beat faster.
He gave her a sly smile. “I wanted to do this much differently but time is not on our side. Daniela, will you marry me?”
Chapter Two
Three Weeks Later…
Jagger came into the war room of the bail enforcement agency that he co-owned with his cousin, Victor. Vic was going over the cases for today. Jagger was grateful because he had a bit of a hangover from the night before. He kept his dark sunglasses on and slumped in the leather chair in the corner.
It had been a hell of a three weeks with Turk being out of commission and would be for another four months. Victor had been furious because Turk hadn't waited before he ran into a shooting free for all. It was a real shame because Turk was their best IT guy, he had been their only IT guy. Vic was pissed because he had to hire an IT replacement that wasn’t fully trained as a bounty hunter. Vic hated training new people.
Victor closed the door to the war room. “Okay, guys, let’s get started.” He hit a button and a picture was projected onto the wall of a blue man’s mug shot.
“Our first guy is a Bazinoid named Cotton. He is the typical Bazinoid, height of six feet six inches and weighs two hundred and thirty pounds. He is charged with battery of a household member. He skipped bail and has been on the run for the past two weeks.”
“Do we have an active warrant?” Jagger asked.
“Yes, but this is the third time he had bailed back out. He is costing me money. I want to bring him back and close this file.” Victor ran a hand through his dark brown almost black hair.
“Who do you want to go after him?” Asia, one of the few female bounty hunters they had on payroll, asked. She was the tiniest woman Jagger had ever seen with straight black hair and almost black eyes.
“I want Asia, Jaz, and Falcon to take this one. I think Asia might be able to lure him out in the open and then Jaz and Falcon can grab him.” Victor went through three more cases assigning different bounty hunters to work the hunt. He pulled up the last case and the picture displayed caused quite a few whistles by the males throughout the room.
Jagger sat straight up in his chair when he caught the glimpse of the female’s mug shot before him. Holy hell she was gorgeous, even with the orange jumper and bright lighting. She had beautiful dark brown hair and the purest green eyes he had ever seen.
Victor went over the case. “Our last case is Daniela Martin, human. She is five feet five inches, 140 pounds, worked as a sous chef for Maribell’s downtown. She is charged with stealing money from the Ariston Bank Consultant Firm where her boyfriend works as an accountant. She skipped out three weeks ago. I ran some of the leads myself and I think she has jumped off the planet entirely. None of her friends here on Fin-Dieskau have heard from her this entire time. I do suspect the boyfriend is keeping tabs on her though, but he has denied it.”
Victor looked around the room and his eyes fell on his cousin. “Jagger, I want you to take this case.”
“But if she jumped the planet three weeks ago, it’s going to be almost impossible to locate her.” Jagger wasn’t sure he wanted to pursue this case. Normally he didn’t have any problems going after the fugitives and bringing them back to lockup to face trial. But the idea of locking up the beautiful gentle woman from the image left a bad taste in his mouth. But this was his job and he was good at it. If he didn’t take the case, someone else would.
“How long ago did you run the leads?” He took out his cell phone and pulled up the file link to check out her bail application.
“About one and a half weeks ago. The boyfriend was very dodgy. I would start with him. I have also requested permission to view the boyfriend’s phone lines. I expect the judge will approve it.”
“I can have those records for you in a few hours,” Isaac James offered. He was their new IT guy that Vic hired to take Turk’s place while he was still recovering.
“Thanks, Isaac, get that ready for Jagger.” He turned off the projector. “That’s it. If you didn’t get assigned a case, see if you can assist the others with theirs.” With that Victor left the war room.
*****
Three weeks. Daniela couldn’t believe she had been on the run for three weeks. Lial had a few thousand credits that he gave her to use and drove her to the nearest shuttle station where she was to take a shuttle off Fin-Dieskau. She hated leaving her home. She didn’t grow up on Fin-Dieskau but was born on New Earth. Her parents had died when she was a little girl, and her grandparents raised her. Her grandfather passed away a few years ago and her grandmother went to live in a retirement community with her friends. Daniela didn’t have any other family so she decided to come to Fin-Dieskau to pursue her cooking career.
Fin-Dieskau was a pleasure and vice planet similar to what Vegas once was back on Old Earth. There was gambling, sex, and all kinds of legal and illegal markets. It was also home to some of the best restaurants in the galaxy. She had just gotten out of culinary school and was lucky enough to be hired by a great restaurant like Maribell’s. It took a few years to work her way up to sous chef but she had. She sighed thinking about how much she missed her job. She didn’t know if she would ever get her career back after this.
She used as much money as she could spare to take her farthest from Fin-Dieskau. She ended up on Zylon, a trading planet where people come from all over to trade or barter their goods. It was also the home to many black markets. She felt there were so many people there on Zylon that she could easily get lost in the crowd and avoid detection. However, it wasn’t the main reason she stayed on Zylon. It just happened to be when her money finally ran out.
She didn’t have dependable communication with her boyfriend…newly made fiancée and coul
dn’t get him to wire her more money. So, she found herself stranded and without funds. She needed to find a way to support herself.
Zylon had many businesses, but the small diner she happened across appealed to her the most. The owner, Sam, agreed to pay her under the table and she was allowed to rent the small one-bedroom apartment directly above the diner. It was a shithole but it was all she could afford.
She would have to wait it out until Lial contacted her and wired her some money. She hadn’t heard from him in about a week and she was getting nervous. If she had waitressed at the diner she might be able to pick up some tips to help out. But she preferred to be in the kitchen and it kept her hidden from most people. At least she got to cook. It felt like she had a little piece of her life back.
“Danny, those cheeseburgers are amazing, honey. All the customers are raving about it.” Lisa, the older waitress, told her as she was bringing a new ticket to the window.
Daniela had to use a fake name. “Thanks, Lisa.” She smiled at the older lady and put up the next order for her.
“No, thank you. Since you’ve taken over the kitchen the customers have been going crazy for your food. They are so happy they leave me and the other waitresses even bigger tips. We are collecting a jar for you each night to give you a cut of it. So keep up the good work.” Lisa winked and walked away with her order.
Daniela was surprised the waitresses would think to do that for her. It also pleased her that she could use her culinary skills to make people happy again. Her executive chef back home would cringe if he could see where she was working now. But it didn’t really bother her that much. Even though the kitchen and its equipment were far below the quality she was used to, she was still able to be a chef. It was the one thing that made her feel useful.
She finished her shift and went out the back door and up the stairs to the tiny apartment she rented. The plus side to working at the diner was that she could come down and cook food from the kitchen on the days she worked. It saved her a little money. Stepping into the apartment, she heard the cell phone ringing. She ran over to answer it.
“Hello?”
“Daniela. Are you okay, baby?” Lial’s voice was scratchy over the line.
“Yeah. When can I come home?” She paced back and forth holding the phone to her ear.
“Not yet, honey. It’s too soon. I need more time. Where are you exactly?”
“I’m at a little town call Posquito. I had to get a job because I ran out of money. It’s not home but the people are nice. Have you made any headway with the thief?”
“No, honey. Just hang in there. Stay where you are.”
“Lial, could you wire me some more money?” She wouldn’t mind getting a fresh pair of jeans. Hers was wearing thin.
“Sorry, Daniela, I am being watched and so is our bank account. They are allowing me access only to my paycheck. I can’t let them find out where you are.”
“Maybe I can come back and talk to the judge. If I explained everything, he might help us find the real thief.”
“No! I don’t want anything to happen to you and you are safe where you are.”
She sighed. “I don’t like this, Lial. It doesn’t make any sense.”
“I have to go now. I will call you again later. Stay there so I can get back in touch with you soon.” He didn’t wait for her to respond before he hung up.
“Bye,” she said to the empty line and hung the phone up. He didn’t even say he loved her. She didn’t tell him it either. A couple should be saying that to each other all the time. It was sad. This engagement wasn’t what she always dreamed of as a little girl. Truth be told, she didn’t remember agreeing to marry him when he asked. Everything happened so fast. It was all a blur.
*****
Lial hung up the phone and sat it on the coffee table. He didn’t know what to do about Daniela. She was a complication he hadn’t counted on and the situation was less than perfect. He ran a hand through his hair. He couldn’t wait to take a long trip to a tropical island on the Bazin planet after this was all over.
A sudden knock at his door had him jumping out of his seat. He got up and went to open it. He took an immediate step back when he saw the tall massive man standing in the hallway. The guy’s height, which had to be around six feet seven inches, towered over Lial’s normal five foot eight inch frame. The stranger was muscular with dark brown hair and facial hair shadowing his face. But it was his eyes that were the most startling. They were a cold sharp gold that seemed to see right through Lial. Everything about the man screamed dangerous and deadly.
“Can I help you?” Lial asked, half closing the door to keep them separated.
Jagger looked at the short black haired, brown-eyed human male and felt an instant dislike of him. “Are you Lial Wellings?”
“Who wants to know?”
Jagger flashed his credentials to him quickly. “I work for VJ Bail Enforcement Agency. I would like to talk to you about your girlfriend, Daniela Martin.”
Lial opened the door a little wider. “Look, I already talked to the other guy about it. I have no idea where Daniela is.”
Jagger pushed his way into the apartment. “I wanted to follow up with a few more questions, then we’ll leave you alone.” He wasn’t giving Mr. Wellings a choice in the matter. He knew the male was lying to him.
Lial closed the door reluctantly. “Fine, what questions do you have?”
Jagger slowly walked around the living room eyeing everything. He flicked a recording button on his cell phone. “When was the last time you saw or spoke with Miss Martin?”
“Over four weeks ago. The authority came and arrested her for stealing from the company I work for.”
“Whom do you work for again?” Jagger knew the name of the company but wanted to get the guy talking. He might slip up somewhere.
“Ariston Bank Consultant Firm. I’m one of their accountants.”
“Miss Martin is a chef for a local restaurant, correct?” Jagger asked, picking up a framed photo of the couple. Lial smiled smugly almost taking over the whole picture. His arm was wrapped around Daniela but her smile didn't reach her eyes.
“Just a sous chef actually.”
“How would she get access to your company’s financial accounts?”
Lial looked frightened for a moment. Then he corrected his expression to one of regret. “I didn’t password protect my access from home. I didn’t think I needed to. She was my girlfriend, someone I thought about marrying one day. It’s a damn shame really.” He shook his head sadly.
“If I was Ariston Bank Consultant Firm I would think maybe you had something to do with the money disappearing. No offense.” Jagger absolutely meant the offense.
Lial’s face turned a shade of red. “I was questioned extensively by the firm’s board members. I explained that my direct supervisor asked the accounting team to review the recent transactions because there seemed to be a discrepancy. I was the one who discovered the trail that led directly to Daniela who had been going into the firm’s financial accounts using my home access and slowly filtering money into her own account. The board members were understanding about my predicament and promised I wouldn't lose my job if I testified against Daniela.”
“You plan to testify against the woman you had planned to marry?” Wow, what an asshole.
“Of course. What Daniela did was completely in the wrong. I just hope the authority find her and put her away.”
“That’s why I am here. Miss Martin has a good head start but I am one of the best bounty hunters in the galaxy. I’ll find her and bring her in. I’m sure when I do bring her in, a lot more about the missing money will be revealed.” Jagger noticed Lial frowning. The male appeared worried. Good, he should be.
“Do you have a recent picture of Miss Martin? One with just her in it?”
“Let me check the bedroom. I think there was a photo album in there.” Lial left Jagger to go to the bedroom.
Jagger quickly picked up Lial’s cell
phone and checked for the most recent calls. He copied the numbers into his own phone and then laid the cell back down. Lial returned with two photos in his hands.
“Here. Are we done? I need to leave.” Lial practically threw the pictures at Jagger.
Jagger took the photos from him and looked at the images of Daniela. The female couldn't take a bad picture. In these she was smiling and her green eyes sparkled. His cock hardened instantly. Damn, he needed to get laid soon if a mere picture was getting him off.
“I appreciate your time.” Jagger paused at the door and looked back at the weasel of a man. “One more thing. When I bring Miss Martin back, and I will bring her back, whoever helped her flee will be charged with aiding a fugitive.”
“Is that a threat?” Lial asked angrily.
“Yes…it is.” Jagger turned and left.
Chapter Three
Jagger had just finished interviewing a few more of Daniela’s friends. All of them seemed shocked the girl would steal anything. They all felt she was dependable and trustworthy. Her executive chef went on and on about Daniela’s natural talent in the kitchen. Something wasn’t right about this whole case. There was no way the same girl he had been talking about for hours with her friends was the same girl that the boyfriend and the company he worked for was claiming her to be.
Jagger was on the phone with their new IT guy, Isaac James.
“The two numbers you gave me both belong to disposable phones. The first number I was able to track to Zylon the trading planet. The other one was on a ship en route to the trading planet.”
Damn, someone was on their way to find his fugitive and they would most likely find her before him. He couldn’t waste any more time. “Thanks, Isaac.”
“Anytime. Good luck with your case.”
“Thanks.” Jagger ended the call with Isaac then hit his speed dial for Vic.
“What do you got?” Victor answered.
“It looks like she jumped planet and may be on Zylon.”