Clan and Conviction (Clan Beginnings)

by Tracy St. John

  Gelan and Wynhod’s eyes narrowed at him simultaneously. They’d picked up on his anxiety after all. However, Gelan matched his casual manner, nodding at the empty desk behind Krijero.

  “Pull up a seat. Tell me what has you braving our little corner of paradise,” the Dramok invited.

  Krijero laughed at that. Paradise indeed. Before he could claim the indicated chair, Wynhod got up and pulled it over for him. Well, that was nice. Much nicer than that hooked-nose Panow with his veiled insults.

  “Thanks,” he said as he settled into the seat. He waited until Wynhod had also sat down, though the Nobek chose to perch on the edge of his desk rather than his chair.

  The Imdiko took a deep breath. “Do you remember your case from ten years ago? Delir?”

  Gelan gave him a half-grin. “Like I’m going to forget that.”

  “There was a gang member you caught by the name of Latwik. He had a sister with a child.”

  Wynhod nodded. “I remember he was extremely rude to you when you questioned him for us. We made a deal with him so the Matara and boy were given new identities.”

  “Yeah.” Krijero plunged right in. “Did you know the Matara is dead? Murdered, in fact. Latwik too. They died within a week of each other.”

  Neither man reacted strongly, but the fact they both went stock still let Krijero know they were shocked. Gelan recovered first. “What? How?”

  “A guard disemboweled Latwik after he supposedly attacked him.”

  Wynhod’s gaze narrowed. “Supposedly?”

  “No witnesses. It’s still under investigation. The more shocking thing is that two days before Latwik killed, someone flayed his sister Matara Eki alive in her home.”

  This time Krijero scored two mouths dropping wide open. Gelan sputtered, “What the fuck?”

  Wynhod added, “Wait, are we talking about the woman murdered in the Surv Coast Territory? The one all over the news vids a little over a year ago?”

  Krijero nodded. “That was her.” Everyone knew about that unsolved case, though not the real identity of the victim. The murder of a fertile Matara was serious stuff.

  Wynhod’s face turned a deep shade of red. What came out of his mouth was more a growl than a voice. “The kid … Latwik’s nephew. He was not mentally competent.”

  Krijero was glad he had one piece of good news, since the Nobek looked ready to throttle someone. The psych worried he sat a little too close at hand to make Wynhod any angrier. “Eki placed Byd in a secure care facility after a few violent outbursts five years ago. He got beyond what his mother and her clan could do for him, so he’s now under constant supervision. Whoever was behind the killings of his mother and uncle hasn’t found a way to get to him yet.”

  Gelan’s eyes narrowed. “Behind the killings? But you said the guard allegedly acted in self defense.”

  Krijero blew out a breath. “I suspect there is a lot more to it than that.”

  Wynhod shook his head. “First of all, how did you find out all this? Eki and Byd’s identities should have remained secret, even from us.”

  “They were until after the Matara died. I still wouldn’t have known anything about it if not for keeping an eye on things.”

  Gelan’s voice was ominously low. “On what things? You need to start explaining yourself, Krijero.”

  Krijero bit his lip. He hoped Gelan liked him enough to not beat the shit out of him when he heard the answer. It took effort for him to say, “It’s the Delir case again.” Before the Dramok could react, he continued as fast as he could speak. “Did you know that all those gang members you managed to catch and keep alive are now dead? Every last one. Most of them died within the first five years of their prison sentences.”

  Gelan and Wynhod stared at him. Now not only were their mouths wide open, but their eyes as well. Well, he had their complete and undivided attention. Now it was time to lower the boom.

  Making his voice as firm as he could, Krijero announced, “Gelan, Delir is still around, and the situation is worse than what we saw ten years ago.”

  The feral look that came over Gelan’s face made the Imdiko want to jump up and run out of the room. The trouble with that was he’d no doubt crash into a desk or trip over his own feet. Gelan would catch him and pound him until he was a broken mess on the floor.

  With no choice but to see this through, Krijero shrank under that burning gaze. He waited for Gelan to either calm down or start swinging.

  With what looked like monumental effort, the Dramok said, “Explain, Psych.”

  Krijero let his shoulders sag a little in relief. The beat down was averted for a few seconds at least. “Back when I first came on to your case, I told you how I thought the whole thing was bigger than just a gang running drugs.”

  “I remember that. You said it was run like a business, and by someone much smarter than anyone likely to be in the gang’s roster.”

  “I’m positive more than ever that I was right. I’m now sure this territory was a kind of testing grounds for the manufacture and distribution of Delir.”

  Wynhod scowled. “You have proof?”

  Not anything you’ll buy as evidence, you tough Nobek, Krijero thought, but he told them what he’d found anyway. “I can show you the stats of drug arrests for a similar but more potent drug than Delir. It’s been spreading like wildfire in the other territories for the last few years. They call it Frenzy, because when users start going through withdrawal, they go into a kind of violent psychotic agitation. Left too long without the drug, they fall victim to hallucinations, often to the point of attacking and killing others they are determined are out to get them.”

  Gelan nodded. He seemed much calmer now. “I’ve heard of the Frenzy epidemic, and I agree it does sound a lot like Delir. More potent, you say?”

  “As in an addiction rate of fifty percent with first-time users.”

  Wynhod whistled.

  Krijero continued. “People are buying other less-dangerous drugs on the street laced with this shit and getting hooked almost immediately.”

  Gelan snorted in disbelief. “If we stick with your business scenario, that’s a hell of a marketing plan.”

  Wynhod shook his head. “Fuck.”

  Krijero grimaced. “Yeah. It took other territories a little while to figure out what was happening, because the drug leaves few traces in the bloodstream. It takes tissue samples of organs to confirm a case of Frenzy addiction.”

  The Nobek raised an eyebrow at him. “Let me guess; usually those samples are gained during an autopsy?”

  “You’re right.”

  Gelan pursed his lips. “So why isn’t it hitting here?”

  “Well, I have several theories.”

  “There’s a surprise.” Wynhod winked at Krijero to let him know he only teased. His tone had been gentle too, nothing like the sneer Panow had used.

  Krijero made a rude noise at him and kept talking. “First, no one wanted to fuck with law enforcement here right away. Not after what happened ten years ago when Frenzy was Delir. The powers behind the drug knew restarting the operation in Southwest Mountain Territory too soon would have plenty of obstacles.”

  “Especially since we took apart their whole manufacture and distribution system.” Wynhod was understandably smug.

  “Another theory I have is, this was only to be their testing grounds to start with. This territory was the first hit by Delir, and from here it slowly moved out to the Western Desert and Mid-Plains Territories. Frenzy made its first documented appearance in the Western Desert three months before you eradicated Delir. From that point, Frenzy spread out into all the most populated areas, supposedly pushing Delir out.”

  “Supposedly pushing it out?” Gelan frowned. “Delir’s production ended with that lab explosion.”

  “I don’t think you took out their only lab. However, the destruction of that manufacturing plant was a good excuse to end Delir’s run. Delir was the prototype drug, in my theory.”

  “So you think ther
e were other labs?”

  Krijero nodded. “Set up after Delir’s success was proven. Only those labs weren’t making Delir. They were working on the stronger version.”

  “Frenzy.”

  “Right.” As Gelan stayed calm and didn’t threaten to turn him into a punching bag, the Imdiko became more confident. “Compound analysis identifies Delir as almost identical to Frenzy, except this latest version opens up more receptors in the brain, leading to the higher addiction rate. I think Delir was on the verge of being phased out when its manufacturer developed the more potent Frenzy. The destroyed lab in our territory just hastened the transition.”

  Wynhod sounded far from convinced. “And that means what to Frenzy not showing up here? We haven’t had a single case.”

  That you know of. Krijero gave the Nobek a crooked smile. “Long story short, Frenzy hadn’t made it to our territory until recently because its kingpin knows better than to shit where he eats. I think the mastermind behind Frenzy is right here in the Southwest Mountain Territory.”

  Gelan leaned forward. “Hold on, Krijero. I haven’t seen any reports of this new drug coming here.”

  “Over half a dozen men in our territory have been placed in psychiatric lockdown in the last two months. The reports say psychotic breakdowns led to them being taken into custody. All known drug users, all with symptoms that point to Frenzy withdrawal, if you know what to look for. No one has picked up on that yet though, since all seven cases came from different precincts. Plus, our territory has been clean of Frenzy, so no one is really looking for it.”

  Wynhod crossed his arms over his chest. “But you are.”

  The Imdiko blew out a long breath. “I know you didn’t believe me when I told you this could be bigger than you thought ten years ago. I haven’t been able to shake the certainty I had, so I’ve been watching, researching, keeping up with the other territories on Kalquor.”

  “So why would this kingpin of yours now open up our territory for Frenzy?”

  “Things have had time to cool down since you guys took out Delir. And it looks damned suspicious for one territory to not be affected by Frenzy. We’re a densely populated area too, with potential for huge sales. Whoever is in charge, he’s been biding his time, waiting to put the next version of Delir on the market here at the right opportunity.”

  Krijero had run out of things to say. He went quiet and waited for Gelan to absorb all he’d told him. He waited for the Dramok to laugh him out of the department.

  He knew the likelihood of Gelan taking him seriously was slim to none. If Krijero hadn’t been so damned sure of the information he’d gathered, he never would have dared approach the investigator with this. He certainly wouldn’t have brought it to anyone else. The idea of presenting his case to Investigator Dexel and his enforcer Panow made the Imdiko squirm. Now there was a nasty thought.

  The silence spun out. Gelan stared at the floor, his brows lowered over his eyes. Wynhod watched his partner. When the seconds continued to pass and still the investigator didn’t say anything, Krijero began to shrink in his chair. He shouldn’t have done this. He should have waited for more evidence, something hard and tangible. But damn it, he’d been so sure Gelan would see it too, especially since they’d never caught the person ultimately responsible for Delir.

  Gelan’s head raised and his considering gaze settled on Krijero, making the Imdiko’s heart pound. He waited for the coming ridicule.

  Instead, the Dramok said in a quiet voice, “I’ll need every piece of documentation you’ve got on this, Krijero.”

  The psych nearly went limp in relief. His voice shook only slightly as he said, “No problem. I’ve also got a kind of informal report which pretty much repeats everything I just told you.”

  “Send it all.” Gelan’s steady stare held Krijero, keeping him pinned in his chair though the Imdiko wanted to run out and com the entire file right away. “You understand that my department supervisor may not let me open up an investigation, right? Certainly not until we have more potential Frenzy cases.” Gelan grimaced. “Shit, until we have at least one confirmed one, Utta’s going to have a field day telling me to shove this whole theory up my ass. He’s been damned proud no one has dared sell Frenzy in his jurisdiction. If I tell him we’re potentially ground zero for this…”

  He broke off and shook his head. Krijero had been so concerned about convincing Gelan of his theory that he hadn’t fully appreciated until now the spot he’d be putting the investigator in.

  Krijero kicked the floor worriedly. “I’m sorry. If I wasn’t absolutely sure, I wouldn’t be bothering you with this.”

  Gelan sighed. “I know. That’s why I’m going to approach Utta with your suspicions despite getting my ass reamed for it.”

  Krijero hunched down in his chair. He didn’t want Gelan to be upset with him. For a Dramok, the guy wasn’t half bad. He liked Gelan.

  “Don’t look like that, Imdiko. If Frenzy is coming here and I can get a jump on it before it turns into the mess everyone else is dealing with, I’m grateful. Truly.”

  Krijero felt a wash of warmth through his body at the approval in the investigator’s voice. He straightened, jerked his head to one side to get his hair out of his eyes, and smiled at the other man. “I’ll keep an eye on the other territories and let you know if I hear anything new. At least until it actually becomes a case and Research can take over that part.”

  Gelan nodded. His eyes were riveted on Krijero’s exposed face. “Thanks. Did you also write up a psych profile on this alleged mastermind?”

  “Of course. You’ll find it with the rest of what I send you.”

  “Good. I’ll let you know how it goes with my supervisor.” Gelan’s gaze narrowed and a smile played at the corner of his lips. “You may owe me a trip to the bar, depending on how it goes.”

  Krijero thought of having drinks with Dramok Gelan. He felt a little surge of terror at the idea. His laugh sounded weak. “Sure.”

  Wynhod interjected, “You’ll owe me drinks too. I have to live with Gelan and all his crying after he deals with Utta.”

  Gelan nodded. “The head investigator is tough. When he yells at me, my sobbing keeps Wynhod up all night.”

  Krijero blinked. He couldn’t imagine Gelan crying over anything. The two men grinned at him, and he realized they were making fun. Unlike Nobek Panow, however, it wasn’t mean teasing. They were ribbing each other as much as him. He snickered at the joke.

  The Imdiko left the department laughing out loud because Wynhod had offered his sleeve for Gelan to wipe his alleged tears on. Gelan had responded by trying to blow his nose on it instead, which earned him a punch on the shoulder. It was funny to realize two men he thought of as rather severe possessed a goofy side.

  Best of all, Krijero left the investigation department feeling good about himself. His private project for the last few years was being taken seriously.

  Chapter 2

  Gelan watched Krijero walk away, grinning at the Imdiko’s infectious laugh. His grin widened as he watched that sweet ass move under wrinkled but well-cut pants. Damn, the man had a great rear. Had a great front too, from what he could tell.

  He kept his eyes on Krijero until the psych finally got out of the department. He glanced at Wynhod to see his Nobek regarding him with amusement.

  Gelan felt heat rush up to his face. “What?”

  Wynhod stood and stretched. “So. The psych thinks Delir is back again, or some super-Delir. And you’re going to present it to Head Investigator Utta, who will throw a huge bitch-fit when he hears this. And yet you’re smiling.”

  “Well, Krijero might be on to something. You know, I’ve lost sleep over what Nobek Huk said just before you blasted him into eternity.”

  “About Enforcer Amik?”

  “That, and about Delir being much bigger than what we thought it was. There were a lot of questions we never answered about that case.”

  Wynhod scowled. “Like who sent your former partner all that
money.”

  Gelan nodded. After Huk’s allegations, the department had opened an investigation into Amik’s personal finances. They had discovered that not only were large amounts of money being deposited into his accounts, but there were a lot of those accounts. Even his clanmates hadn’t been aware of the extent of Amik’s funds. Most suspicious of all, the source of all that money had not been traceable.

  Gelan kicked his desk as old frustrations reappeared. “There was that. Plus the mystery of those businesses and buildings the Delir was being funneled through … nothing but dummy corporations. Nothing but false records with no one to pin them onto.”

  “It’s still not enough. You’ll never get Utta to let you look for this supposed mastermind the psych thinks is running the show from our territory.”

  “No, but if Krijero’s research checks out, it will at least put Utta on notice that something big might be headed our way. Besides, there’s nothing saying I can’t look into matters on my own time.”

  Wynhod’s smile was affectionate. “Always looking for a good hunt, aren’t you, my Dramok?”

  “Whether beast or phantom criminal … or charming if gawky Imdiko. I wonder if he ever clanned?” Gelan watched Wynhod carefully.

  His clanmate looked confused for a moment, and then his eyes widened. “Not that – Gelan, you aren’t thinking about Krijero, are you? By the ancestors, he can’t take a step without tripping over his own feet. I’ve never seen him with his hair combed or wearing an outfit that’s not wrinkled or stained. The man’s a walking disaster.”

  “He has some coordination issues, I’ll admit. And he’s not terribly worried about how he looks, which isn’t really a bad thing. Remember Imdiko Setad and the way he couldn’t pass a mirror without primping?”

  Wynhod rolled his eyes.

  Gelan grinned a challenge. “I’ve noticed that once you get Krijero’s hair out of his face, he’s quite handsome. Plus he’s got a nice body. Smart. Sweet. Our age.”

  Wynhod planted his hands on his hips and glared. “Tell me we are not that desperate for an Imdiko.”