Gelan pushed at him to roll over on his side to face him. His eyes were alight with interest. “What did you find?”
“It could be someone high up from Benor Industries. They’ve got a reach you wouldn’t believe.” Krijero filled him in on Dramok Benor’s holdings and interests.
Gelan frowned. “Benor is a huge deal. Bigger than big. As in, damned near untouchable.”
“I know. But he’s got every connection needed to have pulled Delir and Frenzy off.”
Even Wynhod mused over the idea. “Those dummy company links back to his ownership … that alone is worth investigating.”
Gelan scowled. “We did investigate. Nothing tied in. Benor’s companies came up squeaky clean.”
“So we investigate again. Maybe his holdings were a little too innocent?”
Gelan nodded with a sigh. “Forward the information to me, Krijero, and we’ll look everything over after shift tonight. Maybe do a little more digging.” His eyes narrowed. “I expect you to not run off early, Imdiko.”
Krijero shook his head. “No, Gelan. My body can’t take two nights in a row, especially not in front of an audience.”
“That was the worst part for you, wasn’t it?” Gelan kissed him long and slow, making the Imdiko’s cocks stir in response, especially with Wynhod stroking his body.
Krijero had hated everyone viewing his punishment. It had made him feel small inside. However, it had been worth it to wake up next to these two this morning. He would just have to enjoy them for as long as they could stand him and deal with the pain of abandonment when it came.
Wynhod gave him a smile when Gelan released his lips. “You may not have liked the humiliation, but you were gorgeous to watch. I was afraid I’d have to fight every man off on our way out.”
Krijero grinned. As they’d left the club the night before, he’d had several invitations shouted at him. The calls had made Gelan and Wynhod glare threateningly at everyone issuing those enticements to the ‘naughty Imdiko’.
Krijero made an attempt at modesty despite the thrill of being so sought after. He gave Wynhod a dismissive wave. “Flatterer.”
“You know better.”
Wynhod gave his sore ass a smack again and rolled out of bed, the Nobek’s stiff cocks leading the way. Krijero shook his hair forward to hide his widening smile.
* * * *
Only a couple of other investigation teams remained in Gelan’s department after the day shift ended. Most investigators were on call if anything of note happened overnight in the territory, leaving the department nearly empty at night. Since Krijero rarely came in here and usually only during the day, it was strange to see the typically bustling office so abandoned.
He sat behind Gelan looking over his shoulder. The Dramok accessed files on Benor Industries that Krijero had never thought to check. The Imdiko watched his lover work with admiration. Gelan knew his stuff when it came to research. He crossed-referenced the information faster than Krijero could follow.
Gelan grunted as he looked over the half dozen vids he had open. “Well, this is interesting.”
Krijero leaned forward excitedly. “What?”
“Dramok Benor’s companies have manufacturing and distribution sites in every territory. The companies almost never have to depend on paid carriers to transport goods because he owns the one they use.”
Krijero peered at the many blurbs of data. “Still, territory inspectors would have to randomly look his shipments over, wouldn’t they?”
“Not so much for the military grade stuff since he’s a licensed and contracted supplier. They’d only do spot checks for that.”
Sitting at his desk across from them, Wynhod said, “Not to mention Frenzy is probably being manufactured close to its distribution sites. You were the one who said it wasn’t just coming from here.”
Krijero could have thumped his own head. “Oh yeah. Stupid of me. I forgot my own theory for a moment.”
Gelan said absently, “You couldn’t be stupid if you tried, Krijero.” He glanced at Wynhod, who stared into space. The Dramok narrowed his eyes. “Are you doing any research or just sitting there looking magnificent?”
Bored as he always became with computer work, Wynhod leaned forward and clicked to change the vid he’d been ignoring. He propped his chin on his fists and read what he’d brought up.
Krijero had another concern. “Maybe Benor still has to transport the ingredients for Frenzy. I’m not aware of the rarity of what goes into it.”
Gelan pointed at one of the vids. “The only hard-to-get ingredient is the medical-grade distilling solution it’s cooked in. And guess what?”
“He owns a pharmaceutical company that manufactures it. And where you’ve got pharmaceuticals, you’ve got people who know how to make some pretty potent drugs.”
They grinned at each other. Gelan said, “Maybe you should move up into investigations, Krijero.”
The Imdiko snorted, pretending insult. “Actually, I believe that’s a demotion from criminal psychology,” he said in his snootiest tone.
“Ooh, you’re going to pay for that one, my friend.”
Krijero propped his chin on the Dramok’s wide shoulder and stared at the readouts. Could Dramok Benor himself really be behind Frenzy? Their research had shown each of his businesses was compartmentalized, with no overlap in management personnel. Only Benor had access to all the pieces that could make up the puzzle if his company was the source of the drug.
Krijero asked, “So what do you think, Gelan? Dramok Benor has accounts on other worlds we can’t investigate. He could be hiding extra income. He’s got access and means in every way to not only produce Frenzy, but to keep his nose clean while doing it.”
“That’s not all he’s got.”
Krijero and Gelan looked up at Wynhod’s excited tone. The Nobek sat straight up in his chair and staring avidly at the vid in front of him.
“What did you find?” Gelan asked his partner.
“A younger brother Benor put through specialized schooling. His name is Dramok Telrak. He’s been ranked the top of his field for the last seven years, despite some ethics investigations in the past.” Wynhod grinned at them. “Telrak’s field just happens to be chemistry, and he started working for Benor Pharmaceuticals fifteen years ago.”
Krijero’s heart leapt. “Right around the time Delir put in its first appearance.”
The three men stared at each other with dawning hope. Gelan said, “Gentlemen, we might have a case against Dramok Benor.”
* * * *
Head Investigator Utta stared up at one of the walls of his office. Gelan also looked at the floating still pic vid that held his supervisor’s attention. It showed Utta standing with Dramok Benor, the men smiling at whoever had taken the shot. The occasion had been the donation of high-grade weaponry from Benor’s military arms manufacturing plant. Dramok Benor had been very generous with blasters and plasma rifles for their territory’s law enforcement over the years.
Gelan and Wynhod’s supervisor blew out a breath and looked them over. “You’ve got a hell of a story here, I’ll give you that. But you don’t have one shred of evidence. What’s more, we don’t have enough Frenzy cases in the territory to make a case out of it. And of all the fucking people you could have fingered for Frenzy … Benor?”
Gelan could well appreciate his boss’ position. Still, he had to point out the biggest thing going for them. “He has all the opportunity and means. I did some checking around, called in a few favors, intimidated a few people and learned his off-planet accounts are tremendous … at least the ones we were able to find. It’s well beyond the amounts he reports from his known businesses.”
Wynhod added, “It all fits so perfectly, sir.”
Utta snorted. “Yeah, it does. Between us three, I think you and your friend from the psych department might actually be on to something. Fucking Benor. I never did like that smarmy bastard. You’ve never met anyone so full of himself. He’s probably bronzed every
turd he ever shit.”
“That big an ego, huh?”
“Try enormous. The man’s a megalomaniac. He always makes sure the news outlets are around when he gives us weapons and shuttles. I like getting the goods, but I hated being the tool of someone’s public relations campaign.”
Wynhod scowled, but he kept his tone respectful. “You still won’t clear an open investigation.”
“Fuck no. Benor is powerful and loves to make sure everyone knows it. He’s got friends in high places, both military and political. Letting you work on this would be career suicide for all of us. Maybe that Imdiko pal of yours too.”
Gelan let a little of his temper show. “Great. We can’t get solid evidence without an investigation. We can’t do an investigation without evidence of wrongdoing.”
“That’s right. We can’t.” Utta gave them a sly smile.
“But?”
Utta stared into space, looking at nothing in particular. “Seems to me I told the head investigator from the Eastern Seaboard Territory I’d give him a call today. We’ve been planning a fishing expedition on his clan’s boat. We’re old friends from our patrol days, and he’s mentioned how Frenzy is kicking his territory’s ass. I really need to make that call. Maybe in passing, I could share your little side project here with him.”
Gelan pointed out, “Benor lives and runs his companies from our territory though.”
“True, but he’s got major holdings in Eastern Seaboard, as he does all over Kalquor. I’m sure my friend can come up with a reason to examine those places in his jurisdiction. He can pass along the information to other territories that are having issues as well. Maybe they’ll come up with the physical evidence that will allow everyone to figure out exactly what Dramok Benor is all about.”
Gelan sighed. He really wanted to go after Benor himself. Yet he knew Utta was right; to do so would be career suicide. He’d have to comfort himself that at least the most important part was being taken care of; that someone would get the opportunity to shine a spotlight on any illegal activities Benor might be involved in and get Frenzy off the market.
Giving in with as much good grace as he could muster, Gelan said, “I guess that’s the best we can do, sir.”
Utta nodded. “I’ll make that com today. Be sure you quietly give that Imdiko friend of yours my congratulations on a good job. Whether anything comes out of this or not, I’m impressed with his theory.”
“I’ll do that.” A spark of pride in Krijero’s work helped chase away some of Gelan’s disappointment.
Utta tapped his desktop as he glared at Benor’s vid pic once more. “Smart guys, those psychs. I’ve always liked the brain trust, myself. My Imdiko started out in that department before moving on to a private Nobek psychology practice. That’s how we met, working a case together.”
Gelan raised an eyebrow. “I wasn’t aware of that.”
“My clanmate is incredibly intelligent, like Dr. Krijero. You spend a lot of time with him, I’ve noticed. Why haven’t you clanned?”
“Clan Krijero? That’s an interesting thought.”
Gelan rolled his eyes at Wynhod. The Nobek bit his lips together, fighting off a grin.
Chapter 12
Six months later:
Krijero nibbled on his breakfast, his mind moving between Gelan’s excellent cooking and the Frenzy case. In the last six months since first voicing suspicions about Dramok Benor’s businesses and his possible involvement in the deadly drug ring, interesting things had happened in the other territories. However, the overall case was beginning to stall. If Benor was behind Frenzy, he managed to be too careful to let anything of note be pinned to him.
Gelan and Wynhod had spent the week working a case of suspected human trafficking that involved a prolonged stakeout. It was work neither of them were especially fond of. They’d been ready to blow off some steam the night before, which had led to Krijero postponing the latest news on Frenzy. Now, with the pair brooding over another long day of watching and waiting, Krijero thought it would give them something to think about.
“The Commerce Service in the Glacial Plains Territory intercepted a shipment of military-grade shuttles with no identification registrations. It happened two days ago.”
Wynhod raised an eyebrow. “Did it come from one of Benor’s companies?”
Krijero grinned. “You bet. The official word from Benor was some foul-up on the supply line let the unregistered shuttles get through. The company has promised an internal investigation into the matter.”
Gelan didn’t seem as delighted with the news as Krijero had hoped. “I really thought with the information we gave them, that the other territories would be able to pinpoint more suspicious activities coming from Benor’s holdings. That’s only the third odd transport in the last four months.”
“Well, I’ve been thinking about that—”
“Uh oh. Our brainiac is at it again,” Wynhod interrupted.
Krijero wrinkled his nose at the Nobek. “It must be a nice life just eating, sleeping, fucking, and shooting at people. Your life is a vacation.”
“So I’m officially the smart one of this group?” Wynhod smirked at him.
Gelan rolled his eyes. “You were saying, Krijero?”
“Yeah. So you know how you’ve been wondering all these years if your old partner Amik was on the take?”
“Yeah?”
“So why wouldn’t more law enforcement be bought off, if that’s the case? Benor could sure afford to do it.”
Gelan scowled. “You think there are people inside tipping Benor off? Impeding investigations?”
Wynhod glared at his breakfast, as if spiced and cured onba meat could be blamed for the world’s ills. “Damn it.”
“Frenzy is a huge money maker,” Krijero pointed out. “Whoever’s running it is going to do all they can to protect that business.”
Wynhod turned his angry stare to the Imdiko. “I am going to be fucking pissed off if we find out law enforcement, particularly our territory’s, has been bought off.”
Gelan sighed and rubbed a palm over his cornrows. “This chasing ghosts is getting us nowhere.”
Krijero tried to sound more optimistic than he felt. “Not true. Frenzy-related crimes have dropped off seventy percent since the territories have been alerted to the possibility that Benor is behind it. It’s as if he’s laying low while the heat is on.”
“Well, that’s something at least. By the way, we’ll probably be late coming in tonight. You’d better take your own shuttle into work today.”
Krijero smiled sympathetically. “Still staking out that suspected slavery ring?”
Wynhod grimaced. “Unfortunately. Don’t get into any strange shuttles, okay? I don’t want to find out you were cleaning up after a Bi’is master and ended up dead for not running a floor sweeper according to ritual.”
“That case really should be in Global Security’s hands.”
That earned him an ugly look from Gelan. “Fuck them. They get all the good investigations.”
Krijero finished off his breakfast. Talking around a mouthful of onba he said, “I need to go to my apartment anyway. I’ve been wearing the same three outfits for the last two weeks.”
Wynhod growled. “Just pack your shit and move in already. You haven’t slept there in months anyway. This is getting ridiculous.”
“Don’t start on me.”
Gelan ended the disagreement before it could get going. “Both of you, quit. We need to get to work, Wynhod.”
The Nobek sighed. “Yeah. Another fun day of staring at people walking in and out of a supposedly closed club.”
They rose from the table and finished getting ready before leaving for work. Krijero sat around until they left, simply to stay out of the grumpy pair’s way. Ten minutes later, he left for precinct headquarters too.
* * * *
As the end of the workday approached, Krijero poked his head into the investigations department, hoping Gelan and Wynhod had gotte
n done with work early. Even from the doorway, he could see how tidy their desks were, as his never was. He noted no sign the pair had been in the office at all that day. They’d probably gone straight from their shared shuttle to a duty vehicle this morning.
A vaguely familiar voice got his attention. “Can I help you – um – Dr. Krijero, right?”
The Imdiko turned his gaze to the broad-faced investigator sitting just inside the doorway. He and his hook-nosed enforcer partner smiled at Krijero from their seats.
He’d spoken to this pair before. Searching his memory for their names, he smiled back at them. Feeling foolish, he shrugged. “I was just checking to see if Gelan and Wynhod got back in.”
The enforcer shook his head. His lank hair hanging about his shoulders almost as untidily as Krijero’s tended to be. The psych had the vague impression the man usually wore it pulled back.
The man told him, “No, they’re still on that stakeout.”
“Ruining your plans for the night?” the investigator asked.
Krijero suddenly remembered their names: Dramok Dexel and Nobek Panow. He thought Panow might have been unpleasant to him once, teasing a psych for wandering into the wrong department. Well, the man was being nice enough now, so he’d be nice too.
“They said they’d probably be running late. I figured I would be out of luck. I might as well head home. Thanks.”
“Yours or theirs?” Dexel asked, his slanted eyes watching Krijero closely.
The Imdiko was startled. Was the man flirting with him?
Dexel chuckled. “I know, it’s none of my business. It just seems a shame that Dramok Gelan keeps stringing you along. Don’t you think he’s overdue to clan you?”
Krijero blinked. He edged back a step. The investigator, a near stranger, was getting much too chummy for someone he barely knew. “Um. Well, we’re in no hurry.”
“Sure. Have a good night, Doctor.” Dexel turned back to his desk. Panow was already back to work, speaking in a low voice on his com.
“You too.” Completely mystified by the strange exchange and abrupt dismissal, Krijero left.
* * * *
Clan and Conviction (Clan Beginnings) Page 31