“Tell us what happened when you were last here, Red.”
“I arrived on a freighter, having been hired by a Blokite named Tod Mackestray. I tried searching the net for him, but nothing came up. I liked that. In my line of work, there’s a great deal of value in anonymity. In any case, he had asked me to come to an office in the middle of the capital city of Remulon.
“The office had nothing in it but a desk. The walls were bare. There was no chair for the guests. He sat on a crate, but if you’ve ever seen a Blokite, they don’t fit in normal chairs. It didn’t make any difference to me, but the surroundings were one of those things you think about later as something that should have set off alarms. I didn’t know what his line of work was, though, and I was already on the clock. When getting paid, don’t ask questions. I let him do all the talking.”
Red stared at the wall, losing himself as he thought back to that time. The muscles in his jaw worked as he thought less than fondly of the meeting he was trying to describe.
“He said his trade was influence. I was to do as I was told without question. I tried to clarify that I provided personal protection. I should have balked when he replied, “That, too,” but I needed the money. The only credits I had were the ones he had paid me. I owed him.
“He conducted no work in his office. I had to sit outside as if I were a receptionist, but he was paying me top credits, and he gave me a sweet blaster.” Red smiled.
“What happened to the blaster?” Rivka asked. Red’s smile turned into a frown.
“I threw it in a river and ran from K’Twillis’ gang. That wasn’t much later, but let me finish with Mackestray.” Red looked at the ceiling as he continued to narrate his story. “The first time we left was to meet with one of the candidates for city mayor. Once again, I was outside and didn’t hear what they talked about. From that meeting, we went to the guy’s opponent, some female. She refused to meet with him privately, so I stayed close by. That was when I learned what he did, but even that didn’t seem untoward. All kinds of people try to influence elections.
“It was what came next that brought it all into focus. Mackestray could find nothing on the guy, so he had no leverage, as he explained it. He would have to resort to intimidation. She paid him a bundle. I didn’t hear the final number, but it was well into six figures. When we left, we went to the guy’s apartment. The Blokite and I waited for him in the hallway. When he arrived, he was angry and threatened to call the police. I roughed him up a little.” Red hung his head and let out a long breath. “I held him once he was more pliable, and that was when Mackestray shoved a blade between the guy’s ribs. He murdered the guy because we had ourselves an honest politician without secrets in a closet who refused to be intimidated.
“We returned to the office, and that was when I quit. I was hired muscle, but I wasn’t. I’d shield an employer with my body, but I wasn’t going to murder people, even though I just had. In the eyes of the law, I was a murderer. Mackestray seemed to take it in stride. Told me to keep the blaster, which I did.
“Out of money, I immediately fell in with an Aborginian, a humanoid plant. That dude was huge and leafy. It was weird, but his credits were as good as anyone’s. I tried to do some research, but he was incognito too. K’Twillis was a ghost, and I wasn’t the only bodyguard, so I took that as a good sign. He was into mining. We visited the site where a line of Remans waited to work. They were carrying bodies out one side while ushering in fresh meat from the other. I never saw such a haphazard operation, but the ore was flowing. I could respect that.
“Within days, the mine was playing out and needed to expand along a vein, but there was a village in the way. K’Twillis offered to pay them off or move them, but they wanted neither. That was when me and the boys went in and forcibly removed the villagers. Within a day, the mining operation had consumed what was their home. When a few of the villagers returned with spears, K’Twillis ordered their disposal. I went out with the group, but tossed my blaster in the river and ran. I wasn’t going to be a party to any more murders.”
Red sat down heavily. Lindy hugged him from behind, resting her chin on his shoulder.
“Now that you know, you need to charge me for my crimes. I’m sorry, Magistrate.”
The law ran through Rivka’s mind. Red had committed a number of crimes, but she was the judge, jury, and executioner. Her word was final.
“Since you are a trusted informant for the Federation, I agree to your plea deal. For the admission of two misdemeanor trespassing charges, I find you not guilty on all other charges. Double jeopardy prevents you from being tried again for those crimes. That’s the end of your adjudication, but K’Twillis and Mackestray? Those two have a lot to answer for. Their judgments won’t be so light once we find them and get to the truth.”
“If I may,” Erasmus interrupted. Ankh remained stoic throughout. He probably hadn’t heard a word Red had said. “How did Mackestray find skeletons in his targets’ closets?”
Red turned to the Crenellian, unsure if he was talking to Ankh or the AI in Ankh’s head. He decided that it didn’t matter. “He was always talking to someone called ‘Margaret.’”
“Did you see her?”
“No. It was over a private comm channel with a device he carried.”
“I suspect Margaret is an AI. Did he have a spaceship?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t work for him long enough to find out.”
“I’ll assume that he does. Someone in his position needs to be able to move quickly and freely. I’ll begin my search for a ship that travels where he does. Maybe this won’t be so hard after all.”
“It won’t be that easy,” Red suggested. Rivka nodded her agreement.
“I guess our first stop is the mayor,” Rivka said. “You said that even the clients became victims, so she is probably still on the hook somehow. Chaz! Get us an appointment. The Magistrate is in the house.”
With his usual efficiency, the AI ordered a vehicle with a driver and made an appointment with the mayor’s office, since it wasn’t possible to make an appointment with the mayor directly. Rivka decided it was better than nothing. The group boarded the small van, the bodyguards in full combat gear. After the last few cases, it was clear that the Magistrate and her team had a huge target on their backs.
She wondered how many times she would be shot while doing her job. She wondered about Grainger and the others. He had said it was dangerous but hadn’t expounded.
“What do you think, Red?” Rivka asked.
“Are we taking bets on who bleeds first, how far we end up running, or which bones get broken?” he asked as if reading her thoughts.
“Am I that transparent?”
“We’re going into the lion’s den, where only lions live. I’m calling first blood today,” Red replied nonchalantly.
“I thought I had today,” Lindy declared. “You have to pick a time.”
“Ladies first.” Red dipped his head but maintained a constant vigil, watching outside the vehicle.
“By three in the afternoon.”
“Fine. I’ll take six.”
“No!” Rivka shot back. “There will be no blood today.”
“No blood today, but running on the next planet? I say it happens within two hours of leaving the ship,” Jay offered.
“What?” Rivka glanced from face to face. “Ankh? What do you have to say?”
“Erasmus and I calculate that at least four members of the crew will be injured and all members of the crew will run at some point during this mission.”
“It’s a case,” Rivka clarified. “Four injured and everyone running? I can’t believe how little faith you have in the Federation’s legal system.”
Ankh looked up at the Magistrate, his goggles firmly in place on his forehead. “It has nothing to do with faith and everything to do with statistics and what can be calculated. Calling this a case is a disservice to the real cases out there,” Ankh replied evenly. “We are on a mission to find Red’
s former employers and convince them to do something that they have no intention of doing. When they see Red, every resource at their command will be brought to bear with the singular intent of killing him. Anyone nearby will be collateral damage.” Ankh pointed to those in the van.
“It seems to me,” Jay suggested, “that maybe we want to maintain a lower profile. Go undercover.”
“You should listen to her,” Ankh said. “Her recommended course of action will reduce our casualties by half.”
“Aren’t you the pleasant one.” Rivka snorted. “What’s it worth to get in on this?”
“We had to roll over from Collum Gate, but it’s a two fifty buy-in. Eight seconds, Magistrate. It was eight whole seconds from when we left the space terminal to first blood. Even Ankh, cynic that he is, had guessed it would take four hours.”
“I’m not a cynic. My estimates are based on probabilities, which are rooted in math. I’m very good at math.”
“There’s two grand in there right now.”
Lindy gave the thumbs up.
“I could use that money,” Jay admitted.
“Two thousand credits?” Rivka couldn’t believe that her team was betting on aspects of the case. “What’s the bet that I get the perp?”
“There’s no bet on that since it is a hundred percent certain that you will.” Red nodded vigorously in support of his own statement.
“I recuse myself completely. You four will have to work it out among yourselves. I can’t be betting on when someone gets punched in the face.”
“We should add that,” Jay suggested.
“Ankh?” Lindy asked.
“Yes, yes. I’ll add that as a prop bet. Check your datapads for the update.”
Rivka shook her head. The driver seemed oblivious to the banter. Rivka wished she had been excluded as well. Sometimes it was better not to know.
“If you want to get me anything for Christmas, I’ll take ignorance.”
“What’s Christmas?” Ankh asked.
“Does it come in a spray?” Red wondered.
“I’ll take two if anyone finds it,” Jay added.
“I feel like the world has turned on its head in the past five minutes.” Rivka continued to shake her head until the van pulled in front of the gleaming multi-story building with a massive sign out front that declared it the seat of the Remulon government. By the people and for the people.
Rivka took in the words. Red was the first out of the van, blocking the view of the Magistrate’s door with his body. Ankh and Jay climbed out next and walked ahead. Rivka stepped out and followed Red as he took the lead on his way to the entrance. Lindy jumped out last and assumed a position at a reasonable stand-off distance. Her eyes darted back and forth and up and down in a never-ending search pattern.
Red walked quickly but varied his speed, zigzagging on occasion to foil the aim of any sniper.
They breathed a collective sigh of relief when they walked inside, and Rivka glared at her oversized bodyguard.
“What happened to the good old days where we didn’t have to walk on pins and needles?”
“I don’t remember any days like that. All I remember is shooting and running, or running and not shooting. Have I mentioned lately how much I love my railgun? Thanks for hooking me up,” Red remarked.
“Doesn’t look like the home team appreciates it.” Rivka held out her credentials as a group of armed security, weapons drawn, rushed toward them. Rivka wondered if Lindy was going to win the first blood bet. Rivka decided it was time to change the dynamic. “I am a Federation Magistrate, and you will stand down!”
The group spread out, slowed, and assumed firing stances, both hands on their handheld weapons as they aimed at the group.
“What the hell did I just say?” Rivka stormed up to the oldest member of the group and shoved her credentials in front of his face. “I suggest you lower your weapons, or the Federation will come down on you like a metric butt-ton of bricks.”
The man whipped out a hand and ripped the credentials from Rivka. She could feel her temperature rise and started to shake with anger. The man flipped the badge and document at her face before telling his people to stand down.
Rivka let the credentials bounce off her and land on the floor. When his weapon had been lowered, she launched her fist into his face, snapping his head backward. He was out cold before he hit the floor. “That’s for assault and battery on a Federation official, specifically me. You have been judged, asswipe. Paperwork to follow.”
He never heard the judgment that was passed. Whenever he woke up, he’d discover that he was a criminal.
“I didn’t have time to bet on the punch!” Jay whispered loudly. Ankh shook his big head, which always made it look like he was going to fall over.
“That line will have to be to the minute. No day or hour bets. Too broad,” Ankh declared.
“Focus, people,” Red warned. He and Lindy had no time for casual conversation. Their railguns remained leveled at the security personnel.
“Where’s the mayor’s office?” Rivka demanded.
“Top floor.”
“Déjà vu all over again.” Rivka waved for the others to follow.
“You can’t go up there like that,” one of the security people stated, holding his hand out as if that would stop Red.
“What is it with these places? It’s like they all have the same playbook.” Rivka fixed the man with a withering glare. “You! Shut your pie hole. Magistrate. Under Federation orders. This fuckstick right here, should he ever wake up, is why we’re armed. People like you make it necessary for people like me to have people like them!” Rivka stabbed a finger at Red. “Come on.”
She headed for the steps without looking back, hearing the footfalls of her team, each distinct and unique, behind her. “Maybe first time someone points a weapon,” Jay whispered.
“That seems appropriate, but we’ll have to measure that one in seconds,” Ankh replied softly. Red picked Ankh up halfway up the first flight of stairs.
Lindy waited at the bottom, covering the security people while the others quickly climbed.
“I think we need to work on our undercover skills,” Jay suggested.
At the top of the stairs, Rivka stopped. “No more talk of bets, please. I need to concentrate, because we need the mayor to tell us what we want to know, and then we need to get the hell out of here before someone gets hurt.”
“Couldn’t agree more, Magistrate,” Red replied. “The Blokite will be on the move. Every second we delay is that much more of a lead we give him.”
“My thoughts exactly,” Rivka agreed. Red put Ankh down, and Jay took the Crenellian’s hand. The big man walked carefully to the double doors labeled with the mayor’s office coat of arms and slowly opened the door before leading the team through.
Chapter Five
The outer office was a beehive of activity. No one bothered to look at the visitors until someone noticed the armed party, then, with a gasp and stifled cry, all work ground to a halt. Rivka marched ahead, showing her credentials.
“I’m Magistrate Rivka Anoa, and I need to talk with the mayor. This is Federation business, and I’ll tolerate no interference.”
The first person to speak didn’t make a good impression. “You can’t see the mayor.”
“Is she not in? Because I think she’s here.” Rivka looked at Ankh, who nodded slightly.
“You don’t have an appointment, and she’s busy, so you can’t get an appointment.” The woman behind the desk didn’t bother to stand as she delivered her well-practiced line.
“Red, break the door down.”
Like a freight train heading down the tracks, Red launched himself at the door, kicking it handle-high. It burst open. Inside, a naked mayor and well-built young man ducked for cover. Rivka powered in with Jay and Ankh in tow. “Wait here and keep them outside,” the Magistrate told Lindy.
Red did a quick survey of the room before grabbing the man by the back of the neck,
frog-marching him to the door, and throwing him outside. He pushed the broken door as far closed as it could go, comfortable that Lindy stood just outside. He took the opposite position inside and leaned back to watch Rivka do her job.
Holding a shirt protectively over herself, the mayor snarled and spit invectives.
“Shut up,” Rivka ordered. “I know you paid Tod Mackestray to guarantee that you’d win the election. That’s quite illegal, I’ll have you know. The Federation is a champion of fair and impartial voting processes, so I can either haul your ass off to Jhiordaan, or you can tell me where to find Mackestray.”
The woman turned her back while she dressed. After she finished, she slumped into her chair.
“You’re in big trouble with the Federation, besides whatever the hell we just witnessed going on in here.” Rivka impatiently paced. “Where is he?”
“I haven’t heard from him since the election. I am just a mayor, so maybe I’m a nobody to someone like him.”
“What did you pay him? Half a mil, was it?” Rivka pressed while she worked her way around the desk to loom over the mayor. “Where is he?” She grabbed the woman’s arm and opened her mind, but the mayor didn’t know. She wasn’t sure where he’d gone after she had won. She was happy not to have heard from him. But he went somewhere...
“You saw him leaving on a small spaceship. A yacht. Where was it headed?”
Surprise crossed the mayor’s face before she resumed her neutral politician’s expression.
“The ship’s name was Pandora’s Pleasure. I don’t know where it was headed because I didn’t want to know. When you become associated with a creature like Tod Mackestray, the less you know, the better off you’ll be.” She looked at Red. “Haven’t I seen you before?”
“I also was an associate of Mister Mackestray for a very brief time,” Red admitted.
Ankh disappeared into his own world as he worked with Erasmus to locate the Blokite’s yacht.
Wry mirth sparkled in the mayor’s expression. She leaned back and closed her eyes. “It wasn’t worth it.”
Judge, Jury, & Executioner Boxed Set Page 61