“All right, as long as you call me Amanda. I will tell you the problems that we are currently facing. You must remember anything that we may discuss has to remain confidential. The general public does not know of these incidents I am about to discuss with you.”
“I have no trouble keeping information to myself. You don’t need to worry about that.”
Amanda chewed on that for a moment. A Professor doesn’t usually do work that has to be confidential. Hmm, Amanda thought.
“All right Liam here is what we have.” Amanda gave Liam a rundown on the problems they have been having with what appears to be someone from one of the tribes. Besides the caravan attacks, she also appraised him of the death of Dr. Pierson. She kept a few things back, such as the kidnapping of a boy from one of the caravans, and the report Sargent Onn furnished to her.
Liam asked if she cared if he smoked while, turning over in his mind what Amanda had told him, filling what appeared to be a very old pipe carved out of a dark brown, almost black wood. Amanda had never seen anyone smoke before: it was not outlawed on any planet except Terra, but it was highly discouraged on most all of them.
“There are many instances of a group of people, or even entire planets that have, for one reason or another, regressed from a civilized condition back into not a savage culture but rather primitive lifestyles,” explained Liam. “This can be the result of a disaster, manmade or natural, or the rise of a strong leader supported by a large group of individuals that want to regress to a lifestyle of an earlier time. The earlier time they envision however usually never existed and their primitive culture seldom lasted beyond the first generation. The groups of people inhabiting the equatorial jungle did so because they wanted to live in a somewhat primitive manner but retain all the best of modern civilization in the health, communications, and sometimes transportation fields, and in trade. The largest group you have here, the Pawassa, operate a trade route from Atlanta City to Southport very profitably. Even the small groups or tribes trade for most anything they want.”
“What do the smaller tribes use to trade with?” Amanda asked. “I know the Pawassa’ trade route supplies the pawassa tribe everything they need, including a good portion of their food, but I have never considered what the other tribes had to trade with.”
“The smaller tribes harvest and trade various plant and plant extract that that are used to manufacture medicines and drugs through-out the Federation. That is what I meant in saying all of the tribes may live in the jungle in a somewhat primitive style, but they certainly are not savages. No, I don’t see any tribe acting the way you have explained to me. Now that doesn’t mean that a group of individuals, probably teen-agers, aren’t attacking the caravans just for the fun of it. They seem to be taking great pains to see no one was injured. Nor have there been any serious injuries except for one idiot that went and literally stood under the arrow that struck him.” Explained Liam.
“However, the murder of Dr. Pierson was another story. I think you should be looking for two different groups, with the murder carrying priority.”
“Actually that was my thinking also. The murder is going to be the difficult one to solve. I think as soon as we catch these one or more of these kids we will be able to stop them from playing their games before someone really gets hurt. But that leaves us with two female murderers who killed a college professor while dressed, more or less, in tribal clothing, in the middle of a big city.”
“That is if there such a thing,” said Liam. I haven’t seen much of the tribes during the short time I have been here, but the females from the different tribes I have seen in Town, I mean the City, dress just about any way she likes to. I have even seen some townies dress more like someone from the tribes than the tribal members do.”
“You said you had been studying other tribes for several years. Were there very many tribes similar to the tribes we have here on Edge World?”
“Your tribes here on Edge World are really very unique. I have never seen another tribe that differs from the main population primarily through an absolute desire and requirement of individual independence. Many of your tribesmen could and do mingle with others in Atlanta City with nothing to point them out as being from the tribes. If you are going to use the reported dress of the two suspects as leads, I would suggest you don’t. It could easily have been two young women from Southport or Atlanta City as they could have been from one of the tribes.
“Oh great. That just enlarges the pool of suspects. I suppose you would also include the few bands of nomad on the great plans,” Amanda retorted?”
“Actually, I didn’t even know about those people until a few days ago. You indubitably know much more about them than I do!”
“I don’t think that anyone really knew them. They stay to themselves, living off of herds of sheep as they wander around the plains. They do some trading with the caravans but seldom if ever do they enter a town or village. I think I would be safe to say I have never seen one in Atlanta City in all of the years I have lived here. How someone could find something to bribe them with, I don’t know. Of course, I don’t know what you would use to bribe a jungle tribesman with either that they couldn’t buy for themselves.”
“I am sorry that I couldn’t be more help, Amanda.”
“Well, you have me convinced that we should not put much time into that murder case. Without doubt it probably was carried out by someone in the City who had contacts with one of tribes and was where she, or he for that matter, obtained tribal dress and the drug they used to kill him. It just occurred to me that some, if not all, of his research team had been in the jungles previously. I think I will comm Captain Carlos and see if he has caught up with the rest of Dr. Pierson’s team. Again thank you for coming to see me Professor Smithe. Are you leaving the planet soon or are you going to spend time in the jungle?”
“I am Liam, remember. And no, I won’t be leaving right away. I have some work to do here in the City and I may have to go to the jungle tribes once or twice to complete my report.”
“Well, it has been nice talking to you but I have other crises to handle!”
“I can take the hint. I have enjoyed talking to you too, Amanda. Perhaps you will let me take you to dinner. Say tomorrow night?”
Amanda had to think about that for a moment. It was not that she wasn’t stand-offish with men since the girls were born; although it had been a year? Or was it longer since she last went out on a date? But Liam seemed awfully pushy. On the other hand, she is not someone easy to ask out for a date so Liam may be just taking a shot in the dark when he has very little time on-planet. She certainly has not had much time for dates of any kind. Her twins took up all the time she could spare from climbing the ladder from officer to the head of OSI. Most of her friends worked with her or over at the City Militia and they spent their off-duty time discussing old crime cases. But he was good looking and had an air about himself that spoke to her in some physical draw. Besides, she told herself, there were several questions he had evaded answering. Maybe if she got him into the right mood, he would tell her more about himself. It was at that moment Amanda realized she really didn’t know Liam except for what he had told her. On anyone else she would have run a standard background check. But in her attraction to Liam she never thought of it.”
“I can’t make it tomorrow night, I promised my daughters I would take them to an Arena Show they have been bugging me about for days. But I could have dinner with you on Seventhday evening if you would like.”
“Very much so. Give me your address and I will pick you up at eighteen hundred hours.”
As Amanda did so, she again wondered why she was doing this. Maybe because it had been so long since her last date.
“Here you go, Liam. I will see you on Seventhday.”
She quickly escorted him out of her office, her mind already turning back to her murder case.
“Hey Miguel, this is Amanda.”
“What’s up Amanda? Have you caught the two wo
men that murdered poor Dr. Pierson?”
“No, I haven’t and after talking to Professor Smithe, I have this idea that we are looking at the wrong people.”
“How is that and who is Professor Smithe?”
“Professor Smithe is doing a study of our tribal groups. I don’t know how long he has been here but he came up with an idea about our murder suspects. He suggested that we look at the other members of his research team. Most if not all of them have had previous contact with the tribes and would have had access to both tribal dress and that drug that killed him. Have you found any of them to interview yet?”
Captain Carlos thought about it for a minute. “That would surely fit and members of his team would much more likely have a motive to see him dead than some tribesmen or women. However, we still have a problem. None of the other team members have been located. That Dr. Blake that came to see us, and you too, has not been seen by anyone else since just before we found the body. Even the other members are still missing. I admit we have not spent a lot of attention on them as we believed that our suspects were from one of the tribes. We are carrying it as an open case for whomever has a few minutes to run down leads.” Miguel quickly review what staff he had available.” I assigned Investigator Yagoslav to the case. I will see that he puts more emphasis on the case. He could pick a partner here, but what about you sending Sgt. Townsead as an assist? She is already familiar with the case?”
“It is Investigator Townsead now and yes, you are right, she could help out,” said Amanda. I hate to lose anyone right now while we solve this caravan problem, but we have more back-up staff than you do. I will send her over as soon as I locate her. I am not sure what project she is working on right now.”
“I am sure that putting their heads together they can finish up this case.”
“Yeah, Tracey is good but I think she sees Yagoslav sometimes off duty. I just hope they don’t put anything beside their heads together.”
.
Chapter 6
Captain Santos left work on time on Seventhday, which was a short work-day anyway. Upon her arrival at home she found her two daughters going over some paperwork. Amanda assumed it was part of Charlie’s senior project.
“Good afternoon, girls.”
“Hi Mom,” both girls said together. “You are home early. We are just finishing up some records for Charlie’s project.”
”We were just wishing that Charlie had just hired some of the tribesmen to go collect the plants for him,” said Kristina.
“Probably he was afraid they wouldn’t get the right plants without him being there to point out what he wanted,” pointed out Tamara.
Again, Amanda was amazed how much Tamara had included herself into conversations lately. Maybe it was some of Charlie rubbing off on her. If so, she thought to herself, more power to him.
“You know people from the tribe, don’t you, Mom?” asked Tamara, “Couldn’t you could comm someone from the tribe to help Charlie.”
“Of course I know people from the Pawassa tribe. That’s where your father was born. And died there, too, I regret.” Amanda was surprised the thought of their father made her also think about Liam, which she quickly brushed away.
“No, I can’t use the law enforcement comm system for private messages. But if Charlie gets back without his plants, I will write a private request to some of the people I know and I can give it to someone going that way.”
“But that could take forever, Mom,” the twins wailed.
“I am sorry but that is the best I can do. It won’t be fast but I am sure we can get Charlie his plants.“
A few minutes later Amanda started up the stairs but stopped when she heard the twins giggling, their heads together. “What are you two up to she asked the twins who looked like they were about to burst.
“Are you actually going on a date, Mom?” they asked together.
“I am if I am able to trust a pair of fifteen-year-old twins to stay home by themselves,” said Amanda.
“Oh, that is mean,” said Tamara and Kristina. “You have left us many times, without an adult present and there has never been any trouble.”
“That was only for short times. I will admit that you make sure that the house is properly secure before you go to bed. While we are on that subject, I want you two to keep your wrist unit on or within reach at all time. I got that particular unit so you can access the law and order network. That is particularly important now that the public network is almost useless because of the static. By the way, where did you hear that I was going on a date anyway?”
“I heard Marilyn talking to her cousin on the comm,” Kristina answered. “Are you really going on a date? Is that why you came home early?”
“Yes, that is why I came home early,” Amanda said with a sigh. “I have to call Captain Carlos from the City Militia and Sgt. Townsead to make sure she gets with Sgt. Yagoslav.” Before she started dressing, she put in the comm call in to Militia Headquarters hoping both Captain Carlos and Investigator Yugoslav were out of the office so she could just leave a message. She didn’t want to get tied up in long conversations right now, but when she reached the City Militia her comm was taken by Miguel when she asked for Captain Carlos or Sgt. Yagoslav.
“Miguel, I am surprised to see you at your headquarters this late on a Seventhday. Even I managed to get away from the office.”
“I wouldn’t be here now, finishing off paperwork, but I sent Yagoslav over to the hospital and am waiting for his call before I leave.”
“Who or what is at the hospital?”
“We finally found one of Dr. Blake’s team members. I guess it is Dr. Blake’s now that Dr. Pierson is dead. Anyway, a Professor Ja’haal, listed on that team, is being treated for several stab wounds at Mercy General. They just called in a report a few hours ago so we don’t have any details, but apparently he is very critical and might not make it. I am hoping Yugoslav can at least get his attacker’s name from him.”
“Well, my information may not be all that important then. Talking with my girls Charlie Norton, a friend of theirs, said they had seen Dr. Blake, or someone that looked like Dr. Blake on planet at least three months ago. I didn’t pay any attention at the time as we were discussing another problem, but it now occurs to me there may be a connection to the Dr. Pierce case. So again, it might not be important, particularly if you we can’t find her, but this mystery gets deeper and deeper.”
“Just like ‘where has Professor Ja”haal been since he disappeared’ deeper?”
“Just another piece of data. We get enough of them and it will all start to make sense.”
“On that theme Amanda, if Yugoslav and Townsead don’t get anything from Professor Ja”haal I will have them talk to this Charlie Norton kid. Is he the same age as your daughters?”
“No, he is seventeen and, I believe living mostly on his own. After his father died a couple of years ago he has been spending his time at his uncle’s rather than his mother’s. I have to run now, Miguel, but let me know what happens.”
“I will do, Amanda, but it might be Firstday morning before I get to you.”
“That’s fine, I could use a quiet weekend. What’s left of it anyway.”
While their mother was dressing for her date, Kristina and Tamara were hard at speculation.
“I wonder what he looks like, “said Kristina.
“We will know what he looks like when he picks her up,” replied Tamara. “That is if they aren’t meeting somewhere.”
“It has been so long since Mom has been on a date. I wonder if he is also a cop.”
“That we won’t know unless she tells us.”
“I wish we had a brother, “Kristina said. They had talked about having a brother before, but not for several years.
“I don’t think Mom is going to have any more kids. Besides, we will be off to college soon even if she gave us a baby brother. “Mom probably won’t marry again. She is too old. She is over thirty.”
“You
are probably right but you never know. Do you think we should try to help her?”
“That is a big fat NO!” Tamara said. “Don’t you remember how much trouble we got into?”
“We were a lot younger when we tried that.” And you have to admit that we can see something about to happen sometimes, just not very clear and not all the time.”
“I still say no, Kristina.” I have a feeling already that something very bad is about to happen. I don’t know exactly what, but we better keep our heads down.”
“Is this a seeing Tamara?” Kristina knew that her sister could not only see something about to happen, but she also could get a feel if the near future was good or bad.
“No, this isn’t anything like before. I just can feel something bad or evil is about to happen to all of us.”
“I wish Mom wasn’t in such dangerous work.”
“I don’t like it either but can you see Mom sitting in an office? She hates office work. Maybe this promotion to the head of the OSI will keep her out of the field.”
“Right. Lots of luck with that one. Mom will find a way to get in the field one way or the other.”
“Do you think Mom will really help Charlie get those plants he needs?”
“I think mom will help but I also think Charlie has a good chance of finding those plants with the guides that he has with him. Remember Charlie has been to the area where the plants grow so he should be able to get there again.”
“We will see.”
Amanda was in a quandary as to what to wear. The restaurant Liam said they were going to dinner was somewhat fancy. When she was not in uniform she wore jeans and a sweater or a jumpsuit. It didn’t take much time to determine she didn’t have anything appropriate to wear. Looking at the time, she decided to run down to Magellan’s, a somewhat fancy dress shop in the Atlanta Hotel. Her friend Rebecca worked there and could help Amanda find something to wear. With quick instructions to the girls, she headed downtown. Rebecca would want the whole story regarding whom Amanda was dating but that was a price she knew she had to pay.
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