[Co-author] Yeah me and Cannonshop talked about it and both of us are just finding we aren't able to keep this going but I'll at least post what we've written up. I should also put up the AI art for the characters as is now typical. [/Co-Author]
**8**
”It's not like I remember" Mike caught his statement for what it was, and left it there.
When the 101st hit Mainstreet, the spaceport had been almost up to Hegemony standards, the dropship pits had cooling towers and heat sumps to cool dropship hulls, the terminal had been almost a kilometer long and half a kilometer deep, a four story building with passenger concourses.
Almost all of it was gone.
Stripped after more than a century. he knew it intellectually, but
seeing it was still…disturbing.
Even with all the other destruction, the loss, the death of civility and civilization…
They tore the damn buildings down to loot them for materials."What're you thinking about, Mike?" Nixon asked as they passed through what passed for a customs checkpoint.
"Scavenger Economies." Mike said, "Remember when the one-oh-one hit this place?"
"I do…yeah. They must've stripped it for the utilities, and busted up the ferrocrete to get the endo reinforcement bars."
Mike nodded. "Must have."
The lone building was at least of a decent size. It was clearly meant to be the ticketing and customs facility for inbound and outbound flights.
Even that though had clearly seen better days.
They entered the building and walked up to the checkpoint.
The young man at the counter barely looked up before muttering “Anything to declare?”
“Skipping right past the business or pleasure questions eh?” Lara smiled.
“No one comes to Mainstreet for pleasure.” The young man countered.
“That bad out here these days?” Lara leaned in, letting the young man get a good look at how perfectly she had her top zipped down.
“Bandit activity has been on the rise. Word is bandits over-ran a settlement on Winter and had to be driven out. That sort of thing doesn’t attract tourists. You aren’t refugees, you’re dressed too nice. You aren’t the rotation force, too few of you. So you must be mercs passing through.”
“Too true.”
“Still I need your documentation and if you’re bringing in anything we need to know about.”
Lara reached inside her shirt and pulled out an old fashioned hard copy passport.
The young man inspected it, then looked Lara in the eyes, then down Lara’s frame.
“I have an excellent surgeon, nutritionist, and personal trainer. All in one. But you’ll have to forgive me if I’m reluctant to give out their contact info. Hard to find someone who can keep me looking this good despite my age.” Lara adjusted her posture to let the young man oggle her more easily. “But as far as your records are concerned we only intend to be on world for a few days. Just need to stretch our legs on the surface of a world and do some research.”
“All right.” The young man said as he handed Lara’s paperwork back, ever so slightly thinner.
The Murderhobos went through the customs checkpoint with no further hassling.
“I thought for sure they were going to want to search our stuff. How’d you do that?” Sarah asked once back outside.
“Something you’ll learn. How to weaponize the fact that most men find us women of the unit achingly attractive. Plus a bribe hidden in my passport. Only certain crimes concern us. So we don’t mind a little corruption here and there if we can make use of it.” Lara answered.
Somehow Mike and Theresa had gotten ahead of the rest of the group and already had transport waiting for them.
“I didn’t even notice them split off…” Sarah muttered.
“They’re really good at that.” Styles helped load a crate in the back of the transport.
As soon as everyone and everything was loaded aboard the groundtruck it was a short drive to what would be their temporary base.
It was a rundown old style apartment complex, a true one with a common square/green space, the lowest level being various types of shops, and living areas above those.
Theresa pointed at one of the former shops and Nixon and Styles took the crates to that one.
Sarah followed, curious.
This one had been setup as a small restaurant.
A rag was put in one of her hands and a bucket of water in the other.
“Unless you want to eat and sleep in filth.” Styles said as she started cleaning up the place.
“Don’t worry about any squatters. You’ll be safe from them.” Theresa said as she was scrubbing the food prep area.
Sarah got to work. After about an hour Theresa was cooking and true to her word Theresa had drawn out all the squatters with the smells of fresh food.
An agreement was reached so the Murderhobos could have their privacy without displacing the squatters.
“Regional LCAF HQ. Admin offices.” Mike began briefing as the holoprojector began putting images on the wall.
“We’re not sneaking in as cleaning crew or prostitutes this time are we?” Lara observed.
“We don’t have the connections in play to make that work this time. But as traveling mercs, it wouldn’t be out of the ordinary if we swung by to inquire about possible work.” Mike continued.
“I think I see where this is going. We put on a show. Give the local garrison troops a little something to look at while Nixon and Wangker slice their databases.” Styles nodded. “I think I have just the costumes to give us the best chance.”
**9**
"...You came back clean on the MRBC, Mister Garrow-no complaints, no real record either, so I still have some questions." Kommandant Mira Dayyan folded her hands, "We get mercs coming through here claiming to look for work-more than a few of them aren't here looking for a job, some of the ones who do come looking for work, end up on the other side as bandits."
"I understand, Kommandant." Mike said, "you have a legitimate concern there. We're not looking for anything long-term, mostly we're looking to do some short-term work. My company has a backer, and part of this mission we're on right now, is establishing reputation for securing future contracts. Going bandit runs directly counter to that."
"You have a backer…"
"Yes, investors." Mike smiled, "I couldn't afford to have the equipment we've got, without our chief investor, and that investor would be…unhappy…if my unit were to turn pirate-we're only interested in honorable work that improves our backer's business position and can work to improve their public relations, if and when they choose to go public."
"Intriguing." she said, "Your 'backer' is intending for your company to be publicly traded on the Market?"
"Shares." Mike said, "As part of the overall image. We've talked stock releases, but first, we've got to…how do you say it in german…Prove our value and viability? It's a lot like the Solaris Stables system-we need to prove ourselves, so when we start marketing certain goods, they'll sell. War is a young man's business, and I already know sooner or later I'll be getting old. Naturally, the work itself needs to be short-term and somewhat visible, or at least, something that can be marketed via press-release."
"So not out here just to hunt pirates…"
"Hunting pirates is the
sales pitch, not the objective." he agreed, "Part of the problem with bandit-hunting, after all, is what do you get paid for when the Bandits are
gone? When they move on somewhere else due to the heat, or when you're
very successful? Killing scumbag bandits is the marketing method, and marketing methods can change, the mission is to sell a product."
"What product?"
"I don't know. My investors haven't said, but they gave me a huge lump of money for equipment, and spares, and told me the overall strategy. For all I know, it could be sports drinks or potato crisps. All I know for certain, is that we're here to shop for work in anti piracy and bounty hunting roles." He smiled closed-lipped, "and the investors believe doing so successfully will help their bottom line and build reputation for their corporate interests in a manner similar to, but not exactly like, running a championship Solaris stable."
"So they sent you here to find fights to win." she said.
"Exactly." Mike resisted the urge to check his watch. By now, Johnny and Nixon should have penetrated the information nets.
"That is…interesting. Well, I can't offer anything but long-term garrison contracts, however, I'm willing to okay your short-term licenses and you can look for work locally in this region. Given the prevalence of Bandit attacks, maybe you'll get a bite ... There was that attack on Winter, after all."
"Yes."
**10**
There are other ways besides slicing into networks, to gather information. Styles occasionally even reminds people of this fact-or Tess does.
One of the best ways to identify who's got an enemy in the corporate hierarchy, is to go where the corporate Employees spend their free time, and just…hang out.
Make 'friends', listen to who's complaining, buy them a few drinks, and let them violate their non-disclosures all on their own.
Maybe, even seem to agree with whatever their personal, professional grievance is.
There are several different social 'tiers' where private sector people go to soothe their nerves, socialize, or avoid going home. Generally, if you're trying to find someone with a faulty sense of security in the middle levels, Public Houses aren't the location, unless they're relatively upscale, the kind of places where the bartender has a degree of talent and training, with quiet music and soft, but not low, lighting. Styles worked out the right places through a survey of the local advertising, and by looking in the parking lot. The gathering places for lower executives and middle management have personal automobiles, of good quality and recent vintage.
High powered executives and important managers have drivers, or use taxi cabs, or have personal autos more on the side of extortion…or compact cars no more than ten, but no less than two, years old…and they have personal staff with them.
If you're looking for a Janitor, you visit the lower-tier side of the city, not quite dive bars, just lower income places with pickup trucks, old cars, or the occasional older but still maintained Bike or Trike out front.
Family cars or farm trucks are a dead giveaway.
"Why am I here though?" Sarah asked.
"Because a lone woman at a nightspot on a week night is usually a professional-but not an office professional." Styles explained, "Two women out are 'hunting'. Three works too, which is why Steph is meeting us here. Three mid-tier office girls in our twenties to early thirties, out trolling for men at the middle-management singles places where middle managers go to find someone to cheat on their spouses with."
"Why's that important??"
"Because the theory that this was instigated between rival executives at the parent company holds water." Styles explained, "The Military isn't likely to pull a raid on loyal citizens for shits and giggles, but corrupt officers will usually take backhanders from corporate executives and if they're dirty enough, they'd do what was done to you for a little 'extra', or for the offer of a better job when they leave the service…usually a personal security gig. Thing is, the rivalries between senior people are
known to middle management, and if they're sharp enough to instigate internal sabotage, someone will talk about it…to the right person. We're aiming to be that right person, while Vien is hitting the local boys-bar because that kind of man doesn't talk to women."
**11**
"Pathfinder, Your arrival is welcomed." Kass Deen112 said from inside the airlock.
"Captain, I bring meat, wood, and biomass. I'm looking to trade for news." Sheri said.
"You're safe on my boat, Pathfinder, so long as you don't offer violence."
"I bring no violence with me."
The hatch to the umbilical opened, and Sheri floated across.
"As soyuz and Apollo." Kass said, grasping Sheri's hand. "Long trip from where you started, beltah."
"Ayuh." Sheri nodded. "You're already to one eleven?"
"We reorganized it after Black August." Kass said, "Which you already know. Last time someone had your name, she was from Lost Ganymede, and word remains that Sol is unsafe for Free Stars."
"It remains so." Sheri agreed.
"You're here about Winter, looking for words to tell you who." Kass said, "Unless I miss entirely the configuration of
Gloria in Excelsis, which ship has been 'sighted' near several incidents where the evil got what they deserved."
"Keep it in your helmet." Sheri cautioned.
"The Guild keeps its secrets, Pathfinder. Before I ask what the favor is, come and have a meal."
“Ayeh. Thank you. Though I must confess I am surprised to be meeting with Free Stars when the information was this system was Golden Bough.”
They began floating through the passageway deeper into the ship.
“It is. My sister is contracted with one of theirs. So we have an arrangement for situations like this.”
“Your chef? What is their rating?”
“Two.”
Sheri nodded. Much like a good Pathfinder, a good chef was a godsend for a spacer community or ship’s crew. Higher the number the better they were. Many failed to get to Three or higher before they had to retire.
Microgravity, air pressure, temperature, and a dozen other variables made it so.
They came to a hatchway and inside was a small office and two chairs on opposite sides of a desk.
They sat and secured themselves.
“Drink?” Kass asked.
“Whiskey.” Sheri answered.
Kass produced a bottle and carefully filled a pair of microgravity tumblers.
Sheri smelled the amber liquid and took a sip.
A steward came by with two covered dishes.
He placed one in front of each of them then left as quietly.
“You know with a name like yours there would be many that would be willing to contract with you despite the association. It might be something to consider.” Kass said as she uncovered her dish.
“I am already as committed as I care to be.” Sheri shook her head.
She lifted the lid off her own dish.
It was a beef with noodles and vegetables dish. The sauce was thick and sticky to help keep everything together in the microgravity.
It wasn’t Tess’ cooking but it wasn’t bad.
“You’re going to make having some small talk while we eat difficult aren’t you?” Kass smirked.
“I’m sorry. I’ve grown accustomed to being alone. I don’t really mix with others socially that often.”
“I couldn’t tell.” Kass chuckled lightly. “You’re among your own kind here, not those wellahwalla you’re used to.”
“I’m that easy to read?”
“About who you keep company with? Ayeh. It’s pretty obvious. But if you choose to keep with them then I assume you have your reasons.”
“They’re not so bad.” Sheri admitted.
“Ayeh. Some of them are good folk and show promise. Got a couple on my crew that have taken to the life.”
“Good.” Sheri finished her dish.
“Okay, meal is finished and so is the small talk.” Kass finished her own dish.
“Winter. Someone convinced the LCAF that a civilian settlement was actually overtaken by bandits. Someone had to transport them. Anything else you can tell me would also be welcome.”
“Ayeh. The MS
MacKinnon's Hound, she's an
Invader class homeports here in the Mainstreet system. Contract's mostly with Lyran military or Defiance Industries, but they also do work for Coventry Metal Works. Their ship's master supplements his income with a commission as a 'Reserve Cruiser' to Transport Command."
"So…not regulars then?"
"As close as you're likely to get
this century. The Navy's been mostly past-tense since they lost the
LAS Invincible, it exists, but…well, more as an administrative thought exercise outside of the core worlds."
“Certain things are starting to make sense though… There is also a mech factory on Winter.”
"More than one. We've done haulage for subcontractors working out of the Arcologies there, but nothing
big, not since the Commonwealth took that world from the Rimjobs."
"Rumours then?" Sheri asked.
"Rumour has it, the site that was hit, was planned to be a major agglomerator-that is, it was supposed to concentrate a group of subcontractors for Coventry Metal Works, to move some production away from the ongoing war-fronts, story has it, the intent was to tie in to producing finished product, instead of subcomponents and materials."
“Our information was that it was Lockheed-CBM that was sponsoring the site.” Sheri furled her brows.
"Joint. Lockheed-CBM for some of the materials science and advanced tech, Coventry for the heavy equipment. My co-op lost a dozen transport contracts when the site was hit and the program shut down."
“That leaves room for a lot of suspects still.”
"It does, doesn't it?" her host said. "Here's one for your grapevine then. Word has it, the funding was redirected to expanding CMW's home complex on Coventry, only they're not building anything…and this is just spacer's rumours, but the Archon's out about forty billion Kroner in insurance payouts."
“I understand. Please if you learn anything more, I wish to know.”
"I'll keep a channel clear."
“I almost forgot… I must be getting old. We never agreed on a price.”
Kass smiled, "No, we didn't. Call it 'a favor to be repaid at a later date'."
“Thank you.”
**12**
It's never entirely simple, but this was getting downright
complicated. "Here's what we know-there's a lot of money that seems to be missing."
“No kidding. The existing Mechplant on winter is run by Diplass’ last remnants after the fall of the Rimworlds. We have Coventry, Lockheed, and a few others trying to establish a new site…” Lara rubbed her temples.
"Diplass, in turn, at least the remnants, are owned by Coventry Metal Works, and subcontracts computer components for avionics to Lockheed CBM through Nashan Enterprises on Donegal." Nixon continued, "The site you were working on, Sarah, was supposed to be a joint development project between Lockheed CBM and Coventry Metalworks, and they financed with a loan from House Steiner, who also underwrote the site's insurance."
“That’s what I don’t get. Certainly there would be more money in adding another factory rather than trying to keep the status quo.”
"Maybe." Nixon agreed, "Or…maybe someone saw a short term gain."
“Yeah, this feels more like a scheme. Perhaps something similar to what we saw way back when. Maybe someone saw a chance to get nice shiny new factory tooling but decided instead of getting that tooling they’d just say that was what was bought. In reality they bought old worn down tooling instead and blew up the evidence.”
Johnny leaned on his elbow, "Piracy has been
down in the region, and the decline started shortly after the project was approved. It's picking up again according to the canary sheets they've got in the Garrison's database."
“Yeah. That makes some sense. Someone bought up some substandard goods, faked a bandit report which was believed since it was on the rise, and in the firefight no one would even question that the tooling sent to the site was substandard because it was full of holes.” Lara said thoughtfully.
"I feel like we're close." Mike commented.
Bob was nibbling on a pickle from a local grocery chain. "Payoff." he said.
"What?"
"I think I get it." Sophie said, "The money was spent, until it ran out?"
Bob nodded.
"On paying off…who?"
Bob kept munching.
"The drop in raiding was after the project was approved, right?"
"That's what it looks like."
"And it picked up
after the hit on Winter?"
"The current senior officer in the Periphery region, he's new."
“Do we know what happened to the previous one?”
"Promoted to Mount Asgard, for reducing piracy in the region. At least, according to the press." Johnny commented, "There's some interesting flags on him in the Garrison's database-the guy did a few raids including a punitive up to the Oberon Confederacy, early on, the project got green-lit, and since then, there's been relative quiet."
"Until the Winter raid?"
"Until the Winter raid."
"Paid Off." Bob said again, as if it were obvious.
"They ran out of funds to embezzle paying off the Pirates."
“Well there goes my theory…” Styles fished a ten Star League Dollar bill out of her top and handed it to Nixon.
"Depending on who was doing that payoff. The hit on the Winter site was to cover for the embezzlement, how much do you want to bet they were skimming from the skim?" Eckhardt argued.
“Hmmm, we’re talking Lyrans, so that’s a sucker’s bet. If we got the contract we would find a fee for the fee to get a hard copy of the document.” Styles shook her head.
“Then seems likely the good Leutnant General that was supposed to be overseeing the safety of this region was in on this too.”
Sheri came in, she looked supremely uncomfortable here on the surface, her 'civlian clothes' were mismatched, out of date, and she stank of alcohol and narcotics.
"Sheri!!"
"Found out something, can't send by radio, had to…come…down." She said. There was a blank
terror in her eyes that even Sarah could see "Because it's important."
Tess stepped into the kitchen area and started working on some tea.
"What did you find out?"
"I know what they did, and why they did it, and who needs to face punishment. It's all in the flow of the money from the Winter project…it's like General Motors Ganymede Fifteen all over again."
Tess returned with a cup of hot tea and handed it to Sheri. “This will help.”
Sheri drank it like she was starving, not taking a moment to savor anything, but she did sit down at the table after Bob got up and gave a gesture to his former seat.
"The plot begins with an honest effort to improve things." Sheri said, "Bradford and Doons were hoping to place major production of a 'mech design out here, because it's too far for the Free Worlds or Dracs to raid, only there's the piracy problem, so the Province's Lieutenant General came up with the idea to use soft-power tactics to reduce it."
"The payoffs."
Sheri nodded. "He probably thought he could keep things temporary…" she swallowed and Tess poured another cup, "Thank you…They purchased equipment from a salvage outfit in Ender's Cluster and on Kowloon-two outfits. Both had contracts through the local branch of Golden Bough's Co-op, so they delivered the goods…which were brought to the transfer by members of Free Stars-my faction still
exists out here…"
"Amazing." Mike reacted.
"Yeah, tell me about it…anyway…The goods were charged a certain amount, which is not what Coventry paid-because they were paying a lot more. I just finished a comm-call with…someone. The Grimms were getting around two million Kroner plus goods 'off the back of a truck' to lay off this region, only the payments stopped."
"What kind of goods?"
"Farm gear, infrastructure goods, some ammunition, but the big product was water purifiers. Their dealer raised prices about the same time the money from the project hit 'budget deficit' and the main investors were going to send an auditor."
“And with the payments stopping, well it just sped up the inevitable. But before the Pirates could come…” Johnny nodded.
"They pre-empted the bandits by blowing it up so the auditors couldn't have a look." Mike completed the thought. "So…who?"
"The right 'honorable' Halvard Sisson Claybourne, comptroller for Coventry Metalworks Periphery branch. The bribes were set at
five million Kroner per year, but some of that was in material goods, what was delivered was just a bit under three million per year. Grimm was okay with the short-change because the cultivators were good, so were the purifiers."
“And the Leutnant General? No way their hands were clean in all this and I’m not sure I buy the whole transfer promotion thing.”
"He bought a residence within a kilometer of The Triad, and that's
expensive real estate, only old money or someone with a LOT of money can afford the lease there." Sheri noted, "My source says it's bigger than the Ducal visiting residence for Kowloon."
“And good old Giovanni is all too in over his head to really know what’s going on.” Sarah nodded.
"Who's your source?"
Sheri scowled at Bob for asking the question, but, after a moment's hesitation, "Mai Cartwright, she's got ties to Free Stars and to the feudal nobility in this region, her cousins work for the Dukes of three worlds, usually as transportation operators, and
Salvage Administration. Her cousin's firm at Kowloon supplied some of the equipment for both the project on Winter, and the water purifiers they were giving Grimm's bunch."
“So where is this Clayborne?” Sarah asked.
Sheri pointed west, "About ten kilometers west of here, just outside town, small estate…if he's home he likes to hit the fleshpots on Arluna."
“Scuttlebut we picked up at the bars was that he’s got a side piece from the secretarial pool. A cute little brunette with glasses if the picture we were shown was accurate.” Styles offered.
"We make sure she's not home." Bob muttered. "No Collateral."
"What if she's involved?"
"We should find out." Eckhardt said. "Also find out how much she knows."
“Besides we still don’t have enough to burn him with his superiors yet. So while we might know he did it…” Sarah groused.
"Mmmm… burn." Bob nodded. "Burn, then Burn."
“Yes.”
"We know the plot, let's focus on getting the evidence now." Mike said, "Preferably before someone else does…and Sheri, you don't have to stay ground-side for this, if you want-"
"I want. I'll be back on the ship, safely out of…" she glanced around, "...danger."
"Bob, could you make sure she makes it home safe?" Mike asked.
"Yes." the deformed man nodded once, laying a protective hand on the old woman.
“Be well and travel safe my champion. Thank you for braving the trip to tell us.” Theressa smiled.
"Milady." Sheri gave a head-bow, before letting Bob help her out of the chair and to the door.
"I wanted to do that, Mike." Johnny commented.
"I need you here. Bob will make sure she's protected." Mike said firmly. "So, let's get to work, we know
what to look for, now we just need to find it."
“Tell me you got a name before you got too drunk Styles.” Lara asked.
"Suzanne Crowder. Age thirty two, no children, used to be a beauty queen locally." Styles said, "She's…omnivorous."
“Well that should make our introduction easier. Got an address for her?” Lara prompted.
Styles preened, then said, "We'll need to use Jerry for this. Suzie's omnivorous, but she mostly likes men, and he's her type for a fling."
“All right. Then what’s our approach for the big man himself?”
Steph looked at Sarah, then at Bob's empty seat, and then to Eckhardt. "I think I know how to approach him." She said, "Executives and academics tend to share certain…traits, we're all very vain and arrogant, don't you know."
“So naughty school girl, secretary, or what?” Lara asked.
"Naughty School Girls, Secretaries, adoring fans, and the like." Steph said blankly, "Get me close, Styles, and I'll have him eating kibble from the dog's bowl."
“Hehe. Should I also get you the bondage gear?” Styles giggled.
"I'll stop at the hardware store and get my own, dirtbags like that don't deserve the
good leather. The richer, and less legitimate they are, the more they break down when you break out the strapping tape."
“Kinky.”
“Down Styles.”
“Aww. You guys do seem to like shutting me down just when it’s getting good.” Styles fake pouted.
"You're going to find his contact man inside the Military, Styles." Mike said, "There's always a contact man, as long as you get the evidence I don't care what you do to them."
“Well at least Lyran Blues are a good color match for me.” Styles said thoughtfully.
Vien frowned, "This means I'm working couples with Styles?"
"He might not be straight, luv." Styles said, "So you're handsome, and…morally flexible enough to fill the role."
“All right. I’ll take the challenge. If it doesn’t work out, well there’s a few bars I could go to instead where I know I can get some fun.”
"What do you want me to do?" Sarah asked.
"You're with me and Lara for now, Sarah, you're on the backup team with the leadership." Mike explained, "So, let's go visit some gun stores, something local we can drop."
“I do love shopping.” Lara smiled.
“I know I’m still new here but… What’s she going to do during all this?” Sarah gestured at Theresa.
"Keep you all healthy." Tess asserted. “Which means I should let our fellow residents know we’ll be out for the day. They’ll make sure we can come back here when we’re done.”
**13**
Suzie Crowder was having a bad evening. She'd paid good money for this condo-it wasn't a gift from Sisson. She'd actually kept her own money and investments separate from his gifting. The life of a side-piece is often dependent on being aware that your status can change-and not in a good way.
Her mother told her that once, in one of their many, many, many fights.
'If you're going to be a whore, keep some of the money'.
Sisson was off on business to Arluna again, and she didn't feel a burning need to confront his wife, so she was at her
own home when the burglars broke in.
"The boss said to make it look like a robbery, Three."
"I know, but this bitch doesn't have anything worth stealing!!"
"Where's the good stuff, speak up bitch!!"
PHUTT
PHUTT
A scream
PHUTT-PHUTT!!
Her interrogator sprayed her with something hot and wet, and then fell at her bound feet.
"You okay miss?" a tall, bulky man in a balaclava asked, "I mean, besides being tied up and terrified? They didn't hurt you, did they?"
"Upstairs is clear!" a female voice announced.
The big man untied her. "They…they were going to kill me! Maybe worse! I heard them talking about maybe worse!!"
"It's all right Liebschen, the bad men won't be hurting you now, see? They're dead!" he said it brightly, like a hero from a holovid.
A groan from the kitchenette…"Okay, not all dead, not yet." he said brightly. "You can call me 'Jerry', fraulein Crowder, I'm a nice man, you can trust me."
She licked her lips…"They were going to kill me…"
"Ja." he said, "But we killed them first!" he smiled.
"Jerry, show her your face, okay?" the man's partner said.
He pulled off the mask, "See, one of the good guys!"
He was
handsome.
Suzie took a deep breath in. A different primal part of her mind was taking over.
“You saved my life.” She said as she all but leapt out of her seat, kissing him.
“Fine. Just be quick about it.” The female companion said.
Suzie blushed as her senses came back to her and she realized what was around her.
“You’re safe now.” Jerry said. “Just keep breathing, deeply. In then out.”
“Why…” Suzie started but shook her head. “No, I know why. There’s only one reason anyone would bother with something like this with me.”
“Tell us about Claybourne.” Jerry said.
“My mother taught me to not be an idiot if I was going to be someone’s mistress. So I’ll do you one better.” Suzie said as she stood up and went into her closet.
After a few moments and some shuffling around of objects she came back out and handed a datachip to Jerry.
“It’s not much, but there’s some meeting notes on there. They didn’t make a lot of sense to me at the time but now, with people coming to kill me… They must be important.”
“Come on. It’s clearly not safe for you here. We have a place you can stay until this is dealt with.” Jerry said gently.
“Yeah. Let me pack some things.” Suzie blushed again.
