Heirs of avalon, p.6
Heirs of Avalon, page 6
"I think he's right," Judith said. "We put your mom and mine to bed. I gave your mom a sleeping pill."
"Thanks," Randal said. "How is your mom taking it?"
"She's okay," Judith said. "Mostly she's mad. Kept talking about how Dad and the others were asked to employee Simone because some hush-hush agency wanted to keep an eye on her."
"Why did she go to the lab tonight?" Tash asked. "I mean, what made tonight special enough to break into the offices?"
Randal and Devon exchanged looks. "The data crystal," they said together.
"Can we check to see if it's there?" Devon asked.
"Let's go find out," Randal said. "You girls don't let anybody in while we're gone. If they threatened DaVinci, it's possible they might come here."
"Does the house have a security lockdown mode?" Tash asked.
"Yes," Randal said. He went to the vid console and keyed in a sequence. "There, I've put it in secure mode."
The vid screen divided itself into sections, each one showing an approach to the house.
"The robo servers have also activated the security mode," he said. "Let them screen any coms and answer the doors, okay."
"Okay," Judith said. "Umm, I hate to ask this, but Licorice needs a sandbox or something."
"Tell the servers, I'm sure they'll find something he can use."
Randal went to the wall cabinet and pressed a panel. He took out two pulse pistols, offering one to Devon, who strapped it on. He also handed the earthman a seven-inch knife in a sheath, selecting a rapier for himself.
"We've got air sleds in the garage," he said.
Tash and Judith watched the two men leave. Neither one had any intention of sleeping until they returned.
"I don't know about you," Tash said, "But I could do with a glass of wine."
"That's an excellent idea," Judith said.
When Devon and Randal arrived at Dreamedia Laboratories, only one police sled was still parked in front and the front door had a Police Seal.
"They've sealed the building," Devon said.
"Only the front door," Randal replied. He dismounted his sled and led the way to a side door. He entered a code and it slid open.
The vault appeared to be closed, but when they examined it, Devon said, "This has been opened sometime around midnight."
Grimly, Randal keyed in the code and the heavy steel door slid to one side. The drawer holding the crystal was open and empty. "It's gone," Randal said.
"Freeze!" an authoritive voice said.
Devon raised his hands and turned around. The man who had ordered them to freeze wore a policeman's uniform. He was also holding a pulse pistol aimed at them.
"My name is Randal Langeton, and I have every right to be here," Randal told him.
"Show me your ID," the man said.
Randal reached inside his jacket and pulled out a badge. He held it so the cop could see it.
"What's that?" he demanded.
"Run a scanner over it," Randal said.
Frowning, the man took out a portable scanner and aimed it at the badge. A blue light ran over it. He nearly dropped the scanner when a voice came out of the badge.
"Authorization level Blue. Bearer has authorized Clearance in all security matters. Cooperation is required."
"What the Hell?"
"An important piece of technology is missing. We need to know if it was taken into evidence."
"I don't have an evidence list. The detectives probably have one."
"Then contact them. Now."
"They've probably gone off duty by now," He protested.
"Do you like your job?" Randal asked him.
"I'm a good cop, mister," was the reply.
"Then com the detectives."
"Okay, okay, don't get your—never mind."
Devon looked thoughtfully at his friend, nodding to himself, as he realized he had been correct about why Randal had been chosen to come to earth to plant the protection virus into the Portal Authority programming.
He crossed his arms, half-sitting on a nearby desk. It shifted a little and he grabbed the edge, accidentally brushing the fronds of the large plant next to it. His eye caught a flash of light when the frond moved. He bent down and brushed at the potting soil. When he did, he found the hard surface of a crystal. His fingers closed around it, and he examined it. He held it out so Randal could see it. Randal nodded and pantomimed putting in a pocket. Devon did so.
The cop had his back to them while he spoke to the detective he had gotten out of bed.
"I know," he was explaining, "but this guy has high-level authority. What level? I think that badge thing said Blue Level. He says an important piece of tech is missing and he wants to know if we've got it in evidence."
"Give me a minute. I'll com the evidence lockup and ask them to check. What does this tech look like?"
"She wants to know what to look for," the officer said, turning around.
"It's a data crystal," Randal told him.
"Did you get that?"
"I got it. I'll com you back."
A few minutes later, Addicock commed back. "No, we didn't find anything like that. How important is it?"
"Very important," Randal told her. "I would bet it's what Gusset broke in here to steal."
"Who had access to it?"
"All three partners had access. They had no reason to steal it. I'm thinking Gusset's partner killed her for it."
"We didn't find any evidence of a partner."
"No," Randal agreed, "you were too busy pulling outdated blackmail letters off her computer. I suggest you look deeper into her criminal connections."
"How do you know she had criminal connections?"
"That's classified. You don't have clearance. Take my word for it—she had criminal connections."
"Dammit—" Addicock said.
"Goodnight, Detective," Randal said. "C'mon Devon. Let's go back to the house."
THIS WAY WE WERE LED
Judith studied her family lawyer, wondering how good an attorney he was. Carlos Santana had the quintessential Latin hero vibe perfect. He was tall and slender, with finely cut features. His dark hair had a touch of grey. He boasted an olive complexion and melting dark eyes with absurdly long lashes.
“I thought it would be better if I escorted the two of you to the police station to make your statements,” he said.
“Do you think those detectives suspect Dad killed her?” She asked.
He smiled reassuringly at her. “What they think doesn’t matter. It’s what they can prove that counts.”
“Oh,” she said. She looked up in relief when Randal came into the room.
“Randal, this our family lawyer, Carlos Santana. This is my fiancée, Randal Langeton.”
“Pleased to meet you,” Randal said. “Did you come to escort Tamara to the police station?”
“Yes, and Miss Garneys as well.”
“I had hoped Judith would ride in with me. My mother depends on her for support during this difficult time.”
“And her own mother doesn’t?”
“My mother is a tough lady,” Judith said. “Besides, Ava arrived this morning, and— “
“I’ll be accompanying our mother.” The woman who spoke was several years older than Judith, taller and Her hair wasn’t quite so bright a shade of red. “I’m Ava,” she said, coming forward to shake his hand.
“Please call me Carlos,” he said, retaining his grip on her hand a little longer than necessary. “Your mother is fortunate to have two such strong and lovely daughters.”
Ava flushed a little under his admiring gaze. “Thank you.”
Since Devon wanted to look over the copied crystal's programming, he and Tash had agreed to stay behind.
Judith handed Licorice to Tash. "I don't want to take him down there," she said. "Do you mind?"
Of course not," Tash told her, cuddling the small animal who sniffed her ear and whuffled.
Like most of Barsoom's buildings, the Police station floated on a slab anchored to Savano's lakebed. The station itself was three stories tall with eight sides. Next door, an octagon-shaped, 3 story open lattice structure held vehicles of all kinds, both official and private.
Randal parked in a visitor's parking area, and he and Judith got out. DaVinci met them at the entrance.
When they entered, they found Santana, Tamara, and Ava already waiting at the desk.
Inside the precinct house, plastic computer consoles sat on clear acrylic desks. Detectives in casual clothing and uniformed Patrolmen sat, stood, and performed various tasks. The clear, thick acrylic partitions muted the noise level. Along the far wall were holding cells, some empty, some full.
Straus and Addicock walked up as the officer manning the front desk was directing them to a waiting room.
"Good morning," Detective Addicock said.
Eyeing the detective, Judith felt frumpy. Despite being awake most of the night, the woman looked fresh and crisp.
"Good morning, Detective," Randal said. "As requested, we are all here."
"So, I see," Addicock replied. "Mrs. Langeton, we'll take you first. This way please."
Smiling reassuringly at Randal's mother, DaVinci took her elbow and the two of them followed the detective into an interrogation room.
"Mrs. Garney's, if you will follow me, we'll try to get you out of here as soon as we can," Straus said.
Judith, Randal, and Ava followed the desk officer into the waiting room.
"There's coffee, if you want some," he said. "I can't swear how fresh it is, but it's hot."
"Thank you," Ava told him. "But we're good."
As soon as he departed, Ava turned to Randal and her sister. "Why did they arrest Dad?" she demanded.
Randal shrugged. "They think both your father and mine had motives to kill her."
"Why?" Ava repeated.
"They found some old e-mails from her threatening to tell their wives she was sleeping with them," Judith said in disgust. "They were over five months old."
"Did they find records of payments to her?"
"They aren't sharing," Randal told her. "I'm pretty sure they both told her to go to Hell. My mother knew about the threats. So did yours."
"Something else you should know; DaVinci was threatened in an attempt to get him to drop Dad as a client."
"Is he going to?" Ava asked.
Randal grinned. "Nope, he seems to be looking forward to a good fight."
"I wonder if Carlos was threatened as well," Ava said slowly.
"And maybe the investigating officers?" Judith put in.
"It's possible. In any event, I plan to do some poking around on my own," Randal said.
"I'm going with you," Judith declared.
"Ah—I thought Devon and I would go," Randal said.
"You do what you want," Judith retorted. "Simone's roommate is a woman, she might talk to me easier than to you. I'll take Tash with me when I go to see her."
Randal eyed her with frustration. In view of the threat DaVinci had received, Randal would have preferred she and the other women remain secure in the house. However, he could see from the obstinate set of her jaw Judith had no intention of agreeing to stay safely tucked away.
THE BLACK TEMPLARS
ACROSS TOWN in a small café, three men and two women were enjoying a cup of coffee. The Black Templars had been created back on earth, when the group was organizing to create an illegal colony. The group's original purpose was to keep an eye out for anyone attempting to betray their existence to Earth-Gov's Portal Authority. Now days, although still watching for any attempts to betray the existence of the colony to Earth-Gov, they had widened their scope of activities to include investigating the criminal activities plaguing Barsoom, the most pernicious of which was the Red Conclave. The Templars had only minimal official standing, but they had members everywhere, some active and some not, but their tentacles reached into all kinds of legal and illegal groups.
Andri Gauvreau was in his eighth decade, but his sharp blue eyes still held the intelligence he was famous for. "Simone Gusset was killed last night," he said.
"How did it happen?" Mathieu Heroux asked. Heroux was nearing fifty. Officially he was retired from his job on the actual ruling council.
"Stabbed to death," Joan Merton answered. Joan was a trim sixty and still beautiful, due to her excellent bone structure.
"How much did our agents learn about her activities?" Thomasine Villers asked. Thomasine was in her thirties, with bright blond hair. Her official profession was journalism, but she kept her hand in Templar activities.
"Unfortunately, the police arrested them for her murder," Guillaume Peele said. Unlike Villers, Peele was a famous theater actor and starred in many vids. He shook his handsome head in dismay. "It's going to cause a lot of problems. I received a com message from Garney's wife. Apparently, he told her more about us than he was allowed to. She knows we asked Dreamedia Labs to hire Simone and to keep her on after she tried her little blackmail scheme on the two partners."
"Ouch," Villers said. "What else did she say?"
"She had a lot to say, but the gist of it was either we clear her husband and his partners of this crime, or she will go to the press with the entire story."
Gauvreau shrugged. "Our operative Randal Langeton is back from earth. He is already investigating. I think we can leave the matter in his hands."
"He's good at what he does," Merton admitted. "He managed to not only get the virus preventing Earth-Gov and the Portal Authority from finding our colony inserted into the PA's search program, but he also brought back a program for finding new worlds; I understand it also has the codes for reaching out to the other Outlawed Colonies."
"Yes, and he made a valuable contact. Devon Morton, the man who accompanied him back to Barsoom, is the acknowledged Portal expert for all the colonies," Peele said.
"I don't know," Heroux said. "That Morton might be a troublemaker; he's been here less than a day and already he's fought a duel."
Gauvreau laughed. "My old friend Robierre officiated at that duel. He tells me Morton opted for Bowie knives instead of swords or pistols."
"Most earthers don't have our skill. Did Coudet hurt him?"
"No, apparently it was Coudet who was overmatched; Robierre said Morton could have killed Coudet at any time during the duel. In fact, when he offered Coudet the option of surrender, Morton was in a position to kill him, and apparently he was willing to do so."
"I've heard some nasty rumors about Coudet and his crew," Villers said.
"What kind of rumors?"
"It seems a number of our young ladies have gone missing while attending a party. Afterwards they are brought into the emergency room. Medical staff says they show evidence they've been drugged, and gang raped. According to the police who interviewed them, they were last seen in Coudet's company."
"Perhaps we should look into this more closely," Peele said. "It might tie in with the rumors I've heard about a new drug going around."
THE ROOMMATE
JEANNINE SILVERTON, Simone's roommate was about five ten and model thin. When they commed her to say they wanted to talk about Simone, she hadn't been exactly welcoming, but after a moment, she had agreed. When they arrived, she looked the two girls over as if she smelled something bad. "Well, aren't you just the cutest thing," she said to Judith, with a saccharine smile.
If Jeannine had expected to intimidate the much smaller Judith, she had mistaken her woman. Judith's small stature occasionally led others to think she was as delicate as she was tiny, but as Tash had discovered over the last few days, Judith was about as easy to intimidate as a bag of Cement.
"Why, thank you," Judith said as sweetly. "I'm sorry to bother you when I can see you aren't feeling well. Have you seen a doctor?"
"A doctor? For what? I feel fine."
"Oh, dear, I shouldn't have mentioned the weight loss—sometimes people with your condition are so sensitive. I do apologize."
Jeannine stared at her a moment, before her mouth stretched into a reluctant grin. "Okay," she said. "Points even. You aren't at all the way Simone described you."
Judith grinned back at her. "Pax?"
Jeannine laughed. "Pax," she agreed. "Won't you sit down?"
"Thanks. This is Tash Higgens; she's just arrived from earth."
Once Jeannine started talking, it would have been impossible to stop her. Neither Tash nor Judith tried.
"We're sorry your roommate was killed," Tash said. "Do you know of anyone who might want to hurt her?"
"Just about anybody who knew her, I imagine," Jeannine said. "We're cousins. We started rooming together in college and stayed roommates because neither of us could afford to move out. If I could, I would have."
"Oh, wow," Tash said sympathetically. "What are you going to do now?"
Jeannine grimaced. "Advertise for another roommate, I guess."
"Do you know what Simone was into lately?" Judith asked.
"I tried not to find out," Jeannine said frankly. "She liked to collect dirt on everyone. Sometimes she'd ask for money not to say what she knew, sometimes for other favors."
"What happened when her victims wouldn't cooperate?"
"She got back at them some way. I know she sent anonymous tips to the police hot-lines a couple of times, and I think she caused several divorces."
"Anyone recently?"
"You mean besides your father?" Jeannine asked.
"He told her no, and he told my mom about it," Judith said.
Jeannine laughed. "I heard. She was pretty mad about that. She told me Langeton was the better looking of the trio who own the lab, but he wasn't having any either. She would have liked a chance at the son, but he was off planet when she started working there."
"Wasn't she afraid you might turn on her?" Tash asked.
Jeannine shook her head. "She and I were about even on secrets because of some stuff we did when we were kids."
"The thing with my father happened over four months ago. Did she have any recent victims?"
Jeannine sat still, thoughtfully running a stylus through her fingers. "Maybe. If I were you, I'd check to see if any money is missing from the lab. That's another thing she was into. She'd get a job someplace, stay long enough to figure out how the finances worked and then do a little embezzling."
