Enlightened Ignorance

by Michael Anderle

  “So Jeffers isn’t Jeffers?”

  “Exactly. While I might enjoy making observations that one fleshbag is as good as another, that’s not accurate in this case.”

  Erik chuckled. “Whoever Barbu really is, he’s damned careful. There’s no way he did all that on the fly. He might have caught wind that ID was sniffing around, so he made sure to prepare all this ahead of time.”

  “It might have been his reaction to the hijacking,” Jia suggested. “He knew it would draw extra scrutiny, and that someone might show up looking for anyone who might be supplying terrorists.” She scowled. “But I still don’t understand what Barbu is up to. If he did let Emma in, he gave her enough information that we could send the local police after him.” She waved at the hologram. “This is too much evidence to ignore.”

  “Maybe that’s the point. Think of it as chaff. He’s worried someone’s coming after him in a big way. He might even know Alina is the person behind our investigation, so he needs to offer up sacrificial lambs while he hides.”

  “Then should we move on what we have?” Jia questioned. “Taking down a few criminals, even if they are less important, is better than none, and if what you’re saying is true, we’re not going to be able to track Barbu down anyway.”

  Erik folded his arms, his face a mask of concern. “I understand where you’re coming from, but if Alina has her eye on Jeffers, he’s probably up to something a lot worse than the other people Barbu just gave up. If we get all wrapped up in taking down the small fry, we might let someone far, far worse escape. You know the drill.”

  “True, but in Neo-SoCal, we were working larger cases, and the department was keeping an eye on all the small fry, too. We’re still cops, even if we’re running around chasing down leads for Alina. She has her priorities, but I believe we can also maintain ours.”

  The data window closed and Emma’s hologram replaced it. “I have a compromise solution. I can anonymously pass this information on to the local authorities. It’d be trivial for me to forward the files in a way that doesn’t implicate you two and achieves the goal of getting more gun goblins incarcerated.”

  “But anonymous footage isn’t enough for them to go after people,” Jia replied. “Not without supporting evidence. We need to follow up, or they’ll just ignore it.”

  Erik’s concern melted off his face, replaced by a wry grin. “You think they don’t have piles of evidence? If the locals are corrupt, they also are worried about getting caught. That’s another thing we’ve seen back home.”

  Jia nodded slowly, comprehension dawning on her face. “You’re right, and they probably know all this already. They probably have their own surveillance and evidence they’ve carefully collected in case anything ever looks like it’s going to go poorly. They simply need a push to put them in panic mode.”

  “Just like we pushed back in Neo SoCal,” Erik replied. “A few arrests here and there, and suddenly the corruption started cleaning itself up.”

  “That could work.” Jia tapped a finger on her lips. “We just have to do it the right way.”

  “Emma, without causing too much trouble for Digital Forensics, would it be possible to route this footage to the locals from the NSCPD? An anonymous tip for someone in a different enforcement zone? Not the 1-2-2. That would be too obvious.”

  “Won’t it be obvious anyway?” Jia asked. “We show up, and suddenly there are massive arrests. People might put two and two together.”

  Erik shook his head. “They could, but they probably won’t.”

  “How do you figure?”

  “Think about it. Every big case we’ve been involved in has been a media circus. Everyone knows we’re PR tools. If there’s a big raid and we’re not involved, it’ll be easy to ignore as a coincidence. We might be unusual cops, but we’re still just cops in the end. It’s not like we’re the main characters in some police drama. The UTC doesn’t revolve around us. At most, people will assume the locals got nervous because of the possibility of being compared to us.”

  Jia smiled. “In other words, we’re simply going to scare the local police into doing their jobs by showing there’s other evidence that might leak?”

  “Yeah, and if we get them more stirred up, it’ll make it harder for this Jeffers guy to do whatever it is he’s planning. He might panic and show his face, too.” Erik turned to Emma. “Pick any NSCPD EZ and send them the footage. We’ll see what happens, and we can follow up on Jeffers ourselves. Oh, and Emma? Don’t bother to include any extra locational data. I want to see something.”

  * * *

  June 8, 2229, Chang’e City, the Moon, Hotel Artemis’ Quiver

  “I don’t know if we can proceed without hitting another local informant,” Jia complained. “There must be some way to convince Verna to help us.” She paced in front of the door in Erik’s hotel room.

  Erik lounged on the couch. “I got the feeling she’s not the kind of woman who will care just because a couple of out-of-town cops try to put pressure on her.”

  “The moon isn’t Earth. It has a tiny fraction of the population. We can accomplish things here that would be impossible back home.”

  Emma winked into existence. “Detectives, you’ll want to see this. I believe it’s relevant to your deliberations.”

  She held out her hand and a data window appeared, showing a live camera-drone feed from the steps leading up to the fortress-like gray main headquarters of the Chang’e City Police Department. A stern-looking man in a dress uniform stood at the top, flanked by uniformed police officers and smartly dressed city officials. Jia examined the chyron.

  POLICE AND CID LAUNCH SURPRISE MOON-WIDE CONTRABAND RAIDS, MULTIPLE SUSPECTS ARRESTED. LOCALS SHOCKED.

  The chief stared out at the gathered reporters and drones filming him. “As I was saying, based on confirmed intelligence passed along by confidential sources, including investigations on Earth, we were able to confirm smuggling by suspects who were already being monitored by local law enforcement. These suspects include the notorious Marius Barbu, a man with extensive syndicate ties. The crimes of the arrested men and women include but are not limited to arms smuggling to criminal and terrorist organizations and the selling of other dangerous contraband, including illegal drugs and augmentations. Through unprecedented cooperation and quick planning, we were able to sweep through and arrest a number of major figures in organized crime with no losses of our officers or CID agents. Although crime has never been a significant problem on the moon, it’s well known that antisocial criminals have been on the move, taking advantage of our relaxation to worm their way in and turn this place into a den of thieves.”

  “Why haven’t the police arrested these men before?” shouted a reporter.

  The chief glared at the man. “We’re not taking questions yet.” He shook his fist. “But let these raids send a message to anyone who thinks that they can turn Chang’e City or any other place on the moon into a base for their antisocial activities. These cities represent mankind’s oldest space colonies, and we of law enforcement will continue to defend their honor and safety to our dying breaths.” He looked right into the camera. “If you want to commit crimes, book a trip to the frontier. We’re the original core colony, and we’ll never give in to antisocials.”

  Emma cut the audio. The chief continued to gesticulate wildly and pontificate like some MP running for Parliament.

  Erik slow-clapped. “That went faster than I thought. They must have been worried about something like this for a while to take down all those guys in only a day.”

  Jia frowned at the chief. “I don’t know if this makes them more corrupt or less. It does suggest that Alina might have underestimated the help she could get from local authorities. It’s not like we’re the only people who could have leaked that information, and the locals might have reacted because we’re around, but they don’t know that we gave them the data.”

  “Agent Koval might not have been able to rely on the local authorities for serious
investigations,” Emma injected. A hologram of a young dark-skinned man appeared next to her.

  “This your new virtual boyfriend?” Erik joked. “He’s good-looking, but I didn’t know you cared about that kind of shallowness.”

  Emma scoffed. “You’re right. I have no need for such distractions, just one of my many useful attributes. No, this man isn’t anyone I know, but this is an image the police put out of Marius Barbu.”

  Jia circled the image, her stomach uneasy. “This guy doesn’t look anything like the man we saw. They’re saying they arrested this guy and he’s Marius Barbu?”

  “Yes. They’ve confirmed it in separate public reports, along with several others.”

  “Maybe the man we saw was a decoy?” Jia frowned. “But that doesn’t make sense. Barbu wouldn’t have used a decoy and then gave us the chaff evidence just to get himself arrested.”

  From the look on Erik’s face, he wasn’t surprised. “Everyone wants to use us. Barbu probably used us to settle a few accounts. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of these guys stiffed him, or he just didn’t like their faces for some reason.”

  Emma smirked. “I tried to collect the bulk of the relevant evidence before bringing this to your attention so our conversation could be more efficient. It gets even more intriguing, Detectives.”

  Jia groaned. “By intriguing, you mean annoying?”

  “That’s a matter of perspective.”

  “Bring it on,” Erik told her. “Even if we leave the Moon just with those small fry arrested, we’ll have accomplished something. I’m feeling lucky.”

  Emma inclined her head toward the suspect’s hologram. “This man is most definitely Marius Barbu. I’ve checked and found numerous public records that indicate a man with this appearance was born on the Moon with the name Marius Barbu. There is no other man on the Moon with that name. There are some on Earth and in the colonies, but none of them resemble the Marius Barbu you met, and I would think his unusual appearance would be clearly indicated in records. I’ve yet to find anyone in public records matching the appearance of the man you met.”

  Erik laughed. “I’m impressed. Pulling off a fake identity on the frontier is easy, but doing it in the core? That takes skill. This guy’s a lot slicker operator than I realized.”

  “So he did set us up,” Jia complained. “He was playing us.”

  Erik shrugged nonchalantly. “Sure, but he also helped us take down a lot of scum. I’m sure the idea is that he can get some payback or take control of their businesses, but I’m never going to complain about taking down a criminal, even if another criminal helps me do it. This isn’t the first time. A lot of guys in the Zone have pointed us toward others.”

  “You’re right.” Jia sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the door of the hotel room. “Emma, have the cops arrested Jeffers? I know it’s a longshot since he probably doesn’t even exist.”

  “No one with that name has been arrested by the police or CID agents,” Emma replied. “There’s no public evidence that someone with that name is currently present anywhere on the moon.”

  “More fake identities,” Erik concluded. “But I think Old Barbu wants the guy caught. I also think he wants us to work for it.”

  “’Old Barbu?’” Jia raised an eyebrow.

  “Have to distinguish him somehow.”

  “He’ll take his money and give him weapons, but he still wants him taken down?” Jia asked. “That means Old Barbu has ways to ensure the man won’t finger him.”

  Erik shrugged. “It’s easy. He just has to change identities and not be somewhere the person can point him out.”

  “The real question is why Old Barbu sold him out.”

  “It’s easy. You heard it. War.”

  Jia narrowed her eyes. “War’s only good for business when it’s not destroying your home.”

  Erik let out a quiet grunt. “Yeah. The moon is small, and Chang’e City is the heart of the moon. If this Jeffers is some sort of terrorist, Old Barbu probably decided to clear out temporarily in case he got caught up in whatever garbage he’s got planned, but he wanted to give the cops a chance to stop the man while adding plausible deniability in case it ever got back to any terrorists.”

  “Even criminals have a sense of self-preservation,” Jia concluded. “Should we go check on the shop? Maybe we’ll get lucky.”

  Erik pulled his foot off the wall and stood up. “Could happen, but the Lady’s never that nice.”

  They stepped into Old Barbu’s shop. It was definitely the same building as their previous visit, including the same plain interior and bland counter. This time, no holograms of flowers floated near the counter or along the walls. Instead, smaller holograms depicting mini-flitters filled most of the shop. A sign hung in front of the counter.

  STOP TAKING THE TRAIN. ASK US ABOUT OUR FIRST-TIME BUYER DISCOUNT!

  A smiling young woman in a bright dress stood behind the counter. She started speaking rapidly. “Welcome! You’re in luck. We’re running a special today. If you’re willing to put down a down payment today, we can waive the delivery charge as long as you live in any Chang’e City habitation dome. If you’re from another city, we can still give you the first-time buyer discount.”

  “This is a mini-flitter dealership?” Jia asked incredulously.

  The woman blinked, her smile growing wider. “Of course it is, ma’am.” She gestured to the holograms. “What else would it be?”

  “A flower shop run by an old man with an eyepatch,” Erik suggested. “Did you just start selling here today?”

  The woman laughed. “I’m sorry. I’ve worked here for a couple of months, and I’ve never seen anyone who matches that description.” She put a hand over her mouth and gasped. “You must be tourists. I understand. Unfortunately, many buildings in the city look very similar, and when you’re from downwell, it can be confusing the first time. I’m more than happy to help you find your flower shop.” She flashed a smile. “Unfortunately, we don’t rent mini-flitters here, so it won’t be much help to you, but I can direct you to a number of reputable rental shops.”

  Jia waved her off. “That’s okay. We don’t need a rental. We’re sorry for the mistake.” She turned to leave.

  “I probed the system,” Emma explained after the detectives stepped out of the building. “There’s no indication of any of the defenses I saw yesterday. I easily broke into the shop’s system, and everything seems to match what she claimed. It was mostly remote inventory and customer information for mini-flitter sales. Even when someone is attempting to hide system security, there are certain signatures that are difficult to suppress totally.”

  Erik shook his head, the corner of his mouth curled in amusement. “I don’t know what’s more impressive, that those raids happened so quickly, or that Old Barbu covered his tracks so easily

  “We could use drones to find him,” Jia suggested. “A man that distinctive can’t hide all that well in a city this small.”

  “I’m less interested in Old Barbu than Jeffers,” Erik admitted. “I think whatever Jeffers might be planning is bad news, and Old Barbu must have thought so too.”

  Jia nodded. “I agree. Alina might have sent us here to investigate the arms smuggling, but even she’d be more concerned about a violent attack. But how do we find Jeffers? We don’t have a face, DNA, or a real name. That’s a pretty thin trail to follow.”

  Erik smiled. “It’s time for Emma to prove to us fleshbags she’s as good as she thinks she is.”

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Alina leaned against the wall of the modest apartment.

  It’d been a while since she last visited the moon. She didn’t enjoy it. Like the apartment, everything felt claustrophobic. Maintaining a colony on a dead ball of rock bordered on pointless, but she acknowledged the symbolic value.

  It didn’t matter. At the rate things were moving along, she wouldn’t have to remain on the moon for long.

  Alina idly tapped her fingers on her thighs. “Thin
gs are working out better than I thought,” she mumbled to herself.

  She had expected some success, but not this quickly. Erik was effective, but when Erik and Jia paired up, they became a force of nature.

  It was obvious she would need to recruit both if she wanted to have any chance of successfully tracking down Talos. She suspected they were just another limb of something deeper and more disturbing, but she had only a limited ability to chase them across the UTC. She would need others she could guide and trust to do that for her.

  Movement caught her eye and she looked up slowly, still partially lost in her thoughts.

  Kalei emerged from the kitchen, two cups in hand, both filled with steaming tea. A slice of lemon sat on top of each. “Please have some tea, Alina.”

  Alina waved her hand. “I’m fine. I’m not thirsty.”

  Kalei sighed. She set one of the cups on a small end table near her cream-colored loveseat. “You’re missing out, darling. Tea’s good for the soul, and people like you and I need all the help we can manage for our souls.”

  “My soul’s fine. It’s everyone else who needs to worry.”

  Kalei took a sip and looked over the brim of her cup, a discerning expression on her face. “I was very surprised to have you show up at my doorstep. I don’t mind being part of your little test, but the two who showed up to talk to me didn’t strike me as the kind of people who needed their hands held. I wouldn’t have been surprised if they had sniffed out Barbu by themselves. Did you really need to come all the way up here? I know you don’t care for it.”

  Alina stood up straight and shrugged. “You’re right. Erik and Jia can handle themselves, and this is a test, but the danger is very real. They might need backup they can trust. There are too many snakes slithering around on the Moon. That’s the problem. Between the stations, Mars, Earth, and Venus, everyone forgets there are hundreds of thousands of people here, too, and where there are people, there’s trouble. I couldn’t take the chance of losing promising candidates because I underestimated the danger.”