Your Life Is Forfeit: A Space Opera Adventure Legal Thriller (Judge, Jury, & Executioner Book 4)

by Craig Martelle

  “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 flo
or. “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.”

  “Looks like you were making the best of it,” Rivka said pointing with her chin at the clothes still on the floor.

  “Well, there are some benefits to being me, but overall, I lost my ass and part of my soul. If you can get Mackestray, that would be a great burden lifted from my shoulders.”

  “That’s because he’s the causal link to your crimes that we know you’ve committed.” Rivka held the mayor’s arm to make sure she understood what the Magistrate was about to say. “I will reserve passing judgment on you—for now, that is. Here’s what I need you to do if you are to avoid exposure and punishment. You will be the best damn mayor this city has ever seen. You will be so selfless that homeless people will feel sorry for you.”

  “I understand,” she replied softly.

  “That is a far cry from what I need to hear.” The images flashing through Rivka’s mind suggested she would comply, at least as much as her nature allowed.

  “I will do as you require of me.”

  “You will do as your people require. And no more of this bullshit!” Rivka kicked at the clothes as she walked away. Red pulled the door open until it fell off its battered hinges, then leaned it against the wall and shrugged.

  Jay took Ankh’s hand, and they walked out together. Lindy led the way through the suddenly crypt-quiet group of aides and assistants. The mayor started yelling people’s names, creating a stir and a flurry of activity as those called hurried to her office. The naked man was nowhere to be seen. Rivka couldn’t complain about the mayor’s taste, only her judgment.

  And the fact that she was a politician. On the stairs, she asked Jay, “Do you think I’m overly harsh toward politicians?”

  “I think politicians are too used to people blowing smoke up their asses. I believe they are genetically incapable of telling the whole truth, so they don’t know how to deal with you. You are boxing, and they are trying to play chess. They keep trying to move their pieces while you’re punching them in the face. They are left bloodied, not understanding why they haven’t won.”

  “I appreciate your insight. I think they should give you points for the first face punch.”

  “I think so!”

  “No can do,” Ankh said.

  Licensing Board Chairman Dies in Fiery Hover Crash

  K’Twillis read
the headlines twice before digging into the article. “Who’s your replacement?” he asked after finding that the board was in limbo. That served his purpose as much as having someone in his pocket. He only needed the pits to work without oversight for a couple more months before he’d cash out and abandon it all.

  Coming from a planet of swamps, K’Twillis found that strip mining the drylands for their most profitable minerals wasn’t a conflict. If they were decent creatures, then they wouldn’t live in such climates. He reasoned that he could do nothing to their already ugly planets that would make them worse.

  Except line his pockets, if he’d had pockets.

  What does the galaxy’s richest mining entrepreneur do with his money?

  “Whatever I want,” he answered himself. “I will stop when I can buy an entire planet. I need enough people to keep my swamp clean, to keep the skies clear, and make sure that no one bothers me. That is my desire.” He stood alone in a channel of water well away from the city. He didn’t need the modern conveniences the population embraced. He needed money, lots of expendable credit chips, and a few phone numbers. Outside of that, he trusted the planetary surveys done by a Magnetite trader, for which K’Twillis paid him well.

  Finding key people was easy. Getting them to turn a blind eye was almost as simple most of the time, but on Felgar, he found his efforts repulsed. That was why the chairman had to die. If he had to remove another, people would grow suspicious and the tendrils leading back to him would become more prevalent.

  He wanted only enough time to finish the job and move on. Anonymity was his friend.

  “Billister!” he “shouted” through his microphone.

  The wiry former soldier appeared, eyes shifting with each step. The ease with which he carried his weaponry suggested the man knew one purpose in life.

  “Sir?” Billister’s voice sounded like gravel bouncing within a can. K’Twillis’ ears couldn’t tell the difference.

  “Prepare primary and contingency plans to eliminate the members of the licensing board.”