by M. D. Cooper
“Er, on the other hand,” the medic said, “maybe I should scan you again.”
Erin realized she hadn’t responded to the comment he’d made a few moments previously. “Sorry. I was just talking to my AI.”
“Ah, okay.”
“Thanks for checking me over.”
“No problem. I’m going to fix those two cuts then I’ll be done.”
“Great.”
“Are you really okay?” Anwen asked as she walked over from where another medic was checking the cuts Pippa had received when Max knocked her down during their fight.
“When we saw those racks start to fall, I was so worried about you,” Anwen said. “It sounded like the warehouse was being demolished. It’s a miracle that you managed to survive.”
“Well, only about half of the shelving collapsed,” Erin replied. “I was in the first row that went down, so there wasn’t enough weight to crush the crates that fell around me.”
“I’m so glad you’re okay,” Pippa added as she approached. “Now I feel even worse for running after Max. If I hadn’t, none of this would have happened. I should have let that guard do his job.”
“What’s done is done,” said Erin. “There’s no point in beating yourself up. Let’s just hope this stops here.”
“What’s happening now?” Anwen asked.
“They’re searching the warehouse in case Max is still in there.”
“And if they find him?” asked Anwen. “What will happen then?”
“Well, the investigation—” Erin stopped.
She’d been about to tell the twins that she still had to prove that Max was the perpetrator of the mining sabotage, but officially, the twins were still suspects.
Instead, she said, “After what he did here today, Max will be arrested. It’ll be good to have him in custody while I finish investigating the sabotage.”
“It’ll be nice to never have to work with him again,” said Anwen. “But what about us? What should we do while all this is going on?”
“I’m afraid you can’t do anything until all this is sorted out,” Erin replied. “You’re to remain here in Landfall.”
“Urgh,” said Anwen. “I’ll be so bored.”
“Nevermind, sis,” Pippa said. “I’m sure we can find something to do.”
“I’m not helping you reorganize your closet again. One color-coordinating session is enough.”
Pippa laughed. “Okay. Maybe we can find something else to do.”
Erin quickly checked for reports about Max. A general bulletin had gone out, giving his appearance and warning that he was dangerous and not to be approached, and saying that if anyone sighted him, they were to contact the constabulary.
“Do you think Max might try to attack us?” Anwen asked.
“I don’t think we have to worry about that, do we?” said Pippa.
“He might,” Anwen said. “He attacked you. There’s nothing to say he’s given up yet.”
“I guess I could arrange guards for you,” Erin offered.
“No,” said Pippa. “I’d hate that. We don’t need special protection. We’ll be careful.”
Anwen’s eyes appeared troubled, but she didn’t say anything to contradict her sister.
* * * * *
Days later, Max was still at large, though no attempts had been made to attack Pippa or Anwen.
Walter replied.
Leaning her forehead on the window, Erin looked down onto the complex of offices and small shops that comprised most of Max’s neighborhood. Night had fallen, and the streetlights were coming on. Like everywhere in Landfall, the place was clean, well-kept, and pleasant to look at. Carthage and the rest of New Canaan was quickly turning into the kind of almost-paradise that had been the hope of all the colonists. Everyone seemed to be leading productive, happy lives. What had motivated Max to behave so rashly and vindictively? If his ambitions were so important to him, he had a potential eternity to achieve them.
The more Erin thought about it, the more nonsensical Max’s actions seemed. She dug further into his background, looking for a reason for his behavior, but the only thing of note was—as she already knew—that he was a Noctus, like Isa.
Although Isa wasn’t anything like Max, Erin had become aware of her partner’s difficulties with the past. Perhaps Max suffered from similar problems. Not that they excused his behavior.
Erin’s brow crinkled with her frown. She moved away from the window.
Erin slumped onto a chair.
ories in case we’re mistaken, though it seems unlikely.>
Erin contacted Tanis to update her on the situation.
Erin nodded to herself as she pushed away from the window.
Tanis didn’t hold back her laughter this time.
Tanis signed off, and Erin left the apartment to wait outside for the search team. The walkway was open, overlooking a central courtyard. Erin propped herself against the wall opposite the door and tried to contact Martin. She wasn’t too surprised when she couldn’t raise him. Martin sometimes disabled his messaging queues. He said it was when he needed to concentrate deeply on something, but Erin knew it was mostly because he didn’t feel like talking to anyone.
She was considering reaching out to Eamon when footsteps sounded nearby, and she looked up to see three police officers approaching. When they reached her, they confirmed they were there to search Max’s apartment again for any clues to the antimatter’s location. One of the officers gave Erin a pulse pistol and a holster that she could wear under her jacket. When she put on the holster and slipped the pistol inside, it felt strange and bulky, but also reassuring.
She took the elevator to the first floor and stepped out onto the sidewalk, where pedestrians were heading home from work or going out for the evening. As she navigated the busy thoroughfares, she wondered where she should go to eat. She didn’t want to return to her apartment just then.
She wished that Isa hadn’t left to go to Tyre, or that Martin wasn’t on one of his solitary kicks. She needed some cheering up after the depressing atmosphere of Max Rasner’s apartment and the discovery that he was still in the market for mayhem.
Erin decided to head to the place on the edge of the Party Field where she, Martin, and Isa had agreed to embark on their slightly unusual relationship. The happy memories would lift her mood.
After walking for twenty minutes or so through Landfall, she eventually reached a lane that led to the field. The area was much quieter than downtown.
Erin turned into the empty lane. It was pedestrians only and flanked with shops that sold souvenirs commemorating the day of the colonists’ arrival. Most out-of-town visitors went elsewhere after dark, so the shops were all closed. A handful of street lights provided dim illumination. The shop windows displayed models of the sculpture of the four inhabited planets of New Canaan that took pride of place at the center of the Party Field. Tourists could buy seeds of the wildflowers that grew there and menus of the food that was served at the party. Framed pictures of notable partiers like Tanis, Jason Andrews, and Terrence Enfield were also for sale.
Erin was halfway along the lane, when a shadow suddenly swept across the sidewalk at her feet. Someone was running up from behind, swiftly and silently. The shadow raised its arms.
Erin barely had time to react. She dodged to one side, and felt something pass by her face. She swept around, reaching for the weapon that nestled under her arm, but before she could draw it, her attacker was upon her.
Smashed downward by a blow on her back, she hit the pavement face-first. She tried to get up, but what felt like two knees pressed against her back, and hands fastened around her throat.
Erin heard Walter send a distress call. Would someone reach her in time? She couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t move. She couldn’t reach her attacker with her one arm that was free. Her other arm was trapped under her.
The strangling grip tightened. Blood engorged her head, and she felt her eyes bulge. She was beginning to black out.
With a massive effort, she lifted her torso a little off the ground. She didn’t have the strength to throw her attacker off, but she created enough space to reach the pistol.
Suffocating and unable to cry out, she inched the weapon from its holster. It slipped free, but it was still under her jacket. She pushed it against the fabric so that it was pointing away from her. Where it was pointing, she didn’t know.
She fired; pulse after pulse surged out.
It made no difference. The pressure on her throat didn’t ease.
“Hey,” a voice shouted in the distance.
Miraculously, the hands left Erin’s throat. She sucked air like a hull breach. The weight on her back was gone, then feet hit the ground near her face. She struggled onto her elbows just in time to see a figure in black running down the lane.
More running footsteps came from behind her, then stopped.
“Are you okay?”
Erin watched as the black figure disappeared into the Party Field. A hand was on her shoulder, turning her over. Someone else ran past, chasing her attacker.
“I think so,” she said. Her voice came out as a whisper.
More people were running past, people who had responded to the distress call Walter had sent, or who had seen the discharge of her weapon.
Erin sat up, rubbing her throat.
“Medics are on their way,” said the man in a suit who knelt next to her.
“Thanks,” Erin whispered.
Her pulse was beginning to slow, and as she calmed down, confusion began to replace her panic. Though the lane was dark and she hadn’t seen much more than a glimpse of her attacker, the person had been stocky…not a willowy Noctus like Max.
A NEW HAND
STELLAR DATE: 03.17.8937 (Adjusted Years)
LOCATION: Marine Eco Station #14, Knossos Island
REGION: Carthage, New Canaan System
Martin pushed his boat off the shore. A wave slapped the bow, lifting it up. He guided the boat over the swell and waded in after it, jumping inside as it reached deeper water. The sun was an orange semi-circle on the horizon, and the stars had nearly faded from sight. Yawning as he started up the engine, he input the destination coordinates, settled down, and opened the packet he’d just received from Isa.
‘Martin, Tyre is amazing. Have you been here yet? I forgot to ask you. I already rode the chute down through Mount Athos. It was unbelievable. And I’m just about to explore the cave system at Mount Ida. When I get back to the hotel, I’ll send you the recordings. I might send you my commentary, too, and you can let me know what I should keep or add to it. I’ll probably forget something important.
It was a pity we had to leave Athens early, wasn’t it? But you were right. It wouldn’t have been the same without Erin there. Maybe when she’s finished working on her investigation, we can persuade her to take some more vacation time. Then you two can come and visit me out here. What do you think?
Anyway, let me know what you’re doing. I’m always interested to hear about your job. How’s the coral reef doing? I’m going to hold you to your promise to show it to me one day. I’m really looking forward to it.
But I’m also really looking forward to the next couple of months working on this project. It suits me perfectly.
I get to see the most spectacular places, and I don’t have to deal with people complaining all the time—not like when I was at Placement Services. I can’t believe I’m being paid to do it.
I miss you already. Write soon. Love you.’
Martin smiled to himself.
Martin took a moment to assess this comment, wondering if he’d heard it right.
Martin was certain that Eamon’s wry remark was intended to get a rise out of him.
He told himself the same.
