by Terry Mixon
So he had known about the events that occurred during the fighting, at least to a degree. Honesty was always the best policy, she supposed. Now he knew that Claudio had lied.
Should she deny that she’d said anything? Would it even matter? Since Diana had said that she’d said it, the effect had been the same. Her intent was almost irrelevant.
“Once a group of recruits from the other platoon looked like they were going to attack Recruit Baker, it wouldn’t have been right to just let them do so. We had to defend him. He’s a prick, Drill Instructor, but he’s our prick.”
“While I laud the loyalty behind your actions, I cannot endorse the actions themselves,” he said grimly. “What I will say is that you wouldn’t have been in this position if Recruit Baker had shown any restraint whatsoever. Still, you displayed a serious lapse in judgment by starting a general fight.”
The right thing to do would be to keep her mouth shut, but she’d never been any good at that. She was already in hot water, and this was only going to make it worse.
“What should I have done, Drill Instructor? I tried to talk the two of them out of fighting before it came to blows and failed. What was the correct course of action?”
He stared into her eyes for several seconds without speaking or moving before slowly nodding. “There is something to what you’re saying. You haven’t been trained in leadership techniques. We weren’t expecting to need anything more than an acting squad leader, but it’s clear that this platoon needs someone to direct it as a whole when the drill instructors are not present.
“That doesn’t excuse you from the repercussions of ordering this platoon to attack, yet I think this can be turned into a teachable moment. If one wants to know what one does in a leadership position, the very best way to get that education is to be forced into the role.
“So, until relieved, I’m making you acting platoon leader, Recruit Tolliver. It’s now your job to learn how to lead these savages. The drill instructors will educate you on this in addition to your other duties. Resume your place in line.”
Andrea blinked in shock before she remembered to turn on her heel and march back to her place in line. What the hell was going on?
Page pointed at Claudio, Diana, and JR. “The three of you are now acting squad leaders. That makes you responsible for your squads, just as Recruit Tolliver is responsible for the platoon as a whole.
“I suggest the four of you examine the files that I’m about to send you and learn what you need to learn. You’d best make this work because their failures are yours. Is that clear?”
“Clear, Drill Instructor!” Andrea shouted.
What the hell had just happened? She wasn’t cut out to be a leader. She was barely qualified to be here at all.
Yet what could she do? Page hadn’t given her the option of declining, so she was stuck trying to make this work. Somehow.
She quickly checked the size of the file that he’d just sent her and almost groaned. There was a lot to learn and virtually no time to do it. She hadn’t slept for more than an hour in the last full day, and it didn’t look like she’d be getting any rest tonight.
32
As Fei walked inside the casino, she was struck by its opulence. The building and its contents seemed designed to exude an image of extreme wealth. She supposed she shouldn’t be surprised. They wanted the patrons to feel as if they could win all of this for themselves.
That would be quite the trick. As any marine worth their salt knew, the odds always favored the house. If it seemed like you might just get ahead, there would be a hidden way for them to get your money.
“How do you want me to handle this?” she asked Still Water as she walked past a fountain shooting water high into the air while colored lights and lasers played over its surface, creating strange holographic effects.
“That’s entirely up to you, but I’d recommend finding someone that looks like they work here and asking to speak with someone higher up. You’re going to get some resistance, but if you say the right things, you’ll get their attention, and someone will come looking for us.”
Fei scanned the crowd without slowing down and spotted someone who looked like they were involved in security. At least the person was armed and dressed in a suit that didn’t seem all that tailored for his form.
She changed course and walked right up to the man. “Pardon me, but you’re security here, right?” she asked with a smile.
“Yes, ma’am. Can I help you?”
“My name is Lieutenant Na Fei of the Imperial Marines. I need to speak with someone about a matter regarding your operation and my marines.”
He frowned, but it was only just enough for her to see a couple of wrinkles between his eyebrows. Whoever had trained him had done very well at showing him what needed to be done to minimize his responses. Frankly, she imagined he heard and saw any number of crazy things, so that was probably useful.
“You should probably call the corporate office and make an appointment,” he said smoothly. “Management here is very busy.”
She shook her head. “Let me be blunt. There was an incident on the base earlier today that resulted in a death. Evidence has come to light connecting that individual to the Mackie family and this casino. I’m hoping to figure out exactly what’s going on before the higher-ups decide to blacklist this casino and the other Mackie family properties. I’d rather take care of this quietly and quickly.”
The man considered her for a few long seconds. “May I see some identification?”
Since she was sure he’d have implants, she sent him her ID via implant com, which was exactly the same sort of thing as holding up a physical ID. She had a real ID if needed.
The man’s eyes unfocused briefly, and he nodded. “Your identification appears to be in order, Lieutenant. If you’d wait over at the bar, I’ll contact my direct superior and see if he wants to come to speak with you himself or contact someone higher up. I can’t guarantee that anyone from management will speak with you, you understand.”
“We all do what we can. Thank you.”
Fei detoured to the bar the man had indicated with the earl on her heels. The two of them sat at a small table, and she ordered something nonalcoholic and fruity. He wasn’t so restrained and ordered a pricey whiskey, paying for both their drinks.
“Do you think they’re actually going to kick it up to someone inside the family itself?” she asked as she sipped the tart liquid.
“I do. The way you approached them was direct enough that they’ll feel the need to let someone with actual authority make a decision. That doesn’t mean they’ll actually speak with us, of course, but I think they will.”
“Any guide on how I should approach them about the attack?”
“Be direct, just like you’re already doing. That’s your strong suit, you know. If you try to be subtle, they’ll wonder what’s really going on because marines aren’t typically indirect.”
She chuckled. “You might be surprised. When it comes to fighting, marines can be shockingly subtle. Of course, they can also punch you in the face.”
“A time for all seasons.”
They sat there for about ten minutes before the man she’d spoken to walked up to their table with a short older woman at his side. She was dressed in business attire.
“Lieutenant Na,” the woman said in a mellow tone. “My name is Leanna Mackie. Andrew tells me that you have a problem that you need to speak with someone in management about. Tonight, that’s me. Would you care to come to my office, or is this something that can be discussed here?”
“I think it would be better if we went to your office,” Fei said as she rose to her feet, finishing the last of her drink. “I’m afraid the details aren’t exactly pleasant.”
The woman turned and looked at Still Water. “Will you be accompanying us?”
The earl smiled slightly. “I believe it’s probably best that I do. My name is J. Russell Macumber, Earl Still Water. I’m present in an official capa
city.”
The woman raised an eyebrow. “Even more curious. An Imperial noble of your standing and a marine lieutenant make an odd pair. Andrew, be a dear and call ahead to let them know that we’re coming.”
With that, the woman led them across the foyer and deeper into the casino. She veered away from the center of the large room and through a doorway mostly concealed behind a façade.
Once away from the glittering opulence, everything became very subdued. It was still well-built but no longer reeked of money.
The woman led them to a lift, which took them underneath the casino itself. It opened into a room with four more security officers who were openly armed.
“My associates will scan you for weapons,” the woman said.
“I’m with the Imperial Department of Justice and must remain armed at all times,” the earl said genially.
Fei wasn’t armed, but she probably should’ve been. Something to bring up next time they confronted a crime family.
The woman pursed her lips. “I’ll need to see your authorization and ID.”
“Of course.”
A few seconds later, the woman nodded. “Everything seems to be in order, so I’m not going to dispute your right to be armed. However, I will have my people scan you to determine what you’re armed with.”
Without waiting for a response, the four men closed in around them, and two of them produced scanner wands that they ran across Fei and the earl. Since his stunner was designed to be undetectable, she wondered what other weapons he had on his person.
In any case, moments later, the search was done, and the information likely relayed quietly to Leanna Mackie. She gestured for them to continue and led them into an area of what were obviously executive offices.
Seemingly at random, the woman walked through a door and nodded to an assistant seated at a desk. “We’re not to be disturbed, Jimmy. Not unless the casino is burning down. Even then, I expect you to do your best to put out the fire before you call me.”
The young man smiled and nodded without saying anything.
As soon as they were inside the office, the woman shut the door behind them and gestured toward a seating area off to the side of a rather large desk. “If you’ll take a seat, I’ll fix us something to drink while we speak.
“I believe you were having one of our top-line whiskeys, Earl Still Water, while you were having something nonalcoholic, Lieutenant. I’m afraid that I don’t have anything nonalcoholic here other than ginger ale. Will that do?”
“I don’t need anything,” Fei said. “Thank you.”
Unlike her, Earl Still Water ordered another drink. When the woman had poured for him, she sat in the chair nearby, crossed her legs, and raised one elegantly sculpted eyebrow.
“I understand that there was some kind of trouble on the base involving a marine or marines and my family. Perhaps you could explain the situation in more detail.”
She was looking at Still Water, but he gestured to Fei. The woman tilted her head slightly and looked over at her.
“Unfortunately, some of the details are classified, but a marine on the base attacked me earlier today. I caught him trying to break into an area that he shouldn’t have been in, and he tried to kill me.”
If the news disturbed the woman, her expression didn’t show it. “That’s terrible, of course, but I don’t see what that has to do with my family or this casino.”
“The gentleman in question—Sergeant Evan Quint—didn’t survive the encounter, but we’ve searched all of his communication and data equipment. We found some notes and messages. Those indicated that he had a substantial gambling debt here at this casino and that it was forgiven in exchange for him breaking into the area where the attack occurred.”
That news made the woman frown more deeply, then her eyes unfocused briefly. “I just checked our records. The gentleman paid off his debt to us more than a week ago. He hasn’t been into the casino since then.”
“That would match up with the instruction he noted where he was banned from returning and that his debt would be forgiven in exchange for the work that was done,” Fei said, crossing her legs. “What he was instructed to do was break into a training recruit’s wall locker and plant drugs with the intent of having her banned from the Imperial Marines.
“If that information proves out, that’s not only a crime that Earl Still Water would be interested in but one that would cause the base to list all Mackie family properties as off-limits. As you might imagine, that would have a rather substantial effect on your bottom line.”
The woman made an offhand gesture. “It would have an impact, yes, but it’s not something that would critically injure our business. I’m not sure how I’m supposed to prove a negative, but we were not involved in this crime in any way.
“My family has been in the casino business for generations, and that’s what we do. We have no reason to wish anyone inside the Imperial Marines harm. Far from it.”
“Then someone is using your family as patsies. I’d imagine that you carry quite a lot of pull here on New Dallas. The list of people that would be willing to risk your wrath should be relatively small, I’d think. Whoever did it is willing to kill, after all.
“I suspect the drugs were their first foray, but it won’t be the last. Now that their machinations are in the open, they’re going to do whatever they have to to see that the recruit in question is eliminated. Permanently.
“So, while you can’t prove a negative, you can find me someone that’s more interesting to look at than your family.”
The woman pursed her lips for a moment and then slowly nodded. “If someone attempted to use the Mackie family name like this, we’d be happy to assist the authorities in determining who they are. I’ll need what information you can share to get some of my people on it.
“As it happens, we do have some knowledge of the various criminal organizations present on New Dallas. When one runs a casino, one has to do business with all sorts, you understand. Even upstanding people like the Mackie family.”
Still Water smiled genially. “Of course. I’ll be happy to give you everything we have on the attacker’s identity and the communications and notes we’ve recovered. We don’t really have much beyond that, but I’m confident that your contacts will be better than mine at figuring out who might have been interested in killing someone on the base.
“I’d ask that you expedite your inquiry because if another attack takes place before we have a better suspect, I’ll have to send people to look through your systems myself. That would be tremendously disruptive for both your business and your clients. Personally, I’d prefer to avoid that.”
The woman’s gaze hardened. “As would we. Unfortunately for you, the information you have is insufficient for an Imperial warrant. You’d need significantly more than hearsay to get access to our systems and personnel.”
The earl’s smile turned cool. “You’re not the only one that has contacts in interesting places. If it makes you feel better to think that I can’t get a warrant, then, by all means, drag your feet. Otherwise, I suggest you treat this as an extremely time-sensitive matter.”
The three of them sat in silence for longer than was comfortable, but the woman finally rose to her feet, smoothing her skirt with her hands. “I’ll need your contact information, and I’ll see what I can find. Cooperation in this matter is likely better than taking chances or making threats. Personally, I’d much rather take out my ire on the perpetrators than bicker with you.”
“I’ll let you interface with Lieutenant Na,” Still Water said urbanely. “Since the attack happened on the base, she’s a better point of contact.”
Moments later, Fei’s implants pinged with an incoming communication bearing the woman’s contact information. She filed it away and returned her own.
“I believe that concludes our business,” the woman said. “You’re welcome to remain at the casino, but I’m afraid that I need to begin making calls and asking questions.”
Fei extended her hand to the woman. “I look forward to working with you.”
The barest hint of a smile flitted across the woman’s lips, and she returned the handshake firmly. “As do I. I’ve always liked marines. So direct and forceful. If someone tried to kill you and they ended up dead, you’re someone worth keeping an eye on. Until we meet again, Lieutenant Na.”
The woman escorted them back out to where the security man waited. Minutes later, they were back in front of the casino, and their car was pulling up.
Fei started to say something as soon as they climbed in, but Still Water held up a hand. He then brought out a compact scanner and began running it over himself and then her.
She was intrigued. She hadn’t seen an opportunity for the woman to plant a bug or tracking device on either of them.
The device beeped when he brought it over Fei’s right sleeve. He ran across the area until he found something that he retrieved with a pair of tweezers—a tiny device.
He put that into a small container and put it into his pocket. Then he scanned the rest of the car and found two more devices.
Only when he’d gone back over everything did he pull out a jammer and activate it. That done, he smiled at her and settled back in his seat.
“It seems that we’ve garnered their interest,” he said with a smile.
“They’re welcome to look at me all they want, so long as they figure out who’s trying to kill Andrea. I’ll work with the devil to keep her safe. Do you really think they’ll be able to find out who’s behind this?”
“I wouldn’t bet against them. They’ve got a lot to lose if things go badly. Now, I suggest that we get you back to the base. You were injured earlier, and you need your rest. Besides, there’s no telling what trouble Andrea is up to now.”
That was only too true.
33
