“We also know about your mistress. The mistress you had before your wife died.”
Leader Three stopped and turned around. “We are getting married.”
“I don’t think that will matter once everyone finds out that you two killed your wife.”
Leader Three returned to the table and put his hands on it. He leaned menacingly towards Leader Two.
“Who is the ‘we’ you keep talking about?” he demanded. “Who else is part of this scheme?”
“Don’t get any ideas.” Leader Two held up his hands. “Leader One knows and we have given the evidence to someone else to look after.”
“What evidence?”
“Pictures, tapes of conversations.”
“So why aren’t you going to the police or the Alliance with this?”
“Because we are colleagues and we don’t want the good name of the Alliance ruined because of you.”
“How considerate of you,” he sneered, straightening up. “But somehow I don’t believe you have any evidence.”
“What about the name of the person you hired to push her in front of the train.”
“And who was that?”
“I believe he goes by the name of Perc.”
Leader Three whitened. He sat down unsteadily. “That doesn’t mean anything.”
Leader Two reached in his pocket and brought out a photograph. He handed it to Leader Three. “This was taken the night you paid him.”
Leader Three looked at the picture. “You can’t tell that was me,” he scoffed, regaining some of his composure.
“Once the police enlarge it and use their technology, I’m sure they’ll be able to say it was you.”
“So you are blackmailing me into taking this job.”
“We thought you might want to redeem yourself.”
“Redeem myself, ha! You just want me out of the way so you can be promoted to my position.”
“We are giving you a chance to save your career and bow out gracefully.”
“And if I don’t?”
“Well, who knows what the police and the Alliance will do with the information. You can choose if you want to go to the colony planet as a prisoner or as a governor.”
Leader Two rose from the table and left the room. At the outside door of the building Leader One waited.
“How did it go?” she asked excitedly, falling into step beside him. “Is he taking the job?”
“He didn’t say so, but I believe he will.”
“Was he hard to convince?”
“Oh, yes. It wasn’t until I told him about Perc that he began to be scared. But I don’t think he believed the photograph.”
“Why?”
“He kept staring at is as if trying to remember if that was way the payoff had been.”
“That was the one thing I was afraid of but we had to have a piece of evidence. With you and him being roughly the same height and you wearing one of his shirts I thought it might work.”
“Well, it was a great plan. You never did tell me, though, how you knew he’d killed his wife.”
“I didn’t, but I had met her a couple of times and she didn’t seem the type of person who would commit suicide, especially not a messy one like throwing herself in front of a train. When I found out about the mistress I asked a few questions in the right places and learned that Perc was the person to hire for an accidental death. It was all only suspicion until tonight.”
“And the talk tonight proves that he really did do it.”
Leader One sobered a little. “And he could kill us, too.”
“I don’t think so. I told him we had given the evidence to someone else to hold. He can’t take that chance.”
Leader One shivered and glanced over her shoulder. “I hope so.”
Leader Two stopped and turned to her. “And now that I’ve helped you get out of going to the colony planet, it’s your turn to live up to your end of the bargain.”
Leader One nodded. “As soon as you’re promoted to Leader Three and I’m Leader Two, I’ll nominate your son for the Leader One position.”
* * *
Mikk was frustrated beyond belief. He had not been able to make any contact with Gwin before she was sent to prison. And it had taken a lot of questions to find out that she’d been sentenced to the Ceriem. As soon as he’d learned that, he’d applied for a visit but the final plans were underway for the first shipment of prisoners to the new planet and no more visits were allowed. The Leaders wanted to make sure nothing was smuggled in so the prisoners could attempt a breakout or commit suicide. Everyone on those ships was going to the colony planet.
Family and friends could write metal notes but they were not going to be distributed to the prisoners until after they reached the new planet. Mikk had written one and had delivered it along with ones from Britt and Gwins’s mother. It had been painful to visit Gwin’s mother and he hadn’t stayed long. She’d asked him questions, the same questions he’d asked himself and anyone else who would listen, and she could not accept the limited answers he’d been able to give. He had assured her that he didn’t believe Gwin was a murderer either and that he would try to discover exactly what had happened.
After checking on the condition of his men in the freezing chamber late that evening, Mikk headed to the warehouse where Beti and Tyl were supervising the packing of the farming equipment for the colony planet. This was the first time he’d seen them since Gwin’s arrest. He’d been too busy trying to find a way of contacting her and they’d been working on the last minute changes to the plow.
“Have you been told your departure time?” Mikk asked. Both Beti and Tyl had been chosen to fly to the planet and instruct the prisoners on the use of the implements they had designed. Mikk had asked to be assigned also but had been turned down because of his research on the cryonics project.
“Not yet,” Tyl said. “All we’ve been told is to get the equipment on board one of the transport ships and to be on stand by.”
“I don’t imagine I could trade places with one of you,” Mikk asked hopefully.
“No way,” Tyl laughed. “We know nothing about cryonics.”
“And besides, we’re looking forward to this,” Beti said. “It’s the most exciting thing that’s ever happened to either of us.”
“I have a request then.”
“Sure,” Tyl said, sensing Mikk’s sober mood. “What can we do?”
“Could I get you to check on Gwin for me when you get there?”
“Gwin’s going?” Beti asked. “As a space pilot?”
“No. As a prisoner.”
“A prisoner?”
Mikk explained what had happened over the past few days.
“She’s not a killer!” Beti exclaimed.
“I know and I’m trying everything I can to get her off the Ceriem before they leave but in case I don’t, will you contact her when you get to the planet?”
“Sure. We’ll help her all we can.”
“Thanks, I knew I could count on you.”
The moving crew carried the packages out to the trolleys. Once they were loaded, the trolleys were pushed along the almost empty walkway. Mikk, Tyl, and Beti followed the long, noisy procession to the shuttle loading dock. Here, they waited in line behind other trolleys filled with bundles of clothing, sacks of seeds, containers of cooking and eating utensils to be used on the voyage and by the colony, prepared food, and a wide array of other items deemed necessary for the experiment. Once the trolleys were empty they were pushed back to their point of origin for reloading.
When they reached the front of the line, their packages of equipment were transferred from the trolleys into the shuttle to be taken to one of the transport ships. Tyl and Beti would accompany it to supervise the storing while the empty trolleys were returned to their warehouse.
“This is probably the last time I’ll see you before you leave,” Mikk said. “I hope all the equipment works the way we envisioned.”
“So do we,” Bet
i said.
“Do you know how long you will be gone?”
“We’ve been told at least a year.”
“A year?” Mikk had hoped he would be hearing news of Gwin in a few months.
“The Leaders want the colony to have one crop grown and harvested before we leave there,” Tyl explained.
They headed towards the shuttle.
“I’ll be seeing you in a year, then.” Mikk said.
Beti turned and waved. “We’ll look after Gwin,” she called. “We promise.”
* * *
Curt grimly pushed his way through the crowd in the Hub. He hadn’t slept since receiving the news of his impending trip. He kept to the wall as he headed for the archway where he’d arrested Georg. He knew that Davi’s people would be there now and he had to get in contact with Davi. He turned into the hallway and followed the wall to where a man was openly selling tobacco. He walked up to the seller, who smiled in recognition.
“Well, Officer Curt, what can I help you with today?”
“I’ve got to see Davi,” Curt said. He held his ground as people jostled around him.
“Why? He’s paid you already.”
“I’ve got a deal I want to discuss with him. Where is he?”
“He’s in the next archway installing a new seller.”
Curt nodded and returned to the moving throng. He was still angry at the order he’d been given to go to the colony planet. And he was angry with the people he’d tried to get to help him. Word had gotten around fast and no one wanted to talk to him. All the favours he’d done over the years were wasted and he didn’t even have time to retaliate for their ignoring him. He’d thought about taking what money he had and heading to another planet to live. But he didn’t have time to make the plans. It was as if the people in charge had known the officers would try to find a way out and had left the command until the last moment.
He looked at the bright lights on the walls of the buildings and at the lively faces of the people. He was going to miss this, the excitement of the Hub, the pay off money. It was only because he’d come up with an idea on how to make money from this turn of circumstances that he’d finally stopped trying to get out of going. If he worked things right, when he returned in five years he would have enough money to retire and do some planet traveling.
He could see Davi talking to someone as he approached. When Davi looked up and saw him, Curt thought he detected a look of alarm on his face before he smiled.
“Curt, good to see you again. Do you want to try some of my newest blend?” He held out a packet of tobacco.
Curt pocketed the tobacco then got down to business. “I need tobacco seeds, pipes, and as much tobacco as you can package up for me.”
“What for? Are you going into competition against me?”
“No. I’m going to the colony planet to police the convicts and I want to take the seeds to plant and the tobacco to sell on the flight and until my crop ripens.”
“You don’t know anything about growing tobacco.”
“I don’t but most of the convicts do. I’m sure I can recruit some help.”
Davi grinned. “A smart man. How are you going to smuggle them on board?”
“Everyone has a price, even the people in charge of loading the ships.”
“How many pipes do you want?”
“All that you have.”
“How much tobacco?”
“Whatever you can put together by working all tonight and tomorrow morning.”
“How will I be paid?”
“I’ll pay the person who delivers it to the shuttle loading dock.”
“That will be taking a big chance on my part. What if my guy gets caught?”
“Then we are both out. And if he doesn’t get caught, we will both be rich, you sooner than me.”
“Do you want leaves or the cut product?”
“The cut product. It’ll take up less room.”
“And how much seed?”
“As much as you can spare. I want to put in a big crop.”
“This late notice will cost you extra.” He named a figure.
“I expected that.”
“What time tomorrow?”
“Have your guys there by noon at the latest. I have to be ready to board by five and I want to make sure it’s on before me.
“How are my guys to get the packages to the loading area?”
“I know you have various entrances into the megalopolis. Tell me the one you will be using and I’ll arrange to have three trolleys left near there.”
“This sounds like a trap. You’re not trying to set me up, are you?”
“Why would I? It certainly won’t help me if your men are arrested and lose the tobacco.”
“I’m going to have to send some new people so they won’t be recognized. How will they pick up the trolleys?”
“I’ll put a reserved sign on them and a mark that only I will recognize. When they reach the shuttle door, I’ll approach them.”
“Won’t they look a little suspicious pushing a trolley during the day?”
“The loading is behind schedule so trolleys have been seen during the day. It will be slow going through the crowd but tell them to take their time and not bring attention to themselves.”
Davi thought awhile, then slowly nodded. “Okay, you’ve got yourself a deal.”
Curt smiled. It just took a little ingenuity to change a bad situation into a good one.
Chapter Fifteen
The mood on the Ceriem was subdued. The rumours that had been spreading around the prison for a week had proven true. The guards had just told everyone that all the prisoners of the Ceriem and the Raydor were to be flown to a far off planet to set up a colony. And no one had a choice about going; everyone on those two ships was booked for the flight. They’d also stated that the monthly visits were cancelled. No one would be receiving any more food or clothes from relatives or friends.
Also, there would be no more new prisoners. They were to be held in the planet jails until the two ships were emptied.
Georg lay on his bunk staring at the underside of the one above him. He was worried about Jawn. At the police station they’d been separated and had had different times in court. Neither Jawn nor the rest of the group had been on his shuttle. The only information he’d been able to get off the guards was that the other shuttle had gone to the Raydor. The meant that Jawn should be on it.
And Georg was still very angry that Curt had turned on him. Curt had had an arrangement with the Tech dealers since before Georg had been sent to the Fringe. When he’d taken over the tobacco dealings he’d made an effort to get to know Curt and they’d agreed to be open about any problems. Georg had assumed that meant any other offers Curt might receive.
At the police station Curt had given him a little smirk as he turned them over to the officer in charge. In his rage that Curt had betrayed him so easily after being so well paid, he demanded to see the police chief.
“Why?” asked the officer.
“I’ve got something important to tell him.”
“What? That you’ve been wrongly arrested?”
“No, that some of his men are taking bribes from tobacco dealers.”
He doubted that he would have been able to see the police chief if he hadn’t walked by at that time and heard the statement. He called Georg into his office and motioned him to sit down.
“Who are you?”
George still had his hands cuffed behind his back so he sat on the edge of the chair. He tried to keep his voice calm as he spoke.
“My name is Georg and I’m from the Fringe.”
“What is this about one of my officers taking a bribe?”
“Officer Curt has been taking bribes from me for years.”
“And what are you here for?”
“For selling tobacco.”
“You sell tobacco and you’re complaining about Officer Curt taking a bribe?”
Georg hadn’t answer. He knew ho
w absurd it sounded, but he didn’t care. He couldn’t let Curt get away with sending him and his people to the prison.
“I take it you were arrested tonight.”
“Yes, by Officer Curt.”
“If he’s been taking bribes from you, why would he arrest you?”
“Because someone else offered him a better deal.”
“Are you accusing him because he arrested you and you want revenge?”
“No, I’m accusing him because it’s true.”
“Well, it might make you feel better to know that this is the second time today we’ve received information about his dealings.”
“You have? From whom?”
“That is none of your business.” The police chief stood and went to the door. He opened it and ushered Georg out.
“Carry on with this man,” he said.
By then the room was empty. Jawn and the others had already been taken to cells.
Georg shook his head. What did it matter now? That part of his life was over. Actually, his life on this planet was over. He just wished he knew were Jawn was. He’d been so disappointed to see Jawn outside the bar that night. He’d always believed that Jawn would make good and be there to look after their parents. And now Jawn was in prison and it was his fault. If he’d followed the unspoken rule that no new arrival was to be sent to the Hub to sell tobacco for six months, Jawn would still be in the Fringe with the hopes of getting back into the megalopolis in five years. He didn’t have that hope any more.
And what of their mother? She was waiting for two sons to return from the Fringe. Two sons who would never come back and the worst part was that she didn’t even know it. She would die expecting them.
And their bad luck continued. They were some of the last prisoners to be sent out to the space prisons. If Davi had waited a little longer to pay off Curt, if Curt had waited one more week before arresting them, then he and the others wouldn’t be where they were now. They’d be part of the new contingent of prisoners sent to the empty orbital prisons. They probably would have had a cell to themselves, it wouldn’t stink so much, and the noise level would be much less.
The Criminal Streak Page 13
