In the Black

by Sheryl Nantus

  The white-haired man leaned in and squinted, nose brushing the glass. “Nope. Not one of my security men, I can guarantee you that. I’d know if one of my boys had gone lame.” He pulled back and eyed Daniel. “You talk to Trainer ’bout this?”

  Daniel shook his head.

  “You going to talk to Trainer about this?”

  He shrugged.

  Huckness snorted. “I’m not going to say I love the guy but you’re going to have to do better than that if you want me to get between you two. When you pack up and leave I’m still going to have to work with him.”

  Daniel leaned back in the chair, forcing a squeak out of the industrial-strength springs. “He wants me to toss Kowalski to the lions.” He studied the chief’s face, gauging his reaction. “Get the mess cleaned up and get off base, close the case and run. Let the higher-ups stay the charges at the Justice base and Kowalski gets a free ride halfway home.”

  Huckness snorted. “And leave me with the shit when the same higher-ups want to know why Kowalski got picked up in the first place and don’t want to deal with the Service. Nice.” He jerked a thumb at the image. “I’m assuming you’ve already spoken to Danforth and he says there isn’t anyone in medical with that limp.”

  “You assume correctly,” Daniel replied. “So we can’t identify the killer.”

  “Well—” Huckness took a seat opposite Daniel’s desk, “—I’m no marshal but I’m an old fart who’s been around. Seems to me that it’s simple elimination. Either the injury’s a fake or it’s real. If it’s real the guy hasn’t reported it and that’s suspicious right there. Odds are his team leader would toss him out. If you can’t carry your weight here, you’re done. No one would risk the bonuses unless you really cared for the guy, like Kowalski’s crew did. That ain’t going to happen twice in a row, not here. Kowalski only got away with it because he’s a lifer and got buddies willing to take the hit for him. I don’t see that being too common.”

  Daniel nodded, letting the chief continue.

  “The only point of making it fake would be to get noticed. That don’t make no sense. This guy, if he’s the killer or an accomplice, doesn’t want to be seen. He knows there’s cameras all around and he knows we’ve got access to them. Be crazy to draw more attention to yourself.”

  “So you think it’s real.” Daniel chewed on his bottom lip. “Given that no one’s gone on medical call on the base—” He left the sentence hanging.

  “It’s one of the crew. Guy got nipped by something and he’s dragging his ass.” Huckness nodded at the blurred image. “Bet he’s hanging in zero-g as much as possible. Avoid gravity to avoid putting weight on that leg.”

  Daniel rubbed the back of his neck. “Fuck. You’re right.”

  “Exactly.” Huckness nodded. “And there’s only two men on the Belle, if I remember correctly. So one of them’s your killer.”

  “But why? Why kill the woman in the first place? All this just to grab a few hundred creds by taking her customers? There’s got to be more to it than that. Why here, why now? They’ve been running together for six months on the Belle—why here on Branson Prime?” Daniel growled.

  “I’m no math genius but seems to me that sometimes the most obvious solution is the one that’s real.” Huckness spread his hands. “Now if you were to ask me about a motive to kill Comet I’d tell you there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years. It’s always about the money. Somehow, someway, it’s going to be about the money.”

  “Etts.” Daniel watched as the black box on his hip lit up. “Call up the Guild and get me the private financial records for Dane Morris and Sean Harrison. Use the command override codes and I don’t care if they call Kyle and register a complaint after we get the files. We’ve got only the two suspects and I need to figure out which one right away.”

  “Why not drag them both in while waiting for the info?” Huckness asked. “Pull them off the ship and toss them into the brig.” He waved at the wall. “I got plenty of room and squads ready to march onto the Belle to get the job done.”

  “Because the Guild’s going to freak if I shut down two of their moneymakers when only one’s guilty. Not to mention causing yet another crisis on the Belle by disrupting their business—I’ve no doubt Sam’s already been in trouble for that.”

  Huckness grumbled in agreement.

  “I also can’t yank them in on a shadowy picture and strip them down looking for a limp that may or may not be real. They may be courtesans but they’ve got rights and I have to respect that.” He gestured at his AI. “I’m willing to bet that Halley’s reputation as a financial consultant might have been part of the reason behind her death. Now that we’ve got two targets it’s easier than shooting a shotgun at all her previous customers. Which I wouldn’t get access to, ever.”

  “Could be,” Huckness said. “But then you’re leaving people in danger while we’re waiting for the Guild to call back.” His voice lowered. “Including the working men and women of Branson Prime. They’re going on that ship even as we speak, thinking we’ve got the killer here in our brig.”

  The disapproval was apparent.

  Daniel sighed. “Rule of law. Can’t pull them in and start fishing without more of a reason than that they’re male and on the Belle’s crew.”

  Huckness tapped his chin. “Search warrant? Tear their quarters open looking for something connecting them to Comet’s murder? I bet there’s something incriminating the bastard kept in his room.”

  Daniel shook his head. “I’d have to contact a Justice base and get a judge to sign off on it, and I’m not going to get that on a whisper and a fart. He’ll want something more than a theory, especially when the Guild’s involved. They’ve got a long reach and I suspect it’ll take a lot for them to allow a judge to sign off on a fishing expedition. Not to mention violating the privacy rules. Who knows what we’d find and if it’d be admissible in other cases, for example. What I find there might end up raising more questions than answers. And the Guild doesn’t like being asked questions.”

  “Fuckers,” Huckness said.

  “Yeah. I get that they want to cover all their bases and protect their assets, but they’re a lot of trouble. Once those financials come in I’m betting we’ll be down one suspect and I can move with due cause, get the warrant and lock him up as soon as I lay hands on him.” He looked at Huckness. “Ever think about going into the Service? You’ve got a damned good mind for analysis.”

  The older man laughed. “And give up all this? No thanks, Marshal.” His tone turned serious. “You might want to warn that pretty captain of yours to watch her back. She’s a vet but even the best of us can be jumped from behind. And if it’s one of her crew she’s in danger, and she’s got no backup as long as we’re here in this office.” He paused. “I could send in one of my special teams but that’d send up red flags all over the place. No one’s going to miss a bunch of armed men standing in the landing bay and it’d probably trigger the killer, prompt him to do something rash.”

  “She’s got Belle and a good head on her shoulders.” Daniel banged on the keyboard. “It’ll have to be enough until I figure out who the killer is.”

  * * *

  Sam glared at the image on the screen. “Are you serious? ‘Watch your back and stay put’? Do you think I’m fresh out of boot camp?”

  Daniel shifted in his seat. “I’m telling you to be careful. When I get those financials back—”

  “And then you’re going to come riding in to save me on your white horse?” She snorted, feeling her pulse increase.

  “No. Yes. What horse?” He frowned. “Sam, I’m serious about this. You know the crew have weapons and all you’ve got is your sidearm, hardly enough to stand against swords and God-knows-what-else they’ve got stockpiled in their cabins. If the killer was strong enough to crush Comet’s throat, his hands are lethal w
eapons right up front, and who knows what else he’s got hidden away. Just lock yourself in the cockpit and stay clear.”

  “And what if he kills someone else?” Sam jabbed a finger at the screen. “If Sean or Dane freak out and kill a customer or one of the other girls, what then? I curl up into a ball and weep until you come to save me?”

  “I’m not—”

  “No. No.” She slashed the air with her hand, trying hard not to punch the screen. “I will not stand by and let either of them hurt my crew. As soon as you eliminate one of them, you call me and I’ll secure the ship from my end and assist in the arrest.”

  “This isn’t what you were trained for,” he snapped. “This isn’t what you were hired to do. The Guild wanted a babysitter.”

  “Well they got a tough old broad instead. Maybe they’ll fire me.”

  “I’d be fine with that. As long as you’re alive.” The emotion in Daniel’s voice caught her off guard, breaking her anger like a brittle piece of plastic. “You can always find another job. You can’t get another life.”

  She paused, the words stuck in her throat. It took a second to clear. “This is my life, Daniel. For another four and a half years.”

  “Maybe. But that’s not what we’re talking about right now. You’ve got a killer on board and as soon as I deduce which one, I’m coming on board. Period.”

  “Let me know who is it and I’ll tag-team with you.” It was as close to a retreat as she’d allow herself. “Don’t cut me out of this. You can’t cut me out of this.” She squinted at his image. “You’re afraid I’ll freeze up or cut and run?”

  “What? No.”

  “I held at the Hub right to the very end. You think I can’t handle this? You afraid you’ll have to save me?” Her chest ached at the words and the emotions behind them.

  “I didn’t say that.” His jaw tensed up. “This is a killer, Sam. Not some disgruntled client upset because he didn’t get off before his time ran out. Do you want me to override the Belle and lock you in your cabin?” Daniel’s voice rose. “Because if I have to do it to keep you safe, I’ll do it.”

  Sam leaned in toward the screen. “You go ahead and try. I’ll get the Guild on your ass so fast you won’t walk straight for a week.” She pointed at herself. “I am the captain and I’m in charge here. I will not cower in a corner.”

  “Okay. Okay.” He exhaled. “I understand.” Daniel shook his head. “Just tell me you’re not this bossy in bed.” One edge of his mouth curled up. “Not that I’d complain much.”

  She couldn’t help smiling, despite her anger. “Guess you’ll have to wait to find out.”

  Daniel chuckled. “I’ll beep you as soon as the Guild gets back to me. Just stay frosty, hmm?”

  “Always.” She put her hand to her mouth and hesitated, shocked at her reaction.

  She was about to blow him a kiss.

  He grinned as if he knew what she was holding back. “I’ll collect later.”

  The screen went blank.

  Damn him. She slapped the release on the harness and floated up out of the chair.

  “Collecting on what?” Jenny appeared overhead, her head and shoulders coming out of one of the vents. “You need something?”

  “Are you okay?” Sam eyed the mechanic. She’d seen people break down before but she suspected this was a whole new area for Jenny. “I thought I told you to stay in your quarters. Again.” Sharper words were on the tip of her tongue but one look at Jenny’s face kept Sam quiet. The woman might be the best mechanic flying on Guild ships but murder and near-suicides weren’t something Jenny could be expected to deal with.

  Not to mention the other women and men had plenty to keep them busy locked up in their rooms and lots of space to do it in. Jenny’s quarters and her own had to have been supply closets when the Belle was first commissioned—too small for anything but sleeping. Moving around might be the best therapy for her shattered nerves.

  “I just—” Jenny shrugged, the threadbare coveralls sliding on her shoulders. “I just couldn’t stop thinking. Figured I’d be better off working on the repairs.”

  “We have any left?” Sam smiled. “Thought we were all done and ready to go.”

  “Nothing major. It’s sort of preventative stuff. Belle can vouch for where I’ve been and all that if the marshal wants to know anything.”

  Sam nodded. “It’s good. He won’t mind you doing your job. How are you feeling?”

  “I’m okay. Sort of.” She scratched behind one ear. “Never seen Bianca like that. I mean, I knew her and Halley were together, but not that much in love—” She shook her head. “Don’t know if I’d ever want to be that connected to someone to feel like that when they’re gone.”

  A dull pain started in Sam’s gut. “Yeah, I know.” She pressed one hand against her middle, willing it away.

  “We were lucky your marshal got around behind her.” Jenny gave a visible shudder. “I don’t want to think about what would have happened if he hadn’t gotten to her in time. You, me—”

  “How easy is it to get into those tunnels of yours?” Sam interrupted, not wanting to pursue that line of thinking. “Daniel slipped into the galley without too much effort. Aren’t those locked up so no one can sneak around?”

  A fragment of an idea began growing in the back of her mind. Whether it was Sean or Dane, the killer had had to get on and off the Belle without anyone knowing. It was a vital part of the crime.

  “Oh no,” Jenny said, a touch of annoyance in her voice. “You’re not putting this one on me. That marshal had Belle all opened up like a two-dollar whore with his authority codes. No hacking there, nothing I left open.”

  “How secure is the undercarriage?” Sam asked. “Like, if I wanted to sneak off the ship?”

  “I’d tell you not to try,” Jenny said. “You’d be lost in a minute if you didn’t know where you were going. Take a wrong turn and you’d end up maybe stuck against an engine, unable to turn around.” She tapped her temple with a finger. “Can’t be claustrophobic if you’re working this ship, any ship. Also can’t get too heavy—your marshal got lucky he only got bumps and scrapes with a bit of dirt. He could have gotten really bashed up if he’d been much bigger.”

  “Are there maps?” Sam pressed onward, her gut twisting into knots. “Printed maps?”

  “There’s schematics locked up in Belle’s system,” Jenny answered. “But they’re not accessible to anyone other than me and I’ve got them memorized.” She rapped the top of her head. “I don’t have time or space to drag around a notepad. Got lost the first few weeks I was on board but since then I know these corridors inside and out.”

  “But if I did my homework and maybe searched out the passages, taking notes as I went along, I could leave the ship and go through the undercarriage without Belle noticing, right?”

  Jenny frowned. “I don’t know. Why would you?” The confusion on her face was honest. “Why not walk out the front door? Besides, Belle would know where you were all the time. She tracks me every time I go under to make sure I get back out safely. No point in having an AI if she can’t help me out to keep her running.”

  Sam raised her voice. “Belle?”

  “I’m here.” The computer voice was soft and welcoming. “What can I do for you?”

  “You’ve been listening to our conversation.” Sam had gotten used to the lack of privacy long ago in the military, so being monitored by Belle wasn’t anything new.

  “Affirmative.”

  “Could anyone get into the undercarriage and get out of this ship without you knowing?”

  “No.” Belle’s tone was harsh. “The marshal’s intrusion was only permitted by his use of his status. Even then I had to assist him in getting to the galley by giving him directions.”

  “You’d know if someone was crawling around
?” She pressed on.

  “The undercarriage is—” Belle paused. “The undercarriage is akin to your internal organs. I know when Jenny is working and I know where. Any other human poking around, even if only to gain entry and egress would be to me like some sort of invasion of your system, like a stomach flu. You would know it and so would I.”

  “Okay.” She wasn’t going to start arguing with the AI. “So how would I get off this ship without you knowing?”

  “Without me knowing?” In her mind’s eye Sam imagined a frowning face. “What do you mean?”

  “What I’m asking is if anyone could slip by the cameras in the landing bay and come to the arrival presentation without you knowing.”

  Belle was obviously bewildered. “Why would they do that? Everyone watches you from here, from the screens in their quarters. They need to prepare for their clients.” Her voice dropped an octave. “Besides, it’s not permitted.”

  Sam imagined an old-style schoolteacher standing at the front door with a wooden ruler.

  “I know those are the rules,” Sam said. “But what if they wanted to see me up close and personal? Could they get out without anyone noticing?”

  Jenny interrupted, her forehead furrowed with thought. “I can’t think of anyone who could do it.” She popped her index finger into her mouth and began chewing on the ragged fingernail. “I can’t think of anyone getting into the undercarriage without getting onto the ship first. The marshal got into the tunnels via the landing bay and if you’re in the landing bay you’re on camera. And Belle would know immediately.”

  “So it’s impossible,” Sam pressed on.

  “In my professional opinion. Or at least very difficult.” Jenny started nodding, the gesture becoming more pronounced as she kept talking. “This ship’s made to be sealed off for space travel. There’s no trap doors for anyone to come and go as they please without you or the Belle knowing.”

  “What about the garbage chute?” Sam asked. “When we land it’s connected to the base, right?”