Labyrinth (Deuces Wild Book 3)

by Ell Leigh Clarke

  “Who’s out there?” Tabitha jabbed a couple of buttons on the arm of her chair to bring up the ship’s external cameras. A human woman danced from foot-to-foot, looking up at the door of the Achronyx. “Hang on, she’s talking.” Tabitha flicked on the audio feed.

  “It’s Stacy! You have to help, please!”

  The woman sat in the chair opposite Tabitha, cradling the hot drink Ryu had made her to help with her shock.

  “What’s your name?” Tabitha asked. “And what were you saying about Stacy?”

  “My name is Safaia,” she began. She sipped her tea and put the mug down quickly. “But Ranger, we haven’t got time for this. They took Stacy!”

  Tabitha sat forward. “Who took Stacy?”

  Safaia shook her head miserably. “I don’t know who they were. I’ve never seen them before.” Her breathing quickened again, and she began to cry.

  Tabitha placed a comforting hand on Safaia’s wrist. “It’s okay. Tell me everything, from start to finish.”

  Safaia sniffed and wiped her face with her sleeve. “Okay. I was meeting Stacy for drinks after I’d finished work at my day job, I’m a game designer as well as a courtesan, and I’ve been working extra hard there to make up for the income I’ve lost out on while the strike is in effect.” She sniffed. “So I hadn’t seen Stacy for a while. I got up to her office just as they were dragging her out, and all I could do was hide before they saw me too.”

  Tabitha produced a box of tissues and offered one to Safaia. “Did you see anything that stood out about them? Did they say anything?”

  “Stacy was pretty pissed. I heard one of them mention Harry Barton, the fight manager.”

  Tabitha frowned at Ryu. “Isn’t that the same Harry we were just looking at?”

  Ryu nodded. “I think so.”

  Tabitha stood. “We should go and pay Harry a visit.”

  K’nthel System, Traveler’s Rest, Entertainment Level

  For the second time that day, the Torcellan behind the glass screen almost embarrassed himself when the doors flew open and Tabitha strode in with her coat billowing. He managed to restrain himself from slamming the partition shut but was unable to repress the small squeal that escaped at the sight of the pissed-off Ranger.

  He had recovered by the time she strutted over to the desk, leaving Hirotoshi and Ryu by the door. “Oh, it’s just you again, Ranger.” He smoothed the side of his elaborate updo with a slightly trembling hand. “What can I do for you this time?”

  Tabitha leaned on the divide and gave him a thin smile. “I want to know where I can find Harry.”

  “Harry?”

  Tabitha banged her hand on the divide. “I haven’t got time for this. How many Harrys can there be?”

  The secretary gave her a look of pure disdain. “You are joking? It’s one of the most popular male human names on the station census after the Big Three.”

  Tabitha tilted her head. “The Big Three?”

  “You know.” The Torcellan paused. “You don’t? Michael, Stephen, and John, as well as every variation on those three names that is possible. Needless to say, on a station of this size and with so many humans aboard, it is not a small number.”

  Tabitha nodded. “Whatever. I’m looking for the Harry who was running the fight in the Arena…”

  Barton, Ryu supplied.

  “Harry Barton.”

  The Torcellan’s nose wrinkled. “Oh, that Harry. He won’t be in his quarters at this time. He likes to hold court in Freyja’s, a bar on Level Seven.”

  Tabitha was already out of the door.

  K’nthel System, Traveler’s Rest, Level Seven, Freyja’s Bar

  The party was still in full swing when Tabitha and the Tontos arrived, the after-midnight crowd showing no sign of giving in to the threat of the approaching new day. The deep vibration of the music hit them the moment they entered the main room of the bar.

  Tabitha pointed out the artwork on the walls of the deep galley-style room as they worked their way through the press in search of the crooked fight boss. This décor is out of this world. The owner has put a lot of effort in, she thought. She swerved around a human carrying a tray of drinks and moved in to take a closer look at the nearest piece. I like the Scandinavian theme. Very…Viking-y, in a Mad Max kind of way.

  Hirotoshi blinked away the flashing neon that assaulted him and made a noncommittal noise. I hesitate to visit an establishment like this.

  Ryu grinned as the bar came into sight through a gap in the crowd. What’s not to like?

  It is more how much we will have to pay for damages after we finish speaking with him. Bethany Anne was not pleased with the bill from our night out on Flex. Hirotoshi nodded past the bar to where two Shrillexians prevented entry to a roped-off VIP area. A red-faced human sat at a table behind the rope but in view of the whole bar. That is Harry.

  I want to say “Ewww,” but I can see how he manages to get all his info this way. Look who he’s sitting with, and look how hard they’re all pretending they’re happy to be there. He’s got something on every single one of them, I bet. Tabitha knew this game. Everything the man did was for show. Harry had a woman hanging off each arm and was making sure that everyone noticed how much he was spending. His braying laughter carried even over the loud hum of the crowd, but the laughter of the people surrounding him had an edge of brittleness to it. Actually, no. I’m going to stick with my original assessment of ew. Shall we break this up? It’s almost painful to watch all this ass-kissing. The sooner we find out what he knows, the sooner we can find Stacy.

  Hirotoshi watched the display with careful impassivity. Nothing would make me happier, Kemosabe.

  The Shrillexian bouncers moved to block their entry into the VIP area. “Invitation only,” one of them told her in that regretful way good bouncers have. Tabitha held her badge in the bouncer’s face. “Ranger business.”

  The Shrillexian bent down to examine the decal on her badge. “You’re Ranger Two? The scourge of the Skaines? But you’re so… So…”

  “What?” Tabitha demanded.

  The Shrillexian held his hands up. “I don’t want any trouble, Ranger.”

  Tabitha tucked her badge away. “If that’s the case, then you’re the first Shrillexians I’ve met who don’t. What gives?”

  The bouncers exchanged a look. “It’s the drink, Ranger,” the bouncer confided in an almost whisper. “The one from the Empress that stops us from fighting without thinking. We got hold of some, and it changed everything for us.”

  The other bouncer looked a little worried. “Just don’t tell anyone. Please? If the others found out, we’d be ridiculed for it.” He looked around to make sure no one was listening. “It’s a big relief not being driven by instinct anymore. The drink gives us control over our lives, and we owe the Empress our thanks.”

  “You don’t fight, and you have manners?” Tabitha turned to Hirotoshi and Ryu. “What is with this place? It’s like I’ve fallen into some weird ass-backward reality or something. What’s next, an Ixtali who likes to mind their own business?”

  “How about a Skaine who is focused on helping others?” Ryu supplied.

  Tabitha narrowed her eyes at him and turned back to the Shrillexians. “I won’t tell a soul. And if you want something a little more exciting than this, you should head over to Yoll and see a man by the name of Nathan Lowell.”

  The Shrillexians nodded, and one of them lifted the rope. “Thank you, Ranger.”

  Tabitha sashayed past them into the VIP area. You see that? That’s what respect looks like. Now, where is Harry?

  They skirted the edge of the VIP area until they came to his table. Harry looked up to see whose shadow had just fallen across him. “Hello, beautiful. You want to join us?” He gave the woman on his right a little nudge and patted the seat beside him when the woman moved over with a spiteful glare at Tabitha.

  Tabitha looked them both over and laughed. “Oh, you wish! We’re not here on pleasure, Harry. This is str
ictly business.”

  Harry looked past her and saw Hirotoshi and Ryu. He slapped his leg in delight and waved at the table’s occupants. “Heeeey, these are the guys I was telling you all about!” He scrutinized Tabitha. “What are you, their agent or something?”

  Tabitha took note of the hulking guards at Harry’s shoulders. I think I’ll play along for now. I really don’t want to wreck this place.

  The owner of this place appreciates your discretion, Empress’ Ranger.

  What the… Tabitha spun around to locate the source of the intruding voice in her mind, a human woman with ice-blond hair behind the bar.

  The woman smiled, her eyes twinkling in the reflected neon of the bar lights. She nodded to indicate a door at the side of the room. You can use the back room. It’s soundproof. If it does get physical, make sure you get in a few licks for me? That bastard has been running dubious shit out of my bar for too damn long, and he’s too well connected for me to stop him.

  Tabitha didn’t look the gift horse in the mouth. She turned back to Harry with her patent butter-wouldn’t-melt smile and batted her eyelashes. “Aw, you worked me right out. There goes my element of surprise. Wanna negotiate?”

  A slow, lewd grin spread over Harry’s already flushed face. He stood up and waved his guards away when they moved to follow him. “Well, I don’t see why we can’t try. Why don’t we go somewhere quieter to talk about it, darlin?’”

  Tabitha indicated the door to the back room. “How about in there?”

  A few minutes later, Harry was completely sober and wishing he’d listened to all the things his sainted mother had told him about not going off with strangers in bars. He struggled against the restraints holding him to the chair Tabitha had shoved him into the second the door closed behind them. His eyes darted from Tabitha to Ryu and Hirotoshi. “Please, I’ll do anything…just don’t steal my kidneys!”

  Tabitha snorted. “You think I want your organs?”

  Ryu snickered. He wouldn’t have followed you in here if he hadn’t thought you wanted at least one of his organs, Kemosabe.

  Shut up, Ryu! I’m trying to be menacing here.

  Just get him talking, Hirotoshi told her. We’re short on time.

  Harry looked up at them with wide, terrified eyes. “Who are you people? What do you want? Is it money? I have money!”

  Tabitha bent at the waist to look Harry in the eye. “I want information, asshole. Drop the act. We know all about you and your little blackmail scheme. You’re going to spill every dirty little secret you have.”

  Harry’s demeanor changed in an instant. He glared at Tabitha. “I’m not telling you anything!”

  Tabitha laughed. “You have two choices. You can answer my questions like a good little snitch, or I can beat your ass around this room and then throw you out the nearest airlock.”

  Harry sneered. “You wouldn’t dare.”

  Tabitha frowned and looked at Ryu. “Wouldn’t I?”

  Ryu nodded at Harry with a sympathetic expression. “She would, and you would be glad she did by the time it happened. I would just do as she asks and hope she is feeling merciful afterward.”

  “Dammit.” She pulled out her badge. “I should just leave it untucked, save myself from conversations with scumbags.”

  “Ah, but then you would have to spend that time chasing them,” Ryu countered.

  Tabitha shrugged. “True.”

  Harry looked from Tabitha’s badge to Ryu and Hirotoshi with growing disbelief and panic on his face. “You… You’re the Rangers? No wonder you two did so well in the arena today. You fucking cheated!” He began to struggle again.

  Tabitha slapped him. “Stay focused, Harry. I know it’s difficult to do that when you’re getting a taste of what you’ve put others through, but today is your lucky day.”

  Harry spat blood on the floor. “Oh, yeah? Why’s that?”

  “Because I could use a dirtbag like you right now.” Tabitha grinned unpleasantly. “So start talking, before I change my mind. We’ll start with what you know about the disappearances. A woman has been taken, and the only thing I give a shit about right now is getting her back.”

  Harry slumped in the chair. “I had nothing to do with that.”

  Tabitha glanced at Hirotoshi.

  He is telling the truth, but he knows something.

  Tabitha turned and kicked Harry’s chair so it tipped back. She caught the edge of the seat between Harry’s legs with the heel of her boot to halt him mid-fall and leaned over to snarl in his face. “Never mind the crimes you’ve committed. You’ll be facing justice for all your financial fuckery soon enough. Right now I only care about Stacy. I’ll ask nicely one last time. What. Do. You. Know?”

  Harry’s reply was choked. “Stacy? Stacy’s been taken? Let me up! I’ll talk, I’ll talk!”

  “Oh. Well, I suppose I’m glad I didn’t have to space you.” Tabitha righted Harry’s chair and folded her arms expectantly. “Go ahead, talk.”

  Harry’s earlier bravado was gone. He sighed, and his shoulders dropped. “I don’t know who took the courtesans. Honest. But I think it might have been a smokescreen.”

  Tabitha frowned. “A smokescreen for what?”

  “It has to be all about the Loren. I found out someone had signed off on transport for it, but not who.”

  “‘Signed off on?’” Hirotoshi echoed.

  Harry nodded. “The Loren was contracted to remain aboard the station. It wouldn’t have left of its own volition, but if it did, its itinerary had to be logged and it was to be given an escort.”

  Hirotoshi spoke up. “Why the strict protocol?”

  “Those were its terms. Do you know anything about them as a species?”

  Hirotoshi shook his head. “No, they are new to us.”

  “We’ve seen a photo.” Tabitha repressed a shudder at the memory. “It looked like it could defend itself just fine with all those tentacles.”

  Hirotoshi frowned. “I am still missing the connection between this Loren’s disappearance and Stacy being kidnapped.”

  “Stacy was the negotiator of our Loren’s contract,” Harry explained. “The Loren are pampered, and never expected to defend themselves. The ones who leave their world only do so if they have a favorable contract in place.” Harry’s face was ashen. “Whoever has the Loren now must have arranged for her to be taken. Untie me! I have to find her.”

  Tabitha snorted. “As if. Why would you care?”

  Harry hung his head. “I have to find her. Stacy is my daughter.”

  Tabitha couldn’t believe what she’d just heard. “Stacy is your what, now?”

  Harry nodded emphatically. “Please, Ranger. I’ll tell you everything about everything. I’ll go to prison. I’ll stand in front of the Empress herself and admit my crimes if you’ll just let me find my Stacy and make sure she’s safe.”

  Tabitha deflated. “Well, shit. How am I supposed to hate you now?”

  “Remember that he’s been stealing from the Order,” Hirotoshi offered.

  Tabitha tilted her head. “Oh, yeah. Still, we don’t have time to deal with him and save Stacy as well. Maybe letting him help isn’t a terrible idea. We can just stick a tracker in him to make sure he doesn’t run.”

  Harry was almost in tears. “I won’t run, I swear. She’s all I’ve got, I have to get her back.”

  Tabitha dragged another chair over and turned it around to sit with her arms resting on the back. She deliberated; was it worth the risk? She decided not. “I’m not even going to give you the opportunity. Where do we start, Harry?”

  Harry furrowed his brow in thought. “I don’t know. All I can think of is Stacy.”

  Tabitha sighed. “You can only help Stacy if you put that aside and concentrate. This whole thing, the missing courtesans, the Loren, Stacy—how is it all connected? Who benefits from it?”

  Harry’s mouth drew tight. “I really don’t know. I’ve been digging into the Loren’s disappearance, but I keep hitting a wa
ll at every turn.”

  “We found your files, so we know the fights are just a cover. Why were you investigating in the first place?”

  “Well, I am an information broker. It’s kind of what I do. I came across the initial transaction and wondered why I hadn’t been cut in on whatever it was. Now the connection to the Loren’s disappearance is clear; it all makes perfect sense.” He scowled and shifted in the chair. “I was planning on having a contact of mine come out here to assist me, but we can’t wait. Not while my daughter is in danger. Are you going to untie me so I can start fixing this mess?”

  Tabitha shared a glance with Hirotoshi and Ryu. “You are a despicable human being, Harry. How do you sleep at night?” She begrudgingly cut him loose. “Any funny business, and you won’t live to regret it. Got me?”

  Harry stood and rubbed his sore wrists. “I’m a despicable human being who loves his daughter. I get by, same as everyone else.” He gestured to the door. “Shall we, then? We need to get to Iona.”

  “’Iona?’” Tabitha repeated. “That’s your contact?”

  “No. It’s an outpost a day or so away from here. That’s where my contact is based. But he won’t speak to a Ranger. Hell, you won’t even be able to find Iona without me, and every minute we spend talking about it is another minute we’re not tracking down whoever took my daughter.”

  Chapter 7 Tabitha

  K’nthel System, Open Space, QBS Achronyx, Bridge

  Tabitha paced the bridge impatiently. “Achronyx, are we nearly there?”

  “We are approaching the coordinates, Ranger Tabitha. Putting a visual of the location on screen now.”

  “At last! Tell Hirotoshi and Ryu we’ve arrived, and get them to bring Harry up here.” Tabitha flopped into her chair and turned it to face the screen.

  They were a safe distance from Zaphod’s anti-tech field, out in the empty reaches at the outer edge of the system, where there was nothing to be found but rocks and space-trash. Harry’s directions had brought them to a massive hunk of free-floating rock amongst the detritus.