“Any idea where to start?”
“Try game sites,” Lakeysia suggested. “Webzines, chat rooms for girl geeks. They’re Cyber Maidens, so look in cyberspace. Where else would they be?”
***
The forensics lab was situated below ground, adjacent to the precinct morgue. Coroners made deliveries via the old hotel service entrance, thus avoiding the need to carry body bags through the front door. The cold storage area was still in use, though the freezers no longer contained food, and it wasn’t ham and beef that got sliced up on the steel tables. Water pipes rattled and squeaked behind grimy brick walls, and turquoise strip lights made the place seem much colder than it actually was. Spiritually inclined people might have thought of the morgue as a holding place for those awaiting the afterlife. Lakeysia considered it the police department’s version of hell, a seldom-visited tomb that reeked of the dead. It was the one place on Earth nobody wanted to end up.
Lakeysia hurried through the freezer room and into Doctor Matthews’ lab. It was marginally warmer than the morgue thanks to electric heating, but still cold enough to see her breath. Matthews was alone with his assistant, though his eyes were on another woman’s hair. Using tweezers he took the blonde strand from its evidence bag and placed it on a glass slide.
Matthews peered through his microscope, adjusting the focus knob until he was satisfied. “The specimen’s not artificial,” he concluded, rotating the strand with his tweezers. “It came from a female Caucasian. Late teens, or early twenties. It’s been dyed, and quite recently. Blonde’s not the natural colour.”
“Our girl’s a redhead,” Lakeysia shouted. “Ain’t that right, doc?”
Matthews and Kari both jumped as she announced her presence. It was rare for an officer to visit the forensics lab without making an appointment with them first. Nobody liked passing through the morgue unless it was absolutely necessary, and they definitely wanted someone living to be waiting for them when they arrived. Lakeysia usually followed procedure, but she needed an immediate answer to her query.
“Yes. The sample’s from a redhead,” Matthews concurred. “My first guess would have been a brunette, except you’re not guessing. What’s the new evidence you’re desperate to show me?”
Matthews was referring to the photographs in Lakeysia’s hand. Frances had struck gold, finding a picture of the Cyber Maidens on her very first internet search. The digital photo was from a videogame awards ceremony two years ago, less than a month before the group’s breakup.
“Mafia gangsters recruit heavies, Miss Tasoto recruits game designers,” Lakeysia said. She presented the first photograph to Matthews. It was a color printout of the image France found on the Internet. “You might say this was her family. Meet the Cyber Maidens, doc. Sure you recognize Nicole. That’s Hannah Davies, and Iris Levier.”
Miss Tasoto wore yet another formal outfit. Lakeysia hadn’t seen this pearly white blouse before, but she probably had a dozen fancy dresses. Nicole stood in front of the others, clutching a crystal award plaque engraved Jade Dragon - Game of the Year. Hannah and Iris were on her left side. Both had several years on Nicole, if not access to her expensive wardrobe. Hannah was the pretender to Miss Tasoto’s throne. The five foot nine, platinum blonde was dressed liked a high school prom queen, right down to the fake silver circlet on her head. Iris, on the other hand, couldn’t care less about appearances. Her spiky hair was dyed purple, and her nose and ears pierced with brass rings. Iris’ goth look was completed by black jeans, choker and a leather jacket.
“Bizarre little club, ain’t it?” said Lakeysia. “The lady over here is Lenora Knight, the Cyber Maidens’ contender for the world’s strongest woman. Looks real happy, don’t she?”
Lakeysia showed Matthews her second photograph, a blow up of Lenora’s face. Miss Knight was a tall, thick-shouldered girl roughly the same age as Nicole. The blood haired teenager wore a dark green tank top that emphasized her lean, muscular build. With her powerful arms, Lenora would have no trouble besting the average male in a wrestling match. The other girls all smiled for the camera, but she stared forward, bitterness in her eyes.
“Believe me, doc. You’re better off sticking to Asians,” Lakeysia told him. “They say blondes have more fun. Seems Miss Knight wanted to test the theory.”
The detective handed over her final photo: a close-up of Lenora’s bright green eyes.
“That’s her,” Lakeysia said. “She’s our girl. Strong, focused, determined. And green eyed with envy.”
***
The police assault team waited for Lieutenant Thorne to give them the green light. According to her driver license records, Lenora’s last known residence was a penthouse apartment in Outer Richmond. All Frances’ research indicated she lived alone, but nobody was taking anything for granted. Undercover officers had established roadblocks at both ends of the street, and warned Lenora’s neighbors to remain indoors.
The cops occupied an apartment one floor below. A technical specialist stood on the dining table, directing an optical fiber he’d inserted through a drilled hole in the ceiling. Richmond had its fair share of Edwardian houses, but over recent years real estate moguls had transformed the residential landscape by building ultra-modern condos. Lenora lived atop a brand new tower block, in a space-age apartment that came with a private gym, indoor pool and sauna. Her furniture was sci-fi junkie material: chrome futons, vibrating bed, lava lamps and automatic sliding doors.
“No sign of the suspect,” said the technician. “Or any booby traps.”
Lakeysia secured her bulletproof vest. “Somebody sign me up for games design at San Francisco Tech. She and Miss Tasoto got my place beat hands down.”
“I don’t think she’s here, Lieutenant,” Travis said. “Lenora probably knows we’re on to her. Odds are she’s split.”
“We deal in facts,” Thorne reminded him. “Not odds. This woman’s already killed one cop and left another in bits and pieces. You don’t let your guard down, not for one second. Not until I give the all clear. You got that?” The Lieutenant waited for the technician’s go-ahead then gave his starting orders. “Okay, guys and girls. We’re on.”
The assault team leader led his unit into the corridor and up the stairwell. He paused outside Lenora’s apartment, signaling his officers to hold their positions. One man carried a battering ram to use on the suspect’s door.
Lakeysia waved him back. “No,” she mouthed silently. “Use this.”
She produced a master keycard she’d obtained from the apartment manager, and passed it to Thorne. The Lieutenant slid the magnetic card into the slot. A diode lamp changed from red to green. Using his fingers, the unit commander counted down from three then turned the handle.
“Police!” Thorne screamed, following the commander through the door.
Officers stuck to the plan, splitting into pairs to secure the apartment. Lakeysia and Kyle took the bedroom. Thorne and a female officer swept the gym, bathroom and sauna. The assault commander and the rest of his men searched the living area and kitchen.
The place had been completely cleaned out. Other than furniture and appliances, there was nothing to suggest the unit was occupied. Refrigerators, cupboards and storage closets were all empty. The dining table was spotless, the bed sheets and pillowcases fresh, and the bathroom towels unused. All the carpets smelled of cleaning fluid, and the kitchen tiles were shiny like new. It was as if Lenora had never lived in the apartment.
Thorne holstered his weapon. “Sure we got the right place, Symons?” He had to blame someone, and Lakeysia was his chosen fall girl.
“Come on, Lieutenant,” she said. “Give the lady some credit. Miss Knight may be a psycho, but she ain’t stupid. What? You think she’d make it easy for us and roll out the welcome mat?”
The Lieutenant buttoned his jacket. “I’ll issue a photo to the press. Give a conference. Tell our friendly reporters the killer’s still at large. I’m sure someone can find her.” He turned and walked away
.
“Yeah, Lenora’s next sparring partner,” Lakeysia muttered as he left.
The assault team officers exited with the Lieutenant, but Kyle stayed behind. “Do I get a pardon now?” he asked. “For trusting Nicole? It would help if she trusted us too, but your friendly interview this morning might have ticked her off. Don’t you think?”
“Sure you can bring her round. Never been a girl you couldn’t handle. Set a time and place yet?” Lakeysia went through the apartment, checking cupboards as she spoke.
Kyle followed her into the gym. “Do you have a problem with me talking to her? You mind telling what you have against Nicole, now you’ve crossed her off your suspect list? All I’m doing is looking out for the girl. She’s in danger, in case you hadn’t noticed. Is there something wrong with watching her back?”
“Bet you’d rather watch her front. Make sure you wear a rubber, Travis. Can’t be too careful these days.”
Kyle dropped his jaw, feigning innocence. “What? You think I’m having dinner with her just to have a little romance on the side?”
Lakeysia thought of a simple, direct answer to Travis’ question, but something caught her eye. There was a white spot on Lenora’s treadmill. Bending down to take a closer look, Lakeysia saw a piece of newspaper trapped under the conveyor belt. Four feet away, a punching bag was suspended from the ceiling, its outside cover riddled with pinholes.
“So, Miss Tasoto’s invited you over to her house,” Lakeysia said, dragging the scrap into the open with her Biro tip. “That’s interesting. Is she on the menu?”
Kyle grinned, hands in his suit pockets. “You know, Lakeysia. You can be a real…”
“Pain in the ass? Yeah. I can.” She showed Kyle the newspaper scrap. It featured a picture of Nicole Tasoto’s head, torn along the neck. “There’s an old saying. It goes ‘the friend of my enemy is my enemy’. Or something. Don’t quote me on that. Always get it mixed up.”
“Would you get to the point? Today, if you don’t mind.”
Lakeysia sealed the news scrap in an evidence bag. “Miss Tasoto’s friends are all on our wacko’s list. Lenora was her friend too. Until your girl stole her ideas, betrayed her confidence. Nicole’s no angel, so don’t feel you need to be hers. And if you do decide to play Cupid, ride her for all she’s worth. Because when you wake up tomorrow morning, you might find yourself in heaven.”
Chapter Ten: Lady Ninja
Kyle put on his best suit for the evening trip to Nicole’s mansion. He would have brought some wine along, but his hostess had insisted on providing the drinks. Kyle rang the front doorbell, and waited for the mistress of the house to let him inside. The damaged oak paneling had already been replaced following last night’s police raid. Swift service was one of the advantages of being wealthy.
Nicole answered the door wearing a pale blue evening gown. The color matched her eyes perfectly, and the material was thin and revealing. Nicole’s undershirt was brilliant white with fancy patterns embroidered into the cotton. Like her gold necklace and earrings, it was studded with sparkling sapphires.
“Am I dressed suitably, Detective?” she asked.
Kyle blushed, realizing he’d been staring a little too hard. “Yes. You look wonderful.”
“Your friends certainly seem to think so.”
Nicole was referring to the officers staked out front. The police guard had been doubled. All four men were married, and two were over forty, but that didn’t discourage them from admiring the scenery.
“I think we should go inside, don’t you?” said Nicole.
She presented Kyle with a bottle of wine once she’d closed the door. Nicole had chosen a twenty year old, deep red vintage. Such a fine beverage would normally be reserved for special, high society occasions.
“A token of appreciation,” said Nicole. “I appreciate you looking out for me. I realize I’ve not been completely honest with you. After what happened with my father, Kenji and Sarah, I was frightened you might think I had something to do with it. Then she killed Rebecca and Charlie and I…”
“Hey,” Kyle jumped in, relieving Nicole of the bottle. “I never had any doubts about you. And Lakeysia was only doing her job, covering the possibilities. But that’s all behind us. I’m just here to make sure you’re okay.”
Nicole hung Kyle’s coat on a hat stand, and escorted him across the main hall. “And you thought you’d get some background information on Lenora. She was all over the news. Just looking at her face made me feel sick. The report said something about a reward for information.”
“There’s some incentive for you, then. A little extra money.”
Kyle’s intention was to make Nicole smile, but he immediately regretted his choice of words. She laughed it off, but thinking about her inheritance clearly upset the girl. Kyle knew she would trade the estate and all her wealth for the lives the killer had taken. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I know you had differences with your father, but I wasn’t suggesting that you be happy to get your hands on his money.”
“It’s okay. You aren’t the only one who said things they shouldn’t have. Would you like to see my father’s true legacy? Come upstairs, and I’ll show you. Leave the wine on the table. This won’t take long.”
Kyle followed Nicole to the master bedroom. The mansion’s halls were silent and empty, but he was happy to spend some time with his hostess. Nicole was a fascinating and extraordinarily talented woman who’d accomplished more in eighteen years than most people would in a lifetime. She’d shared portions of her life story, but there was so much Kyle still wanted to know.
Nicole took his hand, leading him towards the four-poster bed. “Lie down,” she said suggestively. “Relax. And close your eyes.”
Surprised by Nicole’s direct approach, Kyle did as she asked. He was starting to understand what she meant by her father’s legacy. Nicole groped inside Kyle’s suit and rubbed his chest. Her touch was soft, warm and gentle.
“No peeking now,” she told him. “You wanted to know what my father left me. Here it is.”
She slid her thumb between Kyle’s lips, pried open his mouth, and inserted something cold, metallic and square shaped between his teeth. It was the barrel of a .45 caliber pistol.
Kyle jerked back, opened his eyes, and grabbed his own weapon in defense. Then he saw the cable running from the grip, the lilac trigger and the red button on the pistol’s handle. Nicole’s gun was a game controller, a harmless replica of the real thing.
“Expecting something else?” she asked.
“Think that was funny?” Kyle yelled, shoving Nicole away. “Jesus! I could have shot you! Don’t pull a stupid stunt like that again.”
Nicole staggered back, laughing at her practical joke. “Bang, bang. You’re dead, Detective.” The girl couldn’t stop smiling. “Don’t get yourself all worked up. It’s only a game.”
Kyle waved his weapon. “Well, this shoots real bullets. And this isn’t the time to be joking around.”
Nicole ran a finger along her collection of DVD-ROM cases. “This was my father’s gift. He saved me you know, when he took me away from the orphanage. Toshigi gave me the opportunity of a lifetime, allowed me to fulfill my dream. Together, we built Dragonsoft from nothing. Now Lenora wants to tear down our empire. Well, I’m not about to let her.”
Nicole was doing her tough girl act again. Kyle was worried her headstrong attitude could get her killed. “This isn’t one of your videogames,” he told her. “Lenora’s a killer. You leave her to me. All right?”
“I’m not the harmless young lady you think I am,” said Nicole with a mischievous grin. “I’m quite capable of dealing with Lenora. I’ll prove it to you.” She selected a game disc, placed it in a console tray, and booted up the system. “First, let’s see how well you handle guns.”
Nicole tossed Kyle a controller, took another for herself, and sat beside her guest. “This is the only decent game idea Lenora ever thought up. It’s called Murder on the Golden Gate. It’
s about a cop hunting a killer in San Francisco. Not very realistic, but I’m sure you’ll get a kick out of it.”
“Is this the idea you stole from her?” It was hard to accuse a beautiful girl of theft, but Kyle had to know the truth.
“I see Detective Symons has been talking behind my back.” Nicole waited for the Dragonsoft logo to disappear, and pushed the start button. “The original concept was mine. Lenora only developed the idea. Back then, rail shooters were considered outdated, a relic of the past.”
“Rail shooters?” Kyle wished she’d drop the videogame lingo.
A grated male voice announced, “Stage One,” then the game began.
The main menu faded to a picture of wooden planks and poles, not unlike the piers at the Marina. Nicole fired at targets: masked men and thugs who appeared onscreen. It took Kyle a few seconds to get used to handling a toy gun, and his character took several hits before he finally shot an opponent.
“I see you’re a rookie when it comes to games,” Nicole teased. “Rail shooters are modeled after the old arcade machines, where the player moves along a fixed path. My idea was to make things more dynamic, give the player freedom to move laterally within the screen. Backward and forward, taking cover behind obstacles. Like on the TV shows. Lenora designed the enemy AI, artificial intelligence, to behave more realistically. The stupid bitch thought that entitled her to half the credit.”
As Nicole talked about Lenora, she focused intently on the screen, blasting one enemy after the next. The girl was lethal with her toy pistol. Every shot she fired struck its target in the head for bonus points. Opponents sprinted for cover, but never made it.
Kyle watched the expert at play. “There are people who claim murderers get their inspiration from videogames. Do you think there’s any truth to that?”
Nicole smiled. Obviously, she found his comment amusing. “Games don’t create killers, Detective,” she said, blowing a tough guy away with another pinpoint accurate shot. “Society does that all by itself. I know the difference between digital gunmen and innocent civilians. See?”
Jade Dragon (Action Girl Thrillers) Page 12
