Harriet Walsh 01: Peace Force

by Simon Haynes

  "It's not Wednesday, is it."

  The robot shook it's head.

  Sighing, Harriet took out her personal card and paid the bill. Once it was processed she put the card away … then discovered she was alone. Alice had slipped away to follow the men on her own. Cursing under her breath, she hurried to the door, donning the oversized sunglasses and tying the scarf over her hair on the way. Outside, she looked up and down the pedestrian mall, trying to spot Alice and the men she was following. The mall was busy and there were quite a few people around, going in and out of the shops, sitting on benches and buying food and snacks from small, two-wheeled carts. It took her a few moments, but eventually a gap cleared and she saw one of the men in the distance, walking quickly. He was alone, and there was no sign of the other two men … or Alice.

  Harriet cursed again. She had three choices: One, follow the guy she could see. Two, run up and down the mall looking for any sign of Alice. Or three, go back to the station and put the kettle on.

  Number three sounded nice and restful, but she'd just had two cups of coffee and another would be too much.

  Number two was out as well, because she wouldn't be running anywhere with the enormous meal inside her. Anyway, Alice was tough, and could certainly take care of herself.

  So, after a final look around, she set off after the tall, dark-haired man. For a moment she couldn't see her quarry, but then she spotted him. He was heading into an alley between a couple of shops, seemingly taking a shortcut. Harriet strode to the alley then approached cautiously, pretending to browse a shop window before very casually leaning sideways, just enough to see between the buildings. The tall man was approaching the far end of the alley, walking with purpose. He wasn't looking around, as though he thought someone was following, he just kept walking without paying any attention to his surroundings.

  As soon as he reached the end he turned right. Harriet set off down the alley, walking fast and wishing she'd skipped the third slice of cake.

  * * *

  As she tailed Canitt's colleague, Harriet realised Alice had been right. It was good practice, and Bernie would be pleased. Harriet wondered whether Bernie would take Alice on as a trainee. She was already doing a great job, and she'd surely make a better officer than Harriet in the long run.

  She was so lost in her thoughts she turned the corner without thinking. There, not fifty metres ahead, was the guy she was following. He was unlocking a battered roller-door, but he stopped when she blundered in. She nodded and kept walking, heading right past without a second glance. When she reached the other end of the short alley, she stood with her back to the wall, heart pounding. This was a bigger street, with several shops and pedestrians. There were cars too, and the occasional cab drove past looking for passengers.

  Very slowly, Harriet put her face to the wall and peered around the corner with one eye.

  The door was up now, revealing an undercover parking space. There was a van inside, almost filling the space, but she could only see the sloped nose and headlights, the rest hidden by the wall. She could also see the end of some shelves, but nothing more.

  She knew from Canitt's business card that his premises were nearby, but this lock-up garage wasn't close enough to be part of them. Commercial land on Dismolle was cheap, buildings were spacious and parking plentiful. So why did Canitt need a place for the van here, when there had to be tons of parking at the main premises?

  The van started up and pulled out of the garage. Harriet glanced around in a hurry, looking for a cab, but before she could flag one down the van stopped again, parked in the middle of the alley with the engine idling. The tall man got out of the driver's seat and returned to the lockup. He emerged carrying a small, square cooler box with a handle, which he set on the ground. Then he put the roller door down, locking it and testing it was locked, before getting back into the van with the cooler box. He turned towards her and accelerated, and she realised he would drive right past, less than an arms-length away.

  Harriet turned her face as the van went by, keeping it averted as the vehicle pulled into the traffic. Then she stepped into the road and signalled a cab. She jumped in, took her seat and addressed the mic. "Follow that van please, no closer than fifty metres."

  "Complying."

  They set off smoothly, and Harriet relaxed. Cabs on Dismolle were ubiquitous and identical, and there was no chance the man would realise he was being followed. Now that she was on his tail, she'd forgotten her own objections to the pursuit. Alice was right, it was great practice and Bernie would be pleased. Then Harriet remembered the cost of her lunch, and winced. She'd have to ensure Bernie was a whole lot more than just pleased before she asked the robot to cover that particular bill.

  They were driving along a highway now, leaving the city. Tall buildings gave way to housing, every dwelling immaculately presented and surrounded by well-tended gardens. Traffic was light, and the van kept up a steady speed.

  They passed a row of shops, and all of a sudden Harriet got a flashback. She'd taken this same highway many times over the past month or so, on her way to visit Auntie in the hospital. She'd stopped at these very shops on the way, picking up a bunch of flowers even when Auntie was no longer able to appreciate them.

  She frowned. Why were they heading to the hospital? Then she remembered Canitt's business, and her face cleared. Of course, he was into that fake meat stuff. The hospital was probably another client, although judging from the size of the cooler box Canitt's man had been carrying, they weren't ordering much of it.

  You idiot, she thought. Canitt's guy isn't a delivery driver, he's a salesman. He'll be taking a sample to the hospital, to try and get an order. That didn't explain why the samples were kept in a lock-up, but maybe the security was better.

  She took out her commset and called Bernie. "Can you look something up, Bernie?"

  "Yes, Trainee Walsh?"

  "Canitt's people have a lockup two streets over from the restaurant. Can you tell me whether it belongs to his company?"

  "I will check now." Bernie hesitated. "How was your lunch?"

  "Rich," said Harriet. "Look, I have to go. We're approaching the hospital, and I want to see where he takes this sample."

  "Very well. I will see you and Alice back here later."

  "Yes, speaking of Alice … I don't suppose you can bring up that tracker software of yours, can you?"

  "You know I can."

  "Okay. Can you let me know where she is?"

  "I am in my charger at the moment, Trainee Walsh, but I will call as soon as I have the information."

  "Can't you check from there?"

  "Negative. I left the software logged in upstairs, and the station only has a single-use license."

  "All right, then. Quick as you can, eh?"

  "You sound worried, Trainee Walsh. Is Alice missing?"

  "Not missing, I just lost sight of her when we split up. I followed one of the guys, she's got the other two."

  "Was that wise?"

  Like I had a say in it, thought Harriet. "It was spur of the moment. Anyway, I just want you to keep an eye on her. Let me know where she is."

  "I will do so shortly. Meanwhile, perhaps you could explain why you are going to the hospital. Are you injured?"

  "No, I'm following one of Canitt's guys. He's driving a van, and I think he's taking a sales sample to the hospital. You know, trying to get them as a new customer."

  "That is good detective work, Trainee Walsh. Well done."

  "Thanks Bernie. Talk to you soon, eh?"

  "Bernie out."

  Harriet put the commset away. She felt happier about Alice now that Bernie would be looking out for her. The girl was smart, no doubt about it, but Harriet remembered her own teen years all too well. While she might have been intelligent and quick, she hadn't always been wise.

  The cab slowed, and she looked up to see the hospital just ahead. It was a huge facility, with many different entrances for ambulances, patients and visitors. They passe
d a sign for the administration building, then turned right past a second sign for 'H' block. After five minutes they crossed a car park, and the van drew up at a loading dock.

  "Stop here," said Harriet, and the cab obeyed.

  "Ten minute counter has begun," said the car.

  Harriet pulled a face. In times of high demand cabs had to turn over passengers quickly, and sitting around in them was discouraged. She wished she'd brought the cruiser, then laughed at the idea. She could hardly have tailed the van in Steve, who would have turned every head for five hundred metres.

  She watched Canitt's associate get out of the van, and saw him stride into the building with the cooler box.

  "Eight minutes," said the cab.

  "I'm a Peace Force officer," said Harriet.

  "Authority not recognised. There is no Peace Force on Dismolle."

  Harriet wondered whether to call Bernie back, so the robot could blast the car into submission. Then she saw the man coming back out of the building, and she told the cab to stand by.

  The van started up, and they headed back out of the car park to the main road. A few minutes later, once she'd determined the van was heading back to the lockup, she told the cab to drive to the Peace Force station.

  "You know, that big building that doesn't exist," she muttered, as the car obeyed.

  Ten minutes later they drew up outside, and she hurried towards the entrance. Bernie hadn't called about Alice, and she wondered if the robot had switched off and forgotten all about it.

  On the way in she noticed the front doors had been repaired. The shiny new plate-glass doors slid open smartly as she approached, and swept to just as efficiently behind her. The only thing missing was the big gold Peace Force decal, but she assumed they had to be shipped in from HQ, wherever that was.

  "Bernie, are you here?"

  There was a thud of heavy footsteps, and Bernie emerged from the rear of the office. "Trainee Walsh! You're back at last."

  "Where's Alice? Did you find her?"

  Bernie looked serious. "No, I'm afraid not."

  "What?"

  "Trainee Walsh, I'm sorry to say that Alice has disappeared."

  Chapter 15

  "But what about her bracelet?" demanded Walsh. "You can track it with your program. You showed me earlier!"

  "The bracelet is no longer transmitting."

  Harriet felt a chill. "You mean it's gone flat, right?"

  "It's possible, although the signal faded quickly, which indicates —"

  "Maybe she took it off?"

  Bernie hesitated. "That is one explanation, although the bracelet adapts to the wearer's wrist when first worn. In order to remove it, she would have to remove her hand first."

  Harriet didn't want to think about that. "Where was she when the signal failed?"

  "Close to Canitt's business premises."

  "Then that's where I'm going. I'll take Steve, it'll be quicker."

  "No, Trainee Walsh. You must not reveal your identity as a Peace officer."

  "Forget it Bernie, that game's over. I'm going in there in uniform, I'm taking a gun and I'm going to search the place top to bottom."

  "I forbid it, Trainee. You must not —"

  "Alice is missing and it's my fault. You can't stop me."

  Quick as lightning, Bernie's hand shot out. The huge fingers closed around Harriet's wrist, applying pressure until her bones creaked. "If you will not obey orders, I will force compliance using other means," said the robot, her voice harsh.

  Harriet realised she had no choice. "All right," she said sharply. "I'll keep up the damn charade. Plain clothes, no gun."

  "No unauthorised searches," said Bernie. "And you must take a cab."

  "Dammit Bernie, I can get there quicker with Steve. I'll just park round the corner."

  The robot hesitated. "Do I have your word as a Peace Force Trainee?"

  "You have my word."

  Bernie released her immediately, and Harriet ran for the garage, rubbing her wrist on the way. "You could have broken my wrist," she shouted, as she pulled the garage door open. Behind her, she heard Bernie's thudding footsteps approaching. "Steve, we're on a case. Fire it up!"

  The cruiser's door opened and Harriet slipped into the driver's seat. To her right, she saw Bernie entering the garage. "Get onto that tracking system and keep watch," she told her. "The minute … no, the second you get a peep out of Alice's bracelet you tell me. Got it?"

  "Wait," said the robot. "I have additional equipment you can use."

  "What is it?"

  Bernie held out a second commset.

  "Why the hell do I need another one?"

  "This one is an improved model. It can track the bracelet once you get close."

  "Thanks, Bernie." Harriet grabbed the commset and slammed the car door. "Come on, Steve. Start with Canitt's business address."

  "Where is that?"

  "Just head for town. Now!"

  The main garage door rose behind them, and before it was fully open the car shot out of the garage in reverse, narrowly missing a cab. They spun through ninety degrees then set off, roaring past Birch's shop at full speed. Harriet dug in her pocket and found Canitt's business card. The car was moving so fast it was hard to hold it still, but when she started to read off the address Steve interrupted.

  "I already have the address, Harriet."

  "How?"

  "I read it with my camera."

  Harriet looked at the card, which was sitting in the palm of her hand. Then she looked up at the roof. Above her, nestled in the light fitting, was a tiny lens. As she stared at it, the housing moved until the lens was looking directly at her. Before she could say anything, her commset rang.

  "Yes, Bernie?"

  "I wish to apologise, Trainee Walsh. My handling of the situation was less than exemplary."

  "We're both under stress. Don't worry about it." Harriet paused. "You know, Alice was really keen to track these guys. She might just have followed them into their offices."

  "That is possible. She seems more enthusiastic about Peace Force work than you, at times."

  "Yeah, I know. We should make her a trainee."

  "Recruit a criminal?" said Bernie, shocked. "Out of the question!"

  "All right, we'll talk about that later." Harriet clung to her seat as the car swerved around a cab. "Tell me … would Alice's tracker work indoors? Near equipment and machinery, I mean."

  "Of course. Witness this morning's demonstration."

  "What about underground?"

  Bernie thought for a moment. "How deep?"

  "I don't know. How deep would she have to go?"

  "What is the soil composition?"

  Harriet grabbed for her seat as the car took a fast left-hander. "How the hell should I know? Concrete, dirt … rock maybe?"

  "A depth of twenty metres would block the signal."

  "Does Canitt's place have a basement?"

  "Checking now." There was a pause, and then … "Yes. There are two floors below ground, with a lot of space."

  "That's where the vats would be," said Harriet. "He said their protein formula was worth millions, and it would be much easier to protect it down there."

  "You cannot search the premises, Trainee Walsh. I have your word."

  "I won't search anything. He's going to show me around."

  "I will not authorise a warrant."

  "You won't need to, I promise."

  "Then I fail to understand how —"

  "I'll explain later. Walsh out." Harriet pointed her commset at the business card and tapped the screen. Moments later the call connected. "Hello, can I speak to Mr Canitt? My name is Harriet Walsh."

  There was a delay, and then Canitt came on. "Harriet! I was hoping you'd call."

  "I've been thinking about that job offer, and I wondered if I could come and see you."

  "Of course! How about tomorrow morning?"

  "Actually, I'm kind of in the area now."

  There was a pause. "I
can make time, I guess."

  "Say ten minutes?"

  "Very well. No time like the present, eh?"

  "Thanks, Mr Canitt. I'll see you soon." Harriet pushed the commset away and sat back. "Steve, I need you to park round the corner. Somewhere out of sight of the destination."

  "Understood." Steve paused. "Will you be in danger?"

  "I hope not."

  "Only we haven't been to the beach yet, so I would prefer it if you didn't die."

  "Me too," said Harriet with feeling.

  "We could go to the beach first," said Steve hopefully.

  Chapter 16

  Alice was at the foot of a deep concrete stairwell, almost weeping with pain and frustration. She'd got halfway down the steps when she heard a door opening below her, and when she turned to run back up them, she slipped off the edge of a step and twisted her ankle. In fact, it hurt so much she suspected it might be broken.

  So, she was crouched in the dark recess underneath the lowest steps, taking shallow breaths and trying not to move. Even the slightest shift in her weight sent waves of agony up her leg, and she had to grit her teeth to stop herself crying out.

  Above her, she heard footsteps as someone used the stairs, coming closer by the second. She shrank into the shadows and held her breath, reminding herself of all the times she'd use the same tactic when stowing away on freighters. Aboard ship, though, there was the ever-present noise of the engines to mask any sounds she might make. Here it was deathly silent, and her pulse sounded like a hammer double-tapping on sheet metal.

  Ba-doom! Ba-doom!

  Doom is right, she thought. What had she been thinking, following the guys right into their offices? Like an idiot, she'd been trying to impress Harriet, and now she was in well over her head.

  When she left the restaurant it had been easy to follow the two guys. They were so busy chatting they wouldn't have noticed a troop of acrobats in their wake, let alone an ordinary teenager. She'd tried to make it interesting by using pedestrians and street furniture for cover, darting from one shop doorway to another as she tracked the two men. However, in the end she gave up and just strolled along fifty metres behind them.