by Random, Alex
“Thanks,” Alston responded. “Sorry to have bothered you.” He began to move away, then paused. “Is there any other place Allie would frequent if she didn’t stay here?”
“You could try the Constellation!” the girl said, smiling.
Alston thanked them again and departed, and outside he paused and considered. He didn’t like the sound of what he had heard. Had Allie been arrested? Shaking his head at the thought, he went back to his vehicle and entered. Perhaps Allie was dating a policeman! He hoped that was the reason. If the girl had been arrested then it might be connected with the fact that she had known the dead man who had been waiting to see Alston. He had the sudden feeling that events were shaping up too swiftly for him, for a moment he considered his next move. He needed to find out what he could about the stranger who had died at the Play Complex. There was too much of a mystery for him to let it lie.
He took off and went across town, setting the craft down once more in the park of the largest bar on the seafront. He stood for a moment with his face to the sea, staring out at the black nothing, his mind seemingly as blank. There was a line of white surf where the waves broke upon the beach, and he listened to the sound of the sea while he thought over the situation. Away to his right were the lights of the play park where he worked, and he thought about Helga for a moment, frowning as he tried to analyse exactly where and how she fitted into his life. She was more beautiful than Carmel, but yet he had never seemed to notice that she was a woman. She was in love with him! That much he knew, but he had not attempted to lead her into a more active association. They worked together, and as far as he was concerned that was all.
There was music and noise coming from the interior of the Constellation, which was a larger establishment than the Cradle of Stars, and Alston turned towards the entrance, then halted. He shrugged and moved back to his hovercar, feeling a swift change of mind hitting him with firm resolution. What the hell! He didn’t have to play detective. He had done nothing! He was innocent, and if he had to sweat until his time expired then he would do it, but he was not going to get mixed up in anything that might get him transported to one of the Penal Stars.
He got into the hovercar and soared skywards, swinging towards the play park, but when he was hovering over the parking area near the office he felt a strange reluctance to land and face Helga. He didn’t need human company at this time. He wanted to be alone, to avoid all contact until his disappointment at being turned down for parole had been given the chance to work clear of his mind. He sent the hovercar up into the darkness once more and swung away towards the sea, his lights searing a brilliant tunnel through the night. For long minutes he hit the throttle hard, driving the register through the red quadrant on the speedo that marked the danger area. He was filled with a surfeit of mad impulses, and only when the engine began to whine in dangerous crescendo did he slacken off and let himself return to normal.
He drove for an hour, then swung around and headed back to the coast, and part of his mind at least had registered its composure by the time he sighted the lights of the resort. Minutes later he had landed and was moving away to his house.
There were still crowds of people enjoying themselves on the fairground, and he set his teeth as the sound of the music battered his ears. He let himself into the house and thankfully closed the door against the noise, and he made for the kitchen in the darkness, intent upon helping himself to several whiskies.
“Rex!” The whisper shivered through the darkness, and Alston paused instantly, his lips tightening. But then he guessed who it was and he felt irritated. He was in no mood for Carmel’s company now.
“What are you doing here in the dark?” he demanded, moving once more towards the kitchen, but she came out of the darkness and grasped him, clutching at his arm and turning him into her embrace. Her lips touched his cheek and then found his mouth, and he stood frozen until she released him.
“Rex, what’s wrong with you tonight?” she asked petulantly. “Where have you been? I told you I’d be coming this evening. I’ve been waiting for what seems hours. You haven’t been out after another woman, have you?”
“As a matter of fact I have,” he retorted, and felt along the wall for the light switch. When he plunged the room into brilliance she uttered a faint cry and hurried to cut the power, but Alston grasped her wrist and prevented her reaching the switch. “Leave the light on,” he said. “I’ve got some serious thinking to do, Carmel.”
“You look worried!” She frowned as she peered more closely into his eyes. “What’s happening, Rex?”
“Surely you’ve heard about the man who was killed here at the complex today!”
“I heard, but I learned that it didn’t concern you!”
“Well it did concern me!” He led her into the kitchen and set up the glasses for two drinks. He poured whisky for himself and gave her a liberal shot of liqueur, and when they were seated in the lounge he told her briefly what had happened.
“But this is serious, Rex!” she cried. “Why is Captain Graham so dead set against you?”
“You’re the cause of it,” he retorted, shaking his head. “I think Graham is in love with you.”
“That’s ridiculous!” She laughed, but it didn’t sound very convincing. “Quillon Graham is only in love with his job!”
“It amounts to the same thing! If he married you he would give his career a boost.”
“I don’t like him. He’s too secretive. You never know where you are with him! You can’t read his mind. You don’t know what he’ll do under any given circumstances.”
“And you think you know what makes me tick?” Alston demanded, lifting his glass to his lips.
“I know, and if you weren’t so preoccupied with being an exile we would have a lot more fun together!”
“Your sole intention is to get as much fun out of life as possible,” he retorted. “I’m more serious minded, Carmel. I think a man has things to do, and they’ve stopped me doing what I like.”
“You men are all alike!” There was disgust in the girl’s tones. “Life is for living, and one should try to get as much pleasure as possible from every hour.”
“What a philosophy!” He smiled thinly. “But you’re situated so that you can enjoy yourself. Not every girl is as fortunate as you. Your father is the Governor of Star Cluster Seven! You live a social life.”
“And I hate every minute of it!” She pouted for a moment, watching his face intently. “The only time I’m really happy is when I’m with you, Rex!”
“And the pity of it is, you’re probably my worst enemy,” he retorted.
She stared at him, her face showing her surprise. Then she shook her head slowly.
“I’d never do a thing to hurt you in any way,” she said firmly, “at least, so long as it wasn’t another woman!”
“If your father found out we were seeing each other what do you suppose would happen to me?” he questioned. “You should have seen the way he looked at me this morning when I walked into his office for review of sentence!”
“He would change if he knew I love you, Rex! He would do anything to see me happy!”
“Don’t count on that! I’m not happy with this situation now, and with what’s come up I don’t see any simple solution. I’m under grave suspicion of being connected still with the smugglers, and Graham is beginning to show more than a normal interest in me.
“I heard what happened earlier, but you ought to have known better than to raise your hands to him, Rex!”
“I’m only human,” he said, and knew it was no reason. “I guess I was disappointed over the review of sentence that didn’t go my way. Normally I’ve got myself well and truly under control. It won’t happen again.”
“I think I’ll start making some enquiries in official circles about you, Rex!” she said.
“Please don’t!” He shook his head. “You’ll only bring unwanted attention upon me.”
“I’ll do it secretively. There are a numbe
r of men in Father’s departments who owe me a lot of favours between them. I think I’ll start collecting on some of them. I might be able to find out why you don’t get your parole.”
“The reason that was given me was that they planned to make an example of me. I blotted my book whilst occupying a high position of trust. Responsibility don’t come much higher than Starship Captain!”
“You were one of the best, so I’ve heard. I can understand why you’re so upset about being exiled here, Rex, but you could have a wonderful time if you settled down with me.”
“I’m not the type,” he said. “It’s a pity, but I was always serious minded. I need the responsibility I had. It acts for me like fun acts for you.”
“I’d have helped you a long time ago but for the fact that if your parole came through I wouldn’t see you again. But I can see what this exile is doing to you, Rex. I think I’d better cut my losses with you and start afresh.”
“Do you mean that?” He finished his drink at a gulp and set down the glass. “I like you, Carmel! You’re a wonderful girl. But you’re not for me and I’m only too aware of it. Until now you’ve never considered me as anything but your property, and I’ve lived under a cloud, fearing that your father would find out about our association. It would have finished me, Carmel!”
She studied his intent face for a moment, then drained her glass and held it out for a refill. Alston got to his feet and went to refill the glass. He heard Carmel gasp, and turned his head swiftly, looking at her and catching a movement at the door in the same instant. He stiffened when he saw the door had opened, and there was a policeman standing in the doorway, a Blinder in his hands.
“What’s wrong?” Alston demanded instantly, setting down the glass.
“Stand still,” came the harsh warning. “You’re under arrest, Alston!”
For a moment there was silence in the room, and Alston felt a wave of frustration hit him. They were not going to give him any peace now, he realised. For some reason they intended keeping up the pressure on him, perhaps with the intention of making him lose control again. But he had no intention of giving them any opportunity to grab him.
“What’s this all about?” Carmel demanded, getting to her feet. She was angry, and her face showed it.
“I think you’d better go home, Miss Paine,” the policeman said. “Alston is wanted down at the station for questioning.”
“If you’re arresting him then I’m going along with you,” the girl retorted. “Rex has done nothing to be arrested for. He was arrested once today already. Isn’t that enough for you?”
“I’m only doing my duty, Miss,” the policeman replied, and he was watching Alston carefully. “I don’t know what they want him for! I was told to come along here and pick him up and take him back for interrogation.”
“With a Blinder in your hands?” There was anger in Carmel’s voice, and her eyes blazed as she looked at Alston. “No wonder you’re feeling fed up with this life, Rex! They treat you worse than if you were a freak!”
“They treat the freaks in our sideshows better than they treat exiles,” Alston replied, shaking his head. “But you stay out of this, Carmel. It will be better for all of us. Go home, and I’ll be in touch with you later.”
“I don’t want to go home!” She almost stamped her foot in anger. “I came here to see you and I’m not having the rest of my evening spoiled. I waited a long time to see you and I won’t be satisfied with the few moments we’ve spent together.”
“You haven’t been here all evening with Alston, Miss Paine?” the policeman demanded.
Alston narrowed his eyes at the question, and somewhere in the back of his mind a small voice warned him that the trouble he had been expecting was about to hit him. He took a quick breath as Carmel replied, and half wished he could have told her to lie for him, although he had nothing to conceal. But he said nothing, knowing he would only make the situation worse by showing concern.
“I waited here half the evening while he was running around town looking for a woman,” Carmel said. “He’s only been back a few minutes.” She sighed heavily. “Why don’t you go away now, officer and come back later? You could say he wasn’t here this first time.”
“I’m sorry, Miss, but I have my duty to do. Who was the woman Alston was looking for?”
“You don’t have to answer his questions, Carmel,” Alston said pointedly.
“Don’t be silly!” There was a pout on Carmel’s lips. “You have nothing to hide, and as long as you tell the truth you need have nothing to worry about.” She looked at the intent policeman once more. “He was looking for a stewardess named Allie Carpenter. She could help him with some information he needs.”
“I think you’d better come along to the station with us,” the policeman said thinly. “Come along now, Alston, and don’t give me any trouble.”
“I won’t give you any trouble,” Alston retorted, shrugging his heavy shoulders. “Let’s get along to headquarters and settle this.”
“You come too, Miss,” the policeman said.
“Are you aware of my identity?” Carmel demanded.
“I know you’re Governor Paine’s daughter, Miss. I think you would be well advised to come along without trouble. If you make trouble for me you’ll only add to the trouble that Alston is in.”
“And what trouble could I be in now?” Alston demanded. “Is it something else Captain Graham has cooked up?”
“It’s nothing at all like that,” came the grim reply. “I want Miss Paine along because she will be a valuable witness in the case we’re building up against you, Alston.”
“Me, a valuable witness?” the girl demanded, and shook her head. “You’re very much mistaken. I wouldn’t help you do anything against Rex!”
“You’ve already done it!” The policeman smiled as he reached into his pocket and produced a recorder, which he switched off. “I have your recording here. You said Alston has been out half the evening looking for Allie Carpenter. That should be sufficient for the charge we have hanging over Alston.”
“And what charge is that?” Alston demanded.
“Murder!” The policeman looked grim. “Allie Carpenter was found dead half an hour ago! Now you’d better come quietly!”
CHAPTER FIVE
Carmel complained bitterly all the way to the station, but Alston remained silent, his mind frozen in shock. The news of Allie Carpenter’s death had shaken him, but as they alighted from the police hovercar on the roof of the station he was beginning to realise that this business went deeper than he had at first estimated. He tried to get his thoughts working smoothly once more as he was escorted into the building and locked in a cell. He heard Carmel’s voice still protesting bitterly as she was taken along the corridor, and he sat down on the hard bunk in the cell and tried to take stock of the situation.
Time passed and he stretched out on the bunk with resignation in his mind. There was nothing he could do. They had him where they wanted him and he could only wait it out and hope that the net drawing in about him was not as strong as it appeared. But he held little hope for himself now.
Later the door was unlocked and Captain Graham appeared. He stared at Alston, who returned the hard-eyed gaze with unblinking eyes.
“Get to your feet, Alston!” Graham said. “I want to talk to you.”
Alston sat up on the bed but did not rise, and there was silence as they regarded one another.
“Before you start asking me questions just answer one of mine,” Alston said at length. “What are you doing handling this? You’re the chief of security for the whole star system! Why are you bothering your head with a matter that must be far below your usual sphere of activity?”
“I’ve taken an interest in this business for several reasons, and I don’t have to explain any of them to you. But one reason should be obvious. You’ve got Carmel mixed up in this and I’m doing what I can to extricate her. The fact that she is the Governor’s daughter won’t save her if
she’s found guilty of being an accessory to murder.”
“That’s rubbish and you know it!” Alston exclaimed, getting to his feet. “I didn’t kill Allie Carpenter and you must know that.” He approached the door and Graham lifted the Blinder in his hand. Alston smiled wryly and paused.
“You were looking for Allie Carpenter earlier in the evening. When you were arrested you had only returned home a few minutes before. So where were you during the time you asked for Allie in the Cradle of Stars and the time you showed up at the play complex?”
“Who told you I was asking for Allie at the Cradle of Stars?” Alston was thinking back now, trying to get his mind off the pinnacle of shock that had impaled it.
“Our investigators learned of it when they were checking. Starship crews are a close family circle, as you should know, Alston, and we learned that you had been asking for Allie.”
“From the stewardess and the male crewman with her!” Alston nodded. “I remember them. But surely they must have told you that when I asked if they knew Allie they told me she had left about fifteen minutes earlier in the company of a policeman!’’
“With a policeman!’’ Graham seemed surprised, and Alston tightened his lips.
“That seems to let me out!” he said. “For some reason or other Allie was either under arrest at the time I was looking for her or at least the police knew where she was.”
Graham seemed perplexed by his words, and Alston let a hard smile touch his features.
“So you’re not on top of this as much as you seem to think you are!” he said. “I might sue for wrongful arrest!”
“You’re an exile, and you have no rights!” came the sharp reply. Graham turned and departed, slamming the door, and Alston listened to the sound of his footsteps receding.
For a long time Alston sat patiently on the bunk and waited. Deep inside he was seething with anger at the way he was being taken for granted, but he was aware that Graham had spoken the truth about an exile’s lack of rights, and there were nothing he could do about this situation except grin and bear it.
