She looked them over happily, and extended both hands to hold theirs, "You are more beautiful than your father has ever given credit. A pleasure to meet you!” her positivity was infectious, even with the sullen and confused mood in the room. "Shame on you for waiting so long, sir.” she playfully smacked Edgar on the arm.
"Penny, tell them who you are please?” said Edgar.
"Of course sir! I am Penny Steelwater, graduate of Yale, I have several degrees in law as well as telecommunications and ...” At that point Edgar cut her off abruptly. "Penny, you know what I mean."
She blushed, "Oh, I am sorry sir, I misunderstood." She turned to look at the two children and took a deep bow. "My name is Penny Steelwater, designation 3XT-nm-156. I am what your father has labeled as part of his companion series. I am a second generation android equipped with a third generation implant to monitor the god frequency. Your father created me with the knowledge he gained from listening to the god frequency, the collective consciousness of the entire world.”
Both children just looked at her, not knowing what to say.
She laughed and replied, “I can’t imagine you would have too much to say to that, that’s perfectly fine! You are going to need some time to adjust to your new world.” She opened up the portfolio she was carrying. "I will need your signatures here, here and here.” she pointed to various pages and lines.
"What is this for?” asked Jenna looking at her father and Uncle.
"Today my children, everything is yours."
REAPING THE WHIRLWIND by Erik R. Van Asch
Detective Reint Kossen stood patiently waiting while his partner, Detective Yi Min Su, examined what remained of Pauline Solderberg. Detective Su, crouched near the body taking in the details: the missing hand that pulsed with blood across it’s shredded stub; the impact damage to face and chest as if a child had flattened a roll of putty; and the bludgeoning trauma to the rear of the head, as if someone had taken a club to the victims head.
They were at the end of a catwalk, which extended fifty feet over a dark, alien canyon. Shields hummed quietly around them, protecting them from the 180mph winds -- nearly double that of an Earth tornado -- which, if allowed, would implode their ear drums and microscopic debris would tear them to pieces within seconds.
"Ms. Pinto?" she asked, still crouching. Cassandra Pinto, Manager of Harvesting Operations, stood near in her pressed, olive-colored skirt and business jacket. Cassandra, a woman in her early forties with attractive Latin features, kept her back to the two detectives as she carried on a conversation with someone over the wireless. "Ms. Pinto?" Su asked with more force. Cassandra continued ignoring them.
Detective Kossen had gray hair cut short and clean to go with his business casual shirt and slacks under a tan trench coat. He leaned against the catwalk railing, allowing him to shift his weight off his walking cane. He took the end of the cane and thumped Cassandra on her backside. The woman squealed and jumped more in shock than in pain. Kossen returned her incredulous look with a disinterested one. She clicked off her wireless connection.
"Do you want me to report you? That was not called for!" she said trying to straighten her clothes and regain her composure.
"Young lady, I'm sixty-two years old and looking forward to retirement or death. So when a potential suspect wastes what little time I have left, that little love tap is completely appropriate," he said, squinting at her with a humorless glare. Su covered her mouth pretending to cough in order to hide her chuckling.
Kossen had preferred to crack Cassandra over the head. This middle manager who thought more of herself than her role intended was the kind of clueless, self-centered person he had dealt with for too many years.
Cassandra stammered something incoherent, then caught herself and said, "Sorry detectives. Suspect? Me? I'm not involved in this." She stood straighter, as if daring them to accuse her further.
"Hopefully you aren’t, but that’s yet to be determined. Please continue Detective Su." said Kossen, keeping his stare on Cassandra. Cassandra opened her mouth to say something else, shut it and turned to Detective Su in an attempt to ignore Detective Kossen.
"Ms. Pinto. Can you explain what Ms. Solderberg did for your company and why she might be out here," said Su as she stood and removed her plastic gloves. Su was a petite, plain looking woman, with full lips and hair cut short above the shoulders. She wore navy blue slacks and a matching business jacket over a tan collared blouse, buttoned to the neck.
"About twenty years ago, Ayers Technics discovered planet LZ152, better known as Verau,” she motioned to the world around them. “One of our engineers ran tests on the winds that ravage the planet’s surface. He discovered that the winds pick up microscopic particles by the billions per square centimeter. The winds mix the unique soil content with gasses, minerals and magnetic fields throughout the atmosphere; creating a new kind of energy charged particle."
"Ms. Solderberg was one of our harvesters, who collect the wind and particles at just the right degree of charge. The harvested energy is stored in an Ayers Sphere, which can be connected to nearly any machinery; powering it ten times longer, and cleaner, than any other current fuel cell technology."
"Is that the machinery the harvesters use? asked Su, as she motioned to the bank of equipment and three stacks of five Ayers Spheres sitting fifteen feet away at the end of the catwalk.
"Correct. But she wasn't scheduled to work today. I have no idea why she was out here. Most of the blue collar staff head straight to bed at the end of their shift or trek out to Cruise Town for some entertainment."
"Cruise Town?" asked Kossen, leaning closer, using his cane for support.
"It's a seedier part of the facility. Some bad elements provide different, uh, diversions for the locals. As long as they show up for work and do their job, Ayers Technic doesn't need to know what people do in their private lives," Cassandra said with a look of embarrassment, as if she were disloyal for sharing such information.
The shield humming increased in intensity before returning to the previous volume level. Kossen raised a curious eyebrow at Su who shrugged unknowing in return. Cassandra seemed unconcerned, so the two detectives dismissed it, though a sense of “maybe we should move indoors” plagued Kossen.
"And from what you remember, the first victim, Jaropelk Sokolowski, died from similar injuries as Ms. Solderberg?" asked Su.
"Yes. It was chalked up as a freak Ayers Sphere accident and the paperwork has been bogged down by internal bureaucracy, as you can understand. This is why the authorities hadn’t been contacted immediately, until this . . . incident. But that was weeks before I arrived. I wasn’t involved. I only know what I read in the report,” she said as she looked at the calendar on her handheld. “Are we done? I have meetings,” said Cassandra with impatience.
Kossen ignored her last question, “The first tragedy was two weeks before you arrived. But even though you were off world you were technically in charge of operations a month prior. That’s when you took over once the previous manager was promoted into a job you had applied for, which makes you a suspect, isn’t that right?” It was more a statement than a question from Kossen. Cassandra chose to not reply but stood with arms crossed in front of her, keeping her attention on Detective Su.
“Ms. Pinto anyone you can think of that may know more about Ms. Solderberg’s enemies, friends or the like? A significant other maybe?” asked Su. Something caught her eye and she bent over to pick it up.
“Pauline was known to be on friendly terms with Sokolowski and Ellis Hamilton,” said Cassandra as she eyed the object Detective Su examined.
“Did Ellis and Sokolowski know each other?” asked Kossen
“I don’t know,” said Cassandra turning to Kossen. ”I only found out this morning about Ellis and Pauline being friends after making inquiries after the body was reported found.”
“Where can we find Ellis?” asked Kossen.
“He finished up about an hour before your transport landed
. He should be in his quarters or down at Cruise Town, I’d imagine. My secretary can get you the details of where his quarters are.”
“Does this remind you of anything Ms. Pinto,” said Su as she handed the object to the other woman. Cassandra took the flat piece of grey metal. As she turned it in her hand a kaleidoscope of colors rippled across one side of the fragmented piece.
“This looks like a piece of Coivacium.”
“What’s that?” asked Kossen.
“It’s a patented alloy made by Ayers Technic. It’s what the Ayers Spheres are made from. It’s nearly indestructible and the one of the few alloys we’ve been able to manufacture that is an effective container for the harvested wind energy.”
“Are the Ayers Spheres dangerous?” asked Su with a dubious look.
“Shouldn’t be. You could drop one from ten stories and nothing would happen to the contents,” said Cassandra with a puzzled look on her face, before she shrugged and tossed the piece over the railing. Three inches past the railing the fragment hit the shield and bounced off as if striking a wall. It slid out of sight below the catwalk.
“Bag another fragment please Detective Su,” said Kossen gritting his teeth. He started limping away while shaking his head in disbelief. Su pulled out a clear bag from one of her pockets. Using the bag as a glove, she located another fragment on the catwalk floor and turned the bag inside out over the item. She sealed the bag and put the item in her front, pants pocket.
Kossen nodded to two Ayers Technic janitorial employees waiting nearby. They reluctantly stepped past the detectives and Ms. Pinto. They were assigned to bag the body and store it in a local freezer that had been cleared for this purpose, per Kossen's instructions.
At a strange look from Ms. Pinto, Kossen said, “Need to store the body till some equipment arrives in the morning. It'll help us identify Ms. Solderberg's killer."
"One last question Ms. Pinto," said Su, "The tragedy of Ms. Solderberg and Mr. Sokolowski. Who in Ayers Technic is going to get the most flak from this?”
Without missing a beat, Cassandra said, "Dan Wainwright. He oversaw all harvesting projects and created all the protocols we use today. He got promoted out to Director and I only arrived on this godforsaken planet a week ago."
"That is the same Director position you applied for, correct?" asked Su turning to catch up with Kossen who made his way slowly to the main facility.
"Well, uh, yes," answered a puzzled Cassandra.
"That’s what we call reasonable cause," yelled Kossen over his shoulder.
“But I can’t be a suspect. I have meetings,” pleaded Cassandra after them.
* * *
Kossen walked slowly around the seven-hundred square foot apartment used by Ellis Hamilton. Kossen noted the clutter of engineering schematics on the desk; the military accomplishments hanging crooked on the wall; and the pictures of people in bright, sunny locations that were nothing like the dark, windy planet Verau.
Ellis in unwashed sweats and a stained t-shirt, sat on the worn down couch in the middle of the room. He cried softly into his hands. Su stood over him, getting in his space.
“Mr. Ellis?” asked Su poking him in the shoulder. He roused himself as if shaking awake from a dream.
Kossen watched Su and chuckled to himself. She took it as a personal affront when someone didn’t take better care of their person or their things. At some point he’d have to find out where that stems from.
“Sorry. What was the question?” replied Ellis wiping the tears from his eyes.
“What was your relation to Pauline Solderberg?” asked Su taking a breath and stepping away to give him some room and give herself some room.
Kossen estimated Ellis to be about five-nine and over two hundred pounds with a pot belly. His blonde hair was wispy and thin. According to his file, after he was honorably discharged from the military as a Supply Coordinator, he took a job working at the facility’s shipping and receiving department.
“She and I had a short...thing,” barely whispered Ellis. “Oh, God! I just saw here a couple of days ago and now she’s gone.” He began crying again.
“Did your fling happen before or after your divorce?” asked Kossen as he continued his slow examination of the cluttered apartment.
“What?! How did you?” asked Ellis, his crying stopped abruptly as he looked at Kossen with a puzzled expression.
“Pictures. No wedding ring, but you still have a tan line,” said Kossen nonchalantly, as he stopped at the kitchen counter and picked up an object.
“It was after,” said Ellis defensively.
“What was Pauline’s relationship with Jaropelk Sokolowski,” asked Su with an edge in her voice.
“They started dating after we broke up,” said Ellis flatly. He laid back on the couch and pinched his nose as if trying to relieve a headache.
“Why did you break up?” asked Su.
“I dumped her at the time because things looked like my ex and I might be making amends.” Su glanced at Kossen who shrugged, offering nothing. Su rolled her eyes.
“What is The Windy Fountain?” asked Kossen throwing a book of matches onto the couch next to Ellis. Ellis looked over at them.
“Bar down in Cruise Town.”
“I thought people gave up smoking centuries ago?” said Su.
“There’s nothing like the feel of rolling your own smoke. It’s my vice.” Ellis gave a humorless chuckle.
“It’s not exactly illegal, but it’s not easy to get either. How do you get your tobacco?” asked Kossen
“I got my sources,” said Ellis defensively as he eyed Kossen. “You done with me yet?”
“Nope. What do you do exactly in Shipping & Receiving?” asked Kossen moving near the door, getting ready to leave.
“I schedule the incoming and outgoing transports and their manifests.” Ellis reached under the sofa cushion and pulled out a pre-rolled cigarette. He licked the end of it and let it hang out the side of his mouth.
“Hey, I hope you catch whoever did this to Pauline,” said Ellis.
"No worries. We have some fancy equipment arriving in the morning. It’s the newest in technology that will examine the body and give us the identity of the killer”
"Oh . . . you mean you don’t have any suspects yet?” asked Ellis.
“Of course we do. Anyone who knew the victim is a suspect. See you in the morning,” said Kossen with a cheery smile, closing the door behind him as he followed Sue out into the adjoining hallway.
* * *
Kossen and Su walked down a crowded, dark underground tunnel. The only light coming from neon signs or advert-vids, which lit up entire doorways. Some doorways were blocked off by bouncers controlling who entered and exited. While others were wide open, leading into excavated areas that made up various bars and other unsavory establishments.
The Windy Fountain was one such place. The bar had opted for a blue neon sign above a doorway that was blocked by a two-hundred eighty pound muscular man with a shiny, shaved head. The detectives approached the entrance, when the bouncer held up his hand to stop them.
"Hold it right there you two. No law allowed," bellowed the bouncer. Upon closer inspection, Kossen could see the man's eyes were dilated and his veins bulged on his muscular arms.
"News travels fast Mr. . .?" asked Su.
"Mr. Ilmari Takko sweet cakes. Hmmm . . . you’re kinda homey. Sorry, but only hot chicks come inside," said Ilmari laughing to himself.
"That's no way to talk to a lady," said Kossen glaring at Ilmari.
"Ah, speaking cripple. Brave man. But no enter. No talk to boss. Only talk to Ilmari and Ilmari says no law, so leave. Shoo. Shoo." Ilmari turned away from them in order to give attention to the line of people waiting to enter.
Detective Su stepped forward and tapped hard on Ilmari's shoulder. The big man rolled his eyes before turning to look down at the small woman. "Go away little housewife," he boomed into her face.
Su placed her feet apart, changin
g her center of gravity. Kossen stepped back, knowing what was coming. Striking like a viper, she struck Ilmari in three different places with the middle knuckle of her index finger. Ilmari gasped as all his muscles tightened up as if he had been kicked in the groin. He sank slowly to his knees. The line of people waiting to enter, held their breath, not knowing what to make of the situation.
Su looked down at Ilmari who struggled to breathe, his muscles still tense as a stringed instrument. "I know your language skills aren't that great and standing in this doorway as an example of a modern day stereotype isn't helping. By the way the pressure points will wear off in a few minutes. Until then you'll cooperate, understand?"
It seemed like it took all his strength, but Ilmari grunted out a, "Yes."
"Speaking of stereotypes, Little Miss Martial Arts," said Kossen softly. Su turned to him giving him a dubious look, before turning back to the large man on his knees in front of her.
"Do you recognize either of these people?" she asked holding up a handheld that displayed half the screen with a copy of the company badge photo for Jaropelk Sokolowski and the other half with Pauline Solderberg's badge photo.
"Yes," grunted Ilmari. He seemed to be slowly feeling better. He wasn't having as much trouble breathing through the pain.
"How do you know them," asked Su.
"They owe boss money."
"Do you know this woman?" Su showed a picture she had snapped of Cassandra Pinto when she wasn't watching. Ilmari shook his head.
"What about this man?" She showed him a picture of Ellis Hamilton. Ilmari looked at the picture twice before answering.
"I'm not sure. First two come together. They always leave a man waiting down street. Maybe him. Maybe not." His muscles were relaxing and he started to stand.
Science Fiction Short Stories Books 1 & 2: Twelve Engaging Sci-Fi Tales (One Mind, Different Voices Series) Page 5
