by Rien Reigns
I shook my head.
“Are you resisting arrest, Mr. Yan?” I could see the look in his eyes that he wanted me to say yes.
I put my arms out. He placed a shock bracelet on each wrist.
Lillian smiled as her and Ranger-son escorted me to the Ranger station within the hotel.
17: Reluctant Partners
I found myself in an interrogation room. It wasn’t as awesome as my pip had been. This one was standard. Boring. No recliner. No uncomfortable as hell steel chair affixed to the floor. I was sitting in an ergonomically designed wood chair. Boring.
Ranger-son was sitting in the same type of chair across the oak table from me. I’d just completed sharing my memories of me following Beit, being directed away to deliver the package, having the run in with Ranger Alvarez, and then Paxton telling me to get back to Beit’s apartment.
It wasn’t good. They had evidence that I knowingly assaulted a Ranger, and it looked like Paxton had indeed killed Beit.
“Well, all right then, Mr. Yan. It seems you’ve cleared your name of Beit’s murder. Still not sure about you being completely innocent on the matter, but let’s forget about that for the moment. You are now under arrest for assaulting an officer of this Republic. Are you aware of the charges brought against you?”
‹“Kali?”›
‹Knowingly assaulting an officer is a felony with a minimum fifty year sentence.›
‹“Care to explain why the hell you didn’t warn me about that before I did it?”›
‹Because you were correct in your assessment of the situation. Under current legislation between ChronoGen and Texas, your assignment trumps her arresting Mr. Thrass and blowing your cover. Also, she did not identify herself as a Ranger until after you assaulted her. She acted in a manner which you rightfully considered a threat, so you are justified in your actions. As for rendering her unconscious, she threatened you and you responded appropriately. Any argument or action taken against you in that matter has no weight.›
‹“Excellent.”›
“Are you listening, you piece of shit?” Ranger-son said.
“There sure is a strong wind blowing tonight, oh wait, that’s you.”
He slammed his fist on the table, leapt to his feet, and reached across to grab me. “You insolent bastard.”
I pushed away from the table, spun out of my chair, grabbed it from behind, and raised it in defense. And that is exactly why the ones in my pip were bolted down. Anything could become a weapon in the right hands.
“Careful Lawman,” I said. “You’re out of line. Whatever charges you think you have on me, they won’t stick. If anything, I could arrest your dear Ranger Alvarez for assaulting me.”
Lucky for one of us, the man and woman deputies who’d accompanied him to Beit’s apartment entered the room.
Ranger-son smiled and sat back down.
The woman took the seat next him while tan Stetson man stood behind the two. There was something about the three of them. They were smug. They knew something I didn’t. Something I wouldn’t like. It was quite disconcerting.
“It seems I owe you an apology, Mr. Yan,” he said. “Neither you, nor Mr. Thrass murdered Julius Beit.”
“I already told you that,” I said. So then why had he smiled? Why did I feel like this wasn’t over. I could only assume that while Ranger-son was interrogating me, those two or someone else was interrogating Paxton. Obviously they’d realized that Paxton hadn’t murdered Beit. So why was he acting as if he had.
“How long have you known Mr. Thrass?” he asked for the second time in our acquaintance.
“I don’t see how it matters?” I replied.
“Consider it a simple curiosity of mine.”
“Listen, I think I’ve already answered enough of your questions. As far as I’m concerned I’m still conducting an undercover investigation. An investigation which you are interfering with. So unless I hear from my superiors giving me an order to talk to you, well, I’d like to leave now.” I stood up.
‹Incoming communication from Frank,› Kali said.
Perfect. About damn time.
‹“Frank,”› I said.
‹“I’m sorry, Inquisitor Yan. Frank is still indisposed. This is Horseman Victory.”›
‹“How can I help you?”› I said, and sat back down.
Ranger-son smiled.
‹“I understand things are complicated there in Texas,”› Victory said.
‹“I wouldn’t know about all of Texas, but things are definitely complicated here,”› I said.
There was Victory’s laughter inside my head. ‹“Very well, Inquisitor. First, let me just say, I’m glad you’ve been found innocent of Mr. Beit’s murder. Now let’s get down to business. I understand the Rangers have cleared Mr. Thrass of the murder as well.”›
Well that was good. But?
‹“However, there is a problem. The Rangers have Mr. Thrass’s own memories of him stealing some jewelry from Mr. Beit’s apartment.”›
‹“Seriously?”›
‹“Due to Texas law and the fact you vouched for your deputy, the Rangers want to charge you as well.”›
‹“Of course they do. So, they want to charge me with petty theft. Fine.”›
‹“It’s a little more complicated than that.”›
‹“So I’ve been told.”›
‹“I understand you had a run in with a Ranger Alvarez?”›
‹“I did, and my CerA informs me that my actions were just. Are you telling me otherwise?”›
‹“No, Inquisitor Yan. You acted appropriately. The problem is Ranger Alvarez is also working with ChronoGen. Undercover. It seems that Mr. Thrass is part of her investigation. She’s issued a warrant for his arrest. This is where things get complicated. I can’t disclose certain details at the moment, but I need you to work with Ranger Stevenson in solving Mr. Beit’s murder. I just got done talking with President Collins, at this moment she should be telling Ranger Stevenson the same. You two are now partners.”›
I looked across the table. All smiles were gone. I felt one beginning to spread across my face. Ranger-dick thought he had me. Now he was finding out he had me all right, just not the way he wanted. I didn’t want it either, but I could make it work.
‹“One last thing,”› Victory said. ‹“The other Horsemen and I are on our way to you. We should be there in a few hours. We’ll take over the investigation once we get there. We just need you to hold down the fort and work with Ranger Stevenson until then. And try to play nice.”›
I felt the link sever.
“So, partner,” I said. “How about we start looking for real suspects.”
He did not look happy.
“Julius Beit is dead?” Horseman Famine said. “If Inquisitor Yan isn’t guilty-”
“But he’s not guilty.” Horseman War said looking over at Victory.
“Well, if you’d ever let me finish,” Famine said. “I was going to say, who else would want him dead?”
“I think the more important matter is, has Inquisitor Yan been compromised?” Victory interjected.
“Is that what we’re thinking now?” Famine asked.
“Ranger Alvarez has reported in,” Victory said. “It seems the target she’s been tracking is the same individual that Inquisitor Yan took as a deputy. Apparently there is also a connection between Mr. Beit and this Van Horne guy that supposedly tried to kill Inquisitor Yan.”
“I’m confused,” War said. “Are we still thinking Yan is E3?” he asked.
“At the moment nothing is certain. I’ve already spoken to Mr. Richards and President Collins. We’ve been ordered to take the reins of this investigation. Pack your bags boys, we’re heading to Texas.”
“Hey, Death, looks like you’re going home,” War said.
I had no home. But I didn’t tell them that. Instead I did what I always did. Remained silent.
Ranger-son and I were outside the interrogation room.
That wa
s as far as we’d made it in twenty minutes since we’d both learned we were going to be working together. Since I was no longer going to be undercover, I wanted to change out of the servant uniform. I wanted to be in my normal clothes. But for various, stupid reasons, he didn’t want me going to my suite. He felt he still needed to interrogate me rather than looking for Beit’s murderer. He tried to get me to agree to letting one of his people retrieve my belongings for me. I wasn’t about to let someone I didn’t know go poking around through my stuff. Finally he agreed to let me purchase some new clothes, but he didn’t want me to be seen looking like a servant by anyone else. I finally agreed to let one of his people purchase some new clothes for me while we talked and waited for them to return.
“How exactly did Mr. Thrass come to be your deputy?” he asked. “From what I understand, you bought him from Van Horne, after you were supposedly attacked by his men and almost killed in the deserts of Colorado. Is that a normal practice amongst Inquisitors, paying off people who try to murder you?”
“Who have you been talking to?”
“I have my sources,” he said.
“Well you might want to find some more reliable ones.”
“Are you saying they’re wrong?”
“I’m saying that’s not quite what happened.” Though it did sound bad. “And what the hell are you insinuating?”
“How many Inquisitors were assigned to the Beit case?” he asked.
“You like playing with words, don’t you, Ranger-son. You said ‘were’ as if that isn’t the case any longer. I know the suspect is dead but that doesn’t automatically mean the case is closed.”
“Correct me if I’m wrong, but with high profile cases such as this, aren’t there usually at least three Inquisitors assigned to investigate? I understand it’s sort of a competition.”
“What’s your point?”
“How many Inquisitors were assigned, Mr. Yan?”
“Don’t your sources know?”
“My sources say you’ve been without a partner for…three years now?”
I shook my head. Now he was questioning my partnering?
“Inquisitors aren’t required to have partners,” I said. “As a matter of fact, most of us are solitary. Actually, these days having a partner is rare. The practice is mostly extinct. Assignments are competitions. I guess you could say that when it comes down to it, we’re bounty hunters. Having a partner means less money in the pocket. Since I ditched the shackle I’ve more than tripled my income. Turns out, I work better alone.”
“Then why take a deputy? Wouldn’t that mean a pay cut?”
“Hardly.”
“So how does it work when two Inquisitors work together? Do they split the bounty 50/50?”
“There is no standard practice. Inquisitors decide amongst themselves how to split the reward. Generally, the senior Inquisitor will claim the entire bounty and then toss some scraps to the junior along with a promise of rendering services and favors in the future. It’s sort of a, you suck my cock now, I’ll suck yours later.”
“Funny,” Ranger-son said. “I can’t imagine Inquisitor Noble sucking Inquisitor Dewhurst’s dick, today, or at any point in the future.”
Noble and Dewhurst working together? And what the hell was Noble even doing on the case, Frank had said he was on another assignment? And what the hell was going on with Frank? Maybe I should contact Henry.
I stroked my beard. “Got any other tasty bones you wanna toss my way? I’ll bite.”
Before he could say anything, his two deputies exited the room next to us with Lillian.
“We’re done,” the man in the tan Stetson leaned in and said to Ranger-son as they walked by.
He nodded.
It seemed everyone was continually keeping me out of the loop, and I was really starting to get sick of it.
“Look,” I said. “I think we’ve spent enough time talking. I get it. You don’t want to work with me. Trust me, the feeling’s mutual. But what do you say we put our feelings aside, stop bullshitting, and at the very least, make it look like we’re trying to solve a murder?”
“Before we get started, I just want to make some things clear. This is my hotel, my jurisdiction, which means it’s my investigation. You’ll be assisting me. You do what I say, when I say it. You don’t speak unless I ask for your opinion. Understand?”
“You’re the big boss man, sure.”
At this point, I didn’t care. The Horseman wanted me to play nice until they got there. Fine, that’s what I’d do. It seemed as far as anyone was concerned, I was simply a presence. A face for ChronoGen in the matter.
The Ranger who’d been sent to buy me new clothes returned then. I was led to a bathroom where I changed.
I should have known that Ranger-son would screw me over. The clothes I’d been given were; cheap, plain, blue jeans, and a Regency Resort t-shirt. I literally spent a minute debating just staying in the servant attire rather than changing into such lowly clothes. In the end I changed. Somehow, I decided, I’d get Ranger-son back.
“All right,” he said when I exited the bathroom. “First things, first, we interview Mrs. Beit.”
“I know I’m breaking one of the rules you just established, but why aren’t we consulting with Beit’s CerA? Why aren’t we reviewing his Arkhive?”
“Because in a sense,” he said. “They were murdered as well.”
“What do you mean, murdered?”
“Exactly.”
I gave him a look but he ignored and started walking away. I followed after him. My mind started to sprint to possibilities.
Things were starting to make a little more sense. No wonder the Horsemen were taking over. No wonder everyone was acting a little odd. As far as I knew, no one’s CerA or Arkhive had ever been destroyed. In a way, it was more shocking than Beit’s own murder. Had someone been trying to hack into Beit’s Arkhive and got caught? Did they then decide to kill Beit to cover it up? But how had they figured out how to destroy his CerA, let alone the Arkhive? The two were supposed to be indestructable. Uncorruptable. Though I knew the last one had some leeway, it was how criminals were still able to break the law without their CerA’s ratting them out.
“Let me get this straight,” I started to say.
He abruptly stopped. We’d exited the Ranger station on the first floor of the hotel. We were in some empty corridor.
“Are you going to make this habit?” he said.
“Depends. Are you going to continue to keep me in the dark?”
“I tell you what you need to know. That’s it.”
“And who determines what I need to know, you?”
“I was told by President Collins to let you assist me in this investigation until your Horsemen arrive and take over. And just so we’re clear. The emphasis on assist, was her’s.”
“Okay, but you didn’t answer my question.”
“What is it?” he asked.
“You’ve already made it abundantly clear that this is your turf. I’m fine with that. I really could care less. But one thing I think we both agree on, is it makes us look bad that in just a few hours, this won’t be our investigation anymore. We’re being replaced. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like being replaced.”
“Agreed,” he said.
“All right then. So what do you say we actually work together? How about we try to solve this damn mystery before they get here?”
“You’re serious?”
“I am.”
So much for taking a backseat. I guess I just love a good mystery, and this was the biggest one I’d ever come across.
“How many murder cases have you worked on?” he asked.
“Depends on the parameters.”
“There’s only one parameter, murder.”
“I’ve worked dozens of cases in which a murder was somehow connected, but as for actually trying to find a killer, well, it’s not what Inquisitors do.”
“I see. Inquisitors are constructive invest
igators,” he said.
“Excuse me?”
“It means you try to deal with crimes as they’re occurring.”
“Okay, sure. That and bounty hunting. Generally, we already know who’s guilty. We get tips of crimes that have been committed, then we go in undercover and wait until we catch them in the act again.”
“What if they don’t commit another crime?” he asked.
“Then they’re smarter than the common criminal.” Thing was, once someone committed a crime they were even more likely to repeat the offense. If they felt they got away with it, they’d initially be afraid to tempt the fates again, but more often than not, it was just a matter of time before the thought would come poking around, making them think that if they got away with it once, chances were they could get away with it again.
“I see,” Ranger-son said. “So how exactly do you plan to help solve this case?”
“By using my keen intellect and superior deductive reasoning skills. How about you?”
He ignored my question, but then I hadn’t really been serious. Instead he said, “I suppose we should link up.”
“Sounds logical to me.”
He placed his palm out to me and I mirrored him, placing mine to his. An instant later, we were linked.
“So, let’s see if I understand the situation,” I said. “The security systems were disabled. Beit was murdered. As well as his CerA and Arkhive. Do we have any suspects?”
“Well now that we’ve eliminated you and your deputy, no.”
“So how many murder cases have you worked?” I asked.
“Hundreds. But it’s been decades since I’ve had to try to solve one without any Arkhive assistance.”
“So I guess we’re doing it old school,” I said. “Feet to the ground. Ears to the air.”
“I guess so,” he said.
“Well now that we’re partners, I guess I should let you in on a few things.”
“Such as?” He didn’t look happy anymore. And I’d been doing so well at warming him over.
“Well I’m not going to tell you why I’m here, but I will say this; I followed Beit to his room because I thought he was acting suspicious. I figured he was meeting with someone.”
