Criminal Minds (Fox Meridian Book 4)

by Niall Teasdale

  ‘Talking to Kit,’ Fox said, ‘is a little like talking to a young teenager who has the vocabulary and education of someone fifty years older. She either knows or can find out just about anything in seconds, but she’s sort of innocent.’

  ‘And incredibly cute,’ Iberson said. ‘I didn’t just say that.’

  ‘Your secret is safe with us, Charlie,’ Resnik said. ‘But I agree. Kit, you look cute and Tara says you’re sort of innocent, but you assist her in her work. Don’t you find yourself in situations you aren’t prepared for?’

  ‘Yes,’ Kit said. She looked at Fox. ‘Am I allowed to discuss the Grant case?’

  Fox nodded. ‘It’s relatively public knowledge. Spare them the details. We aren’t doing a horror show.’

  Kit looked back at Resnik. ‘This summer, we dealt with a serial killer who tortured his victims to death and he dumped one of the bodies where he was quite sure Palladium Security Services would be handling the body. I… found it very difficult to accept that one human could do that to another.’

  ‘But,’ Fox said, ‘when I suggested it might be better for her to take a step back from the case, she refused. She wanted to see it through, no matter how uncomfortable it made her, because she wanted to see justice done for the victims. And I’m glad she was able to handle it because she was instrumental in solving that case.’

  ‘Okay,’ Iberson said, ‘Kit’s smart, pretty, law-abiding, and she has a really fine tail. There has to be something wrong with her.’

  ‘No, she’s perfect.’

  Terri nodded. ‘Agreed. She’s just the most gorgeous thing ever.’

  Kit, of course, blushed. ‘I… I’m not… I have flaws. You’ve accused me of sarcasm, a-and of corrupting Belle.’ Resnik was staring at her and Kit blinked huge, green eyes. ‘I’m not… Honest.’

  ‘Sorry, I don’t believe you,’ Resnik said, ‘but that’s not what’s making me look like a startled deer. You’re blushing! You’re embarrassed at the compliments.’

  ‘Elaine’s right,’ Iberson said. ‘I find my normally acidic demeanour melting in the face of those eyes, but I’m convinced.’ She turned her gaze on Terri, narrowing her eyes. ‘Are you sure you haven’t got a miniaturised girl in that server case? Kit’s almost more human than a human.’

  ‘I assure you that I am entirely “artificial,” Miss Iberson,’ Kit said. ‘I’m software. I just happen to be software designed and created by a genius.’

  Fox could see the slight upward twitch of Kit’s lips, and she was fairly certain that Kit was about to get the reaction she was expecting, but she waited…

  Terri’s cheeks reddened. ‘I’m not a genius. Maybe Poppa is, but I’m just…’ She trailed off. ‘I take back everything I said. Kit’s not perfect, she’s evil.’

  ‘Ha!’ Iberson barked. ‘She seems pretty perfect to me.’

  13th November.

  ‘… fifteen per cent rise in positive mention among the female, twenty-five to fifty age range. It’s higher in the eighteen to twenty-five range, and it’s leaking into the male population.’

  Fox let the figures drift past her and waited for Terri to pause. ‘So it’s working so far?’

  ‘Oh yes,’ Terri said. Her avatar was almost bouncing so it was hardly a surprise. ‘You’re a hit, Kit.’

  ‘Oh,’ Kit said, ‘I think that having you and Fox there with me was–’

  ‘We’re having trouble coping with the requests for information on the Kitsune AI series. You broke Athena’s switchboard.’

  ‘Oh.’

  ‘Okay, so I admit that the interplay between the three of us probably did help people think of you as something more than just a machine sitting at the back of the stage, but you sold it. We’ll set up a few more of these, but a lot of them will be more technical. You’ve survived the worst and done very well with it.’

  ‘I am glad that I could help,’ Kit said. Then she frowned. ‘That wasn’t too perfect, was it?’

  Fox laughed. ‘It’s you, Kit. Don’t you ever start apologising for what you are.’

  ‘Damn right,’ Terri said. ‘Oh, Fox, we’re noting an upward swing in positive mentions of Palladium as well. And we’re going to have to do something with your LifeWeb page, because your personal interest ratings are rising.’

  Fox sagged back onto the sofa with a groan. ‘Kit, get me a knife. I’m going to slit my wrists now and get it over with.’

  ‘I’m sorry, Fox, but I’m not allowed to assist in violent self-termination.’

  ‘Damn honest AIs…’

  ‘Besides, it would be an inefficient method. There’s only blood in one of your wrists so it would take twice as long to bleed to death.’

  ‘Damn know-it-all honest AIs.’

  15th November.

  There was a dozen or so people in the virtual conference, most of them bearing pretty prestigious names according to Kit. Fox had been more concerned with the fact that the viron occupying her office had placed her at one end of the long table and Harper August at the other. It gave the odd impression that she was somehow important, and August had told her she was expected to advise the board of his new foundation, not run it.

  ‘Ladies and gentlemen,’ August said, calling the room to order. ‘I’ve met you all individually, so there is no need for me to introduce myself. I’ve no doubt that you all have the basic profiles I provided for the attendees of this meeting filed away in those implants I can’t use, so I won’t bother making other introductions. It may seem a little high-handed of me, but my time is limited.’

  When August had been setting up the meeting, NAPA had come to Fox to obtain her opinion on his little project, so she knew that they were allowing the man a maximum of one hour. And he was still locked away in his house: one of the reasons this, rather important, inaugural meeting was being handled via telepresence.

  ‘Today,’ August went on, ‘the Patricia Randall Foundation for Criminal Justice becomes a legal entity. The structure is currently entirely virtual, but one of our first tasks will be the establishment of a research institute in New York Metro. We have a minimal executive board: CEO, COO, CFO… I would prefer to keep overheads to a minimum and concentrate on results. Along those lines, this meeting is to see that we all agree on our aims so that you can move forward.’

  The old man smiled thinly. ‘When I broached the subject of this foundation to most of you, I stated that my intention was to step away from it once it was operating. Miss Meridian suggested recently that she might decide to dissuade me from following that plan. I will be removing myself from direct involvement in the foundation. I’m under house arrest for crimes which should disbar me from involvement with anything dealing with criminal justice. Perhaps my ideals have changed a little. Perhaps those ideals were never wrong, but my attempts to achieve them were. It’s a matter of spin, however. This organisation needs to be clean and ideals are not enough. My reputation is sullied and I cannot have that affecting what I hope we will achieve.’

  He paused, looking around and ending with his gaze on Fox. Fox had a sudden desire to hide. ‘So, I will step aside. At the other end of this magic table sits Tara Meridian who is, officially, our expert on the practical application of justice. She is an experienced investigator, a board member of Palladium Security Services, and she has, as she will tell you, all the best toys. She is also a committed seeker of justice with a good head on her shoulders. If you want to know, at some point in the future, what I would view as the right path for the foundation to take, you should ask her. I believe her answer would be the one I would wish to give in almost any situation.’ His lips tugged into a half-grin and that had to be a first. ‘And if all else fails, since Miss Meridian is responsible for my incarceration, NAPA seems more ready to grant her access to me when she needs it, so she can always come to me and ask.’

  Fox frowned down the table at August. ‘I seem to get suckered into this kind of position a lot. Jackson Martins didn’t tell me I was on Palladium’s board until I couldn
’t really say no.’

  August gave a small shrug. ‘What can I say? Great minds think alike? And having your name strongly associated with this rather than mine is, once again, good spin. I’m aware of your hatred of politics, and I suspect you dislike PR and spin just as much, but this foundation bears my granddaughter’s name, not mine. I’d ask that you do it for her memory, if nothing else.’

  ‘Oh, I’ll do it. For your granddaughter if you wish. But also for Felix Kenan. They’re both a reminder of the tragedies we’re all here to help put a stop to.’ Fox frowned. ‘And for you. You said yourself that the foundation would help the victims of crime. You said your ideals got lost in your obsession to achieve them. Maybe if you’d had something like this when your granddaughter died, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.’

  For a brief second, Harper August actually looked lost for words; it really was turning out to be a day for firsts. ‘Are you quite sure you have no inclinations toward a political career, Miss Meridian?’ August asked.

  Fox returned his half-grin. ‘Stop insulting me and let’s get on with you telling us what we’re supposed to do.’

  21st November.

  ‘Do you have plans for Thanksgiving?’ Naomi asked as she watched Fox dress.

  ‘Uh, yeah,’ Fox replied. ‘Thanksgiving itself is going to be at home. Jackson and Terri are coming over. So is Jason, and so is Helen. We’re setting up in the main lounge, pigging out and drinking too much. The following day I’m going out to Topeka to see my parents. It’s partially a business thing. We’re bidding to provide training and equipment to their new policing organisation.’

  ‘It’s nice to have family at this time of year. Mine is here. There will be significant amounts of pigging out in all our chapter houses, though some of us do work, even at Christmas.’

  ‘No rest for the wicked? I get that. I haven’t taken a Christmas off since I joined NAPA.’

  Naomi smiled. ‘And this year?’

  ‘Huh. Jason wants me to go up to Toronto with him.’

  ‘Meeting the parents?’

  ‘And sister.’

  ‘A serious step.’

  ‘He’s being all casual about it. Just a nice way to spend Christmas. Possibility of snow. Some snow anyway. But it’s kind of a big step, yeah. I’m still not sure, but I think that’s just nerves.’

  ‘Probably. You should go. Aside from the probability that you’ll have fun, if it turns out you hate his family, this is your chance to find out early and make a quick exit.’

  ‘That’s a point. Okay, am I wearing this right?’

  Naomi was wearing an amused grin and she lifted a hand to make a twirling motion. Fox sighed and turned on the spot. The outfit under examination was a copy of the standard Sisters’ uniform, without the wimple, but with a pair of fingerless, elbow-length gloves added. There was also another significant variation…

  ‘You look… perfect.’

  ‘Good, but why is it red?’ The uniform was, indeed, a rich, burgundy colour with a white cross over the chest and white trim. ‘Why the variations?’

  ‘All in good time. We should get moving. The ceremony is due to start soon.’

  They met Marie and Gilly on the way down. Gilly had been helping Marie get into her own uniform, though that was now the black and white of a full Sister. As far as Fox could tell, Marie was pulling off the look better than she was, but then Marie had had some of the training and she was a vid star now on top of that. The foursome marched down to one of the lecture theatres side-by-side to join the throng which had been packed in and was waiting for them.

  Fox felt distinctly nervous as she sat at the front of the theatre beside Marie while Naomi stepped up to the lectern. It was just a little something that Naomi had cooked up: a bit of spin, really, honouring women who had helped the Sisters of Corruption. There were a couple of select media representatives in the audience, including people from Athena and IB-19, and all the media outlets had been sensible enough to send female reporters. Not that there were no men out there: Jason and Sam were in the front row, and there was a scattering of lay brothers among the women.

  Still, even though Naomi was being very casual about things, there was a sense of something big and official about what was happening. Fox felt like she was about to get a medal from the president or something.

  ‘Sisters and brothers,’ Naomi said as the room quietened, ‘we come together today to honour those who have recently left us under… distressing circumstances, but also to celebrate new friends who have come to us, partially, through those circumstances and given us much. Twenty sixty will be remembered as a year of ups and downs. We lost four of our sisterhood in a manner which is too horrible to mention here, but we will not forget them, ever. Thanks to a low-budget experiment by IB-Nineteen, we found ourselves with considerable positive media attention, and their continued support for a character many would have viewed as unsuitable for mainstream media is likely to sway public opinion more in our favour. The Sisters of Corruption always strive to make the best of what we have, so we will remember our fallen Sisters and those other women taken from this world before their time, but we will continue into what we hope will be a far brighter future, heads held high.’

  Naomi paused and Fox imagined her shuffling notes which she did not have. ‘Marie Shaftsbury came to us as an untried actress given her big chance in vids and determined to make the most of it. But she decided that the best way to make the most of that chance was to play her part to the best of her ability, and she was willing to learn what being a Sister is all about. I know there were some who expected to meet a stuck-up prima donna when she arrived to spend a week with us, but she won everyone over with her willingness to join in as much as was possible. She did chores and attended lectures. More, she talked to us and learned why we do what we do, both professionally and aesthetically. Through her character, M. J. Kelly, she introduced people to the whole of being a Sister of Corruption, not simply the popular view of what we are. For her services to the Church of Saint Nicholas, we are pleased to award Marie Shaftsbury the title of Lay Sister.’

  Beaming, Marie got to her feet and stepped up to the lectern with Naomi who gave her a quick, rather chaste, kiss on the lips before offering the microphone. Marie bit her lip and then said, ‘I didn’t prepare a speech or anything, so you’ll have to listen to me ramble. I’m being honoured for something you all did for me. Without you to teach me how to be one of you, M. J. would not have been the character she was. So, thank you for this, and thank you for giving me this chance.’ She grinned. ‘I guess this means that, when M. J. returns to the channel, the uniform will be officially worn by a Sister.’ She leaned forward and added in a conspiratorial tone, ‘But they do make me wear panties under it on set.’

  There was applause and laughter and Naomi came forward again, smirking at Marie, as the latter backed off to her seat.

  ‘Your turn,’ Marie whispered.

  ‘Yeah,’ Fox whispered back. ‘I still don’t know why I’m in red.’

  ‘Soon find out…’

  ‘And on to our second honouree,’ Naomi said. ‘I met Tara Meridian when she came with Marie, primarily because she was curious and the company she works for handles our security. I met her again when I asked her to look into the recent murders. And then she came to us when our home was invaded to see that justice was done. I admit that, on that occasion, I wondered whether I had made a great mistake with Tara. But the cold dispassion I saw in her was there to let her do her job, and when she could afford to pause, I saw the compassionate woman beneath who would not rest until this… monster was no longer a threat. She is not a religious woman, but she gave me a light to look to in that time of darkness. And she did bring down the… man who brought us that darkness.’

  Naomi looked back and grinned. ‘Tara has been wondering why we dressed her in red. We thought long and hard about this, though I admit that was mostly concerning costume design. Tara is never going to be a traditional lay siste
r. I see her more as one of the knights who came to the aid of monasteries in ages past. So we designed a new uniform, and we have created a new title. For her efforts to keep us safe from those who would harm us, we are awarding Tara Meridian the title of Sister Protector.’

  Fox walked up to the lectern with a slightly bemused expression on her face. ‘Sister Protector?’

  ‘We think it’s appropriate,’ Naomi replied, leaning forward and pressing her lips lightly to Fox’s. Fox felt the light flick of Naomi’s tongue before they parted and Naomi waved her to the microphone. The Sister Superior had a smirk on her face as Fox’s bemusement continued.

  ‘Uh,’ Fox said, rallying, ‘I didn’t prepare a speech either, given that this is a total surprise. If I had a speech, I’d probably be throwing it away anyway… All I did was my job and I didn’t do it alone. My PA, Kit, and Helen Dillan helped crack the case. Teresa Martins provided invaluable assistance, as did Palladium and MarTech. Any detective who tells you they cracked a case single-handed is being an arrogant asshole. So I’m accepting this honour for all of them as well as me.’

  Fox paused and frowned. ‘I’m the corporate exec and I’m supposed to have something meaningful to say… It’s not really me, though. I just put bad guys away.’ She looked down at her tunic. ‘At least this outfit covers the scratches. The last one ruined a perfectly good tan. Modern medicine means we don’t have to carry the scars of our battles around if we don’t want to. That’s the physical scars. The mental ones are another matter, and I hope that knowing the thing that came here to kill will never do it again brings you all some closure and lets the scars heal a little more. I know that putting him down gave me some satisfaction. So, thank you for this honour. I’m going to keep on doing my job, which is protecting anyone who needs my help. But now I can do it in real style!’

  ###

  About the Author

  I was born in the vicinity of Hadrian's Wall so perhaps a bit of history rubbed off. Ancient history obviously, and border history, right on the edge of the Empire. I always preferred the Dark Ages anyway; there’s so much more room for imagination when people aren’t writing down every last detail. So my idea of a good fantasy novel involved dirt and leather, not shining plate armour and Hollywood-medieval manners. The same applies to my sci-fi, really; I prefer gritty over shiny.