Industry & Intrigue

by Ryan McCall

  She had looked up from jotting down a blue-back starling and said, “Yes?”

  “I was wondering if after class today you wanted to go down town and get dinner?” he asked.

  Cassandra had seen it coming and already had a response, “Sorry Reese, but that’s not a good idea.” She winced upon seeing the dejected look on his face. “It’s not that I don’t like you but I’m not interested in dating.” She hoped he would take that as enough of a response.

  He had nodded while appearing to think to himself for a few seconds and said “I see, well…” and he didn’t seem to know what else to say.

  “Look” said Cassandra “it’s…”

  Reese nodded, he looked eager to at least hear the reason for her rejection. “I’m interested in women, not men” she said.

  She’d been told how beautiful she was many times and had grown practiced at politely turning men away, but the first few weeks at university she had been approached far too many times. Male students excited at the prospect of the number of stories they had been told of campus life no doubt.

  There over and done with she thought. Better that it’s out.

  Reese said, “Ah, ok,” he paused as if unsure what to say to her answer. “Well, fair enough. In that case, sorry to put you on the spot like that. It can’t be easy with all the intolerant people out there.”

  “Thank you,” she replied, “I wouldn’t mind getting dinner as friends if you’re fine with that. Plus I’d love a chance to pick your brain. You know a lot about primeval zoology.”

  Reese then smiled, “That sounds fine. There’s a Yarali restaurant that I’ve wanted to try on Bridge Road,” then he had suddenly pointed. “Oh wow. Look at that, it’s a V-Tail, do you know how rare they are? Note it down!”

  She looked up in time to watch it fly off before making a note in her book.

  “I doubt the other groups will have that ticked off,” said Reese and he grinned. They had a pleasant dinner, talking about their studies and come to realize they had a lot in common. Cassandra had talked about the trouble she’d gone through when telling her family and friends about her sexuality, her father hadn’t been bothered by it much, simply shrugged and said “Whatever makes you happy.”

  Her mother was tougher to deal with, she thought her eldest daughter was ‘going through a phase’ and her time at university would see her right. Cassandra hoped that her mother would be accustomed enough to finally accept it by the time she graduated.

  While Alkos was far more liberal than most parts of the world, there was still intolerance and bigotry from certain sections of the population when it came to same-sex relationships, though Reese had not treated her differently, which she was grateful for.

  She was always thankful to live in a nation like Alkos where she could at least be safely open about who she was, even if she wasn’t fully accepted by everyone. If she had been born and lived in conservative Galria or Tal Feros, she would be avoided like the plague or actively despised by her own family; to say nothing of the Kordate Union which had state-run ‘re-education centers’ for anyone caught breaking its draconian moral decency laws.

  Since then they had studied together several times, with Reese’s intelligence impressing her immeasurably. She learned that he was majoring in history as well as zoology, which made sense given his interest in ancient life-forms. He certainly was taking on a big workload with two majors.

  Looking over at him again she could see he had finished the tutorial problems and was waiting for the drakon professor to tell the class to stop.

  Cassandra finished only a few moments before the drakon said, “Alright I think that’s enough time. Would anyone care to give the answers to the first question?” Cassandra put up her hand along with several others.

  After exiting the tutorial Cassandra walked with Reese. “Have you finished for the day?” she asked. It was three o’clock and the tutorial had been her last class.

  “No, I have a history class in an hour then I’m done,” he replied. “Until then you want to hang at the cafeteria?”

  “Why not?” she replied.

  “I just have to meet my friend Michael at the chemistry department, then we can head over there. You want to meet us there?”

  “No, I’ll tag along now. It’s not that far,” she replied.

  As they walked along the stone path that made up the university walkways she asked him, “Did you hear about the suicide at the magic center?”

  He nodded. “Yeah, I heard this morning, it’s everywhere by now. Hard to believe, especially for a student from one of the noble families. I guess some people can’t take the pressure.”

  “I heard there was more to it than that, something involving drugs,” said Cassandra, “and there were watch officers from both Imperial and Justice Branches at the Center.” She had overhead two students mention it in her biochemistry class this morning.

  Reese said, “I hadn’t heard that, but I did hear three other tales of how he killed himself, one with magic, one with poison, and one with hanging. Everyone was gossiping about it this morning. I bet there are ten more versions spinning around campus by now. Who knows what the truth is?” He pointed at the large square building which housed the chemistry labs, “Over here.”

  They walked up the steps to the entrance and Reese waved at his friend who was chatting to a couple of his classmates. Michael glanced over and saw them.

  “Hey Reese,” he said and noticed Cassandra with him, “and this must be your classmate, Cassandra?”

  “I am,” she replied and stuck out her hand, which he shook.

  “Michael,” he said. “But Mike’s fine if you prefer,” he turned his head to Reese. “Are we grabbing a bite to eat? I’ve been stuck in the lab for three hours and I’m starving.”

  “That’s the plan,” said Reese.

  “Race you there,” Michael said and he took off ahead of them. Cassandra noticed that Reese had a puzzled look on his face.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  “That’s odd. Anytime that I’ve ever introduced a girl to him, he always lays on flirting, or makes fun of me, but he didn’t with you,” he replied. He shrugged. “I guess campus life is finally starting to inject some maturity into him.”

  Once they were in the cafeteria and seated, their conversation inevitably turned to the suicide of Kyle Dunn. “Oh yeah,” said Michael, in between the bites he was taking from his large bowl of pasta. “The story is he became involved with drug dealers operating on campus and he ended up hooked on tarcaine. When he couldn’t afford to pay for his habit anymore they killed him.”

  “Kyle Dunn, who is the son of Councilor Frederic Dunn couldn’t pay? His weekly allowance makes us look like peasants,” said Cassandra with heavy sarcasm.

  “I didn’t say I believed it,” said Michael, “But Jonas Stohl, in my chemistry lab, swears he heard one of the master mages talking about drug dealers.”

  “That doesn’t mean that they killed him,” replied Cassandra. She was starting to understand Reese’s comment about his friend's maturity. “It’s best not to bother speculating anyway. With all the rumors floating around the real story has likely been drowned out. The administration will be making an announcement.”

  “Then what are they waiting for?” asked Michael.

  Reese spoke up, “It’s the Dunn family. They have enough money and influence to keep it quiet as long as they want to. If Imperial Branch hasn’t finished investigating, they won’t make an official statement until the case is closed.”

  Cassandra was plucking at the last bits of food on her plate. “I’d better head back to the dorms,” she said. “I have a lot of biology study to get through and not all of us are a natural genius like you. I’ll see you at class tomorrow. Michael it was nice meeting you.” Both of them said farewell and she left the table.

  Chapter 5

  Making certain she was well out of the cafeteria Reese now spoke his mind to Michael, “You bastard you knew didn�
�t you?”

  Michael tried to play innocent. “Knew what?”

  Reese wasn’t buying it though. “Don’t play the fucking idiot with me. You didn’t try that schmoozing crap you normally try every single time. You knew she was gay back when you first asked me about her and you didn’t say a damn word!”

  Michael held up his hands, “Ok, I confess. I saw her a few nights before you mentioned her. I was in one of the taverns downtown and saw her there. She was sitting at a table with another girl. She must have had a great deal of wine in her, because she was nowhere near as reserved. They were both kissing and pawing at each other the whole time I was there. I should have said something, but what does it matter, it wouldn’t have changed anything. And to be fair all I knew is that she liked women. That doesn’t necessarily mean she didn’t also like men.”

  Reese closed his eyes in frustration and rubbed his head.

  “Wait, you didn’t like outright kiss her or something, before trying to ask her out did you?” asked Michael.

  “Of course not,” snapped Reese in reply.

  “That’s good, because that would have been embarrassing, I remember a time when you weren’t so cautious back in, what was it…” said Michael.

  Reese had no desire to talk about that particular memory. “Don’t bring that up again, you and your pranks,” said Reese, his anger fading. Michael was right, he wasn’t to blame for his embarrassment with Cassandra.

  “Plus now we have a new friend that actually knows the city right? I mean it’s not exactly easy for us country bumpkins to fit in here, so making new friends is part of that,” said Michael.

  “What makes you think I even want to fit in? This city isn’t about fitting in, it’s about individual expression and different cultures blending together,” replied Reese.

  Michael gulped down the last of his meal. “Did you change your major to sociology or something?” he asked.

  “No,” replied Reese, “it’s my observations of the way this city operates.”

  “Anyway,” said Michael, “I don’t think I can wait for the investigation and official announcement, I’m going to head over to Warded Spirals later and see what I can find out.”

  Reese shook his head, “Oh, don’t tell me you’re going to try one of your harebrained stunts again like the time you got us lost in the Dalsson Woods.”

  “I killed that boar though didn’t I?” asked Michael.

  “Yes, you did and we were lost in the woods for four days. Do me a favor, whatever shit you plan to land yourself into, don’t involve me. We’re too old for that anymore. We’re at university Mike, let it go,” said Reese.

  His friend glared at him.

  “What is it?” he asked.

  “I knew him,” said Michael. “Kyle Dunn was my second cousin on my mother’s side.” His voice had become more serious. “He was a good kid. No way did he kill himself.”

  Reese sighed. He felt bad for his friend. “I’m sorry. That doesn’t mean you should go poking around. Leave it to the watch.”

  Michael still glared at him.

  “Fuck,” Reese swore. “Fine I’ll help you out. But we should wait till night. At least that’ll give us cover.” Times like this made him wonder why he was friends with Michael. “I have a class to get to. I’ll meet you at the main office of Warded Spirals, alright?” Michael nodded.

  “So who can name the three major factors that led to the fall of Cartral skylord empire?” asked Professor Nathanial Smith.

  Reese had the answer but he decided not to put up his hand. He didn’t like answering questions, preferring to ask them. History didn’t excite him as much as zoology, although the course he was taking, History 115-Ancient Civilizations, was better than most of his other history classes. Smith looked every bit the stereotypical university professor, tweed jacket, balding hair and a set of unfashionable, horn-rimmed glasses.

  Another student at the front of the class put up a hand to answer the question. “Yes, Ophelia?” asked the professor.

  “Uh, the natural disasters of Pelitai and Ocranus, the agorid migrations of 970PF and…um,” she replied.

  “Two correct answers and the third?”

  The student kept stammering like she was thinking but she had no idea, Reese put up his hand.

  “Mr. Galius?” asked the professor.

  “The disastrous economic measures implemented by King Tabo, which left the entire empire vulnerable,” he replied. The answer was right in front of him, in the pages that had been required reading from the previous class.

  “Correct,” replied Nathaniel. “In fact, that is the main contributing factor to Cartral’s downfall. If the empire had not been in such a weak position from the bursting economic bubble and knee-jerk reactionary measurements to it, then it could have been in a position to deal with the disasters and invasion.

  Cartral suffered similar troubles throughout its history, but the culmination of all of these factors happening in close succession was too much and the powerful skylord kingdom was destroyed, which leads us to the next phase, the skylord diaspora.”

  While the professor was talking and putting up notes on this, Reese’s mind wandered to Michael’s idiotic plans. By the time he finished this class it would be getting dark, knowing Michael, he would start investigating without waiting for him.

  If he hurried he could get over and stop his friend from doing something stupid. He hoped he wouldn’t have to do much to satisfy his friend’s curiosity. Michael could be stubborn, especially when it was someone he cared about.

  One of his better qualities thought Reese. He turned his full attention back to Professor Smith’s lecture; he was now going into detail of the migration of the Cartral survivors to different parts of the world.

  The sun was on the verge of setting when Reese exited the lecture hall amongst the throng of students. He made his way across campus as fast as he could. He reached his dormitory apartment, which was fortunately located in the same direction. He opened the door and tossed his satchel inside before closing it again, he would be able to get there faster without lugging around the weight of his books.

  He exited the university grounds and made his way down University Boulevard towards Warded Spirals. The school for mages was a separate campus but under the same governance and was three blocks away. There were fields and small buildings between the two education institutes and the university had purchased all of the land in between in anticipation of expanding. Students had the options to take courses at either campus; Reese was taking one course at Warded Spirals, studying magical non-biped creatures.

  The streets were busy with carriages and other pedestrians but he managed to reach the entrance of the magic school in less than ten minutes. He walked into the main entrance of the administration building; Michael was nowhere in sight.

  There were only a few staff members in the offices and no students wandering around. Magic classes usually finished earlier in the day with the exception of specialized courses. Reese tried to walk confidently, so he wouldn’t attract attention. He glanced at the information posted on the walls and after one turn left down a long hallway he came across a large map of the campus. Warded Spirals was not as newly renovated as the university, so not all of its buildings had electrical lamps yet, but fortunately the admin building did.

  He studied the map, trying to work out where Michael would have gone. Obviously he would want to check the room where the death had occurred. Reese took note of the student lodging location in the western section of the campus.

  But how would Michael find out the exact room? It hadn’t been reported, not to mention the fact that there would be a guard or magical lock on the door. Knowing Michael, he’ll try to chat up one of the staff thought Reese, but if has no luck there then…the files room.

  There would an incident report that would have to be filled out with a death and Michael would have no qualms at breaking into the files. Reese scanned the smaller map of the building he was in and f
ound it. The filing room was about thirty meters north around a corner, then another ten meters down the hall. Reese walked as fast as he could without making much noise.

  When he arrived the door was already open and light was coming from the room, he could see that the lock looked undamaged. He walked in to see Michael with his back to him, his hands buried in a filing cabinet.

  “So you managed to pick the lock without anyone seeing you?” Reese loudly asked.

  “Ahhh!” cried Michael. Papers flew to the floor as he pulled his hands out of the files and turned in fear. Seeing Reese, his expression of fear vanished and was replaced with anger. “Son of a bitch! You scared the hells out of me,” he said.

  “Serves you right,” said Reese, “what if I had been one of the staff?”

  Michael went back to the files. “Well you’re not so it doesn’t matter.”

  Reese shook his head, “Why are you so bent on finding out? I know he was your little cousin and all, but can’t you leave it to the watch?”

  Michael continued his search through the files and said, “I know how Kyle’s parents will handle this. They never gave a shit about him. They’ll use their influence to pressure the watch into sweeping it all under the rug. Then I’ll never know what happened.”

  He hated it, but his friend was right. “Fuck,” muttered Reese, finally giving in. “You’re putting yourself into a position to get an official reprimand, not to mention interfering in an official watch investigation. But I’m here now, so I’ll help.”

  Despite his idiotic behavior right now, Michael was his best friend and had always stuck by him, even the time he’d been falsely accused of stealing back in school. “I know I’m going to regret this. I’ll keep a look out for you. But if we can’t get into the room, locks, magic, whatever. Then we’re leaving, deal?”

  “Absolutely,” said Michael, “And this is where we need to go.” He excitedly pulled out a file with the details of Kyle Dunn’s death. “Student building two, Room four-zero-nine.”

  Chapter 6