Every Last Mother's Child

by William J. Carty, Jr

  Chapter 5: Kellogg’s Next Meeting

  They met in a small out of the way coffee shop in the north of Trenaport. They met informally every few weeks to share information and to swap lies as a group. They occasionally met in between their group meetings in small groups. They felt what they did was better discussed face to face than via email, or over the phone. When it was time to meet they would wander into the coffee shop. Without a word they seemed to ooze out of the street about the same time. Occasionally Kellogg or one of the others would say let’s meet and the word would go out. A day or so later they would show up at the meeting place. This time Kellogg put the word out.

  Molly, the widow of a closer, owned the shop where they met. She knew who her husband was and how he had supported her and her children. When he was killed on a job, she emigrated to Trena and set up the coffee shop. In an effort to make amends to the biopeople she would hire clones just “off the boat” as she put it helping them get a stake and making sure that they were not fakes coming to close clones files. When the last one was in she closed and locked the front door and threw the security system hard on. No one would bother them.

  “Folks I’ll make this short,” Kellogg said, “Hozenbur is on world, and she’s after Lady Wilson.”

  “Fuck,” one of the woman remarked, “I was hoping that bitch was dead and buried.”

  “Well,” Kellogg said, “I won’t elaborate on those feelings much. It sums it all up.

  “Hozenbur’s on planet and she’s brought a team with her. I know this may not be new news, but I had it confirmed by an unimpeachable source. Her expressed purpose is to close her ladyship’s file. You all saw the news release from Terra? The company is getting out of the cloning business. So these guys won’t have an employer who will buy judges and kill juries for them. Many may give up the chase and just try to get out of dodge. That would be the best. But Hozenbur has a score to settle with Lady Wilson. Lady Wilson was responsible for Hozenbur’s greatest failure. Lady Wilson foiled the shipment of developmentals to Pleasure, and helped in their escape. When Hozie came to recover them Lady Wilson prevented Hozie from taking them back. Well Hozie spent about a month in a life pod before they found her. A month is a short time on the calendar, but long enough to build up a very healthy hate.”

  “Any of you guys hear anything?” Crow one of the few non former containment biomen in the group asked. He was with the Trena Mounted Patrol. He worked in their intelligence division and had been a great inside man for the group. “There’s been nothing on any of them. Not a thing. They’ve gone to ground.”

  “We’ve been circulating photos among a lot of people. You know a lot people went missing right after the announcement by the Queen, so it’s worked to our advantage. There’s missing people walls everywhere. People posting photos of loved ones are being everywhere. Many people think that their husband, wife or son is just out sewing some oats and that they haven’t skipped out.” Crow continued, “But it’s not working. The Mounties have posted a kingdom wide ABP out for every known closer. There have been no new closers on planet.”

  Crow had worked with the port police, and the custom’s AI and the defense department AI and found no new information. He assumed the AI’s were reporting honestly.

  “You know those clowns have to buy food.” someone commented, “if they haven’t bought food some one knows that they haven’t. There’s a house or a building that people know they are going in and out of and that no one is buying food. No one’s seen food delivered or brought in. Hell even in the major estates they have to buy something. Even if only booze for the mistress!”

  “He’s got a point.” Another piped up. “You know some one’s rented a house, purchased a home, or building since the initiation of the general emergency. They paid cash for it. They didn’t haggle with the price, and they did it long distance so that they wouldn’t bring too much attention to themselves. That’s how the bitch did it!”

  “Okay let’s beat the bushes. I want you all to hit as many real estate offices as possible. Kevin!” Kellogg turned to a small nondescript man on his left. “I need you to hit the clerk of court records and see if some one’s bought property since the notice.”

  “You know Kellogg,” Someone said from the back, “a lot of banks have been trying to foreclose on mortgages, she could have taken advantage of that, or she might stand out as not much property is changing hands these days. No one’s buying swamp land these days. All of Trena is considered swamp land.”

  “Kevin I want you lead the team on this. I want to know result by the end of the week,” Kellogg commanded. Kevin pointed to a couple of people who nodded.

  “Folks the first major employment fair is this week at the convention center.” Kellogg continued, “I want our people in the area. It’s too good a place for Hozenbur to burn a few clones.”

  “Kell,” Lady Wilson's driver spoke up, “The Queen and the Marshal are going to be there. There was talk of Lady Wilson being there also; but she got an appointment at the Evac Hospital.”

  “I want as many of our people there as possible in that crowd” Kellogg said.

  “Kellogg,” someone else said, “McGregor’s people will be all over the place. Between the Mounties, Palace Security, and the Companions, we may not be able to do anything. Maybe we shouldn’t.”

  “Kellogg,” the driver commented, “Although this association is common knowledge throughout the clone community, it isn’t that well known by the people outside law enforcement, and us. Do we want to expose this asset? It could be detrimental!”

  “Good point Harcourt,” the head of the association said, “But it’s worth the risk. I also don’t want non clones to be harmed either. Hozenbur is just crazy enough to try something. If Hozenbur doesn’t pull something then the Theocracy or the People’s Republic will try something. Wilson’s people are good, but they could use some help.

  “Folks I want no weapons,” Kellogg continued, “I know that means some of you will feel naked, but you’ll have to think about other things. I don’t want a finger nail file, a hat pen, or a stylist on you. The cops are going to be jumpy and I don’t want to lose any of you. Okay?”

  “Yes master,” someone said from the back, Kellogg chuckled, as he responded, “I am not your master, just a concerned coworker.”

  “Yeah right,” someone chuckled.

  “Okay folks,” Kellogg said an hour or so later, “Let’s get out amongst them. Be safe and take only those prisoners we can prosecute!”