by John Bowers
Nick sat back in his chair, his headache forgotten. Nikki Green had been locked up just over two years ago, yet her sentence had only been for one year. He quickly searched court records again but found no evidence that she had ever been released. Another search, this one in the Airlock Authority database, showed no sign that she had left the asteroid. So…dead or alive, she was apparently still on Ceres.
But where?
Nick left the office and walked back over to the courthouse, stopping along the way to pick up a sandwich. Court was back in session and Misery Allen wasn’t in her office. It was almost four o’clock so he decided to wait, chatting with Angie and Carla in the outer office. Misery came in twenty minutes later, smiled in surprise, and ushered him into her office. She closed the door and sat down.
“I didn’t expect to see you just yet. What time is our date?”
“About an hour from now. But I have another question for you.”
“Another Farrington question? How many does that make now?”
“I’ve lost track.”
“If I get them all right, do I win a prize?”
“Of course.”
“Good! Ask away.”
“I need information on another case, this one about two years ago. Similar to the Garner case, only this girl didn’t work for Farrington. Her name was Nikki Green.”
“‘Was’? Is she dead?”
“I don’t know. It looks like another frame job. She tried to fight off a rape and bit a man’s ear off in the process. It got her a year and a day in lockup. What I want to know is, was she ever released.”
“That information should be in the court records database.”
“It isn’t. She was sent away but, as far as I can find, never came out.”
Misery looked shocked. “Jesus, Nick, this is bad!”
“Yes, it is. I need transcripts, if you can find them. I have the arrest records but I need to see what went on in the courtroom. Also, see if you can find out if there were any subsequent hearings, like in the Garner case. If they’re still holding her a year after her scheduled release, then I’ve got the bastards.”
“I’m not going to get to it this afternoon,” she said. “I simply don’t have time.”
He shrugged. “Tomorrow is soon enough.”
“Nick, I don’t work tomorrow. It’s Saturday.”
“Is it?” He glanced at his watch. “Oh.”
She smiled. “But if I have a really good time tonight, I might log in remotely and do it anyway.”
“Where do you live?”
“Same place you do. The Centerville Hotel. Almost everyone who works in Government Annex lives there.”
Nick stared stupidly. “I didn’t know that. No one ever told me that.”
She laughed. “Don’t worry about it. This isn’t a game show, and it isn’t going to be on any civil service test. I’m in room 515, just in case you need to know.”
He winked. “I do need to know.”
Misery still had work to do and their date wasn’t for another hour, so he returned to the office to keep out of the way. At five minutes to five, his porta-phone rang.
“Nick Walker.”
“Hi, Nick, it’s me.” Monica Maynard sounded breathless and sexy in his ear.
“Hi, Judge.”
“Nick, I need to see you.”
“Right now?”
“No, not here. Tonight, at my place. Can you come for dinner?”
“Is it important? I already have plans.”
“Oh.” She sounded crestfallen. “What about tomorrow? Can you come over then?”
“Sure. What time?”
“Just whenever you wake up. I’ll have a pot of coffee waiting.”
“Okay. See you then.”
Chapter 23
East Village - Ceres
The tavern was called The Blue Nebula.
The music was almost as loud as the Open Airlock, but much more tasteful. It carried a definite beat, but didn’t explode inside the head, and Nick could detect a distinct melody in the music itself. The light was dim but the haze in the air came from incense, not drugs or tobacco; a spinning glitter ball near the ceiling scattered bright points of light around the room, giving the atmosphere a certain magical quality. The place wasn’t terribly crowded, but it was noisy.
The joint was already jumping when Nick arrived with Tarpington and Misery. Most of the patrons were male—in fact, Misery was the only woman in sight. Tarpington led them past a group of dancing men to a corner table near the back, out of the main traffic path. They settled in and ordered drinks from the RoBarTender at their table, then Tarpington lifted his glass with a smile.
“To liberty and justice for all.”
“Hear-hear,” Misery said.
Nick didn’t comment, but clinked glasses with them and sipped his drink.
“You guys hungry?” Tarpington asked. “They have a pretty decent microwave here.”
Misery laughed. Nick didn’t.
Tarpington signaled to a waiter who brought them a menu. Nick studied it briefly, found nothing remarkable, and ordered cheese enchiladas.
“I’ve never tried those,” Misery said. “I’ll have the same.”
“What the hell,” Tarpington said. “Me, too.”
After the waiter had gone, Tarpington leaned across the table.
“I invited a friend to join us. Hope you don’t mind.” His eyes twinkled. “My own date for the evening.”
Nick shrugged uncomfortably. Misery glanced up at him and giggled.
“What’s good for the goose, huh?”
“Sure. Whatever.”
They chatted for ten minutes before the food came. The enchiladas were preprocessed, but steaming not. Misery tried hers and exclaimed over the flavor. Nick wasn’t quite as thrilled but admitted that they were better than he expected.
Sitting with his back to the wall, Nick spotted a familiar figure winding his way toward them through the crowd. Milo Zima slid into the seat next to Tarpington and stuck his hand across the table.
“Marshal Walker.” He smiled. “Good to see you again.”
“Same here.” Nick shook hands and watched in astonishment as Zima kissed Tarpington on the lips. Tarpington glanced at him.
“Milo’s the date I was telling you about. I didn’t realize you two had met.”
Nick nodded awkwardly. “Yeah. Couple days ago and again this afternoon.”
Tarpington noted his expression and burst out laughing.
“What’s wrong, Nick? Never seen two dudes kiss before?”
Nick started, aware that he must look like a fool.
“Yeah, actually I have. I just…”
“Freaks you out, does it?”
He nodded miserably, embarrassed to admit it. “I guess so.”
“Well, don’t worry about it. Some of us feel the same way when we see a man kissing a woman. What’s natural to one side seems unnatural to the other.” He lifted his glass again. “To diversity!”
Still blushing, Nick clicked his glass. “Hear-hear.”
Zima belatedly ordered the same meal as the others and soon the conversation became more relaxed.
“Without revealing any names,” Milo Zima said presently, “how’s your investigation going, Nick?”
“To be truthful, I’m not sure. I’m still waiting for the blowback on that arrest this afternoon.”
“You won’t have to wait long. Farrington is already pressuring my office to release Silva. They said they would guarantee his appearance at arraignment.”
“Don’t do it,” Tarpington told Zima. “The charges are too serious.”
“Don’t worry, Silva’s not going anywhere without a court order.”
“Which reminds me,” Nick said to Tarpington, “I have another question for you.”
“Sure.”
“I’ve asked Misery to check on this, but since you’re here, you might remember—does the name Nikki Green mean anything to you?”
&n
bsp; David Tarpington stared at him in thought for a moment, his eyes glazing.
“That name does ring a bell. Give me a hint.”
“Sentenced to a year and a day for biting a man’s ear off. She claimed she’d been raped but four others refuted her statement.”
“Ah, yes, couple of years back. College student, wasn’t she?”
“Graduate student. Working on her Ph.D.”
“I do remember. It was another one of those cases where he said/she said, and the ‘he’s’ won. What about it?”
“Did you prosecute her?”
Tarpington nodded unhappily. “Yeah, afraid so. But I think she was telling the truth. The medical exam revealed vaginal bruising, but of course the ‘victim’ and his friends claimed it was consensual. Said she took them all on.” He saw Nick’s expression and grimaced. “My boss said push the case, so I pushed it. I hoped I would lose.”
Nick nodded. He wasn’t blaming Tarpington. “My question is, where is that girl now? It was over two years ago, but I’ve seen no record that she was ever released from lockup.”
Tarpington stared at him a moment, thinking. He shook his head slowly.
“I don’t know. Once the verdict is in, our files are closed. We don’t usually follow up on prison releases, unless there’s something out of the ordinary involved.”
“Who would know?”
“Judge Maynard, probably. Farrington Security, certainly.”
“Farrington Security isn’t going to tell me anything.” Nick took another bite of his enchilada. “But they might tell you.”
Tarpington nodded decisively. “I’ll call them first thing in the morning.”
“You’re working tomorrow?” Zima asked in surprise.
“No, but this is important.” To Nick, “I’ll call you as soon as I learn something.”
Nick and Misery Allen spent a pleasant two hours with Tarpington and Zima, visiting happily and even taking a turn on the dance floor. When they left the bar the habitat was dark, and Misery snuggled up against him.
“Where to now, Nick? You said something earlier about…”
“Hetero.” He grinned and pulled open the passenger door on the E-car. “Would you be interested in something like that?”
“Sure, I think so. Why wouldn’t I?” Her smile dazzled him in the dim light from a street light.
“Because it has to be no strings. I hope I’ve been clear about that.”
“Yes, you have. But there isn’t much on this rock for a girl like me, Nick. I’ll take whatever you have to offer.”
He gazed into her lovely dark eyes for a moment, then leaned in and kissed her. She was warm and soft, her perfume intoxicating. She responded hungrily, her hand grasping the back of his head. His blood began to race with excitement.
“We’d better stop this,” he murmured. “Right now.”
She pulled back, disappointment in her eyes. “Why?”
“Because if we don’t, I’m never gonna make it to the hotel.”
Centerville - Ceres
Ten minutes later they were inside his tiny hotel room, embracing and kissing passionately. Nick buried his face in her thick, silken hair, panting like a dog.
“What’s that perfume you’re wearing?” he gasped. “I’ve never smelled anything like it.”
“It’s something I’ve been saving,” she said, nibbling his neck. “Very expensive. This is the first time I’ve ever worn it.”
“It’s hitting me like a drug.”
“That’s what it’s supposed to do. It’s from Vega Three.” She sucked at his lips for a moment. “They’re supposed to have the most beautiful women in the ‘verse. At least, that’s the rumor.”
Nick didn’t care. At the moment he was more turned on than he could ever remember being, and he fumbled for the clasp on the back of Misery’s dress. Releasing it, he peeled her like a banana, then ran his hands down her warm, smooth back and over the swell of her bottom. She clung to him, gasping, as he lifted her onto the bed, then laid her down and tugged off her skirt. To his surprise, she was wearing nothing underneath, and in the dim glow from the window he could see her entire form stretched out before him, feminine and sexy and glorious.
“Oh, god!” he whispered. “I had no idea you were so beautiful!”
He got rid of his own clothing in record time and joined her on the bed. Panting with desire, she wrapped her arms around him and drew him against her, then he was inside her; her back arched and her chin lifted as she moaned with pleasure. Nick wrapped his arms around her and held her firmly, forcing himself to slow down. This was too exquisite to rush. Misery’s head rolled from side to side as her ecstasy mounted, breathing hard, her hands gripping his shoulders. The realization filtered into his mind that she wasn’t very experienced, but she had plenty of passion, and that was all that mattered. He took his time, stretching it out, and brought her to a climax. Her body convulsed under him like a snake on hot pavement and her cry rattled the window. Every muscle in her body was rigid and she labored for breath as the moans continued to escape her.
Finally Nick could stand it no longer—his own climax followed and then he lay heavily on top of her, too weak to move, his face buried in her dark hair. For several minutes they remained like that, completely wasted, their bodies slowly cooling. When she had regained her oxygen, Misery began to kiss him, slowly walking her full lips across his face, her fingers playing with his hair.
“Oh, Nick! I’ve never had anything like that. Not ever.”
He lifted his head weakly and pushed his forehead against hers.
“You weren’t a virgin, were you?”
“No. Why, did I disappoint you?”
“Mm-um.” He shook his head. “Nothing about that was disappointing, believe me. I just wondered. You said you were a small-world girl, and you are pretty young, so…”
“I had a boyfriend back on Ganymede. We dated less than a year, and we only did it a few times.” She squirmed to a more comfortable position. “Since I came here I’ve never run across a man that I wanted. Until now.”
“Microbes?”
She laughed. “No, that’s Monica’s phobia, not mine. I just don’t care for felons or other assorted smelly men.”
Nick disengaged and lay down beside her, pulling her into his arms.
“You’re saying I don’t stink?”
“You definitely don’t stink. I wouldn’t be here if you did.” She kissed his nose. “How long are you going to be on Ceres?”
“I don’t know. The average assignment is two years, I think.”
She smiled. “So…can we do this again?”
He adjusted the pillow under his head, giving him a better view of her face.
“As long as you don’t fall in love with me.”
“And what if you fall in love with me?” Her glittering eyes teased him.
“That won’t happen.”
“How do you know? Am I that unattractive?”
“I think you know better than that.”
“Maybe I’m not your type?”
“I don’t have a ‘type’. I’m just not in the market.”
She gazed at him a moment, stroking his cheek.
“Someone hurt you, didn’t they? Tell me about it.”
But he shook his head. “Nothing to tell. I’m career oriented, that’s all. My line of work isn’t conducive to domestic life. I’ll be going too many places, and some of them will be very alien, not the kind of place to take a wife and family, and not fair to leave them at home for years at a time. It’s as simple as that.”
He closed his eyes, suddenly tired. Misery stared at him in the faint light for several minutes, then rolled on top of him, kissing him again.
“If this is all we have,” she said softly, “then this is all we have. I’ll take it.”
He reached up with both hands and seized her face, pulling her down for a deep, satisfying kiss.
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
Saturday
, August 10, 0440 (CC) — Centerville - Ceres
“What are all those scars?”
Misery Allen was sitting up in bed, completely nude, watching Nick brew a pot of coffee. Artificial sunlight filled the room from the window, casting a bright glare over everything, including the old wounds on his bare back. He glanced around at her, his eyes resting on her sexy, dark-chocolate body.
“Bad memories,” he said.
“Were you in an accident?”
He shook his head. “Alpha Centauri 2. These came compliments of the Rebel Coalition.”
Her eyes grew wide. “Oh, my god! You were in the war?”
He nodded, pouring water into the brewer and setting the timer. He strolled back to the bed and sat down on the edge.
“Did you follow the war?”
“Not really. I was pretty young then.”
“Alpha 2 has petitioned for independence, but until they establish a stable government they’re still a Federation colony. The problem is, there are about six factions that want to be in charge, and some of them are willing to fight to do it. Two of them banded together to form the Coalition and take the planet by force, so the Star Marines were sent in to stop them. The Federation doesn’t want to turn the planet over to any government that’s willing to go to war that easily.”
“How long were you there?”
“Year and a half, more or less.”
“You probably saw a lot of bad things.”
He nodded. “You can’t believe what ordinary people are capable of in situations like that.”
She leaned forward and pulled him against her, resting her chin on his shoulder.
“I’m sorry, Nick.”
He held her a moment, then kissed her on the temple.
“I found out what I’m capable of,” he said quietly. “It was a sobering revelation. That’s why I decided to become a U.F. Marshal, to make sure that whatever bad things I do will be for the right reasons.”
