Heart of a Peacekeeper

by Angela Verdenius

  It was old news. “You know a lot."

  Vaj smiled slyly.

  "But not enough."

  His smile slipped away immediately.

  "Give me a name,” Des said.

  "Someone heard one of them yell ‘Ruan'."

  "Yeah, I heard that, too. What else?"

  The man shifted. “The murdered girls are said to be linked to the same ones who killed the men in the Enforcer Building in Sharver."

  "You don't say.” Des stroked her chin. “Who told you?"

  "I heard whispers only."

  "Where?"

  "In the taverns. There was a man there last night, one I didn't know. He heard it from someone who met another man in Sharver at the time. A hard-eyed man who was laughing as he watched the Enforcer Building from the shadows. He was speaking into a communicator."

  It was the closest Des had come to knowing anyone linked to the murders. “Give me some names."

  "I don't know. The man who told me was drinking at the bar, and he left for Vaksal."

  "Shuttle?"

  "Private ship."

  "When did he leave?"

  "Last night."

  "Anything special about the ship?"

  "No. It was an ordinary travel ship, small, compact, nothing unusual."

  "Did you get the coordinates?"

  Vaj gave her a cynical look. “Oh yeah, everyone gives others their coordinates here."

  "Don't be a smart arse.” Des frowned. “Keep your ears to the ground and tell me the minute you hear anything, understand?"

  "Gotcha."

  Watching him run from the alley, Des rubbed the back of her neck. There was nothing new in his information. Rolling her shoulders, she turned and moved back out into the street.

  By midday, she'd found nothing new, so she returned to the Enforcer Building. As soon as she entered, she knew something was wrong by the way Chas and Huxley looked at her.

  "What?” she demanded.

  "We've found the third bad thing,” Chas announced.

  "And what is that?"

  "Captain Gorman is coming back to look at the mystery box."

  "So?"

  Huxley grimaced. “It's gone."

  "What?"

  "It's gone,” he repeated.

  "Shit.” Crossing the room, she flung open the door and stared at the stand. The empty stand. The box was gone. “How the hell did it vanish? Have you searched?"

  "High and low.” Chas came up to her side. “We ran a scan, but the only thing that showed was a fuzzing of the image when the box must have disappeared. The security cameras show no intruder."

  Moving around the room, Des opened cupboards and drawers. “Are you sure you looked everywhere?"

  "Yes, Boss."

  "Search again while I re-check the security film."

  The search brought up nothing, and the security cameras didn't reveal anything helpful. No one had come into the room or out of it. One minute the box was in view, then the film fuzzed and when it cleared, the box was gone.

  Des stared at the film. “According to this, it happened this morning. Who was in the Building?"

  "It was changeover time,” Chas replied quietly. “We were in the front room exchanging the reports. No one was back here."

  "The bad news is that the only ones who have access to the security cameras are us, the peacekeepers."

  "Yeah."

  The three peacekeepers looked grimly at each other.

  "So,” Chas finally said. “Which of us did it?"

  "I don't know,” Des replied tightly.

  "I can't think any of us would do it,” Huxley said just as tightly.

  "I wouldn't have, either."

  "But now you do."

  Des glared at him. “Damn it to hell and back, Huxley! You think I want to believe that one of my own men did this?"

  "Seems to be the only thing left to believe, doesn't it?"

  "Don't get in a huff with me."

  Chas laid his hand on Huxley's shoulder. “Don't take it personally, Hux. It could be any of us."

  Shoving a hand through her hair, Des looked up at the camera. Was it possible that something else had happened? Anything? Anything at all?

  Lowering her gaze, she found Chas and Huxley looking back at her. Chas's face was expressionless, but Huxley had an angry, betrayed expression.

  "Don't look like that!” Des strode over to the bench.

  "How am I supposed to look?"

  "Huxley, I don't have time to soothe your hurt feelings. There's something going on that smells of betrayal, but I'm not saying it's you. Or any of us. I don't intend to jump to conclusions so fast.” She speared him with a furious look. “And neither the hell should you."

  He had the good grace to look slightly embarrassed.

  "Chas, get the recordings of the last of us to come in and out of the building at the time changeover occurred. Bring it to me and we'll see what shows.” She looked at Huxley. “Contact all the peacekeepers, even those who have gone to bed, and have them assemble here within the half-hour. While you're at it, contact the medical clinic and ensure that Orde, Marcel and Aiken are still there and haven't yet been released."

  Once alone in the room, she sighed and her shoulders slumped. A traitor in the midst wasn't something she'd even thought of, but it was certainly something she had to consider and look at now. But it wasn't the final answer, either.

  With a mystery ship, a mystery box and the increase then sudden decrease of murders, something was happening—she just didn't know what the hell it was.

  Ten

  The meeting with the peacekeepers was strained. Chas, Huxley, Raf, Yucel and Emory were grimfaced, as was to be expected.

  Des was just as grim, but truthful. “I'm not pointing the finger at any of you. The happenings lately are too odd. I'm simply looking at all the data we have available and see if I can pinpoint who entered the Enforcer Building and stole the box. It may or may not have been one of us. And that includes me, in case you haven't thought of it."

  Emory relaxed enough to grin faintly. “You were asleep at your house since I dropped you off last night."

  "I could have left, you don't know that."

  "I doubt it, not with the Daamen trader on guard."

  Des looked blank for a few seconds, then, as the grins and raised eyebrows flitted from one to the other of her men, she grimaced. “You can't know that for sure. I—"

  "He was there when we arrived, I saw him in your kitchen window. He was there this morning when Moresby went by your place to check your injuries. You didn't leave your place. Des, you were so tired and in so much pain last night. No, you're out of the puzzle."

  But it didn't solve the puzzle, either.

  Des met their gazes steadily. “Fine. I'm not going to deny I spent the night with the trader. Big bloody deal. But that doesn't mean that I suspect any of you of stealing the box, either. I'm looking at the top layer first to see if I—we—can spot the problem. That's why I've got all of you working on this as well."

  The peacekeepers relaxed a little.

  "The night shift can go back to bed. I'll need you on board tonight, we're short staffed with Marcel, Orde and Aiken down, and you're no use if you're half asleep. I'm sorry you were called out, but you had to know what was happening. The day shift will get their jobs delegated to them to see if we can find out what the hell is happening. Dismissed."

  The men went their ways, except for the day shift. Des put Huxley in charge of re-checking all the electronic equipment, while Chas was given the job of circling the taverns and the settlement to see what he could overhear.

  Once the men had left, Des took a deep breath and sat down at her desk.

  Boots thudded outside and a loud voice shouted, “Baby girl!"

  Eyes brightening, she looked up just as the door thumped open and a rough, hard-eyed bounty hunter with a flashing gold tooth walked inside.

  "Dad!” Catapulting out from behind her desk, she ran straight up t
o the bounty hunter and flung her arms around him.

  He stood a good five inches shorter than she did, but he hugged her to him and patted her back, laughing. “Who's Daddy's baby girl, huh?” Creed was as hard-hearted as he was hard-eyed, but his daughter was his sole soft spot.

  Hugging him back, Des said, “Dad, when did you get in? Just now?"

  "Baby girl, I heard you'd been shot to shit, so I came back as fast as I could.” Placing his hands on her arms, he pushed her back and ran his gaze up and down her. “Are you all right? Want me to string the bastard up who did this to you? Just give me the word and point me in the right direction."

  "If I knew, I'd have done it myself.” She grinned at the brutal looking man in the open doorway who was giving her a twisted smile from his scarred face. “Kerey, how are you?"

  "Mopping up your daddy's tears when he heard his baby was hurt."

  "Ignore that bastard.” Creed released Des to pull his bullwhip over his shoulder and drop it onto the desk. He nodded briefly to Huxley before turning back to Des. “Need some help here?"

  "I don't know if you can help. Maybe.” A flash of hope went through her. Crossing to the urn, she held up a mug. “Want some?"

  "I'm starving, baby girl. Let's go and get something to eat in the tavern.” His gold tooth flashed in a nasty grin. “Should we surprise Gracie?"

  "Not if we want you to keep your appetite. Besides, my name is shit with her right now."

  "When was it never?"

  "True. But to be truthful, Dad, I'd rather we eat somewhere where we can discuss things quietly."

  He looked at her closely. “Fair enough."

  "My house?"

  "Sure. Still got Chels and Fuzz?"

  "Of course. What about you, Kerey? Coming for something to eat at my place?"

  "Thanks for the offer, sweet cheeks, but no. I'm going to the tavern for a drink and sex."

  "A little too much info."

  He flashed her a dangerous, twisted grin.

  Des started for the door. “What about the rest of the pack? They're welcome to come to my place, stay there—"

  "They're happier on the ship, and besides, they're thirsty and horny, too. They're at the taverns."

  "They won't be fighting, will they?” She cast him a serious look. “I can't afford to have any more of my peacekeepers hurt."

  Creed returned her look with a thoughtful one. “Yeah, so I hear. No, they'll be good. I've already spoken to them."

  "There's Daamens in the settlement."

  Creed's eyes twinkled. “Oh, well then..."

  "Dad."

  "They'll be good."

  Des looked over her shoulder. “Huxley, you know how to contact me if you come across anything or need me."

  "Rigtho, Boss."

  As they strode down the street, Des still limping, she was amused to find it nearly deserted. Every two-bit outlaw had gone to ground at the arrival of the bounty hunter pack. Creed walked beside her, and she made her pace smaller to accommodate his shorter stature.

  When she neared her home, she noticed the huge Daamen trading ship in the docking bay was surrounded by hover crafts and two of the merchants. The traders were taking huge crates and bundles from the hover trays and loading them into the cargo hold. She couldn't make out which of the couple of fair-haired traders was Simon, for their backs were to her, and they were too far away.

  "God Almighty,” Creed said.

  "What?” She opened the door and ushered him inside.

  "I heard you had it sweet for a trader."

  "Where'd you hear that?"

  "You'd be surprised.” His face changed, going all soft, as the two big hybrid lycats came skidding around the corner of the corridor. “Chels! Fuzz! Come and give Daddy some lovin'!"

  Purring loudly and meowing, the lycats twined around his legs. Picking first one up, then the other, Creed rubbed his face against theirs before finally putting them down. He nearly tripped over them several times on the way to the living area. Rather than sit on the sofa, he made straight for the cooler and peered into it. Getting out two packs of meat that were in there, he opened them up and gave them to Chels and Fuzz, who purred loudly and bounded out into the enclosed garden with it.

  "Thanks, Dad.” Des smiled wryly. “That was their dinner for later."

  "You'll just have to thaw two more out, won't you? Hell, baby girl, you don't expect me to come and not have something for them, do you?” After investigating the contents of her freezer, he pulled out some more meat. “Here you go."

  "Why don't you just help yourself to my stuff?"

  "Why, thank you.” He looked over the top of the cooler door. “Want anything to eat?"

  "Not for me.” Dropping into a chair, she watched her father fix himself some food and a hot cup of una.

  Placing the second cup in front of her, Creed took the opposite chair and proceeded to take a big bite of a sandwich. Chewing, he eyed her searchingly before swallowing. “You look pale."

  "I'm fine."

  "Heard you were in the path of blood and guts last night."

  "Wasn't the best shower I had."

  "You get shot up, have prisoners explode, and the military visiting. What's up?"

  "That's what I'm trying to find out. Maybe you can help."

  "Maybe. Tell me everything."

  Leaning back in the chair, Des took a sip of the hot brew. “Short and straight to the point, we've had increased outlaw activity, which has mysteriously decreased after the separate murders of three women. All were killed in the same way. In a couple of other settlements not long after, the same, only the pattern was broken a bit."

  "Ah, yes. Scalping and gutting.” Creed nodded and took another bite. “Women first, then a man."

  "You've got your finger on the pulse, I see."

  Creed looked innocent, or as innocent as a hardened bounty hunter could manage. “Just heard a few things."

  "Of course you did."

  "So, what else?"

  "There's been a mystery ship around, faster than any I've ever seen. The same ship was spotted at Sharver, Calton and Merver. It was also there when Aiken was attacked in his pursuit craft, and it helped bring Orde, Marcel and me down, too. It disappeared just as fast and hasn't been seen since.” Getting up, she switched on the viscomm above the kitchen bench and brought up the description and rough drawing of the ship. “Recognize it?"

  He squinted. “Afraid not. But I'll put a call-out over the bounty communications system. Someone might have heard something."

  "Great. I did try to contact you earlier, but you weren't answering."

  "I was further into the Outlaw Sector."

  Des sat down again. “There was also a mystery box that appeared in a collapsed warehouse. Some kind of strange language was coming from it, but we have no idea in hell what it is or where it came from."

  "I'll have a look at it."

  "Yeah, well that's the thing. It's gone missing."

  Creed paused in the act of taking a bite of sandwich. “Missing?"

  "Taken while the security cameras were put out of action for that time."

  His eyes took on a hard gleam. “Traitor?"

  "I don't want to think so."

  "Baby girl, face facts. It might be."

  Sighing, Des leaned back in the chair. “Yeah, I know."

  He picked up the second sandwich. “Anything else?"

  "That's about it, I think."

  "We'll be here for a couple of days, I'll see what we can find out for you."

  "Thanks, Dad.” She smiled at him. “It's good to see you again."

  "Had to stop by and make sure my baby girl was doing okay."

  "Always."

  One brow quirked. “So, what's this I hear about you and one of those damned Daamen traders?"

  "None of your business."

  "I just want to check him out, make sure he's all right."

  "None of your business."

  "I'll find out anyway."


  "I could always throw your arse in the cells."

  He grinned widely at her. “You make me so proud."

  Des gave a bark of laughter. “You nearly died when I became a peacekeeper, then Head Peacekeeper."

  He laughed.

  They spent awhile chatting about things in general, then Creed left.

  Des linked to the bounty hunter's ship and sent a copy of the mystery ship details as well as the mystery box to them. With their shady contacts, who knew what they could stumble across?

  Leaving the house, she looked up at the clouds scudding across the sky. Rain was in the air and she smiled a little before heading back to the settlement. The Daamens, she saw, were now loading up the hover trays with cargo. There was no fair-haired trader to be seen, and she sighed.

  Wondering what Simon was up to, she entered the settlement and continued down the street to the Enforcer Building.

  Chas and Huxley were waiting for her.

  "Report,” she said, leaning back against the desk and fishing the bottle of analgesia from her pocket.

  "The electronics show some interference, but I can't tell if it's by hand or other equipment,” Huxley stated.

  "Other equipment?” She took a swig of analgesia from the bottle and re-pocketed it.

  "It may have been done from outside interference."

  Des frowned. “An outside jamming device?"

  Huxley nodded. “It's possible. Considering that I can't find any evidence that it was tampered with on the premises, outside influence is the next step to look at."

  "Bloody impossible. This equipment is supposed to be tamper proof from outside!"

  "There's a mystery ship flying around, and our scanners and communications systems have been fooled with.” Huxley looked at her. “It's not so far-fetched to think that someone can do this as well."

  "Bugger me.” Scowling, Des stared at the scanners. “You can't track an electronic emission?"

  "No. This equipment is made to be hack-proof, so there's nothing I can use to track anything."

  "Damn. All right, the good news is that might let us off the hook for a traitor.” Des looked at Chas. “Anything?"

  "Nothing tangible."

  "Okay. Keep listening, anyway. Any kind of gossip that even sounds odder than normal, we investigate."