Chrono Inquisitor (Gods Be Damned) (22 page)

“We’re done,” the man in the tan Stetson leaned in and said to Ranger-son as they walked by.

He nodded.

It seemed everyone was continually keeping me out of the loop, and I was really starting to get sick of it.

“Look,” I said. “I think we’ve spent enough time talking. I get it. You don’t want to work with me. Trust me, the feeling’s mutual. But what do you say we put our feelings aside, stop bullshitting, and at the very least, make it look like we’re
trying
to solve a murder?”

“Before we get started, I just want to make some things clear. This is
my
hotel,
my
jurisdiction, which means it’s
my
investigation. You’ll be assisting me. You do what I say, when I say it. You don’t speak unless I ask for your opinion. Understand?”

“You’re the big boss man, sure.”

At this point, I didn’t care. The Horseman wanted me to play nice until they got there. Fine, that’s what I’d do. It seemed as far as anyone was concerned, I was simply a presence. A face for ChronoGen in the matter.

The Ranger who’d been sent to buy me new clothes returned then. I was led to a bathroom where I changed.

I should have known that Ranger-son would screw me over. The clothes I’d been given were; cheap, plain, blue jeans, and a Regency Resort t-shirt. I literally spent a minute debating just staying in the servant attire rather than changing into such lowly clothes. In the end I changed. Somehow, I decided, I’d get Ranger-son back.

“All right,” he said when I exited the bathroom. “First things, first, we interview Mrs. Beit.”

“I know I’m breaking one of the rules you just established, but why aren’t we consulting with Beit’s CerA? Why aren’t we reviewing his Arkhive?”

“Because in a sense,” he said. “They were murdered as well.”

“What do you mean, murdered?”

“Exactly.”

I gave him a look but he ignored and started walking away. I followed after him. My mind started to sprint to possibilities.

Things were starting to make a little more sense. No wonder the Horsemen were taking over. No wonder everyone was acting a little
odd. As far as I knew, no one’s CerA or Arkhive had ever been destroyed. In a way, it was more shocking than Beit’s own murder. Had someone been trying to hack into Beit’s Arkhive and got caught? Did they then decide to kill Beit to cover it up? But how had they figured out how to destroy his CerA, let alone the Arkhive? The two were supposed to be indestructable. Uncorruptable. Though I knew the last one had some leeway, it was how criminals were still able to break the law without their CerA’s ratting them out.

“Let me get this straight,” I started to say.

He abruptly stopped. We’d exited the Ranger station on the first floor of the hotel. We were in some empty corridor.

“Are you going to make this habit?” he said.

“Depends. Are you going to continue to keep me in the dark?”

“I tell you what you need to know. That’s it.”

“And who determines what I need to know, you?”

“I was told by President Collins to let you
assist
me in this investigation until your Horsemen arrive and take over. And just so we’re clear. The emphasis on assist, was her’s.”

“Okay, but you didn’t answer my question.”

“What is it?” he asked.

“You’ve already made it abundantly clear that this is your turf. I’m fine with that. I really could care less. But one thing I think we both agree on, is it makes us look bad that in just a few hours, this won’t be our investigation anymore. We’re being replaced. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like being replaced.”

“Agreed,” he said.

“All right then. So what do you say we actually work together? How about we try to solve this damn mystery before they get here?”

“You’re serious?”

“I am.”

So much for taking a backseat. I guess I just love a good mystery, and this was the biggest one I’d ever come across.

“How many murder cases have you worked on?” he asked.

“Depends on the parameters.”

“There’s only one parameter,
murder
.”

“I’ve worked dozens of cases in which a
murder
was somehow connected, but as for actually trying to find a killer, well, it’s not what Inquisitors do.”

“I see. Inquisitors are constructive investigators,” he said.

“Excuse me?”

“It means you try to deal with crimes as they’re occurring.”

“Okay, sure. That and bounty hunting. Generally, we already know who’s guilty. We get tips of crimes that have been committed, then we go in undercover and wait until we catch them in the act again.”

“What if they don’t commit another crime?” he asked.

“Then they’re smarter than the common criminal.” Thing was, once someone committed a crime they were even more likely to repeat the offense. If they felt they got away with it, they’d initially be afraid to tempt the fates again, but more often than not, it was just a matter of time before the thought would come poking around, making them think that if they got away with it once, chances were they could get away with it again.

“I see,” Ranger-son said. “So how exactly do you plan to help solve this case?”

“By using my keen intellect and superior deductive reasoning skills. How about you?”

He ignored my question, but then I hadn’t really been serious. Instead he said, “I suppose we should link up.”

“Sounds logical to me.”

He placed his palm out to me and I mirrored him, placing mine to his. An instant later, we were linked.

“So, let’s see if I understand the situation,” I said. “The security systems were disabled. Beit was murdered. As well as his CerA and Arkhive. Do we have any suspects?”

“Well now that we’ve eliminated you and your deputy, no.”

“So how many murder cases have you worked?” I asked.

“Hundreds. But it’s been decades since I’ve had to try to solve one without any
Arkhive assistance.”

“So I guess we’re doing it old school,” I said. “Feet to the ground. Ears to the air.”

“I guess so,” he said.

“Well now that we’re partners, I guess I should let you in on a few things.”

“Such as?” He didn’t look happy anymore. And I’d been doing so well at warming him over.

“Well I’m not going to tell you why I’m here, but I will say this; I followed Beit to his room because I thought he was acting suspicious. I figured he was meeting with someone.”

“Who was he meeting with?” he asked.

“That’s the problem. I don’t know. But that’s not the point. Mrs. Beit was also acting suspicious. When Mr. Beit said he was going to the apartment to take a nap, Mrs. Beit said she was going to take a walk in the gardens.”

“And you think that’s suspicious?” he asked.

“The suspicious part was that Mr. Beit acted like he was willing to blow off his nap to sleep with his wife, but in the end she blew him off, saying he should take a nap.”

“I still don’t understand what’s suspicious,” he said.

I felt my eyes swirl. “My point is that no couple who’s been married as long as they have would act that way.”

“In what way?”

“Would you rather I just share the memory with you?”

“If you think it’d help,” he said.

I shared the memory of the conversation the
Beits had. It didn’t help. Apparently Ranger-son was somewhat familiar with the couple. He told me that they acted similarly often enough. After a few minutes of going nowhere, I finally managed to convince him to at least interview her. Maybe she could shed some light on who might want to murder her husband.

Ranger-son finally seemed to finally accept me as an equal and let me in on what had been discovered so far.

Beit’s body was being autopsied to find the cause of death, but so far hadn’t returned any results. The coroner was at a loss.

The Rangers had done a full forensics scan and were analyzing all gathered DNA collected for possible suspects. Ranger-son didn’t have much hope of it paying off. Apparently, the
Beits liked to entertain guests, so that list was fairly large.

Because there wasn’t any security footage for a whole thirty minutes, almost everyone staying at the Regency was a suspect. That amounted to a total of 2,148 people. To our benefit, only the security system for the Quest hotel and the Shareholder’s building had been compromised. The resorts different areas had been designed with
independent systems. That meant the amusement park, the private cottages, the agricultural sector, and most important of all - the border, had all remained active.

Ranger-son’s team was working on eliminating everyone they could who was caught on surveillance in other areas during the window of opportunity. So far they’d eliminated almost a thousand suspects. It also meant that whoever the murderer was, they hadn’t left the resort grounds, yet.

The Regency was on complete lockdown. No one was leaving. No exceptions. Not even the Rangers.

Unless the murderer could manage to take down the border system, which wasn’t probable, they weren’t going anywhere. But because it was still possible, Sam had ordered most of her team to take up border patrol.

Sam had been made aware of the situation and the fact I was there, and had canceled her lecture. She was hard at work with Lillian on finding out how they’d been compromised, and ensuring that it didn’t happen again.

Ranger-son informed me that he’d discovered my connection with Sam, which is also why I’d been the number one suspect. Sam had compiled a list of individuals who were capable of compromising the security systems. Because of my intimate knowledge of her work, I’d been amongst the top ten of that list.

Sam, ever being the true detective, ranked herself first. Lillian was second. Third would have been Beit, had he not been the one murdered. The person who took his place was his wife, Nora, who was his partner in their firm. As it turned out, those four were the ones who’d designed the entire security system, so they had the most knowledge about its inner workings. Next, at number four, was a Brandin Delmont, the head of security for the resort in Sam and Lillian’s absence. Fifth came me. The rest who rounded out the top ten were all security personnel.

I’ll give Ranger-son credit. Even though he’d immediately assumed that Paxton and I were the culprits, he hadn’t taken any chances. He’d already rounded up almost all the individuals on Sam’s top ten list and begun eliminating them through their memory-alibis.

He hadn’t yet eliminated Nora on account of how he’d come across her at the scene of the crime and the fact I hadn’t implicated her until that moment.

We took the elevator to the sixth floor. Not wanting to be in the place where her husband had been murdered, Nora, Mrs. Beit, was staying with a close friend, an Olena Sawyer, who was also a shareholder.

Ranger-son and I talked strategy on the way to the apartment. Because he was somewhat familiar with her, we decided it was best if he took the lead. There was also the matter that I had been present when she’d found her husband dead, which might not go over so well.

It was 8:12 pm when we arrived outside the apartment. Nearly two hours had passed since the murder.

Ranger-son pressed his palm to the door notifying the occupants of our arrival.

A blonde haired, blue eyed, milky skinned woman answered the door. It wasn’t Mrs. Beit.

“Hello,” she said with a friendly disposition.

“Hello,” I replied, while Ranger-son tipped his hat and said, “Howdy ma’am.”

“How can I help you gentlemen?” she asked, standing in the entryway with the door blocking our view inside.

“We understand that Mrs. Beit is now staying with you,” Ranger-son said.

“Who are you?” she asked.

“I’m Major Kody Stevenson of the Rangers stationed at the resort, and this is my assistant,” he said.

That was it, no real introduction for me. Oh well.

“We’d like to ask Mrs. Beit some questions in regards to her husband’s death,” he continued.

I sensed a presence on the other side of the door, hiding behind the woman, who Kali informed me was Ms. Sawyer. Before Kali confirmed it, I was proven correct when a hand opened the door further and a contrasting woman came to stand beside her.

“It’s okay Olena, I’ll talk to them,” Nora said.

What a sight they were. Two yin-yang goddesses. One light. One dark. Both beautiful in their own, but somehow even more so when standing next to each other. Earlier, I hadn’t really noticed how beautiful Mrs. Beit was. It was probably because I’d been more focused on her husband and going undetected as I eavesdropped on them. But now I couldn’t help but bask in her beauty.

Nora was a mocha mama, and Olena the cream. Together they made something I wanted to drink.

“Good evening, Mrs. Beit,” Ranger-son said.

I cringed slightly at his poor choice in words.

Ms. Sawyer retreated to somewhere unseen, fast.

Mrs. Beit stepped forward aggressively. “What’s so good about it, Kody?” she said in that tone which angry woman are so good at.

So she knew him well enough to know his first name and use it. Interesting.

“Please do tell,” she continued. “Because unless you’re here to tell me that my husband isn’t dead after all, there isn’t a damn good thing about this evening.”

Kody bowed his head with shame.

I decided I’d take a stab at making up for his mistake. I stepped forward and in my best imitation of politeness said, “You’re absolutely correct, Mrs. Beit. There is nothing good about this night. You’ve lost your husband, and the world has lost a great man.”

Nora’s full attention swerved violently as she glared at me. “And who the fuck are you, ass kissing brown noser?”

“This is my assistant, Inquisitor Yan,” Ranger-son said.

“You!” she said with a sudden burst of heightened aggressive behavior. “This is all your fault, isn’t it?” She moved like she was going to slap me, but surprisingly Ranger-son grabbed her by the wrist.

I was even more surprised that she even dared to slap me. What the hell? Had I somehow slipped into another dimension where Inquisitors weren’t feared? It’d been odd enough with Paxton seeming unafraid of me. It’d actually been kind of endearing for some odd reason, but when I’d confronted Van Horne’s men and they hadn’t believed me, it’d been disheartening. Then there was Van Horne himself. The audacity of that man. Not to mention Ranger Alvarez. And now, Mrs. Beit? What the hell was the world coming to? Next thing I’d know, kids would be lining up to sit on my lap.

I shuddered at the thought.

“Ma’am,” Ranger-son said. “Do I need to warn you about striking an officer?”

Rather than striking me, she spit at my feet. “You sully the title by calling one of his kind an officer,” she said.

I almost looked to him for further assistance, but then realized that was the extent I was going to get.

He then released her wrist. “May we come in?” he asked.

“What for?” she said.

“Inquisitor Yan is assisting me in the investigation of your husband’s murder. We’d like to speak with you about your husband.”

“I already talked to Rangers
Blayze and Fausett.”

“Yes, ma’am, and if you’d be so kind, there’s just a few more questions I’d like to ask. It’d really help a lot.”

She looked me up and down. “I take it you want him to be there?”

“I wouldn’t say want, but it’d be beneficial,” he said. So I was the bad guy. I could live with that, so long as she cooperated with Ranger-son, and we managed to solve the case before the Horsemen arrived, and they took over.

She shook her head and turned away. I thought she was going to slam the door in our faces, but then she said, “Come in.”

I let him enter first.

We followed her to the sitting room. Before we even began talking, Ms. Sawyer arrived with a tray of tea. I took a sip and wished it had a shot of bourbon in it. It was nearly ten minutes later before we’d finished going through the motions of all the bullshit formalities of Texan hospitality.

I was shocked when Ranger-son came right out and requested that she share her memories of the half hour in which her husband could have been murdered.

I choked on my tea when she refused to cooperate.

“Mrs. Beit,” Ranger-son said. “Someone disabled the security systems of the hotel during the time your husband was murdered. Your husband’s
Arkhive was also destroyed, as well as his CerA. We have no record of what happened.” He paused, then said. “Please don’t take this the wrong way, but we have a list of people who are capable of doing those things. Your name is on that list.”

“Are you saying I’m a suspect?”

“Because of the circumstances, everyone is a suspect,” he said.

“I thought you knew who murdered my husband,” she said with a disdainful tone. “Why else would you have arrested him?” She pointed at me.

I remained silent.

“At the time, Inquisitor Yan was the likely suspect, but since then he’s proven innocent. We’re asking for your memories during the time your husband was murdered, as well as any ideas of who might have wanted your husband dead.”

“I’m sorry, Kody, but I’m going to have to take the Fifth in regards to sharing my memories with you.”

Something was definitely amiss. She kept referring to him on a first name basis, but he kept acting like they weren’t that familiar. I kept trying to tell myself that he was simply trying to act in an official capacity, but I wasn’t quite buying that. Also, why the hell was she refusing to share her memories? It seemed I was correct after all. She’d been up to something. I didn’t feel she was responsible for her husband’s murder. But she was guilty of something.

“Mrs. Beit,” Ranger-son said, in a slightly pleading tone. “It is within your right to do so, but it would clear all suspicion of your involvement if you cooperated.”

“You think I don’t know that? You think I don’t know that refusing makes me even more of a suspect? I know how it looks, Kody, but sharing my memories is a matter of security.”

Ranger-son looked like he was thinking things through. “Is there any way your CerA can filter out the information that is a security risk while also clearing you of suspicion?”

She seemed to be consulting her CerA. “No,” she said.

“Mrs. Beit, Inquisitor Yan, as well as myself, are agents of the Republic. I’m sure that whatever security risks you feel there are in sharing your memories, we are capable of keeping them secret.”

“That may be the case, but then it may not be. Again, I say, I am invoking my right as set forth in the maintained Fifth Amendment. I will not share my memories during the time you ask.”

“Acknowledged and recorded. Mrs. Beit, do you know anyone who may have wanted to harm your husband?”

“Before we go down that road of questioning, I will say this, just so you heard it from me first, as I’m positive you’ll find out at some point in your investigation. My husband was having an affair.”

“You know this to be a fact?” he asked.

I caught a hint of surprise on his face, which I found odd. You’d think a Ranger would have come across a case of infidelity before. It wasn’t rare by any means. But then again, in a way it was, considering very few people actually got married anymore. Still, the man shouldn’t be showing surprise at all when questioning a suspect.

Nora continued. “I don’t have any definitive proof, if that’s what you mean, but I know it to be true.”

“And why do you think he was having an affair?” I asked.

Both Ranger-son and Nora suddenly looked at me as if they’d forgotten I was there. They both gave me a look as if to say, ‘keep your mouth shut.’

She answered the question though. “Like I said, I don’t think, I know. His behavior over the last few months was uncharacteristic of him.”

“That doesn’t necessarily mean an affair,” I said. “It could mean almost anything.”

Glaring at me she said, “We’ve been married for over forty years. He’s had affairs before. Trust me, I know when he’s having an affair.”

“You acknowledged he’s had affairs before, so in a sense that means his behavior wasn’t uncharacteristic of him,” I said. “Have you ever had an affair?” I randomly decided to ask.

“I don’t see how that’s relevant,” she said. So, that was a yes.

“Are you currently having an affair?” I asked.

“Who the hell do you think you are?” she said. Another yes. So was she projecting her own infidelity onto her husband, or were they simply both being unfaithful?

“We all know who and what I am,” I said. “And you’re avoiding my questions, which I take as a sign of guilt. I was near you in the banquet hall when your husband said he was going to take a nap. How was your walk in the gardens? Did you find a spot for the two of you to have a little romp later on? Did you test it out already with your lover? Is that what you were really trying to hide by not sharing your memories?”