Criminal Minds (Fox Meridian Book 4) (6 page)

‘Afternoon, Kit,’ Jonathan responded, ‘and if you recommend that model, I’ve obviously made the right choice. I’m not putting a VA on it yet. I figure it’s one step at a time.’

‘Hello, Kit,’ Andrea said. ‘I hope you’re looking after my daughter.’

‘As best I can, Mrs Meridian,’ Kit replied, smiling.

‘It’s tough,’ Fox said, ‘but she’s persistent. Okay, so you got your resolution passed, Mom. How do you think the legislation is working out?’

‘Well…’ Andrea frowned a little. ‘Your father and I think it’s going fairly well, though there are a number of amendments we’re concerned about. A few of the more, um, enthusiastic Watch supporters are up in arms about being tied down by red tape.’

‘Kind of what I expected. What are the amendments you’re worried about?’

‘The one fixing encryption standards,’ Jonathan said. ‘Not my area of expertise, but it looked… dubious.’

‘It is,’ Fox replied. ‘We have a counter-amendment going through. We’re suggesting the use of any internationally recognised encryption system.’

‘There is the approved weapons list,’ Andrea said. ‘We’re not too good on guns, to be honest. Jonathan knows his hunting rifles…’

‘And shotguns,’ Jonathan added. ‘There’s a couple of those on the list, but no hunting rifles, unless you count the McCallum fourteen seventy-three.’

‘That’s a sniper railgun, Dad.’

‘Make a helluva hunting rifle.’

‘It’d more or less
melt
your target!’

‘Pre-cooked!’ Apparently Jonathan’s headset was sophisticated enough to pick up facial expressions, because his avatar was grinning like a maniac.

‘Point is, what’s a high-calibre, anti-materiel rifle doing on a list for use by local law enforcement? Kit, give me the list, would you?’ Kit pushed up the list as a virtual display and Fox scanned over it. ‘I haven’t really looked at this. I guess I’d have got around to it, but… Guided minimissiles with shaped-charge warheads? And that’s a point-defence emplacement. Rapid-fire, automated radar and ladar targeting.’

‘Good hunting equipment, obviously.’

‘Yeah, if you’re setting up to hunt soldiers, sure. Maybe defending against drone attacks. These are civil defence weapons with a collection of suitable handguns and rifles tossed in. Hell, if we’re trying to put together a modern policing agency, the standard sidearm should be an electrolaser.’

‘I’m not familiar.’

‘They use a high-frequency laser, twin beams, to create an ionisation channel and push several thousand volts down it.’

‘A laser taser?’

‘Basically, I guess. There were trials of them in NAPA. They work. They’re not totally safe, but neither are tasers, and both tend to leave more people alive than bullets. I’m not saying you don’t need the
option
of lethal force…’

‘I think we can all agree that military-class munitions are a little… excessive,’ Andrea said.

‘I’d still like one of those sniper rifles,’ Jonathan said. ‘It’d really be great for gophers.’

‘Gophers?’ Fox said. ‘You want to vaporise gophers with a railgun.’

‘Well… less clean-up.’

‘Damn. Now I know where I get it from.’

~~~

‘Read ’em and weep, ladies.’ Niamh laid down her hole cards and everyone immediately spotted the straight.

With a grunt of displeasure, Marie began taking off her tunic, which was going to leave her in skirt, stockings, and suspender belt, but at least she was doing better than the night before. She had her strategy worked out and folded when she was unsure, thus saving her bet, but she had been sure her three-of-a-kind would win and Niamh had beaten it. Then again, Niamh had fooled two of the others as well.

‘So,’ Marie said, mostly to keep the conversation going, ‘why did you become a Sister, Niamh?’

‘I started out doing the course. I was going to go the dominatrix route. That’s still the plan, but… I just kind of realised I liked the ideals.’ She grinned. ‘I’m not the most religious person out there, but the Sisters… The whole thing kind of called to me. No blinding light and voice from on high or anything… I don’t know. It felt right.’

‘Sister Naomi,’ Gilly said and Niamh nodded. ‘Even if you’re
not
planning to go into bondage, she’s like…’

‘An inspiration,’ DeeDee finished for her. ‘She’s confident, intelligent, always in control…’

‘Everything a
woman
should be,’ Niamh stated, ‘never mind a registered prostitute. And I’m not talking about her body or face. She’s got this strength, like she really is touched by God. She’s the kind of person you’d follow into Hell, just because she asked you to.’

‘I don’t believe she’ll require that of you,’ Demeter said, ‘unless Hell is in the Jersey Housing Complex.’ She started flicking cards out from the deck.

‘Pretty sure Satan has a summer home there,’ Gilly replied. ‘That’s where I was raised and I know we’re not that far away here, but it’s like it’s on another planet.’ She flashed Marie a grin. ‘I wanted to come here when I was old enough to know what a prostitute was. I’d see girls doing it illegally and I kind of knew I’d end up like that if I wasn’t careful. I did some, uh, modelling to keep off my back and when I was almost old enough, I came here. Sister Naomi interviewed me. I was trying to be so cool and mature, and she saw right through me. Told me I could join as a novice, but there would be no training until I was eighteen.’

‘So you’ve been here a while?’ Marie glanced at her hole cards. ‘Fold.’

‘You give in too easy. Almost two years now, but I’ll be licensed soon. I’ll work in the brothel for a year or two, get some experience and build my skills, and then see about building a client list.’

‘You all work in the brothel, right?’

‘Everyone with a licence who lives here puts in at least one shift a week,’ Demeter said. ‘Well, House Sisters and above are exempt, but most do it, even Sister Naomi. The house takes seventy per cent of the fee, but the girls get to keep any additional tips, and room and board are free, of course. The money goes to running the Church.’

‘I almost wish I could do a shift myself. I know I can’t, but it seems like it’s an integral part of being here.’

‘We might be able to arrange something which would not be illegal
and
wouldn’t test your morals too much. I’ll speak to Sister Naomi.’

‘Oh. Thanks.’ Marie sat back, wondering what Demeter might be planning.

18
^th
August.

‘The question I’m asking is “who compiled that weapons list?”’ Fox said. ‘It’s in the original proposals, not the amendments, so who in the administration suggested arming cops with point-defence turrets?’

‘I can make some enquiries,’ Eaves replied. ‘I’m guessing that your view on this is similar to mine, however.’

‘NIX.’ Fox frowned. ‘But why?’

There was no immediate answer from anyone. ‘I’ll set about doing the rewrite,’ Jarvis said. ‘I know what we need.’

‘Electrolasers as the primary sidearm,’ Fox told him. ‘Keep the bullets for special operations.’

Jarvis gave a nod. ‘You know those things can be set for a lethal charge.’

‘Yes, but it’s a conscious decision to use it. If someone does, then it can be put to a test of justifiable force. Firearms take skill and luck to use in a non-lethal manner, and relying on that is a sure-fire way of getting someone killed, usually the cop.’

‘Don’t have to tell me twice. I’ll run the lists and reasoning past you when I’m done.’

‘Great. One other thing came up which might be worth following up on. My parents think a little face-to-face with the people in Topeka might be worth our while, and theirs. With Druss and his cronies out of the picture, the climate there is… inclined more to our outlook. And there’s the other thing.’

‘We get a foot in the door when it comes to supplying them,’ Eaves said.

‘We already have a foot, but this could give us a whole leg. Maybe some of you could go down. I’d be quite willing to fly over there, obviously.’

‘You and Ryan. We’ll make arrangements for next week, I think. I’m wondering whether we should put out feelers to some of the other cities, even the smaller settlements. Aside from the fact that it’s good PR, making sure everyone has a say and that some weight is put behind what they want if we see eye-to-eye, it’s not impossible that some minor thing we haven’t considered could be important.’

‘We may not agree with the change in legislation,’ Vaughn said, ‘but Palladium is going to make sure it meets the needs of the people who voted for it, not large corporations like ours.’

‘Exactly. Good PR
and
what we want to achieve. Win-win.’

‘And we introduce ourselves before the bidding starts,’ Fox added. ‘Win-win-win.’

Eaves smiled. ‘That’s another good point. Any other business?’

No one spoke for a second, so Fox did, changing the subject. ‘Helen wrapped that investigation in Berlin yesterday. She’ll be back in the main tower soon to give her report. I’ll let you know if anything needs doing, but the preliminary report was that the German cops were handling it.’

‘I saw that,’ Jarvis said. ‘Looks like it was a tough one to dig out, but she did a good job.’

‘Helen’s a solid detective. I think she was kind of happy to do something that didn’t involve a dead body.’

~~~

Marie trooped down the corridor to her next class, Gilly beside her since they were going to the same place. The sight of Sam standing outside the theatre door was something of a surprise, if not an unpleasant one.

‘Sam? I wasn’t expecting to see you here,’ Marie smiled and then, since there was no rule against it, leaned forward and pushed up on her toes a little to place a quick kiss on his lips. There was a tiny cough from just behind Marie’s right shoulder. ‘Oh, this is Sister Gilly. She’s one of my roomies.’

‘Good morning, Sister,’ Sam said, favouring her with a smile.

‘Pleased to meet you,’ Gilly replied, grinning. ‘Very pleased.’

‘How are things going, Marie?’

‘Oh, uh… I think they’re going pretty well.’

‘She’s doing great,’ Gilly put in. ‘It’s like she really is one of us. Not afraid of the more mundane side of things, like some novices, and I don’t think I’ve seen an instructor displeased with her.’

‘Well,’ Marie said, ‘I try.’

‘Trying is generally the important part when you start,’ Sam said. ‘You’re supposed to learn the techniques, after all. If you could do everything before you started, what would be the point in the instructors?’

‘Good point. So you just came in to check up on me?’

‘I did not. I’ve every confidence in your abilities. However, given that you are not intending to turn professional, Naomi thought it might be wise for me to partner with you for your next class.’

‘Lucky…’ Gilly muttered.

The inevitability of eventually having a class where she was supposed to behave in some sort of sexual manner with another man had been looming over Marie since she had taken a proper look at the Wednesday class schedule. Actual intercourse was not part of the class, which was titled ‘Bedroom Etiquette – Practical,’ but Gilly had told her it would get pretty close. ‘I sort of psyched myself up to doing it with someone I’d never met before,’ Marie said.

‘If you think that would be better…’ Sam said.

‘Don’t be stupid!’ Gilly squeaked. ‘He’s one of the best instructors here and he’s gorgeous.’ Her cheeks coloured a little after she realised she had said that in front of Sam, but she kept her eyes on Marie, standing her ground.

‘Well, put like that…’ Marie mused. ‘Of course, there is a problem.’

‘What? What could possibly be a problem with having to practise seduction techniques with Sam Clarion?’

‘Stopping,’ Marie said before she turned to the door.

Gilly stood there for a second, her mouth opening and then closing. Sam watched her considering, a smirk on his lips. ‘Do you think there’s time to get popcorn?’ Gilly finally asked.

~~~

Helen Dillan sat at the big conference room table, her eyes on the large window overlooking the central park at the top of the MarTech tower. Fox was used to seeing the Chinese-American girl in leather, but there had been an expansion in wardrobe since Dillan had joined Palladium. Fox had done the same, broadening her standard range of outfits since she was less likely to get shot at on the job now. Still, it was a little odd seeing Dillan in a light, summer dress.

Then again, it was not impossible that the choice of outfit was to do with the woman walking in behind Fox. Teresa Martins had formed quite a solid attachment to Dillan and, despite Dillan thinking of herself as basically heterosexual, the affection was shared. They still called it ‘random dating,’ but Terri had put effort into taking the meeting from her father so that she could welcome Dillan back and hear the debrief.

Dillan looked around and smiled, getting to her feet as her two friends entered. ‘Hi, Terri. How’s the reading going, boss?’

‘Don’t ask,’ Fox replied while Terri closed the gap to her girlfriend as rapidly as decorum allowed and planted a kiss on her lips.

‘Welcome back, Helen,’ Terri said, a slight husky quality in her voice.

‘I can come back in thirty minutes,’ Fox suggested.

‘I’ve only been away for nine days,’ Dillan said. ‘I figure we can wait until
after
the debrief for…’

‘Debriefing?’

‘Ha ha. Not wearing any.’ Terri gave out a little whimper and Dillan smirked as she continued. ‘I finalised the full report on the flight, so you have all the details.’

‘I’ll go over it. It’ll be a change from legislation. Give us the summary.’

‘Fairly classic,’ Dillan replied, settling into her seat. ‘Inside job, just like we thought, but tracking down who did it and who they were selling to was tough. They knew what they were doing. Once we figured out how they were hiding the loss of the equipment they were stealing, however, it led us to someone with the authority to pull that off.’

‘And once you had the top guy, he folded on everyone else?’

‘Damn straight. Some of the lower-level drones had UA sympathies that weren’t caught in the background checks, but the top guy was in it for the money.’