In the Black (17 page)

Daniel ignored the comment. “So how did the token get into her quarters? It sure as hell didn’t fly there.”

“I tossed it. Right after the presentation was over.”

“Tossed it where?”

The older man rubbed his chin. “I threw it in the garbage can on the way out.”

Daniel stood up and leaned in, knuckles on the cold metal tabletop. “You threw a token good for two hundred creds and a visit with one of the
Belle’s
courtesans in the garbage.” The disbelief came through loud and clear. “Do I look like an idiot?”

“No,” Kowalski replied. “But I didn’t want it, didn’t ask for it. She gave it to me.” His voice rose. “She called down temptation on my soul by giving it to me. I couldn’t use it.” His finger drew the figure of a cross on the tabletop. “That’d be an express elevator to hell and I ain’t pushing that button.”

“Never struck me as a religious man. Not to that degree,” Huckness murmured to Sam. “I knew he was a bit of a hardliner, never drank too much or used recreational drugs, but I never figured he’d be that hardcore.”

“I guess you never know.” Sam studied the miner through the glass. “I sure didn’t think I was condemning his soul to eternal fire by giving him that token.”

Because you’re already on the way there.

“There’s always a handful, don’t care for the Guild ships for whatever reason. Some are married, some disagree with the concept. We tell them to stay in their bunks and enjoy the break, take a chance to get some alone time.” Huckness scowled. “Assholes like this ruin it for the rest of us.”

“It’s not mandatory to visit the Mercy ships,” Trainer said from behind them, “or the Charity ships.”

“It’s not,” Huckness agreed. “But we’ve always managed to keep the peace between those who want to partake and those who choose not to. No judgments.”

Sam turned her attention back to Daniel, still leaning over the desk and glaring at Kowalski.

“Did anyone see you throw the token out? Anyone who can verify this?” Daniel pressed onward.

Kowalski spread his hands and shrugged. “Not that I know of. Just wanted to get rid of the damned thing.” He shifted again in the chair. “It’d have caused a riot if I tossed it on the floor.”

“You could have given it to one of your buddies,” Daniel offered.

The elderly man drew back as if Daniel had slapped him. “And help contribute to his delinquency? I think not.” He jerked a thumb at the window. “If they want to lose their souls they can pay for it themselves. I ain’t taking no responsibility.”

“Okay. Explain to me why didn’t you use it for something else?” Daniel tilted his head to one side, arms crossed in front of him. “You don’t have to have sex with these women and men, you know that. You could have gone in, taken your hour and done nothing but chat. Play chess, get financial advice, have a cup of tea. No one would judge you, no one would know what you did or didn’t do, no one would even know you had a damned appointment. Why throw it out?”

“Because I’m going home soon with my conscience clear and my soul clean.” He jabbed a thumb at the hatch. “Back to Mars and my family. Going to live with my grandkids and collect my pension. Don’t need any good memories of this place. Don’t want to be thinking about this hellhole with any sort of smile.”

Swendson made some sort of noise but didn’t interfere.

“Okay. You say you threw it in the garbage. That doesn’t explain how it got into a dead woman’s cabin.” Daniel closed the file folder. He reached over and drew the bagged token toward him. “You understand we’re going to keep you in custody until we can verify your story, right?” His eyes narrowed. “And even if we do find that you did toss it in the garbage, you could have dug it out again and still made an appointment, gone in and killed her. You’re not off the hook yet.”

Kowalski looked from left to right, rocking in his seat. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something. He placed his hands on the cool steel tabletop, thick fingers pointed at the marshal.

Daniel picked up on the miner’s nervousness. “Kowalski, if you have anything to say now’s the time to say it. If you gave it to a friend you can’t cover for him—we’ll find out and toss you in the brig for being an accomplice.” He lowered his voice. “Don’t be stupid. We can cut a deal with the system, make it easier for you in the long run.”

Kowalski didn’t answer. He turned his hands sideways and began inspecting the curled fingers.

Huckness frowned. “What’s his problem?” He turned toward Trainer. “Your boy got something wrong with him?”

“Not that I know of,” Trainer said quickly. “He’s never been in big trouble before, you know that.”

Sam shook her head. “His hands, his—” She flashed back to her encounter with Kowalski. “Shit.”

She dashed out into the hallway and walked into the interrogation room, hearing a stuttered question behind her from Huckness.

Kowalski shoved his chair back and got to his feet as Sam strode around the table to stand in front of him.

Swendson, surprised, moved out of the way without comment.

Daniel stood up as well, kicking his own chair away. The initial shock on his face at being interrupted disappeared to be replaced by one of sheer annoyance.

She didn’t care. If she was right—

“Take my hand.” Sam stuck out her hand. “Like you did before. In the hall.”

The older man glared at her.

“Here.” She grabbed his right hand and wrapped her fingers around his, squeezing. “Arm wrestle me.”

Kowalski glanced at Daniel with a look of disbelief. “What?”

Sam kneeled down, resting her elbow on the steel tabletop. “You know the game. Put my hand down.” She rapped the metal with her free hand. “I’ll pay you five hundred creds if you can.” She tugged, pulling him toward her. “No tricks, nothing up my sleeve. You beat me, I pay.”

Kowalski licked his lips, eyes darting from the marshal to Sam to Swendson to the window.

The shop steward tilted his head to one side, studying Kowalski. He didn’t move to say anything or stop anything, at least not for the moment.

“Come on,” Sam urged. “Five hundred. Be a nice present to take home to the kids. Clean money, nothing evil about it. Simple bet, same as you’d make with your buddies in the rec hall.”

His fingers curled tight against hers and she knew she had him.

“No practice, no do-overs,” Sam repeated. “Put my hand down. Do it.”

She could feel Daniel’s stare on the back of her neck. She’d broken a handful of rules coming in here unasked and unannounced. He had every right to toss her ass out of here and kick it right back to the
Belle’s
cockpit.

She hoped he wouldn’t.

Kowalski locked eyes with her. They were bloodshot and wide as he exhaled loudly and nodded.

His skin was cold and clammy. Sam resisted the urge to let go and wipe her hand on her pants.

Instead she smiled, fixing her muscles in place. “Whenever you’re ready—go.”

The miner’s fingers tightened, his wrist locked as he grunted and pushed against Sam’s grip. Her elbow remained still on the tabletop.

Kowalski’s face went red, his eyes bulging out. He stopped and grunted a curse before huffing and trying again.

Her hand didn’t move.

Kowalski let out a pained burp and wrenched his hand against hers for a third time, panting like he’d run a marathon.

Enough. She wasn’t there to embarrass the poor guy.

Just save his life.

Sam slammed Kowalski’s hand down with a noise of her own and pressed the top of the miner’s hand against the cold metal before releasing it.

“Sorry,” she whispered before turning to Daniel.

Kowalski grabbed his right hand and cradled it against his chest. His eyes brimmed with tears as he glared at the two of them.

“He couldn’t have killed Halley,” Sam said. “The bastard’s got advanced arthritis. He can barely shake hands, much less wrestle with a young woman. He wouldn’t have the strength to do it.”

Daniel shook his head and said nothing. A smirk touched his lips for a second before disappearing under a stoic, professionally neutral look.

The door flew open.

Huckness strode in, his face flushed. “I’ve got Danforth on the way. He’ll be able to verify that soon enough if it’s true.”

Trainer appeared in the doorway. He glared at Kowalski, ignoring the rest of them. “You fucker. You goddamned fucker.” He clenched his fists. “If there wasn’t a marshal here right now I’d beat the shit out of you.”

Swendson shook his head. “Goddamn it.” He rubbed his eyes with the palms of his hands. “What were you thinking Kowalski? What the hell were you thinking?”

“Don’t—” A teary Kowalski grimaced as he flexed his fingers. “Don’t judge me. You got no right to judge me.”

Daniel turned to Sam. “How did you know?”

She motioned at Kowalski. “When I took his hand in the hall his fingers were cold and didn’t instinctively grab onto mine like they should have.” She flexed her fingers. “It’s natural to curl your fingers around, take hold.”

Trainer interrupted. “That doesn’t mean anything. How did you know he wasn’t just repelled by your offer?”

“I didn’t, not until I pushed him right now. I’ve seen old soldiers with arthritis like this keep on going, desperate to work until retirement. I’m willing to bet he’s been getting his buddies to cover for him until he ships out.”

Trainer went through a series of curses under his breath, most of them having to do with Kowalski and his parentage.

“Is that true?” Daniel turned to the suspect.

Kowalski stayed silent, massaging his right hand.

“Is that true?” Daniel slapped the tabletop, making Sam jump.

Spittle flew from Kowalski’s lips. “You don’t understand—I’ve got nothing but my pension. I leave early, I get mustered out for medical, and I only get a portion of it. Not enough to live on, not after all the time I’ve put in here.” He glared at Trainer. “Greedy bastards’ll take any chance they can to screw us over, keep from giving us our fair share.”

“I understand,” Sam said, “but you were ready to go down for killing my woman. What were you thinking?”

“I wouldn’t have gone to jail. Not for too long, anyway.” Kowalski gave a half-assed smile. “By the time I got my lawyer and we got through the preliminary hearings my time would be up and I’d be going home. It’d never have stuck once the medical report got made.” He nodded at Swendson. “Union wouldn’t let me fry.”

“But the real killer would still be out there.” Daniel leaned in. “Did you think of that? The real murderer going free while you fucked with the system to get your early ticket out of here?” His voice rose. “Did you think about that while you sat here, waiting for us and wondering if we’d catch on to your little stunt? How many sins is that in your little black book?”

Kowalski shifted away from the marshal. “The woman’s dead. I didn’t kill her. I’ll pray for the man who did but I’m not sorry she’s dead.” He glared at Sam. “Fucking whores. All of you.”

Daniel reached out and grabbed the miner by the front of his shirt. He dragged the man across the table despite Kowalski’s squeaks and gasps.

Trainer cleared his throat but he didn’t move. Neither did Huckness.

Swendson inspected his fingernails.

“You apologize to her now,” Daniel said, nose-to-nose with Kowalski. “You turn your head that way,” he glanced toward Sam, “and you apologize to the captain.”

The older man swallowed hard and loud. A bead of sweat appeared at one temple.

Daniel didn’t move, his fists wrapped tight in the threadbare fabric.

Kowalski broke first and twisted to one side. “I’m sorry, ma’am.”

Sam nodded, unsure what to say.

Daniel’s grip lessened. Kowalski slowly slid back into his chair, panting.

The door opened and Danforth entered. The medical officer made a clucking noise with his tongue.

“I hear you’ve been a bad, bad boy.”

Kowalski spread his hands with a sheepish grin. “What’s up, Doc?”

Chapter Seven

They’d all retreated to the observation room to allow Danforth room to examine Kowalski.

“I want him locked up.” Daniel looked through the one-way window. “I want him locked up until I leave this base and not a minute before. I don’t care how you justify it in your files but I don’t want that bastard wandering free.” He turned to Trainer. “Your thoughts?”

The foreman held up his hands. “Kowalski fucked this up big time. I’m not going to the mat for this fool.” He glanced at the miner. “I’m going to have to go through his squad and see who was helping him cover that up.” His attention went to Swendson. “You?”

“He’s—” The shop steward shook his head. “He’s all yours. I don’t even want to start thinking about the report I’ve got to write.”

“I can keep him in lockup for causing a disturbance. I’ll postdate it to the presentation,” Huckness offered. “That’ll keep him still. Marshal, do you want to press further charges for him screwing this investigation up?”

“No. I want the real killer to think we’re still focused on Kowalski.” Daniel held up the bagged token. “Whoever dug the token out of the garbage planted it in Comet’s suite to make Kowalski a suspect. I want him to think he succeeded and we’re still going down that path.”

Huckness peered through the glass at Danforth, who was still examining the reluctant miner. “Idiot. Rather go to jail than help us find who killed the woman.”

Trainer stood nearby, arms crossed and scowling. “He’s fucked now.”

“Don’t be too hard on him,” Sam said, ignoring the glare from Daniel. “He’s caught between a rock and a hard place. If Halley hadn’t been killed he would have finished out his tour and no one would be the wiser. As soon as he knew we were onto him he had to either keep the bluff going or admit he’s injured.” She flexed her fingers. “If he’d put me down I doubt we’d have heard the truth from him.”

Daniel huffed. “Still pissed me off. And I don’t like being pissed off.” He rapped the window with his knuckles, making Kowalski jump away from Danforth. “We might be able to turn this space junk into something workable, though.”

“How?” Trainer asked.

“We figure out who dug that token out of the garbage and left it behind in Halley’s cabin to have us going after Kowalski. Classic misdirection,” Sam replied.

Huckness nodded. “I’m no fool. Let me get the tapes and we’ll see who went digging. I’ll get hold of Kowalski’s shift leader, see if he had any problems with his buddies. Wouldn’t put it past one of them setting the old man up for it, ticked off he was being forced to cover for Kowalski’s disability.” He turned to Swendson. “With your permission, of course.”

The shop steward snorted. “I’m done with him. He’s all yours.” He headed for the door. “Just keep me updated.”

Huckness looked at Trainer. The foreman snorted and went to follow Swendson. “I’m out of here. I’ve got asses to kick.”

The security chief waited until the two men were out of hearing range. “Give me ten minutes, then come to my office—I’ll have the recordings ready for viewing. We’ll put Kowalski in a nice cell, make sure he’s comfortable. Won’t change the paperwork yet, let people think he’s still going down for the murder. It’s not much but it’s making lemonade out of lemons as I figure it.”

Daniel didn’t say anything. He watched the miner through the window as Huckness walked away from them.

“So someone took the token out of the garbage.” Sam spoke slowly as she reasoned it out in her own mind. “And we have no idea who. Back to square one.”

“Not really.” Daniel held up a finger. “First, our killer must not have known Kowalski was essentially crippled. Bad form to try and frame someone who’s going to slip out from under the hammer so easily. There’s got to be people here on the base who would know he’d alibi out easy with his medical condition. I bet it’s the worst kept secret around.” He glanced at the man through the window. “Only problem is it fucks up our investigation big time.” His attention turned to Sam. “But it does narrow down the suspects.” He tilted his head to one side, dropping his voice to a whisper. “If you cut out the majority of miners who knew about Kowalski’s condition—”

“That means it could be one of the crew.” Sam felt dizzy, the emotional combo knocking her for a one-two punch. “Someone who didn’t know his condition. That’d be one of the crew.”

Daniel took hold of her arm, his fingers curling around to steady her. “It could be. It could also be someone new to the base, a recent transfer in who wouldn’t know about his problem. Took advantage of the situation, grabbed the token and used it to cover his or her tracks. Figured we’d grab Kowalski and be done with it.” He nodded toward the window. “He didn’t count on Kowalski breaking so quickly thanks to you and your observation. With the Guild breathing down our necks there’d be pressure to toss the old man into a cell, call the case closed and cut the
Belle
loose—with the killer on board. Everyone goes home happy and life goes on.” He lowered his voice. “And yes, it could be one of the crew. That’s a very viable possibility.”

“Fuck.” She tried not to look at the man standing beside her, her stomach twisting into knots. “Fuck.”

It was the only word she could utter. She flashed back to the Hub and the horrible betrayal there.

Now it was happening again, right under her nose.

And now, as then, she had to make tough decisions.

“So now what?” Sam was afraid to face him, still wrestling with her emotions.

“Now we work on figuring out who killed Comet. Just like before.” Daniel let her go and reached out to tap the glass. “Keeping Kowalski under wraps will make the murderer think we’re still following that lead.”

“Wait.” She turned now, arms crossed. “It can’t be one of the crew. No one left the ship between my presentation and the grand opening. They wouldn’t dare.” Her initial confusion subsided, replaced by a growing anger. “They can’t walk around the base. It’s not allowed as per Guild rules. Hell, I get an armed escort to and from the
Belle
.”

“Afraid of horny men attacking them?”

“Possibly.” She ignored his smirk. “You know the types of bases we visit. The female employees work in separate areas, high security and kept well away from the main male population.” She jabbed a finger at the wall. “If one of my women walked through the corridors without an armed guard, a riot could easily break out. There’s a reason why I bring the portfolios and let the cameras do the talking.”

“And the men?”

“Same problem, maybe a smaller percentage of having it happen due to the lesser number of potential customers. But it’s still a possibility and that’s why the rules are in place. We’re not here to disrupt the base’s daily business.”

“They never leave the ship?” The disbelief in Daniel’s voice rose. “Never?”

“Not unless we hit a Guild base. That’s usually only for repairs and resupply every few months. Otherwise they stay on board, no exceptions.”

“Sounds pretty stressful. So who does get to go ashore?”

“Only myself for the presentation.” She held up a hand. “Before you ask—Jenny processes the supply orders and meets the deliveries at the landing bay. She doesn’t set a foot on the base.”

Daniel raised an eyebrow. “You think men are going to attack a female mechanic? Don’t think much of them, do you?”

“I think...” She paused, searching for the right words from memory. “I think there are certain expectations made when a Mercy ship docks. I think any woman, or man, coming off the ship is liable to come under close scrutiny and, from a security standpoint, create a dangerous situation. It’s not a case of men being unable to control themselves, it’s a case of not tempting them.” She rolled her shoulders. “That’s what the Guild wants me to say.”

“And what do you think?”

“I think if you lose control over a flash of ankle or a sniff of perfume, you’re a pretty piss-poor example of a man.” She felt the heat rushing to her face and ignored it. “I like a man who can keep control of himself. Until it’s time not to.”

“Really.” Daniel leaned in, his voice a whisper. “And what about you? When do you lose control?”

She could feel his five o’clock whiskers brushing against her cheek.

“When I say so. And not a minute before.”

He was dangerously close, close enough to kiss again.

A mental photograph of Halley, rotating in her cabin, snapped into Sam’s thoughts.

She drew back.

Not yet.

He did the same, sensing her change in mood.

There was still blood in the air around them. Whatever was going on between them would have to wait.

He gave a slight nod and Sam realized he knew it as well, years of law enforcement pushing down the emotional swell threatening to swamp them both.

He understood.

Daniel cleared his throat. “So no one leaves the
Belle
from the minute you arrive until the minute you leave. No one except you, and that’s for your presentation.”

“Yep. And I get an armed guard to and from the show. No one leaves,” she repeated.

“Including you? After the presentation?”

Sam shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “There’s no need for me to leave the
Belle
.” She tapped the tiny transmitter set in her ear. “The Guild rules say I have to be in contact and available at all times, which is why I’m wearing this. But there’s nothing usually that would give me reason to leave the
Belle
. I have access to anything I want on board—videos, books, a computer connection. The Guild wants me to be available to deal with situations, and staying on board is the best way to be where I’m needed.”

“Except when you leave to kick some ass.”

She glared at him. “That was a special situation.”

“Not good, staying locked up all the time.” Daniel glanced at the floor. “Some would say it’s unhealthy for you and for your crew.”

“Some would. But that’s the Guild regulations. Except in this case maybe someone didn’t follow the rules and now one of my crew is dead.” The words left a sour taste in her mouth, damping the desire she’d felt a few seconds earlier.

Daniel grunted. “So if no one got off the ship during or after your presentation, then someone on the base plucked the token out of the garbage after seeing Kowalski dump it.”

Sam shook her head. “That doesn’t make sense. First you say it’s got to be one of the crew who killed Halley and then tried to frame Kowalski and now you’re saying it’s not.”

“I’m keeping all the possibilities open.” Daniel gestured toward the now-empty interrogation room. “Maybe one of the crew had a partner. Someone on the base who picked up the token and gave it or sold it to someone else.” He sighed. “It might not even be relevant to the case. We’ve got to keep our minds open to all theories. I’m not going to write anyone off until I’m damned sure what the evidence says.”

Sam rubbed her eyes. “I can’t think. This doesn’t make any sense. It’s all turning into a major clusterfuck.”

Like the Hub.

A dull throbbing started behind her eye. She groaned and covered her face with her hands.

Not now.

* * *

Daniel had never seen someone so pale.

“Sam? Sam, are you okay?” He took her arm again, directing her to a nearby chair.

“It’s just—” Her sigh ripped through his carefully constructed defenses, tearing at his heart. “I can’t do this again.”

“Do what?” He knelt down by the chair.

“The lights. Turn them off.”

He reached up with one hand to slap the switches, plunging them into near-darkness. A crack of light crept in under the door.

“Damned headache,” she whispered. “Stress-related, they say.”

“No surprise there.” He moved to hold her hand. “It’s a lot to take in. Especially when running a Mercy ship isn’t supposed to be that demanding. This kicks it to a whole new level. I doubt many men or women could handle that type of stress.”

Her fingers curled around his, tight and needy. “Says you.”

“Says me,” he chuckled. She was shivering now and he could see beads of sweat on her forehead.

She was having some type of anxiety attack.

“Should I go—” He fell silent as she pulled him closer, almost into her lap.

“Don’t go,” Sam whispered. “I’ll be fine in a minute, I’ll be fine in a minute, I’ll be fine—” The words fell away into a muttered mantra. Her free hand went to her chest, fingers curled into a fist.

He felt like he’d been punched in the gut.

What had happened to her at the Hub?

Daniel fought against asking, knowing he’d get no answer. Whatever demons had followed her out of there stayed deep in her psyche, chasing her out of the military and now chewing on her soul aboard the
Belle
.

He’d seen this before with fellow marshals and law enforcement people.

He’d seen it devour them whole.

“Deep breaths, Sam. Remember your training. Deep breaths.” Daniel might not have any official medical training but he had some idea of what help to offer. “Focus on my voice. Deep, slow breaths. You know how to do that.” He couldn’t help letting a jovial tone into his words. “I bet you know how to do a lot of things with the proper breathing.”

“Smart ass.” The weak response calmed his nerves a fraction.

“Hey, I’m not the one doing obscene things with the coffee. Although I have to wonder whether you prefer it sweet or bitter.”

The choked laugh had him grinning as well. Her death grip on his hand lessened a fraction.

“Like you were any better with that tongue work. Damned tease,” she murmured. Through the dim light he saw her fingers uncurl on her chest, now pressing against the T-shirt instead of trying to claw through to her heart.

They sat like that for an entire minute in silence, Daniel listening to her breathing slow and finally stabilize.

“I remember this one time at camp,” he started.

Sam giggled.

“No, seriously. It was when I was still living with my parents on Titan. A bunch of my buddies went to summer camp and we spent a lot of time in the lake. Too much, as it turned out.” He squeezed her hand and found it warm. “We used to do somersaults off the float, that type of stuff. The girls would watch us and giggle as we showed off.”