The Last Flight of the Argus (17 page)

“
I’m...sorry. I didn't mean to be funny.”

“
I’ve never heard anyone say the word ‘distinguished’ in quite that way. If I didn’t know better, it almost sounded like you were swearing.”

“
Heavens no.”

“
Skip it. I’m looking into the death of a prospector.”

“
Prospector?”

“
Why condemn the recently deceased with the label of scavenger, when we both know such activity is strictly prohibited.”

“
Fair enough.”

“
The gentleman's name, as I'm sure you're aware, was Kelly Lang. His ship blew up on his way out of this system. My understanding is that it was good fortune he didn’t take the Displacer with him.”

“
Isn’t the first time something like that’s happened.”

“
Someone else told me the very same thing. Like you, he too was wrong. But you know that also.”

Daniels took a sip of his beer.

“
In the past hour I discovered something else. Kelly Lang’s ship had a full check-up not a month before it exploded. Luckily for us, the company doing the checking retained their data analysis of his ship’s systems. It was running fine.”

“
Obviously not that fine,” Maddox offered. He gazed at the ribbons on Daniels’ suit. “I didn’t get your name, Lieutenant.”

“
Lester Daniels, EMC.”

“
You think Lang was killed?”

“
Twenty thousand credits were transferred to his bank account the day before he died.”

“
Someone killed Lang to steal his money?”

“
If that was their goal, they didn’t succeed. The money’s still there.”

“
Why else kill him?”

“
That’s an excellent question.”

“
So, what? Was it an accident after all?”

“
Maybe.”

“
I’ve never heard anyone say the word ‘maybe’ quite like that before, Lieutenant.”

Daniels flashed Maddox a smile.

“
You’re one of the very last people Kelly Lang spoke to before his unfortunate…accident. Funny how, in all this chit chat, you didn’t feel the need to point that out.”

“
What’s there to tell? He came by, ordered a drink and food. He drank the drink and ate the food and after he was done he left.”

“
And that's all?”

“
There's nothing more to tell.”

“
So many dead ends,” Daniels told his men before addressing Maddox. “You know what I’m thinking of doing?”

“
What?”

“
I’m considering a section by section investigation of this station. Like we did at
Freedom Twenty
.”

Maddox stiffened. The
Freedom Twenty
was a space station near the Marron System. It was a floating mega-city that housed over three million occupants. Powerful business interests within the Epsillon Empire unsuccessfully tried to gain control of the station's lucrative concessions. The attempts were rebuffed by the station’s power brokers.

One day, a miner was found dead in his compartment within the station's lower decks. This proved the opening the rival business representatives needed. They used his death to get the Epsillon army into
Freedom Twenty
to investigate. When the miner’s death was ruled a murder sixty-five individuals, including forty five concession stand owners, were imprisoned.

Now free to do what they wanted, the outside business interests literally walked into
Freedom Twenty
and took control of everything they were unable to get their hands on legitimately. It was no wonder small business interests feared any military presence in their area.

Maddox leaned close to Daniels.

“
What exactly do you want to know?” he said. His eyes glowed an unhealthy red.

“
Simple,” Daniels replied. “Tell me what Kelly Lang told you the day before he died.”

“
Look, we talked, all right? I don’t remember details, but it was gossip, stuff about other scavengers.”

“
What did he find in Erebus?”

“
Garbage.”

“
You know what they say. Your idea of garbage might be someone else’s idea of treasure.”

“
Far as I’m concerned, all that’s left out there is junk.”

“
Who buys this junk?”

“
That depends on what you’ve got. There are at least one hundred buyers in this part of the station alone.”

“
Who did Lang deal with?”

“
Come on, Lieutenant. He talked to
all
of them, just like the other scavengers did. When you’re in that business you feel your way around, always looking for the best deal.”

“
He must have had his favorites.”

“
I’m sure he did. But I wouldn’t know which of them actually bought things from him.”

Daniels drank what remained of his beer. He laid the empty glass on the counter and exhaled loudly.

“
You’re going to have to do a lot better than that,” he said. His voice rose above the others within the bar, silencing them. His icy gaze was on the bartender. “A lot better.”

Several people quietly exited while others stole glances in the direction of the bar’s counter. In the middle of this nervous silence, one man rose from his chair and stepped up to the bar. He stopped beside Daniels.

“
It’s my experience that threats are a poor way to gain information,” the man said.

“
Welcome to
Titus
, B’taav,” Lieutenant Daniels said. His eyes stayed on Maddox. “When I heard your ship arrived, I wondered how long it would take before you showed your face. Four hours.”

“
Three and a half. But who’s counting?”

“
Have you been avoiding me?”

“
What makes you think that?”

“
Because it’s been
my
experience that broken down Independents like you tend to hide in the Borderlands rather than stick their noses into Epsillon government business.”

“
I wouldn’t know much about the Borderlands,” B’taav said. “Though ‘broken down’ might apply better to you than me.”

Even as the words exited B’taav’s mouth, a frigid wall of tension shot up between the two men. Daniels’ face flushed and he fought back a volcanic rage. There was old blood, very bad old blood, between the platinum haired Independent and him.

“
You’re referring to my ship, not me,” Daniels quietly said.

“
The ship under one’s command is an extension of its senior officer. That was quite a case we had back in Evalba, wasn’t it Lieutenant?”

“
Yes, quite a case,” Daniels agreed. “Just as things were heating up and I had you in my sights, my ship malfunctions. Very fortuitous. For you anyway.”

“
I’m truly blessed.”

“
On the other hand, the boys and I came out of that looking like incompetents,” Daniels continued. “I took the ship into dry dock to get her checked out. You know what the mechanics said?”

“
I can’t imagine.”

“
They told me her coolant coils were ruptured, that someone cut one of the main lines. I didn’t think there was anyone –
anyone
– with the balls to infiltrate a Capital Guard ship and do something like that.”

“
It would take quite a bit of nerve.”

“
Especially when the penalty for this is a quick trip to the firing squad.”

“
Perhaps,” Maddox interrupted, in the hopes of cooling things down. “We could all use another drink. On the house?”

“
That's a good idea,” Daniels said. “You boys enjoy your drink. B’taav and I have some catching up to do. Come with me, Independent.”

“
Is that an order?”

“
A request.”

“
A friendly request?”

“
Why not?”

B’taav followed Daniels to one of the now many empty tables in the rapidly emptying bar. Daniels motioned for B’taav to sit.

“
What are you doing here?” Daniels asked.

“
Taking in the sights of Erebus. It was time for a vacation.”

“
Good. In that case I’m sure you won’t mind if we inspect your ship and cargo.”

“
I have no problem with that, as long as you do so accompanied by a neutral party. Say, the
Titus
police. I wouldn’t want your boys finding something on my ship that wasn’t there in the first place. Not that I don’t trust your good intentions.”

“
I don’t know why you’re here and I don’t care,” Daniels said. “But I’ll give you fair warning: Get back to your ship and stay far away from me and my men. Am I clear?”

“
Very.”

Daniels got to his feet.

“
The only reason you’re still alive is because you covered your tracks well back at Evalba. But I’ve seen your handiwork and I
don’t
make the same mistakes twice.”

Daniels returned to his men. He told them a few words and the group exited the bar. When they were all gone, a scowl appeared on B’taav’s face. He could no longer hold back the disgust he felt for the Epsillon officer.

It took a while to compose himself. When he did, he noticed a lady sitting at a table on the opposite side of the bar.

She had long yellow hair wrapped tight in the back of her head. Her face was as smooth as porcelain and her eyes were hidden behind dark glasses. She wore a shiny black body suit and a heavy black jacket.

She was watching the Independent. Of that there was no doubt.

B'taav leaned back in his chair and looked her way, but by that point her interests had shifted. Or at least she made it look like that was the case. She didn't linger much longer in the bar. She paid her tab and departed only minutes after B'taav first noticed her.

The Independent made no move to approach or stop her, although his instincts told him he should. When she was gone, B’taav walked to the bar’s counter. Maddox raised his hands.

“
I don’t need trouble,” he said.

“
Too late for that. Lieutenant Daniels wouldn’t be here unless there was something that needed fixing.”

“
But there isn’t anything—”

“
Whatever it is, it’s none of my business. I just need a little information and I’m gone. Can you help me out?”

“
With what?”

“
Accelerant. You know some suppliers?”

“
I have no reason to talk to Daniels and even less reason to talk to you.”

“
At least I asked politely.”

“
So far.”

“
Look, I’m not a cop. I’m following a path of Accelerant sales, looking for a supplier who probably isn't even on this station anymore. I'm guessing he left to Salvation about four months ago.”

“
You’re kidding,” Maddox said. He sighed. “Look, friend, I'd be hard pressed to remember what happened yesterday, much less four months ago. Suppliers come and go just like everyone else in Erebus. If you want to find a specific supplier, your best bet is to get access to the Displacer’s databanks and find the space craft traffic logs for the past four months. You check up on every flight coming in or heading out and maybe you’ll find what you need.”

“
Daniels’ boys aren’t letting anyone access to the Displacer’s computers.”

“
Then you wait patiently until they’re gone. Either that or ask your buddy Daniels really nice if he can let bygones be bygones and maybe, possibly, give you access to the computer. Who knows, it might just work.”

B’taav laid a two hundred credit piece on the counter.

“
You know what I need,” B’taav said. “If you hear anything, give me a call. I’m in dock 23.”

Maddox’s took the credit chip and whistled.

“
You’re easy with your money.”

“
Easy enough, as long as I get what I need.”

When
B'taav was in the outer corridors, he spotted three figures lurking nearby. They were dressed as civilians, but their posture gave them away as Daniels' men. The trio hung back and slipped in and out of the sparse crowds heading to their various destinations. B’taav knew the Lieutenant's game. The men would follow from a polite distance and bid their time until B’taav was alone.

Then, and only then, they’d attack.

B’taav considered his options as he walked through the corridors. There were few. The Independent sighed.

The show must go on.

After a few minutes of walking, the Independent abruptly stopped. His eyes settled on the closest of Daniels’ shadows, a muscular man in his mid-twenties who looked like he could take a few punches. The man pretended scanning through a pile of used electronic games a corner merchant was selling.

B’taav approached quickly.

“
Tell Daniels whatever he’s looking into here doesn’t involve me,” B’taav said in voice loud enough to be heard by all those around.