Cats know how to obtain food without labor, shelter without confinement, and love without penalties.
- W. L. George
As with many investigations, there are whole swaths of time in which nothing exciting happens. Fortunately, we get to skip those in the retelling.
When she had come back in the morning, Sam had managed to cultivate a few rumors about ghosts and shadows wandering the access halls near the loading docks, but nothing as concrete as a full sighting.
I was pretty sure that the three people I was watching, Leena, Mr. Jones and Gregson, were still on the station. What I needed to figure out was why. Leena was probably trapped here, and Mr. Jones couldn't show her face back at the research station without Leena. Gregson, however, was somehow connected to this case in a way I had never seen before, going to incredible lengths to remain unseen and yet still interfere with the other Finders. So what was in this for him?
I was finally released from the hospital wing that afternoon with instructions to relax and let the healing complete. It was the afternoon of the tenth day. It time to put up or shut up.
I found my way to Valhalla Security again and had a brief chat with Fred, who reminded me that there was to be no more Finding on his Station. Soon after, I was sitting in the cafe across from the police station, dutifully playing tourist. I was healed enough to be mobile, but with strict warning to avoid any strenuous physical activity or I would risk reopening the wounds.
I went over a few messages on my terminal, Darwin sleeping comfortably at my feet after having finished yet another bowl of milk.
"Hey sailor," a soft voice spoke from behind me, "do you come here often?" I smiled. That bridge was still looming, but it hadn't been crossed yet.
"What's a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?" I replied.
"Waiting for my chance at the big time!" She put a cup of coffee in front of me.
"What's this?"
"A gift from our mutual friend over at the far table." She nodded in the direction of the security office entrance.
I looked over and saw Fernandes, once more in his natural state, a half empty bottle teetering in his hand and his head leaning against a table. He raised his head and waved. Then he grinned at me and mimicked drinking the coffee. His performance ended when he held his throat as if he was choking. He started laughing. He wasn't going to let this one go.
I raised the cup then poured it into the nearest planter. Fernandes made signs that he was crushed. I just shook my head.
"You're going to end up killing that poor innocent plant," Sam said.
"All the water in the station is filtered. Including the water from that plant."
"I know that, and you know that, but I don't think the plant knows that. It's probably terrified that it has just been poisoned. Face it, Josh, you are a plant killer."
"Et tu, Brute?"
"A girl's got to play." She sat down at my table.
"Aren't you working?" I asked looking at her uniform.
"Why yes," she said, "I believe I am. Would you like me to leave so that I don't embarrass you?" Her tone was dangerous.
At that very moment I decided that discretion was the better part of valor. "Just making an observation. I wouldn't want to disrupt your day."
"A wise choice."
"Finders are renowned for their wisdom."
"How about you just tell me what Fred had to say and avoid certain death and damnation."
"Yes ma'am!" I half saluted.
"Well, Josh, old boy" I said in my best Fereydoon Bobak imitation. "Ever since your little tap dance up in the Utopia, things have been quiet as a tomb around here. There is nothing to worry about. Every pick-pocket, sneak-thief, and minor thug has gone to ground. There hasn't been a bust-up, bar-fight or break in since you smashed the Ring. If this keeps up for much longer, Aleksander may put me on traffic duty just to make me earn my pay."
Sam giggled at my impression. "Was that it?"
I became serious. "There is one other thing. Nadim Matsen, has been released. They had nothing on him other than a fist fight. And he has very influential friends. Bobak warned me that I have made some very powerful enemies."
Sam looked concerned. "How are we going to deal with THAT?"
The way she said 'we' worried me. The danger to her was no longer theoretical, it had a name. And brothers.
"I've met Matsen. He is nothing to worry about. Even you could take him." That was an outright lie, of course. Nadim Matsen had killed one of the players at the 7-Hand table, no warning, no reason, just because he wanted to. He was very dangerous and he was loose.
She made a face at me. "Well," she said, "I have some good news, even if Fred doesn't."
"Oh?"
"There HAS been a break in!" she said proudly.
"Ok. This has to be the weirdest conversation. You are pleased there was a break in? Do tell."
"Not until you promise to be nice to me. You owe me, remember? I haven't collected yet."
"I am well aware of my debt," I said. "Was it the ghost, the phantom, the shadow? What are they calling it these days?"
"The shadow. And no, it wasn't him. At least they don't think so."
"Who's they?" I asked patiently.
"Right! The break in was at the office of Small Moon transport."
"Why didn't Fred mention it?"
"Probably because he didn't know about it. Mr. Hat and Mr. Nose were talking at the table over there..."
"Excuse me," I interrupted. "Mr. Hat and Mr. Nose?"
"Well, you have Mr. Jones!"
"Actually, I didn't come up with the name."
"Do you want to hear this or not?"
"Please don't stop on my account. Mr. 'Hat' and Mr. 'Nose' were talking..."
"Yes," she said, "they were. Mr. Hat was busy assuring Mr. Nose that he would not be going to security to report it. That they would be taking care of it internally.
"Mr. Nose said that Mr. Hat had better keep this under wraps, because if word of this got to his boss, she was going to rain down hell on him. And if Mr. Nose's life was hell, Mr. Hat could be sure that his would be doubly so."
"Now that is interesting." I said. "Do you know anything about Small Moon Transport?"
"I think they are a small transport company..."
I just looked at her for a moment. "Seriously?"
"You asked. I am not Station Directory, you know. I am just a lowly waitress."
I smiled again. She wasn't a lowly anything, and I think she knew it.
"It sounds intriguing," I said. "And to be honest, it is the only thing of interest that is going on right now. It is just too quiet. Something is happening behind the scenes. I can feel it." I came to a decision. "I think I am going to have pay Small Moon Transport a visit. I need to figure out if there is anything going on here, or if we have to keep waiting. I hate waiting."
She sat quietly for a moment. "Can you wait until I am done my shift?"
"When will that be?"
"Seven hours," she said, her voice dropping in disappointment.
"They will be closed by then. I should check them out before that."
She pouted, apparently determined to pick up the mood. "You never take me anywhere."
I laughed. It was getting close to the station's scheduled evening meal, and I was anxious to get on the move again. I had spent a week idle in the hospital, and as helpful as Sam wanted to be, there is nothing quite like looking at a situation with your own eyes. I had to get started on something, even if it was just another dead end.
I rose and picked up my bag. There really wasn't much left in it now. I wondered briefly why I even carried it around anymore. Darwin stood and stretched, and ran through Sam's legs. He was saying goodbye.
"I will tell you what. I will make it up to you. I will bring you chocolates... or a puppy."
She laughed a silvery laugh. "I am not so sure how Darwin would take that."
"Oh, don't worry about Darwin," I assured her. "He loves chocolate."
She made another face at me. That's when I did something that surprised me, but it was so natural that I didn't even think. I reached out into the air and 'caught' her look in my hand. Then I wiped my hand over my own face and had mimicked her look perfectly. It was our thing, Joanie's and mine. I hadn't done it in ten years, hadn't even thought of doing it. And yet, here I was, 'catching faces' again.
Sam's eyes widened a little, recognizing the intent of the move without understanding its history. They filled a little. "Come back." was all she said.
Why was I doing this to her, to myself? I didn't have time for complications, but more importantly, I didn't want to hurt this wonderful woman who had shown me nothing but kindness.
But Matsen was out there, and Mr. Jones, and Gregson. Worst of all, Gregson. I still heard the thunder and the lightning whenever I thought of Leena as well, and there was something coming. Something huge. I didn't know what it was. I wasn't sure that I could bring someone else into my maelstrom, not and have both of us come out of it. I had to do this alone.
But maybe I was wrong. Maybe she was strong enough to protect herself, and to protect me as well. I took a step onto the bridge.
"I will talk to you later," I said quietly. "I will let you know what I found."
I meant it. I really did. But as the ancient poet said 'Life is what happens when you are busy making plans.'
I walked out of that restaurant feeling doors closing behind me, and in the distance, a bridge went up in flames. Sometimes, just sometimes, I really hate this job.