BattleTech Legends: Service for the Dead: The Proving Grounds Trilogy, Book Three by Martin Delrio

Author:Martin Delrio [Delrio, Martin]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Catalyst Game Labs

24

BELGOROD

TERRA

PREFECTURE X

17 MARCH 3134

A weary afternoon’s work spent going through hotel guest registers sufficed to let Burton Horn know Owain Jones hadn’t checked into any of the respectable establishments in Belgorod. It remained possible the Lieutenant had chosen to stay at one of the port’s less-than-respectable establishments, but Horn considered that an unlikely choice for a military man with a vital mission.

A military man, Horn thought. He’d look for food, for a place to sleep…and a place to report in. Not necessarily in that order.

But to whom would he report? To the Exarch in person? The Countess of Northwind might have assumed something like that, when she sent Jones ahead with the evidence, but the Exarch was too high in the chain of command for a mere lieutenant to think about reporting to him directly. He’d be looking for…the Northwind Interests Section, that was it.

Horn grabbed a cab and did the same.

Once he’d reached the building that housed the local representatives of the Republic’s member governments, he employed Paladin Jonah Levin’s name without hesitation in order to gain entry. That got him as far as a bored bureaucrat in a natty suit who invited him to sit at a desk.

“I have an inquiry from Paladin Levin,” Horn said.

“This is most irregular,” the man replied. “The Paladin has every right to request aid from any Republic body. However, the request ought to come through official channels. Most irregular,” he repeated, steepling his fingers in front of his shirt. “What is the nature of the Paladin’s request?”

“The Paladin would like to know if the chargé received a visitor from Northwind at any time since fourteen March of this year.”

“I can tell you that directly,” the bureaucrat replied. “He did not. Nor is the chargé able to assist you now. With the recent arrival of an army from Northwind, he is terribly busy.”

“The Paladin understands,” Horn said. “He doesn’t want the chargé disturbed, either.”

“Then there’s nothing more I can do for you,” said the bureaucrat. “Good day, sir.”

“Perhaps one small thing,” Horn said. “May I see the call logs for fifteen March?”

“Out of the question,” the other man said firmly.

“I understand . . . perhaps you could look at them yourself and answer me one question. A simple yes or no.”

The bureaucrat hesitated. “Perhaps.”

“Paladin Levin will be pleased,” Horn assured him. “The question is this: Did the Northwind Interests Section receive any prank or unusual calls on or just after fourteen March?”

“Let me see.” He called up the logs on his desk screen and perused the listings without bothering to show them to Horn. “Yes,” he said at last. “There was one.”

“When did it come in?”

“I’m afraid I’ve already exceeded my warrant,” the bureaucrat said. He stood and offered his hand.

“May I show you out?”

“I know the way,” Horn said, standing also.

As he stood, he glanced casually at the desk screen. One line was highlighted in yellow. Thirty-second call, abandoned before connection. Pay phone. Number identified as a restaurant and bar. Time, twenty-two minutes before three in the afternoon.

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