The Lost Princess by Richard Dee

Author:Richard Dee [Dee, Richard]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: 4 STAR SCI-FI

* * *

We met up in the hotel, perhaps I should have taken Brian into the room or to the police with me after all.

He was apologetic. “I’m sorry I walked out, Miles, but I couldn’t stick it in there. The casual way that it was run, I kept thinking about my kids. We couldn’t have afforded it together anyway. Talking to her, I mean,” he hastily added.

“It’s fine, Brian, you’re not to worry. I talked to the girl, she gave me a statement.” I took the envelope out and gave it to him.

“Thanks,” he said. “Have you read it?”

“Not yet,” I answered. “I thought it might be better to keep it sealed until we can get it notarized. I went to the police headquarters on the way back.”

“You did what? Was that wise?”

“I thought so, at the time. I used my press card, said that I was concerned about the safety of a girl in the club. That I could kick up a fuss on Centra. It didn’t make any difference. I was told to mind my own business; the place wasn’t breaking any laws on Dalyster. I wasn’t to concern myself with local matters. Then I saw he had a picture of the Delegate on his wall.”

“That’s bad. What do we do now?”

“We need to get into that room and see if it is Layla in there. Or find some real evidence that we can go back to the police with.”

“I guess,” Brian said. “I don’t think you should have revealed our hand though.”

“You’re right, I was so wound up that I wasn’t thinking straight. It’s done now; we’ll have to make the best of it. I’m going out to make a call; I don’t want to use the hotel phone.”

“Who are you speaking to?”

“Igor gave me a number to contact if I was getting nowhere. I’m going to call for advice.”

“Good luck with that,” he said. “I can’t wait to get off this rock.”

I walked past the taxis and through the gates. I had seen a row of call boxes just outside. They were all empty; the first three were out of order, the last in the line was the only one with a dial tone. I waited while it rang, then had to push coins into a slot as it was answered.

Toni Franciscus was the contact Igor had given me, I assumed that he was a businessman representing Balcom on Dalyster. Except that he wasn’t a he.

“Hello, Miles,” she said when I got to speak to her. “Igor warned me that you might call. He’s told me the story. How can I help?”

“I thought that Igor didn’t have a presence on Dalyster,” I said. “Isn’t he a wanted man over here?”

She laughed. “Some would say he’s an unwanted man, he’s certainly not the flavour of the month. I handle his affairs, through nominees, it’s how things work on Dalyster. The difference here is always between what the people see and what happens underneath.”

A little like the Delegate, I thought but I didn’t say that.

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