Dundee Orbital: Tales of the Tri-Cluster Confederation by Mike Watson

Author:Mike Watson [Watson, Mike]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-07-30T16:00:00+00:00

Day Four

Annie woke to find herself alone in bed. They had started at The Garden with a bottle of merlot with their filet and lobster. From The Garden, they'd gone to a club for dancing. Annie introduced Henry to Secundus Highland dancing, and Henry introduced her to line dancing, a favorite of Henry's home world. Somewhere during that shift and part of the one following it, they found a small, quiet establishment to talk and investigate each other.

At the end of the shift, while they were walking to her hostel, Annie made a decision. This was her last hunt. She was tired of hunting; the thrill of the chase was long gone. It was time for something else. The question now, was whether Henry was of the same mind, hoping for something new in his life.

She stretched, sat up, and checked her link. Henry had left a message saying he needed to shower and put on a fresh uniform before reporting to work. He would return at the beginning of the second shift to start the search for their next quarry.

Annie sat on the edge of the bed with her eyes closed. She had a hangover. Fortunately, her medical nanites were working, and her headache was fading. Sometime during the previous shift, they had switched to McLean's Single-Malt.

I have to remember not to do that again, she promised herself with a groan. On the other hand, she noticed her attitude was improved. Her frustrations—some, at least—had been reduced.

She was hot, sweaty, and sticky. Henry liked warmth and humidity. She had been raised in a higher, cooler, and drier environment. Annie rose, shifting away from the wet spot on the bed and lowered the temperature and humidity before padding to the 'fresher. She had a target to find today.

***

Hillman was waiting when she walked out of the hostel an hour later.

"Henry," she said.

"Annie," he replied, his ears turning red.

Remembrance of the events of the previous shift, perhaps? He didn't act like he was embarrassed. Annie felt herself blush in response. I don't do this! Oh, we're too alike.

Henry interrupted her thoughts. "Who shall we find today?"

"The embezzler, Carlsson Blaine, Clan Monmouth, Sept Conner. This will be a two-part search. I have a warrant for Blaine. I also have a bounty for any remaining funds he stole that I can find."

"A bounty, not a warrant?"

"I bid on a four-warrant package. Sometimes there's baggage attached. The bounty is an incentive to return any of the money he embezzled instead of keeping it."

"It'd be theft if you kept it."

"Yes, it would. And I won't. It'd ruin my reputation. I would be out of business. That's where you come in. Any funds Blaine has that we find will be turned over to you, for impoundment. I won't touch any, just Blaine."

"That's acceptable. Any idea where he may be?"

"I've an address…" She referred to her link. "Torus Four, Deck Six, Segment A. It's a small coapt in the name of one of his Monmouth cronies."

"Your source?"

"The Banking Cartel.

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