Fratricide by Craig Martelle & Michael Anderle

Author:Craig Martelle & Michael Anderle [Martelle, Craig & Anderle, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781642023800
Publisher: LMBPN Publishing
Published: 2019-07-20T22:00:00+00:00

“Come in,” the workforce administrator called.

“I’m not coming into your room, convict,” the super replied.

The door opened to Ossuary Fleener’s fuming tantrum. He hammered his fist into his off-hand while stomping his feet. His lips worked in a frenzy, but he didn’t make a sound. The construction supervisor waited for the man to calm down.

“She has her sights set on me too, so relax. We need to make peace so she can finish her investigation.” Zack Orbal offered his hand. Fleener sighed and took it. After the handshake, Ossuary gestured for the super to sit.

“I don’t know what the rules are if you’re under house arrest or whatever she called it. I’ll stand here if you don’t mind.”

“And I’ll sit if you don’t mind. I’ve been pacing all day trying to figure out who it is.”

“And?”

“Nobody! There’s not a single worker who would do something like this. Who could do something like this? Break down the incidents. A flexing structure driven by a powerful ram we never ordered and which shouldn’t have been here. A saw blade ripping through a suit. A pipe that launched like a spear. Who had the technical ability to build these weapons, plus the technical knowledge to reprogram the computer so no one would find out?”

“That’s a lot of skillsets. We have experts in the individual bits and pieces, so maybe it’s not one person. What if we have a serial killing team?”

“How much have you been out among the workers?” the administrator asked pointedly.

“Enough!”

“Bullshit. Then you’d know that none of these people like any of the others. There are all kinds of aliens, and none of them get along. We don’t have more than two from any species besides humans and Angobar. Process of elimination, none of the Angobar have access to the computer system or the skills to manipulate it.”

“As far as you know,” the super accused.

“As far as I know, but I’d bet my last paycheck on it.” Fleener kicked back and took a sip of something that didn’t look like it had come from the food processor.

“Humans?” the super offered. “And what the hell are you drinking?”

The administrator produced a second glass. He poured from a jar that looked like it belonged in a hydraulics repair shop. Maybe it had been at one time.

The super sniffed the drink before throwing it back, expecting the worst.

It wasn’t the worst he’d ever had, but it was close. He coughed and snorted as the light brown liquid burned its way down his throat. At least it didn’t scorch the taste buds off his tongue. He never let it touch them.

When he could speak, he entered the room and handed the glass back, drawing a line with his finger at the one-shot level. “That stuff will make you go blind.”

Ossuary accommodated the super with a partial refill, pouring to the indicated spot and returning the glass. “So what do we do about our predicament?”

The super shook his head. “I’d heard that people like her existed. She can read minds; that’s why she touches everyone.

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