Magician's Choice by Stefon Mears

Author:Stefon Mears [Mears, Stefon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thousand Faces Publishing
Published: 2013-11-13T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

WHEN JACOBS REACHED HIS office, he found Goldberg waiting. They nodded quick greetings and entered. No sooner had the door closed behind them than Tunold’s frame-rattling knock announced him. Once all three were seated, Jacobs began.

“I assume we all agree - it’s no coincidence that someone murdered al Rashid during a brawl that broke out while a pair of giant monsters attacked the ship.” Both men nodded. Jacobs guarded his face against his opinion and provoked discussion. “So the purpose must have been to kill al Rashid during the distraction.”

“Correction,” said Goldberg. “At least part of the purpose was to kill al Rashid. Someone may have tried to get Mancuso as well, and failed.”

“Or,” said Tunold, “someone might have tried to murder bin Zuka and failed. On the Transterran Properties documentation, only al Rashid and bin Zuka have executive titles. Killing al Rashid and Mancuso would have taken down leaders on both sides, but killing al Rashid and bin Zuka would have left one side with no leaders at all.”

Jacobs pulled a notepad close and picked up a pen. “So the question is the goal. What purpose did the attack serve?” He tapped his pen on the pad. “What do we know about al Rashid’s murderer?”

“One of his own guards,” said Goldberg. “A new hire.”

“There’s a coincidence,” said Tunold. “Mancuso said that Evans, the bodyguard who threw the first punch, was a new hire.”

“You suspect a conspiracy?” said Jacobs. The three men grew quiet as they considered the implications.

Goldberg shook his head. “More likely a coincidence.” He cracked his neck. “That the assassin was a new hire makes sense if it’s a hit, but the punch could have been thrown by a green soldier who snapped under pressure.”

“We can’t rule it out,” said Jacobs. “Assume a conspiracy until investigation proves otherwise.” He tapped his pen. “A conspiracy needs a leader. Al Rashid is dead, and bin Zuka is giving the orders for them now, the man who had been handling security, which means he may have hired the killer. What do you think? His move?”

“Too early to say.” Goldberg shrugged. “We’ll have to question him formally.”

“What about Mancuso as a suspect?”

“Depends,” said Tunold. “He claims they had an oral contract ready for ink. If that’s true then why kill al Rashid? Mancuso might have to start the negotiations over with someone else. If he’s lying about the agreement—”

“Damn their intrigues. We’re spacers, not cops. I’m turning this whole mess over to port security the minute we land.” Jacobs sighed. Whoever was behind this had placed the Horizon Cusp in jeopardy to arrange one murder, so they might do it again to go after a second target. Keeping Jacobs’ ship safe meant rooting out the problem. “So we need to interview bin Zuka about both the murder and the contract. That’s your job, Chief.”

On the corner of his desk, Jacobs’ comm pad glowed red: Jefferson had a message or call for him. He slapped it with one hand, and her face appeared above the pad as the red glow faded.

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