The Arcadian Web by Gail Daley

Author:Gail Daley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Space thriller, alien creatures, space spiders, outlawed colonies, Arcadia, Marabunta
Publisher: Gail Daleys Fine Art
Published: 2023-07-31T00:00:00+00:00

THE FEMALE OF THE SPECIES

MARYJANE WATCHED her assassin take a full dose of the drug. The woman fell into dreamland. Gradually her heart slowed and she quit breathing. Maryjane hadn’t given her Love Potion although she had a sufficient amount put by to sell in case of emergencies. A person dying from an overdose of Love Potion was apt to be noisy. Attracting attention was the last thing she wanted. She had paid a little extra to the management of this mid-level hostel so they wouldn’t disturb their guest.

Maryjane took back the money she had paid the girl and left the room, programing the ‘do not disturb’ notice on the door when she left, With luck, it would be a couple of days before the body was discovered. Ten minutes later she caught the sled leaving for Earthbury, Arcadia’s capital city where she planned to disappear. She would stay one night at the room she had rented there under a different name, change her appearance and then disappear.

When Cosimo and the others arrived at Maryjane’s modest home, her sled was gone from its usual parking spot.

Stevens got out and knocked on the door. No one answered his knock.

“It looks as if she isn’t home,” Stevens told the other men, getting back in the sled.

“Maybe she just went to the store,” Mathias suggested.

“You said she called in sick,” Cosimo said. “Maybe she’s too sick to answer the door.”

“Her sled is gone,” Stevens pointed out. “She obviously isn’t home.”

“Why don’t you check to see if she’s driven herself to the hospital,” Jonathon suggested.

Stevens scowled, but tapped his com. After several minutes and going through different operators, he was finally put through to an admin in reception. An older woman with tired eyes frowned at him.

“Sir, we can’t give out that information because of privacy laws.”

“Look, Ms. Jurgenson,” Steven said, “I’m not asking for details. I’m her employer. I stopped by for a welfare check on my way home tonight and found her sled gone. All I want to know is if she saw a doctor there today. She works in an area with a lot of public contact. If she’s ill, we may need to take some precautions to keep our guests safe.”

Ms. Jurgenson sighed. “What did you say her name was again?”

“Maryjane Watkins.”

“Just a moment, while I check the new patient list.”

After a few moments, she came back on the line. “I’m sorry, no one with that name was admitted today, and we don’t have a record of her being checked out by one of our health professionals.”

“Thank you,” Stevens said, closing the line.

“Sorry, gentlemen,” he said, starting the sled. “I’ll take you back to the resort. I’ll let you know when she comes in tomorrow. You can speak to her then.”

He dropped them off on the dock next to Ivette’s camper.

“What did you find out?” Christina demanded.

“Not a lot I’m afraid,” Jonathon told her.

“What happened?” Abby asked.

“The waitress who gave you the note apparently wasn’t employed by the resort at all,” Cosimo said.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.