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The story so far: Grim Khonsu is a serialised sci-fi detective noir story, set aboard a vast generation ship. Grim’s investigation into Xavier Peron grows more complex, with two suspicious deaths and a suspect who knows what Grim’s up to. Add to that, Chief Malo has now forced Grim to semi-officially look into the death of Lin Leven-Jacobson. Natuche Peron’s attempt to both seduce and poison Grim only increases his problems.
I almost expected Natuche to chase after me. I guess doing up her dress was too much work, because the door remained sealed as I walked towards the stairs and down to the lobby.
As I entered the street a voice behind said, “I should’ve known not to trust a man like you.”
I turned and gave Aveline a smile. “You’re only paying me to find out what happened with Xavier. Trust costs extra.”
She glared at me. When I turned to walk away she grabbed my arm.
“Don’t you turn your back on me!”
“I’ve got a job to do.”
“And you’re supposed to let me know how it’s going.”
“Don’t remember that being part of the deal.”
“It’s common courtesy.”
“Like grabbing someone’s arm?”
“If they don’t listen, then yes. It’s more courteous than ... than taking advantage of one of my partners.”
“You think that’s what I was doing back there? Tell me, Aveline, how well do you know Natuche?”
She growled. She glanced around furtively, then said, “Not here. I’ll buy you a drink.”
“Sure. Everyone wants something from me.”
But I followed her, along the street and into a small cafe that was more of a bar, with dimly lit alcoves set up with shielding. Aveline walked in with her nose in the air. She snapped her fingers at the server as she headed to the furthest alcove. The server hustled over as she sat, and as I sat opposite.
“I’ll have a long chai with extra sweetener. My colleague will have a glass of water.”
“Water?”
“Nothing special,” I said, “but chilled would be good. If not, I’m sure the atmosphere at this table will bring the temperature down.”
The server rushed off as Aveline shot me another glare. I guessed she must like those wrinkles in her forehead.
“Can’t deny the atmosphere’s frosty,” I said. “Almost frigid.”
She snorted. “Unlike Natuche. I take it you enjoyed yourself. Did she tell you it was special?”
“She told me lots of things. Like how she was Xavier’s favourite.”
“She said that?”
“Might’ve been implied. Something about him preferring her mouth to yours. Although she didn’t bring Colville into the equation, so I’m running off incomplete information. Care to fill me in?”
“Is that what you were doing? Filling her in?”
“Why? Jealous?”
“Hardly. Natuche doesn’t exactly keep herself to herself. Not like some.”
“Like you?”
“If you must know, I’m loyal to the quatro. As is Colville.”
“But not Xavier?”
“I never said that.”
“Didn’t need to. Tell me, is he making the rounds more now that he’s changed? Maybe he’s getting bored with his present company.”
“You’re despicable.”
“Been called worse.”
“And Xavier might extend his horizons occasionally, but he’s not as wayward as that … that hussy.”
“Still wayward, though. He stayed in contact with his old work partner, didn’t he? The Leven-Jacobson woman.”
“They worked closely on many projects. It’s only natural that they remain professional colleagues.”
“Remained.”
Aveline paused and tilted her head. “Remained?”
“You didn’t know?”
I gave her a moment. She frowned, then her eyes widened. I nodded. “Doubt he’ll be working or doing anything else with her now. Although you already knew she was dead, didn’t you?”
She opened and closed her mouth a couple of times before sitting back and giving me her favourite glare again. “You think I had something to do with it, don’t you?”
“Never said that.”
“Do you seriously think I’d be capable of … of doing something like that? I’m not the violent one.”
“Who’s the violent one, then?”
“It was a turn of phrase. Nothing more.”
“Sure. I believe you. Is that how Xavier’s changed? Is he getting too rough in the bedroom?”
She grabbed the edge of the table. Her knuckles paled.
“Some folk might like that. Not that it’s any of my business.”
“Of course it’s not!”
“Except that you want me to figure out what’s going on. Hard to do, when people don’t tell me everything. I’m starting to get fed up with wading through so many conflicting motives.”
She forced her fingers to loosen. “I’ve told you my motive. I want to see Xavier back to his old self.”
“You mean compliant?”
Aveline shook her head and closed her eyes. Her hand trembled. When her eyes opened they were hard and bitter.
“I’m paying you to do a job, Grim,” she spat. “I’m not paying you to insult me.”
“Think of it as a bonus.” I pushed to my feet. “You’re a client, San Peron. That doesn’t mean I have to like you.”
I left her with her mouth open and her gaze trying to pull me back. I breezed past the server with his tray and two glasses. Throwing the water over Aveline might have cooled her down, but I didn’t want more of a scene. I ignored the server, walked out into the street.
This whole case stunk. The Peron arrangement was a knot of bitterness and back-biting. Xavier was hiding something. Natuche might be in on it. His old partner was dead, and I had no idea if that was connected to the Perons or not. Then there was the other dead woman, the Damsel. She dealt in not-quite-legal tech, and she’d been a contact of Xavier’s. That didn’t mean her death was related to him, but my gut said it was.
I listened to my gut. And it was my gut that told me to keep an eye on my surroundings. Especially others walking the street.
Like the woman who wandered behind me as I reached the trolley stop, who hopped on the spine when I did, the same carriage. Tight blue top and trousers, long hair tied back, haze of a holo constantly to her right.
Like the familiar-looking guy who appeared when I left the trolley, a big fellow with a fastened jacket that might’ve bulged at his hip.
They both looked business-professional. So I took a scenic route, close to Freedom Alley. They sauntered along in my wake. They didn’t make eye contact or engage with the hustlers. They didn’t pay close attention to the stores and eateries along the way.
They didn’t look directly at me either.
I passed one of Leaf’s common hang-outs. He wasn’t there. I spotted one of Zhusie’s enforcers ahead — not Thor, and I’d forgotten this guy’s name. I gave him the smallest of nods, got the same in return. My tails didn’t make eye contact with the enforcer, but I’m sure they noticed him.
I headed into the Alley.