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The story so far: Grim Khonsu is a serialised sci-fi detective noir story, set aboard a vast generation ship. The investigation is growing more complex. The client, Aveline Peron, believes the changes in her partner Xavier are not normal. Grim sees a woman pass a package on to Xavier, then follows the woman and finds her dead body. She’s a known dealer in potentially illegal tech. A bit of fancy work, and Grim lines up a chat with someone at Xavier’s business, as well as a meeting with an ex-colleague, Lin Leven-Jacobson.
The kid Nate was still working the desk at Per-LB. He acted like my presence was the most exciting thing that had happened to him in days. He might've been right.
He told me to wait, offered me a drink and a seat. I declined both with a smile. Yeah, the kid was efficient, but he was too nice. Nice didn't get you beyond customer-facing. The ones who ran things only acted nice when it suited them.
"Your liaison is on his way down," Nate said a few minutes later. I nodded my thanks and killed the holo I'd been flicking through. The reception area, with its bland walls and some kind of blocky artwork on a couple of stands, sucked at the atmosphere. The far door opening was a major event.
"Grim." Xavier Peron stepped through the opening. "No San, right? Just Grim."
"Mentioned that to your guy over there." I jerked my head towards Nate as I held out my hand to Xavier. "And you're San Peron, right? Didn't expect to be talking to the main man."
His handshake was firm and lasted a fraction of a second too long.
"The ability to delegate sometimes frees me up a touch too much. Besides, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to meet one of Khonsu's most mysterious denizens. And, please, call me Xavier. But let's adjourn to my office."
I let him usher me through the door. The corridor beyond was as bland as the reception area, but with wall holos every so often. Some displayed swathes of technical stuff, others artistic swirls of colour. None of it meant anything to me.
"This place isn't as large as I expected," I said.
"Oh, this is only our nexus. We have research facilities across Tre, as well as some subsidiaries both higher and lower. Then there are our analysis and diagnostic centres. This was initially our administrative hub, but with a dissipated system taking care of most of that, our offices here are more image than anything."
"Makes sense. Having large-scale facilities here would eat into company funds too much."
"We're careful with our finances. The amounts we deal with might appear large to many, but we have a duty to use them to the best of our abilities."
Which was pitch-perfect corporate speak. I nodded along, and Xavier beamed. He wore a jacket I recognised from images of the man, shimmering dark material, sleeves pushed up casually, a black top underneath with the top button unfastened. He wore stubble on his tanned face. On his wrist hung a connector-bracelet fashioned like an old-time chrono. It looked like he'd run his fingers through his slicked-back hair.
"So you don't have many people working here?"
"Besides our receptionists and a few others, most of these offices are used ad-hoc. I've tried telling my colleagues they're free to use my office whenever I'm elsewhere, but they rarely take me up on that." He grinned like he found that amusing. "And here we are."
He opened a door like all the others in the corridor, stepped aside and ushered me through. I stepped into an office that made my place look like a back-street narco hut. The lounge area could've fitted a double sleeper, there was a self-spruce white rug that was almost too bright to look at, the desk to one side sat in a pool of illumination like an exhibit. When Xavier stepped towards the wall to the left a panel opened to reveal a bar.
"Drink? I have an excellent water cooler. Unless you would prefer something else?"
I took my hat from my head, held it in my hands. "You've done your homework, Xavier."
"Our security analysis did its homework. I'm confident that, even if you'd used an alias when you spoke to our receptionist, our system would've matched your image with your true details. And while a person's drinking habits aren't a normal part of a data-set, when an individual is as distinctive as yourself, certain facts naturally stick."
"Not sure how I feel about being so predictable. But, sure, water. Chilled. Kind of surprised you don't have someone do your drinks for you."
He busied himself at his bar as he spoke. "I may run this company, but at heart I'm a worker. If I wanted others to do my bidding, I'd run for an elected position."
"Don't envy those guys their jobs."
"Absolutely. I'm called on to smooch to some extent, but not as far as our officials do. And I can always retreat into my research."
"Advantage of owning the company, I suppose. Work on whatever takes your interest."
"Within reason. Our success does afford me certain luxuries in how I invest my mental capacity. But, please, take a seat." He handed me a tall glass of water then waved a hand at the lounge area.
The sofa gave more support than I expected. Xavier sat on the other sofa and sipped from his glass. The liquid was opaque. I waited for him to lower the glass. He rested an arm casually on the sofa's arm-rest and crossed his legs.
"So, Grim. You wanted to talk about the murky world of pharmaceutical company politics."
"Suppose that's one way of putting it."
"And this ultimately concerns a company other than mine."
"It would be a ballsy move to come to you direct if I was investigating Per-LB."
"Ballsy, as you say. But not out of character. You have a reputation as one who fearlessly aims straight to the heart of the matter."
"I have my moments. I'm not reckless, though."
"Of course not. Yet isn't there a degree of risk in everything? Even in my world of research, we must make decisions based on inconclusive evidence, choosing one path to follow when there is nothing distinct to differentiate it from another, when all we have to go on is gut instinct."
"Don't knock gut instinct. I reckon the gut does more serious thinking than the brain."
"As someone with a deep understanding of biology, I could argue that point from many angles. But I understand your meaning. There is a great deal about the mind that we still don't understand, especially those quirky facets that set us apart from mere machines. Do you know, at one time — this was before our great Khonsu initiated its mission to the stars — it was believed that the complete mapping of human intellect was only decades or even years away? Many believed it would be possible to create a machine system in such a way that it would think — that it would function mentally — exactly as a human would, down to all our idiosyncrasies and imperfections." He shook his head. "A fantasy, of course. But it's a fantasy that drives some of us to seek a better understanding. Dreams are at the heart of human invention."
"Thought that was necessity."
"Maybe it is the necessity to strive towards our dreams. But I'm waffling. The philosophical nature of science fascinates me, and while I could talk for hours on such matters, I doubt that would help your investigation. Please forgive my rudeness."
"Can't knock a man for having a passion. Suppose the top dogs in rivals to Per-LB have their passions as well."
"Absolutely. For all the talk of science and technology being dry and clinical, research is for us dreamers. And, bringing our conversation back to your investigation, unfortunately this passion does occasionally encourage certain individuals to … play loose with legalities, let's say. Although I should stress that I'm not prepared to name names, especially where I have no concrete evidence."
"Wouldn't expect you to. At this stage in my investigation I'm gathering data, nothing more."
"Oh, you sell yourself short. It’s well known that you ask innocent questions, yet your motives run deep. You listen to the response, but you pay as much attention, if not more, to the manner of the response. This is true, isn't it?"
"Fine. You've got me. Always have to look for the angle."
"And that makes me wonder exactly why you're focusing on Per-LB for your data gathering."
"Luck of the draw. If your kid Nate hadn't been so obliging I would've gone elsewhere."
"Somehow I doubt that."
There was no change in Xavier's tone or his face, but something in his manner set alarm bells ringing.
"You're sceptical," I said. "Can understand that. My line of work, I'm sceptical of everyone. You know the whole 'innocent until proven guilty' thing? I've seen too much that pushes me to think otherwise. Nothing personal, just the way I am."
"I'd say you're a cynic, Grim. A sceptic questions. You assume the worst and look for data to back that up."
"Didn't come here for a philosophy lesson."
"And I'm sure you didn't expect one. Not from a man of science and technology. But here's the thing, Consulting Investigator Grim. While my research is my passion, building this company has forced me to deal with people. I've taken an analytical approach in this, and I've developed my ability to read people, to understand what's going on beneath the surface. And then there is my home life, an area I'm sure you're aware of."
"You mean your four-way? Not my thing, but if it works for you lot, more power to you."
"Oh, it works. But it takes effort. For us to function cohesively we must know one another intimately. And I'm not talking about physical pleasures here, before you take my words the wrong way."
"Saying that does the opposite. Aveline and Natuche aren't unattractive."
He pulled a thin smile. "I'll pass on your compliments. Although it's telling that you failed to mention Colville. And I'm sure dear Aveline won't take your words well. I can't imagine her enjoying your company. But she's a strong woman. She'll endure inconvenience when it's required."
"Not sure I like your implications here, Xavier."
"No? And what implications would they be?"
"You tell me."
"You mean you're unsure. You're using a confrontational manner as a weapon. You're not the first to use such an approach, and I'm sure you won't be the last."
"Like you say, you're good at reading people."
"Indeed I am. Better than some of my fellow Perons, unfortunately." He sat back. "Tell me, Grim, how did you find dear Aveline?"
"You're making implications again. Sounds like you think we've been bumping uglies."
I might've expected anger after a comment like that, regardless of the Peron's non-exclusivity thing. But Xavier was controlled. He sighed, and took another sip of his drink, then another. His cheeks sagged for a moment and he shook his head.
"Aveline is a wonderful person," he said after a long pause. "I love her dearly, as do Col and Nat. But nobody is perfect. This isn't the first time she's jumped to conclusions."
"Might have to expand on that."
"Oh, I think you know precisely what I'm talking about. She cares for me — for all of us. But she cares too much. The slightest hint of a change, and she worries unduly. This isn't the first time she's sought help when she considered one of us out of sorts. I can only apologise that she's dragged you into her misguided and unrequited quest."
"You seem to know a lot about her concerns."
"Of course. We're intimate."
"So she's spoken to you?"
"Directly on this matter? No. But I hear the words she doesn't say. I read her mannerisms."
"And you snoop on her?"
"That could be considered an accusation."
"Or a genuine question. If Aveline's my client — and I neither confirm nor deny this — then I have every right to protect her if that seems germane to the case."
"And if she isn't your client you have no need to ask such a question."
"Unless I'm digging for data."
Xavier almost smiled. "Which, of course, you are. So let me provide that data. I'm fine. There is absolutely nothing the matter with me. I'm in a better state — physically, mentally and spiritually — than I have been in a long time. My understanding of the situation is that Aveline, dear thing, struggles to comprehend my complete contentment, and so she seeks answers to questions that don't exist."
"Or they do, and your contentment is a symptom of a matter you fail to see." I tilted my head again. "Just saying."
"Very good. But seriously, Aveline is troubled. As I mentioned before, this isn't the first time she's misinterpreted the facts. My advice to you, Grim, is to kindly turn her down. Of course, I have no desire to see you financially troubled over this, and I will personally reimburse you whatever your going rate is, as well as offering a bonus for being so understanding."
"Sounds like you're paying me off."
"I'm trying to save you trouble later on. There is no case, so your investigation will uncover nothing. It might upset people, though. So it's for the best for all concerned if you drop this investigation. And, as a bonus, I promise I'll do all I can to help poor Aveline seek professional help for her condition."
"Thought it was misunderstandings. Calling it a condition makes it sound ominous."
"And maybe it is. As I said, it happens too often. It's becoming a burden, but it's a burden our Peron household should shoulder alone. This shouldn't be anyone else's concern."
"So you keep it all behind closed doors."
He sighed again, and shook his head. He did that too often.
"Aveline is a troubled woman, and she's also stubborn. When your investigation comes up empty, she's liable to find that unacceptable. I wouldn't be surprised if she refused to pay you."
"So if I take your offer, I get something out of this. But if I carry on working for Aveline I end up with nothing."
"You understand."
I nodded. "Sure." I reached forward and placed my glass on the table between the sofas. "I'll take your offer under consideration. I'll see myself out. Appreciate your time, Xavier."
"It's been an education meeting the mysterious Grim. And I trust you'll come to the right decision."
I nodded, stood, walked to the door. It opened for me, and I stepped into the corridor, headed towards the reception area and Nate's friendly grin.
It was the only friendly thing in this place.