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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 is complicated after an uncomfortable meeting with the man, when it becomes clear Xavier knows what Grim’s up to. But maybe his meeting with a former colleague of Xavier’s will be more positive…
"Knew I shouldn't have taken this case," I muttered as I headed for the cross-trolley. If Aveline's job wasn't too vague to start with, having Xavier aware of it only made things murkier.
I checked my chrono — an hour to kill before the meeting with Lin Leven-Jacobson. I hopped off the trolley a couple of stops early, grabbed a bite and a water, refreshed myself on the woman. Forty-three, no children. Lived in a co-hab with Riya Leven-Jacobson, and the name-share indicated a tight coupling. One vague rumour of infidelity, but nobody believed it, least of all Riya. Pulled a couple of semi-public interviews where the woman laughed off the notion that Lin had slept with the guy.
A quick check. The guy -- Forman Schrober, fake-sounding name but his lineage was Prime and they did things differently up there -- lived off his parents' standings, board-room rat for a few failing finance companies. A string of relationships, a couple of kids he didn't see. Couple of kennel reports for narco misuse, one for inebriated violence, nothing serious.
Not Lin Leven-Jacobson's type. Then again, nor was Xavier. Sure, their connection was primarily business, but public record indicated some romantic connection.
And then Lin settled with Riya. Which meant nothing.
I pulled her work files. Heavy research, a brilliant mind that wouldn't fit into commercial projects. Science credentials, once I'd had Lola decipher the convoluted language, showed a handful of breakthroughs, the kind of thing that others built whole careers on. Lin stayed in the shadows of the lab. Wasn't interested in accolades or fame.
Back to one of Riya's interviews. The woman almost smiled when she spoke of Lin's dedication to her studies. Almost. Riya wore the kind of face that had to work up to a smile. Not cold, but distant. The kind of person always thinking of some project, deep in work.
So Lin and Riya were suited.
Lola pinged me. "You have a contact request." The name Natuche Peron flashed up in the holo.
"She wants to meet?"
"She wants to talk."
The food-stop wasn't busy, but nor was it empty. "Tell her to give me five."
The woman working the counter said there was an alcove bank down the street. She didn't look at me when she pointed. I thanked her, got a grunt in return.
The guy running the alcove bank didn't like me, but he liked my wallet. I paid for ten minutes, full privacy. I entered the second vacant alcove and stood. Sure, the place looked clean, but I knew what some folk got up to with a couple of minutes in a private alcove.
I sealed the door and called up the contact request. Natuche Peron appeared in my holo, her background blurred. A thin, smooth face framed by black hair that shone almost as much as the strips of material over her soft shoulders. Full lips smiled and the eyes burnt with danger.
"San Peron," I said to Natuche. "What can I do for you?"
She tilted her head. "Maybe it's what I can do for you, Grim."
"And what’s that?”
“You’ve been busy. You’ve been to see Xavier, and of course you’ve met our dear Aveline.”
“And now I’m spitting the small-talk with you. I get to hang with Colville, I've bagged the foursome."
"Is that how you see it? You're 'bagging' us? The life of an investigative consultant must be tiring. I imagine you struggle to find relief."
"And you're offering me that relief?"
"I have standards, but I've slummed it before."
"I'm flattered. But why don't you cut the come-ons and say your piece. Be interesting to see how it compares to the crap your partners spouted."
"You think they told you lies?"
"I think everyone tells me lies. Especially the ones who talk themselves into believing the lies they tell.”
Her smile became a fraction warmer, somewhere above absolute zero. “I bet you pissed our delicate Aveline off with that attitude.”
“Delicate?”
“Oh, she plays the bitch, but it’s all front. She lives in a fantasy world where she’s the queen, but the veneer is so easily pierced. And when it is, she can’t cope, the poor thing. If we’d known she intended visiting you, we would’ve taken steps to prevent such a mistake."
"So there's nothing in Xavier's changes?"
Natuche brushed a hand through her hair. Her fingers were shorter than I’d have imagined, and they ended in dark blue nails, the colour rippling to show off her expensive manicure. "Everyone changes, San Detective. Xavier lives for his work. He’s made a significant breakthrough recently, and that has lifted his spirits no end. I’m afraid dear Ave is simply reading too much into his current good mood.”
“Xavier said the same thing.”
“And you’re not convinced. It must be tough being so cynical.”
“Prefer to think of it as caution. I’ve been stung too often to take things at face value.”
"So you're going to continue in this ridiculous investigation."
"Mistake or not, I’ve taken a job for a client, and I’m a professional. I don’t give up easily.”
The woman nodded. "Very well. You need facts. You need convincing. If that is the case, maybe I can be of assistance. But not over a connection like this. I'd like to meet you in person, San Grim."
"You'd like to, or you feel you need to?"
That dangerous smile crept back onto her face. "Does it have to be one or the other? I can help poor Aveline and at the same time get to know the mysterious Grim. I’m sure there’s a great deal beneath that hat and coat that I’d enjoy exploring. In private, of course.”
I’d seen enough images of Natuche to appreciate her body, and I now knew she used it as a weapon. But I needed information. And I could play the game too. "Sure. Schedule's filling up, though. Let's have our assists spar it out."
"That's very professional of you."
"Only because that’s what I am.”
"And there's no play involved?"
“Don’t like to play with people’s livelihoods. Or their lives. It can get far too dangerous far too fast.”
"Lots of things are dangerous. It’s what makes playing with them such fun. But if you want to play the professional, I can accommodate. I'll have my Slinky run through possibilities with your assist. Until later, legend."
She waved a hand, flashed that dangerous smile and killed the connection.
I shook my head. "Slinky. What kind of name's that for an assist? Lola -- you in contact with Natuche's Slinky?"
"I am. We're working on arrangements."
"Pull up my next meeting, would you? Be good to confirm details."
The meeting with Lin Leven-Jacobson was at some office rental in BroadSide. The area was commercial, too many units set up as fly-by-night storefronts, black boxes under glass and tech names in glowing letters. The suited staff within had never been inside a manufactory. They didn’t have a clue what went into those black boxes, only what they’d been prepped to spout at customers. None of them tried to tempt me in. They knew their marks. Might be more up-market than the likes of Leaf, but business was business, be that in BroadSide or Freedom Alley.
The rental Lin's invite listed was 243/c. It sat in the 240-50 lobby. The fake plant in the corner sprawled up a trellis almost to the ceiling. The arc of seating needed more padding. There was a call-screen to the left, a couple of doors to the right, a couple more straight ahead. Everything was labelled.
243/c was to the right, along a corridor and up two flights of stairs. There was a riser, but I was early. The door to 243/c was closed. There was no response when I pressed the call screen.
I pressed again. There was still no response.
"Lola. Double-check the schedule, would you?"
"Of course. You are a minute early for your meeting with Lin Leven-Jacobson."
"She inside?"
"I cannot ascertain that without breaching local barriers."
"Wouldn't want you doing anything like that." I checked my chrono. I lifted my hat, ran a hand through my hair. "Minute's up, right?"
"It is."
I pressed the call. Again, there was no response.
"You got her contact?" Lola opened a holo, irised a contact window set for audio. "San Leven-Jacobson? We had a meeting arranged. If you've had to cancel, would've been nice to have been informed."
The feedback showed sending, then assist receipt. I waited for an open indication.
I waited some more.
"New message. San Leven-Jacobson. This is Grim. You okay? Anything I can do to help?" The message sent, was assist received.
There was no open indicator.
"Lola. Any way you can force this door?"
"That would breach several of local barriers."
"Wasn't what I asked. Malo's permission thing's still current, right?"
"You mean the waiver form 47-d-31, entitling you to enter sealed premises under very specific circumstances."
"That'll be the one."
"It is still current. But it is only valid under very special circumstances."
"So you said. Life-threatening circumstances would be covered, right?"
"Theoretically."
"And you're obfuscating."
"Incorrect. I'm explaining the situation while ensuring we're acting within acceptable boundaries." There was a click from the door. "Also, I've been observing from the way you use talk to distract from your actions."
"Smart." And unnerving.
I placed a hand on the door and slid it aside.
The office was in darkness. I stepped inside. When the lights didn't kick in I reached for the panel by the door. It didn't turn the lights on either. I pulled up a holo, increased the glow once I’d closed the door.
I’d been right in listening to my gut.
The room was small. Against the wall to the left was a cross between a table and a desk. There was a drinks machine on a shelf on the back wall. There were three comfortable-looking chairs in the middle of the room.
I recognised Lin Leven-Jacobson from her file images. She lay in front of one of the chairs, looked like she’d slid off. The way her eyes didn’t blink, didn’t register my appearance, told me she wasn’t going to get back in that chair.
"Do you want me to contact the Department?" Lola asked.
I nodded. "Tell Malo's hounds I'll wait here, and I won't touch anything."
Again. Two bodies in one day. That wasn't good.