C-12

As the guards were getting close, something exploded nearby. Someone was coming.

Do it now! Belluchi said, and ran towards a hallway, probably to the elevator back to his casino.

One of the guards grabbed his rifle from his back, and was about to fire when he was shot in the back. While the other guards were panicing, trying to locate the shppter, Kate managed to slip away a bit. When the guards came to it, a squad of black-clad troopers stormed in, led by Malachite Johnson. Or well, some haelri or a similar race. It was hard to see under the helmet who it was.

When the guards were rounded up and the prisoners rescued, the haelri went over to Kate.

Thank you, he said. We informed the OF of what had happened.

How did you know what had happened?

He grabbed her, lift her up, and took something from her neck. She hadn't noticed it before.

Tracking device. With an audio sensor, as well. We heard everything.

Okay, there's one less mystery, Kate mumbled, annoyed. But what about my double?

Your double? We don't know anything more than you about her.

But you told me to follow my own footsteps...

I meant that you should have returned to Anthill, and then try to imagine yourself running around the corpse, and suddenly leaving.

How did they disappear, and how was I supposed to follow...?

Belluchi's company owns the only levitator-rental around here. And it's not legal to own any for personal use. That was what I meant, but it worked this way, too. Kate sighed. We have to get going, the guards are all unconscious, but we can't be seen by the OF.

Kate started. Within a moment, they had switched on some kind of cloaking devices, the monitors had vanished. Soon enough, the OF got there.

Nice job, ms Archer, Walker said.

she replied. Was it your agent, my double?

The girl that looked just like me, was it your trick?

No, we don't do cloning, we're cops. Really, I have no idea what you're talking about.

Drop it, Investigator, I have no idea what you're talking about. Come by my office tomorrow for debrief on the case.

Kate said, and left. There was two more things to do. Belluchi had to be found, and whoever he worked for. And yes, a third thing that came to mind: who called her to investigate?

She didn't go home, she drove down to the restaurant at Snakefalls, right after having checked a few details at the database. Though it was late, the owner was there.

Oh, ms. Archer, good evening, he greeted her.

Where did you get your strandberg grass?

I took it with me, from Lupus III, why?

I don't think so, mr. Amir, she said. I think you got it from somewhere else.

Why would I do that, Lupus III is only a viaster jump away.

Because there are strandberg greenhouses in town, that's why. And you know of them. You so carefully had to inform me of that there barely were any labs having them on the entire continent. Bad move. Sports has got a large farming community, they have it. That's only a few dozen kilometers away. The labs of Minnea does too, that's a few kilometers the other way. Pyramids has got several, both for farming and for study. Nice try.

You can't arrest me for ignorance...

No, but for drug dealing. You're the mastermind behind it all. I just checked. Medical reports of people suffering from similar problems as addicts do. You've been serving strandberg grass here, to get them addicted.

Why would I do that?

Money? Power? How should I know, I'm not you. Still, opportunity, motive... You're going in. They'll question you for hours, and then we'll know the truth. Your butcher is new here, it wasn't him. Your chefs and other personell haven't got access. Sorry buddy.

Well, I'm not saying anything without my legal defender.

Fine by me.

She drove him to the OFC. There she heard that Belluchi had fled the planet. But the case was closed now, she knew what she needed to know, save for two things. Her double. And the last question:

Who hired me? she asked when she once again before the town leaders.

We came to that decision together, the chief administrator said.

And molrogs fly, Kate replied. Who suggested it, who picked me?

A local, he said. Malachite Johnson is his name. Haelri, retired vardimun of the ISA fleet, lives west of town. Why?

'I'll have to look into these Montitors some time soon...' she thought for herself. Just wondering, she answered.

Well, we've cleared your account, and transferred your money, plus a reward, to your ISA Bank account, the economical organizer said. We wish you luck for your next cases.

Thanks. Give my regards to the professor, my shuttle leaves soon...

We will, the chbief administrator said. Farewell, we hope not to have to see you working here again.

It's understandable, she said. She left. By the time she had gotten to the port, the shuttle had left.

Oh, typical, she muttered. Then she spotted Ivan Daliin, talking to the nom reporter. Oh typical, she repeated. And they had seen her.

Mr. Daliin has told me all about your academy time, Thane said. Any comments on...

Oh typical, she repeated for herself. It would take some time before the next shuttle would launch.