Chapter 35
JOLAR
“Hey, look who’s back!”
I cocked my head quizzically at Klora. We’d encountered each other on the elevator this morning, where he knew I was getting my official sign off to return to work.
“You expected me to not show up until tomorrow?” I asked him.
He snorted. “Man, you are so literal! That’s a human expression, it means, like, hey, look at you! You’re back and we’re glad to see you!”
“Should simply say that then,” Sachuu informed him. “It would save confusion as we are not humans and I think you are not always using these expressions correctly.”
Klora’s jaw dropped, and he moved his mouth as if he was going to say something to refute the L.T.C. but snapped it shut instead.
“Yes, sir,” he mumbled instead, leaving me greatly relieved.
He was becoming far too informal in his speech and manners.
I hoped he really did commit himself to adhering to protocol more.
When it was just the two of us and others of similar rank, informality was fine.
Not so much when it’s one of our commanding officers or a high ranking official.
The L.T.C. turned his attention to me. “Did the doctor discover why you had a mating fever relapse for certain, then?”
“Mmhmm,” I affirmed. “My bloodwork showed high stress hormone levels, and he said it triggered my need to confirm our bond.”
“Stress?” he sighed. “This case we are working is only going to get more stressful, nor is it our only case on our list. Another warrior was found deceased, this time in the desert outside of Las Vegas’s city limits.”
“No way!” Klora exclaimed.
“Yes way,” Sachuu said wearily. “Like the first body found, he was bound and beaten.”
“Did he still have his head?” Klora asked, leaning forward.
“Yes, but his throat was cut. It is entirely possible that the first victim’s partial decapitation was accidental.
Same angle of cut, appears to be the same weapon, but much less force.
Also like the first victim, he was nowhere near where he was expected to be.
He’s been identified as Plorit na Klomnel, an engineer working on Hasnir Station. ”
Klora and I exchanged surprised looks. “He didn’t have any business with the Fleet, then?” I asked. “Hasnir Station is two full quadrants away.”
“None at all. There is also no record of him leaving the station, or arriving within this solar system, nor is there a record of any unauthorized vehicles coming in-system or going down to the planet from the Fleet.”
I swallowed. This did sound like a puzzling case, one that was going to take up a lot of hours and tax our abilities to the maximum.
“Plorit was also mated, and we are waiting for his widow to arrive to claim his remains. They’ve agreed to answer questions once they arrive. That will be in two days’ time, so for right now, our focus is the Takahashi case.”
“Hey, man, good to see you! Glad to see you’re feeling better,” Peterson called out as he sauntered into our office, carrying a tray of hot beverages, Reynolds close behind him carrying one more.
“See, I told you they’d said he’d be back, so I was right to order him a drink,” Reynolds smirked at his partner.
Sachuu gave Klora a long look. “See, that was easily understood.”
“I feel like we’re missing something,” Reynolds said, looking between the three of us Mylos.
“Klora was trying out some human idioms again,” I explained.
“Ah. I see. Um, You and Sachuu like the green tea, I seem to recall, so here you are,” Peterson replied, handing out the drinks. “And a caramel and vanilla latte for you,” he added, handing it to Klora.
We each murmured our thanks, and the two agents quickly took a seat.
“As I was just saying before you came in, we have another murder case, but progress is on hold until the victim’s widow arrives in two days’ time. I thought we could take another crack at questioning Linda Takahashi.”
“Good idea. That was a total bust. What is with her and that singing, anyway?” Reynolds grimaced.
“Classic avoidance tactic. She’s trying to get on our nerves and distract us, in the hopes we’ll give up.
It wouldn’t surprise me if she didn’t try for an insanity plea later, using these antics as so-called proof.
” Peterson frowned as he spoke, his lips twisting into a moue of disgust before taking a sip of his drink.
“Damn, you guys really do replicate good coffee,” he sighed.
“It’s almost worth applying to come join you guys up here just for the free coffee. ”
I grinned, remembering Reynolds’ earlier promise to consider applying to study here. “My mate finds the fact that everything is free here astounding.”
The two men turned to stare at me. “I’m sorry, did you say everything is free?” Reynolds asked.
“No money changes hands within the Fleet,” Sachuu confirmed.
The two human agents exchanged glances. “That clinches it. I’m going to apply. Can I do that up here? You said something about being able to, right?”
Sachuu looked very pleased. “Yes. I will assist you with that matter when we break for lunch.”
First though, we had a killer to question.
I wondered what her musical repertoire would be today.
Whatever it was, it was bound to sound terrible as she screeched and squawked the lyrics.
Everyone else seemed to be having the same thought as they took their time finishing their drinks, until at last, the L.T.C.
stood and said, “Come. We might as well get the concert over with.” Everyone grimaced, but followed him out the door.
As we approached the brig, we could already hear her. “You call this food? I’m sure other people might find this acceptable, but I’m not one of them! I know this came out of thin air, probably from recycled poop particles! I want fresh cooked food, you hear me?” she screeched.
“Ah, Commander Sachuu,” one of the two males on duty said. He must have been a transfer from another ship, as he seemed to know the L.T.C. but I’d never seen him before. “Linda Takahashi is refusing to eat her breakfast.”
“Leave it with her until lunch, but make a note of it.”
“She’s painted her walls with it, sir.”
Sachuu regarded him steadily. “Then before she is given her meal at lunch, she can scrub it off.”
The male swallowed. “Yes, sir.”
“We’re here to take her to interrogation. Make sure she is given something harder to make a mess with for the rest of her meals.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Oh, look, it’s my old buddies, Tweedle Dumb, Tweedle Dee, and Lieutenant Sasquatch. And lookie there, they’ve brought a couple human toadies with them,” she cackled.
“Charming,” Reynolds muttered.
“Why, thank you,” she preened, patting her hair with a hand covered in what looked like oatmeal as Reynolds managed to mostly hold back a shudder.
This was definitely going to be another waste of time.