Retribution Required Read online

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Star System: Toodyay

  The next day the packages began arriving. When Figueroa's shipment arrived for Sidon, Hohhot, and Dacca they were sealed by the Bijapur Port Authority, which meant they could only be opened in the presence of the addressee. But there was one box among the others that had no inspection stamp, which meant a customs officer had been bribed to ignore the box. I opened it in the cargo hold because of the potential lingering vapors from the Velvet. Then I fetched the three containers my father had created. They had been thoroughly tested and were one hundred percent vapor-leak proof. The best part was that the containers were flexible and could be wrapped around one's waist or taped to a leg or arm. I placed each of the kilo-sized packages into a separate container. Then they were hermetically sealed and the outside washed down. On the Flight Deck I used the Control Suite to open one of the hidden compartments, placed the three containers inside, then returned and sealed the compartment. Those hidden compartments could only be opened or closed from the Fight Deck.

  I met Kraig a few hours later at the merchant guild’s office and we signed a crew contract. Then I accompanied him back to the Tykhe.

  "Where would you like me to transfer the fee?" he asked after I had shown him his room, he had stored his gear, and I had locked his weapons in his room's safe, which only I could open from the Flight Deck.

  "The Central Bank of Tanzan, Z. Bertok, Account, N559213456," I said as he typed on his tablet. After a few minutes he looked up.

  "Transaction complete." He smiled. "Is your cat friendly?"

  "No. She's not a pet so do not touch, feed, or otherwise attempt to engage her."

  "Zen, I understand your concerns and will follow your rules to the letter. And if you need help with anything, I'm available," he said while holding eye contact—not that eye contact proved anything, but he looked sincere.

  "While I won't actively look for your Raiders, I will let you know if I hear anything," I said. "I'm hoping this will be a mutually beneficial arrangement."

  Five hours later I received verification the money had been deposited into my account and I lifted for Toodyay—a three-day trip.

  * * *

  I had to admit, my passenger restricted his movements to the galley, lounge, and his quarters. When we met the conversation was light, mostly about aspects regarding one of the Rim planets and its people. When we landed at Toodyay, I opened his safe so he could retrieve his weapons.

  The customs inspection was thorough but not overly aggressive. They verified the contents of my cargo hold to my manifest and used a Sniffer during a quick tour of the Tykhe. I turned over the few packages I had for Toodyay, gave Kraig a number where he could reach me, and caught a taxi to Fairaday City.

  Timeless Treasures was a small shop located on the outskirts of the city. The shelves were made of what looked like old wood and held hundreds of objects, each labeled with descriptive information—name, place of origin, and historical information relating to the object—but no price. I guess if you wanted to know the price you couldn't afford it or wouldn't be willing to pay what the owner wanted. I had only been in the shop for a few minutes when an elderly man with white hair, an expensive suit, and a neatly trimmed full beard approached. His round chubby face was smiling.

  "That's a beautiful snow leopard, Spacer," he said appraising Shadi while his mind evaluated my potential threat or value, judging by the slight wrinkles on his forehead.

  "Beautiful but she's getting old. I'm looking to breed her before it's too late. Of course, I’ll want the pick of the litter but they usually have three to a litter so everyone wins—me, the other owner, and an intermediate." I smiled and continued into the shop while examining what he had on display. I'd wager what was on display wasn't his high-end merchandise.

  "How did you come by your leopard, if you don't mind me asking?" he asked while trying determine if I was genuine or a clever sting.

  "By luck. I stopped on Tanzan several years ago…someone needed money…well one thing led to another…" I shrugged, hoping he interpreted the transaction as something illegal.

  "That was lucky. I'm afraid I don't sell animals. They qualify as treasures but they aren't timeless. Sorry." He shrugged and looked disappointed.

  "Too bad. I can't go back to Tanzan and I've heard some rich people collected exotic animals…so I'm asking around. If you hear of anyone, I'll pay for the information. If you do, leave a message for Pilot Zen at the merchant's guild. They will forward it to me on Sidon," I said and headed for the door, pretending to no longer be interested. As I began to shut the door he shouted, "Wait. I might know someone who is rumored to collect rare animals. Let me see if I can find out more. He may collect animals but not have a snow leopard. They are very rare." His eyes watched me for my reaction.

  "Don't contact me unless he owns a snow leopard. I'm not interested in exotic animals." I waved goodbye casually as if I doubted he would find anyone. If this didn't work, I would have to get physical, which I didn't want to do if I could avoid it. He didn't steal the cubs or contract to have them stolen. He was an intermediate, like me with the Velvet.

  * * *

  The next day, the guild informed me a Mr. Andrus had left a message that he had found an interested party and I should contact him at his shop. I arrived late that afternoon when I thought he would be getting ready to close. He was smiling when I entered his shop.

  "You're in luck, Pilot Zen. I've located a man with a male snow cat who is willing to breed him, for a cub," he said as he placed a closed sign on the door and took me to his small office in the back of the store. As I had suspected, the office had shelves containing paintings, vases, carvings, and miscellaneous objects I didn't recognize. Costlier than out front but, I'd wager, the really expensive items were at his home or some other secure place.

  "We need to sign a contract…to protect you, me, and the owner of the other snow leopard," he said, producing a three-page document. I nodded and carefully read the document. It stated that a Mr. Evin Chapman, Laurice Andrus, and Pilot Zenaida would each receive a cub. In the event only two cubs were born, the two who received cubs would each pay the other one hundred thousand credits. An interesting price, I mused. That was probably the amount that each of the present owners paid for one of Shadi's cubs.

  "That's a lot of money. Maybe I should go in the business of selling snow leopards," I said, pursing my lips as if I were considering the venture.

  "They are very rare and next to impossible to obtain legally or illegally," Andrus said, smiling. I signed the agreement, agreeing to stay on Sidon until the cubs were born and weaned, and received Mr. Chapman's address in exchange.

  I sat back after signing the documents, wondering if Andrus knew the third person who had one of the cubs—he may not have sold all three—and if he knew who had committed the robbery. There could be multiple intermediates between the men who stole the cubs and shot my father, and the buyers. While I debated whether to press Andrus for his suppliers, he spoke.

  "If you are serious, I know of another owner who has a snow leopard who may be interested in selling his. For a small fee, if you agree to purchase his leopard, I would give you his address…and I'm sure I could find buyers for cubs," he added. The thought of breeding snow leopards to sell to rich people as trophies made bile rise in my throat and I had an overwhelming urge to shoot Andrus.

  I decided to wait—to shoot him. Instead I smiled. "Great. It sounds like a very profitable arrangement." After signing another agreement I left with both names. The third individual lived on Dacca.

  * * *

  Although I was in a hurry to leave, I felt I should give my paying passenger time to snoop and decided to see if I could find additional business—legal or otherwise. The next day I left a notice at the merchant's guild of my schedule and in the evening made my way to the Club Royal, one of my father's favorites.

  The Rim systems had a penchant for old-Earth history and many of the clubs catered to
it. The Royal's theme came directly from the period of titled nobility. The décor was sixteenth century European and the staff dressed like the servants of that period, acted subservient, and were eager to please the customers—many of whom also dressed appropriately for the period, claiming to be dukes, duchesses, earls, barons, and baronesses. For those customers, a special area was reserved.

  I found a place at the bar in the common room and ordered a draft beer as I waited to be recognized or ignored. The rough wooden tables were about half full, as was the bar. Most of the noise was coming from the nobility's area, which had entertainment, judging by the shouts and clapping.

  "How's business, Zen? an older man asked as he sat down next to me. He looked familiar but I couldn't think why. He was several centimeters taller than I and looked fit, if twenty kilo overweight. His brown beard with its streaks of silver partially hid a long scar on his cheek…

  "Mr. Yates," I finally said, remembering him from when he was younger, thinner, and without a beard, as one of my father's drinking buddies. I never discovered why they were friends since they had no business connections I could discover and my father never said.

  "Charley, now that you are all grown up." He grinned. "I see Shadi has grown a bit too."

  "You know dad…died," I said not sure how wide spread the news of his murder or the rumors about his death.

  "Yes, I told your father not to deal with the Black Hand. They have less than no ethics." He turned his head and spit. "At least he was smart enough to send you off when he met with them." His eyes grew wide and he shook his head as he saw my dumbfounded expression turn deadly. "I thought you knew… Now, girl, don't you go getting ideas."

  I jumped off my stool and grabbed his arm. "Charley, if you were my father's friend, you'll come with me back to the Tykhe and tell me everything you know." I watched as his expression slowly changed from defiance to resignation.

  "Won't do no good, but I guess I owe you that," he said reluctantly. The taxi ride back to the Tykhe was made in silence, both of us lost in our own thoughts. Back on the Tykhe, I fetched a couple beers and settled across from him, hoping he had information that would lead me to my father's killers.

  "Your father was a bit of a scoundrel, but he didn't have a mean bone in his body. I first met him when I stopped on Tanzan some forty years ago. I liked the young rascal right away. He helped me trading with the locals and I decided to take him along with me when I left. I was a small-time smuggler at the time, but with your father's help we became significant players, enough for him to buy his own ship. I think the only reason he got caught that one time was because someone double-crossed or set him up. We remained friends and would meet up a couple of times a year to compare notes." He stopped to finish the beer and I fetched him another. "The last time I saw him, he mentioned he had been approached by a man named Bret Osoriao, wanting to buy Shadi's cubs. They were offering big money for the cubs and access to people who could make him wealthy. I told your dad, Osoriao was connected to the Black Hand and he should stay clear of them. You're either on the inside or you’re expendable." Charley finished his beer and I got him another. "Your father wasn't vicious or heartless so I doubt he had any intention of joining them, but he loved to outsmart people and might have thought he could play them."

  "I can't believe he would sell Shadi's cubs," I said, although I knew he might be tempted but wouldn't as he knew it would break my heart.

  "As I said, your father loved to outsmart people. I think he thought he could outsmart Osoriao, unaware the Black Hand was playing him. I'm surprised they didn't steal your ship."

  "Thank you, Charley. That's helps to clear up a lot of questions I've had these past two years."

  "My advice to you is the same as it was to your father. Avoid any dealings with the Black Hand. They have no morals, ethics, or honor."

  "How do I find them?"

  "I don't know and wouldn't tell you if I did," Charley said, shaking his head. "You don't find them. They find you."

  "Shadi and I look forward to that day."

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Star System: Sidon

  "Need more time?" I asked when Kraig returned to the ship two days later.

  "No. I think any additional time would only be a waste and might get me noticed. There are just so many questions you can ask before your interest becomes suspicious," he said, and surprised me by opening his leather bag and removing his weapons. "How about you?"

  "Nothing on the raiders." I felt a slight pang of guilt because I hadn't made an attempt to find any information on them, even from Charley. "But I did have some luck on finding a lead on the cubs," I said as I poked around in his bag and collected his weapons, which I stored in his cabin's safe.

  "Where to next?" he asked when I had retrieved two beers and sat at the dining room table.

  "Sidon. I have several deliveries and one of the cubs is reported to be there."

  "If it's not being too nosey, do you intend to let him keep the cub like you did the guy on Toodyay? Seems like you have a legal claim to them."

  "The cats are now too old to be freed, so if they have a good home I'll let the owners keep them." I shrugged.

  "And if not?"

  "Then they don't get to keep them."

  "That's very generous, since I doubt you're asking to be reimbursed. They must be worth many credits." His eyebrows raised in a questioning look. I nodded.

  "One hundred thousand." I shook my head. "I don't sell snow leopards." A growl from Shadi mirrored my thoughts.

  The Tykhe lifted for Sidon twelve hours later, which was a short two-day trip. I met Kraig in the galley the next day for lunch.

  "Good morning, Zen." Kraig sat at the dining room table, looking over a map of Sidon.

  "Have you ever been to the Far Rim before?" I asked when I saw several maps lying near him.

  "No. My duties have always been confined to the Central Systems."

  "Why you, then. Seems they must have snoops in the Rim systems." I held up my hand when I saw him frown. "Let's make an agreement. We can ask anything we want but neither you nor I are obligated to answer. Just shake your head if you don't want to answer."

  "That's a fair arrangement. I think they felt a new face was safer since I wouldn't be recognized and I'm familiar with military-configured spacecraft." He grinned. "The current snoops are more interested in illegal activities going to and from the Rim and the Central Systems."

  "Have you ever heard of the Black Hand?" I asked, thinking I might enlist Kraig to help me find them. His eyes narrowed and he was quiet for a long time.

  "I know they are particularly dangerous and deal in everything from slavery to gun running. Why?" He straightened in his chair. "You think they killed your father?"

  I nodded. "And they might be related to your Raiders." I said, thinking they would be the type of people willing to support Raiders—both groups sounded evil. Kraig nodded after several minutes, looking off into space.

  "If so, we may have mutual interests."

  * * *

  Kraig and I spent an hour with the customs’ inspectors. They were thorough but didn't appear overly suspicious. When they finished, Kraig left the ship and I called Mr. Chapman's number and arranged to meet him at his home that evening at eight. I fetched one of my containers, secured it between my legs, and left for the Rock Club. It was a popular dance club for the young and affluent of Libertyville, the largest city on Sidon's most populated continent. I chose a taxi rather than try to negotiate the local transportation system of trains and buses that was erratic and confusing.

  "Where to, Spacer?" the woman driver asked as Shadi and I entered. "That's two fares."

  "The Rock Club," I said as I closed the door.

  "Dancing doesn't start until around eight, although the bar is open and there are girls dancing, if you like that sort of thing." She jerked her head in Shadi's direction. "That's a big cat," she said as she pulled away from the curb and into traffic. When I didn’t answer, s
he remained quiet. The road into the city was lightly populated with low-income houses and temporary shelters. Libertyville, on the other hand, was a modern-looking city with a large variety of housing: wealthy on the outskirts, middle class and poor as it approached the center, and expensive in and near the center. The Rock Club looked to be in a middle-to-upper-class neighborhood on the outskirts of the city center. Thankful for the quiet ride, I gave her a twenty percent tip.

  The outside of the Rock Club was a plain steel and cement building with four sets of glass doors that led into a lobby with black marble floors. Inside there were three entrances: two ticket lanes led into a large auditorium with a raised stage, to the left an open archway to the bar, and to the right a hallway to the offices. The ticket lanes were closed, the bar looked open, and two guards blocked access into the hallway. I turned right.

  "The bar is over there and they don't allow pets," said one of the two sumo-sized men as I approached the entrance to the offices.

  "Tell Miss Pena that Zen has news about her friend on Bijapur," I said, hoping Pena remembered me and I didn't have to argue with these two gorillas. The non-talkative one spoke into a mic on his wrist, then tapped his buddy's arm and jerked his head toward the hallway to the offices.

  "Last door on the left," the talkative one said and stepped aside, looking disappointed. He probably hadn't had a fight in a day or two. The non-talkative one then led me down the hallway to the office, knocked, and opened the door when he heard Come.

  "Hello, Zen. I'd heard you were still active. I'm surprised...it's dangerous for a woman working alone in the Rim." She laughed. "Of course, Shadi does even the odds a bit." Pena hadn't changed over the past several years: tall, wiry, and athletic looking, indicating she worked out regularly. Her raven black hair cut short slightly over her ears, and her sharp hawk nose gave her face a predatory look. In fact she was a dangerous woman.