The Empire: The Crime Consortium

Javelle parked a little over fifteen kilometers west of Lodes on the Lodes Autobahn Expressway at one of the intersections. Doug hoped an expressway security patrolman didn’t get suspicious seeing a vehicle parked and stop to investigate. It would not be so much a problem but more of an inconvenience, especially if the Diamond T truck went by while the patrolman was investigating. They could call Major Flemington and he could verify who they were and what they were doing.

Issie hacked into the Diamond T Trucking Company computer network which showed all of Diamond T Trucking Company’s trucks and where they were located at any given moment. But they were only interested in the three Diamond T trucks traveling east on the Autobahn Expressway into Lodes.

According to the information Issie had supplied, the first truck should pass their location sometime between 2145 - 2215 depending on the flow of traffic, with the other two behind at half-hour intervals.

Doug and Javelle arrived at their current location a few minutes after 2100 hours. If, for some reason, the first truck passed before the estimated time, they did not want to miss it.

It was approaching 2200 hours and Javelle said, “There is the truck.”

Javelle started the ground vehicle and merged into the flow of traffic. Doug called Major Flemington and told him they had spotted the truck and to slow the flow of traffic.

Doug hoped Major Flemington would keep his word and have Lieutenant Ramsey and Sergeant Mulligan slow the flow of traffic. It had been a busy day for Lodes Security. First, Sampsel Mahurin confessed he headed up the local crime syndicate, then the shooting at E’Step’s place. Lodes Security officers stopped a vehicle with its windshield blown out, only to find a man, according to the officers, who was so frightened he wet his pants and was pleading for protection from some crazy person shooting everyone in sight.

The traffic was light on the Autobahn, traveling at over one hundred and twenty kilometers an hour. They traveled over eight kilometers before the traffic began to slow.

The Autobahn Expressway information signs flashed CONSTRUCTION AHEAD. MERGE RIGHT. Some ground vehicles were still flying by on the outside lane at a high rate of speed. The Diamond T truck flashed its blinker it wanted to change lanes and go into the center lane. Javelle maintained his position in the right lane.

Another quarter kilometer and the Diamond T truck flashed its blinker it wanted to come back over to the right lane. Javelle blinked his lights that it was okay and to come ahead.

The Diamond T truck came back into the right lane and blinked its flashers to say thanks.

They were now within a quarter kilometer of the city limits of Lodes. The traffic was now in the right lane and had come to virtually a crawl. Doug exited from the ground vehicle, ran in front of Javelle and up alongside the truck. An alert truck driver would keep the passage side door locked. His only choice was the driver side door.

It was a cool evening and Doug saw that the truck driver had his window down an eighth of the way. He hoped his door was unlocked. Doug grabbed the handrail, pulling himself up onto the steps and opening the door all at the same time.

“What the (an expletive)?” the truck driver uttered.

“Watch the highway,” Doug snapped. “Are you carrying any women on this truck?”

Using a couple more choice expletives, the truck driver told him no. A mental scan confirmed the truck driver was telling the truth. “Thanks,” Doug said. “You will forget you ever saw me. Now go ahead.”

Doug closed the door and dropped back onto the road and let the truck crawl on by. If anyone had observed what just occurred, there was no alarm. When the truck passed, Doug hurried in front of Javelle’s ground vehicle and got back into it.

“Wrong truck, pull over to the side and wait for the next one.” Javelle had reasoned it was the wrong truck and was already pulling over onto the shoulder of the expressway.

Doug called Major Flemington and told him the first Diamond T truck was not carrying the women and to keep the Autobahn Expressway blocked. Major Flemington wanted to know how he knew it was not the right truck. “I’ll explain later,” Doug replied and disconnected the call.

It was nearly twenty five minutes until the next Diamond T truck appeared. The traffic was still crawling along. Doug exited the ground vehicle and went to the front and waited. When the Diamond T truck went past, Doug ran behind and up along the side.

Like the other truck the driver had his window down an eighth of the way. Doug hoped the door was unlocked. He grabbed the hand rail, climbed onto the steps, and pulled on the door. It was unlocked.

“What the (an expletive)?” The truck driver raised his left arm to strike out at Doug, uttering some more expletives.

Doug mentally blocked his arm and said, “Watch the highway. Are you carrying any women on this truck?”

The truck driver uttered a few more expletives, telling Doug there were no women on the truck and where Doug should go. Doug would not have needed a mental scan to know the man was lying, but a mental scan confirmed it.

“Move over,” Doug ordered, imprinting the command in the man’s mind. Doug grabbed the wheel as the driver released it. Doug slid into the driving seat. He expected the big rig to have a standard transmission and was surprised to find it had an automatic. He finally got himself positioned where he felt in control of the truck. He told the truck driver to place his hands on his knees and immobilized him. He retrieved his vistaview unit, called Javelle to tell him he was in control of the truck and to drive up alongside on the shoulder and he would let him in front.

“Where are you delivering this load?” Doug asked the truck driver. He told him the name of Ogden Grocery store chain and gave him the address.

“Did you hear that, Javelle?” Doug asked. Javelle acknowledged he had and Doug told Javelle to lead them there.

Doug called Major Flemington, told him he was in control of the truck and where they were going. Major Flemington wanted to know why they should not extract the women now. Doug explained there was merchandise behind the partitioned off section where the women were being kept and it would have to be unloaded. “We may as well unload at the grocery store and save the trouble of having to reload later. Besides, it will be more convenient to unload it at the grocery store. They have the lift vehicles to do it.”

Doug went on to explain that he had the man under control and there was no need for half of Lodes Security to show up at the grocery store, but he should order some female security officers to be on hand to assist the women. “And it might be wise to have some medical rescue teams on site in the event any of the women need medical attention.”

Javelle had no problem finding the Ogden Grocery store chain.

They entered the customer parking lot and Doug’s vistaview unit buzzed. “Yes, Javelle, what is it?” Doug asked.

I am sure they do not want to unload that truck out front,” Javelle said.

“They should have a dock area, probably in the back,” Doug replied.

Javelle continued through the customer parking lot until he came to the side of the building and then he turned left and continued along the side. They came to the back of the store and Doug saw a couple of trailers, without the trucks connected, already at the dock. He drove on around and saw two men on the dock. Doug rolled the window down and yelled, “Where do you want this?”

One of the men pointed at a dock space. It took Doug three tries to get the big rig lined up so he could back into the spot the man had indicated. Doug imagined he could hear the two dock workers saying what a lousy truck driver he was. He hit the dock with a thud and now he knew the dock workers were wondering what kind of truck driver he was.

One of the dock workers jumped off the dock, ran forward and yelled, “Hey, dummy, you got to open the doors first. Pull up and I’ll open them for you.”

Doug had not noticed that the trailer had doors that swung open to each side, not the kind that rolled up in the back. Doug could not stop himself from laughing and flashed the dock workers an ingratiating smile.

This time he eased back into the dock without hitting it with a thud. As Doug exited from the truck, Major Flemington, followed by Lieutenant Ramsey and Sergeant Mulligan in another vehicle, pulled up and stopped.

The dock worker looked first at Major Flemington and then at Doug. Doug suspected he thought he was going to be arrested. Doug turned back to the truck and told the man, “Slide over and get out here.” The man complied.

Major Flemington saw the man and said, “I thought you said you had him restrained.”

Doug ignored Major Flemington’s remark and said to the man, “Meet Lodes Securities’ finest; Major Flemington, Lieutenant Ramsey and Sergeant Mulligan. You will tell these officers all you know about trafficking in women. And you will answer any and all their questions truthfully,” and imprinted the instructions in the man’s mind.

Then he said to the man, in a cold, icy voice, “I do not like people like you who traffic in human beings. If I ever see you again, I will terminate you.” Major Flemington gave Doug a scrutinizing stare, but he said nothing. Doug grabbed the man by the collar of his jacket, shoved him toward Sergeant Mulligan, and said, “Get him out of my sight before I terminate him.”

Major Flemington was still staring at Doug, who ignored him, turned and walked over to the dock worker who had remained watching what was occurring. “Let’s go unload this truck,” Doug said to the man.

They met the other dock worker on the dock and Doug said, “There is some valuable cargo in the front of this trailer. I would really appreciate it if you fellows could get the trailer unloaded as fast as possible,” and handed each man a hundred credit note.

“Yes, sir, we’re on it,” the dock worker who had remained said. “What kind of cargo?”

“Women,” Doug replied. And the two dock workers just looked at one another.

The dock workers had unloaded all but the last pallet. The one dock worker drove his lift vehicle onto the trailer to get it and wrinkled his nose and said, “What’s that awful odor?”

The odor of urine, feces, sweat and a few odors Doug could not identify was strong. He just hoped one of the odors was not the odor of death.

“I don’t know,” Doug told the man. “We’ll find out in a minute.”

The man removed the last pallet, and Doug could see the front of the trailer was partitioned off with lumber. Doug yelled at the dock worker, “Hey, you got a crowbar or something…”

Before Doug could say more he heard a ripping sound. He looked around and saw Javelle pulling the boards off. The odor was almost overwhelming.

Three female security officers came walking forward, wrinkling their noses at the foul odor. Doug saw that medical personnel had arrived and were now at the back of the trailer. Doug figured there was nothing more he and Javelle could do and he nodded to Javelle that they should leave.

Outside, Doug saw the two dock workers now watching what was happening. One asked, “What’s going on?”

“Ask those security people. They can tell you,” Doug replied.

“Well, who are you?” the man who had called Doug a dummy asked.

Doug laughed and said, “Who me? Why I am just that dummy truck driver who could not remember to open the trailer doors,” showing the man an ingratiating smile. The man could not help himself and had to smile.

“You called him a dummy,” the other dock worker said.

“Yeah, he couldn’t drive and he forgot to open the doors on the trailer,” the second man said, seeing his buddy shaking his head. “What?”

“That Major, I’ve seen him on the hyperwave. He heads up security here in Lodes, and he started hassling me. That man told him to stop hassling me and to get off the truck. He must have some kind of authority to order that major around. And you called him a dummy!”

“Well… he didn’t seem to have been offended,” the man said. “Besides he didn’t look all that tough to me.”

“Yeah, well you should have seen his partner. He ripped those boards off that wall like it was nothing more than paper.”

Major Flemington looked for Doug and Javelle, but they were gone. He saw the two dock workers and asked them, “You see those two men who brought that truck in?”

One man pointed and said, “They went thataway and got into a ground vehicle.”

The other man asked, “What is going on?”

“Those women had been kidnapped and were being transported here on that truck,” Major Flemington relied.

The first man asked, “Who were those two men?”

“I am beginning to wonder myself,” Major Flemington said, as he turned to go.

Agent Gants drove up as Doug and Javelle walked across the parking lot to their ground car. He got out, followed by two other men Doug figured were also Anchors Global Bureau of Investigation agents.

“What’s going on?” Agent Gants asked.

“Major Flemington, Lieutenant Ramsey and Sergeant Mulligan apprehended a truck carrying women,” Javelle replied.

“Where are you going?” Agent Gants asked.

“There is nothing for us to do here. We’re leaving,” Doug replied.

As Javelle exited the parking lot, Doug felt his vistaview unit vibrate and remembered he had shut the buzzer off. Retrieving his unit, he saw that it was Major Flemington calling. “Yes, Major?” Doug answered.

“Where are you?” Major Flemington wanted to know.

“We’re leaving, nothing more for us to do around here,” Doug replied.

“But you have to be debriefed,” Major Flemington said.

“Debriefed, about what?” Doug asked.

“About capturing this truck with the women on it,” Major Flemington answered.

“You have the truck, the driver, and the women. You can file all the necessary reports and congratulations,” Doug said. “You, Lieutenant Ramsey and Sergeant Mulligan have done a great job apprehending that truck and rescuing those women. And congratulations on the excellent job you did exposing the criminal element here in Lodes. They should give you a promotion. Take the credit, Major.”

“But, but…” Major Flemington stammered. “We have a spaceship to catch in the morning. We have to get back home to Trenton. I have a hot date waiting,” Doug said and disconnected the call.

Doug saw he had a text message from Ryan:

Call me when you have an opportunity

Signed R

“Hi, Ryan,” Doug said. “How was your evening?”

“Great! Issie and I took a city tour and saw all the highlights. We had dinner in a fabulous restaurant. You and Javelle really missed out,” Ryan said.

“Yeah, well…” Doug started to say, but Ryan interrupted. “Yeah, yeah, I know. You were busy. You were able to hijack that truck and rescue the women, weren’t you?”

“Mission accomplished. Major Flemington and his people are handling everything now,” Doug replied. “Did Issie make us airship reservations to Carrolton?”

“Yes,” Doug heard Issie speak up. “We’re scheduled to depart at 0900. We’ll depart from Lodes Intergalactic Spaceport. The airship terminal is also located there.”

“Okay. See you in the morning,” Doug replied and disconnected the call.

“This is Gainer Sharp with the late night news. Our major news story tonight is about Sampsel Mahurin who is a candidate for representative to the world of Anchors terrestrial government. Earlier today, while attending a function at the Lodes Children Hospital, he pledged one million credits to help the hospital build a new wing onto the hospital and confessed that he headed up Lodes crime syndicate. He named a number of businesses, including the ’Your Heart’s Desire’ gentlemen’s club and the ’Pleasures Delight’ gentlemen’s club, that was raided by unknown assailants a couple of nights ago. He also acknowledged he was behind the drug operation found in the Continental Warehouse on Industrial Boulevard that was raided, plus the Waffle Inn on Clinton Street.

“Mahurin was taken into custody by Major Ronen Flemington, the city of Lodes security chief, who was attending the function at the hospital. After a hearing, Mahurin was released on a ten million credit bond and required to wear a monitoring bracelet. A trial date was not set.

“In his confession, Mahurin explained that crime syndicates on the world of Anchors were members of what he called the ’Consortium.’ A consortium would be a group of businesses or organizations with a common purpose. Mahurin said a man named Melli Rizzo in the city of Carrolton was the chairman or CEO. Misty Wenn, with Channel Thirty-seven News in Carrolton, is standing by. Misty, I understand you tried to contact Mr. Rizzo for his comments.”

“Good evening, Gainer. Melli Rizzo is a very successful businessman here in Carrolton. He owns the Carrolton Country Club, the Ocean-11 theme park, a high-class restaurant, and a couple of hotels. But it has also been rumored he engages in some illegal activities like loan sharking, gambling and the numbers. But Carrolton Security has never been able to make a case against him. After learning that Mahurin had implicated him as being involved in some crime organization, I contacted his office and was told Mr. Rizzo was unavailable for comment. Later, we received a message from his attorney who said, in effect, that Mr. Rizzo knew Mr. Mahurin, but he was as shocked as everyone upon learning he was involved in criminal activities. As for the so-called crime consortium, he had no idea what he was talking about. Back to you, Gainer.”

“That was Misty Wenn, with Channel Thirty-seven News in Carrolton,” Gainer said. “In other news today, there was a shootout at the Lodes Wholesale-Retail Company on Bungler Avenue. Sally Jessie Ramiro covered the story and this is her evening report. Let’s take a look.”

“A brazen daytime shootout took place earlier this afternoon at the Lodes Wholesale-Retail Company on Bungler Avenue. Lodes Security has now identified the victims. Among those terminated was a man named Jakes ’The Hammer’ Clydes who is suspected of a number of murders in different cities, that includes the murder of two agents with Anchors Global Bureau of Investigation. A security officer, who wished to remain anonymous, remarked that no one was going to lose any sleep over the demise of Jakes ’The Hammer’ Clydes. But security is mystified as to who may have done this, as well as conducted raids on the gentlemen’s clubs, the Continental Warehouse, and Waffle Inn. One of Jakes ’The Hammer’ Clydes’ men was able to escape but wrecked his vehicle. That man described Jakes ’The Hammer’ Clydes as a for-hire assassin and they had been hired to come to Lodes and murder the agents who had raided the gentlemen’s clubs, the Continental Warehouse, and robbed the Waffle Inn.

“Wounded in this shootout was Jackson E’step, who managed the Lodes Wholesale-Retail Company. He was shot through the hand. E’step said the man called him moments before he was shot and was told to confess his criminal activities or he would be back and terminate him. E’step acknowledged that he worked for Sampsel Mahurin, who earlier confessed to running the crime syndicate here in the city of Lodes. E’step also told security that he contacted Sampsel Mahurin and requested help to identify those raiding different businesses, the gentlemen’s clubs, the Continental Warehouse, and robbed the Waffle Inn. Mahurin told him he would contact Melli Rizzo and request he send Jakes ’The Hammer’ Clydes. We have been unable to contact Mr. Rizzo for comment.”

“That was Sally Jessie Ramiro reporting,” Gainer said. “I’m being told there is some kind of trouble at Ogden Grocery. Reporter Sandi Okafuji is on her way there. Sandi, have you arrived yet?”

“Good evening, Gainer,” Sandi replied. “I arrived a few minutes ago and had an opportunity to speak with Major Ronen Flemington, the city of Lodes security chief. Lodes Security apprehended the Diamond T truck behind me. They found nine women caged in a space in front of the trailer. The women have been taken to Lodes General Hospital.”

“Sandi, how did Lodes Security find that truck?” Gainer asked.

“I asked Major Flemington, but he didn’t say. I spoke with the dock workers. One of them told me another man drove the truck in. He remembers the man saying he could not drive,” Sandi replied.

“Do we know who abducted those women?” Gainer asked.

“No. But the Diamond T Trucking Company is owned by Komo Bellucci in the city of Dallison. And Sampsel Mahurin, in his confession, implicated Bellucci as being a member of the crime consortium,” Sandi replied.

“That was Sandi Okafuji reporting from Ogden Grocery. We’ll have updates when we learn more,” Gainer said. “Let’s now go to meteorologist, Jeff Mahan. We’re experiencing drought conditions, Jeff. Can we expect any rain?”

“Good evening, Gainer. Good evening, everyone. We are experiencing drought conditions and currently have a ten centimeter rain deficit. But we have only a slight possibility of rain. I’ll have the full weather report after these words from our sponsors.”

“Good morning, Issie,” Raquel said, answering the vistaview call.

The Galactic Empire Bureau of Investigation gang convened at Raquel’s house for breakfast, as they did most mornings.

“How is everything going on the world of Anchors?” Raquel inquired.

“Great. Doug, Javelle and Ryan have been a ‘rockin’ and a shakin’,” Issie replied.

“A rockin’ and a shakin’!” Raquel repeated, as she looked around the table at Directors Major Justice, Maria Santos, Gilbert Faber, Harvey Braden, and the two office managers Jenny Senyk and Karen Ryan. Also present this morning was Technical Sergeant Keith Davies, who headed up Raquel’s personal security strike team.

“Perhaps you had better explain ‘a rockin’ and a shakin,’” Raquel instructed.

“Well, Doug and Ryan hit these two gentlemen clubs. These places where, uh, you know, men, uh, well, uh.…”

“I understand what gentlemen’s clubs are, Issie,” Raquel said. “Please go on.”

“Yes, well, women were abducted and forced to work there. Doug and Ryan freed them,” Issie said.

“Okay. And what else have Doug and Ryan been a rockin’ and a shakin’? I hope Doug has not been littering the streets with bodies,” Raquel asked.

“Then Doug and Ryan hit a warehouse that had a drug processing room. Next they raided the crime syndicate’s banks and…”

Raquel interrupted Issie before she could say more and said, “You’re telling me that they robbed a bank?”

“Yes. No. That’s what they call it - a bank. But the crime syndicate uses it to laundry dirty, that is, illegal credits. It’s to make credits appear legal by passing illegally acquired credits through a legitimate business or bank account in order to disguise its illegal origins,” Issie explained. “Oh, is Major there?”

“I’m here, Issie,” Major said.

“I transferred over thirty million credits into the ‘widows and orphans’ account,” Issie told Major.

“I know. There must have been over two hundred deposits,” Major remarked.

“Two hundred and eleven. Let someone try to follow that credit trail,” Issie said, obviously pleased with what she had done. Major had to smile at Issie’s cleverness.

“Of course, that was not all of the credits. I transferred over five million to the Lodes Children Hospital to help them build a new wing plus buy equipment. And two million went to the general hospital to assist them in upgrading their medical equipment. Two million went to the Lighthouse Mission; they provide food and clothing to the needy. And -”

“We get the idea, Issie,” Raquel said, interrupting Issie. “What else has occurred?”

“Someone tried to terminate Doug and Javelle,” Issie blunted out.

Not that the news was a surprise, but she exclaimed, “Oh good Galaxy! Are they okay?”

“Oh yes, they’re okay, and they caught the man who tried to terminate them,” Issie said. “Doug persuaded him to tell who ordered the hit. The man confirmed that it was Jackson E’step, and the man with Anchors Global Bureau of Investigation and Lodes Security believes E’step headed up the crime syndicate here in Lodes. But Doug called E’step, and told him in that cold icy voice he uses sometimes, that he was the ghost of the man who Link had killed and he was coming for him. Doug calls that…”

“Psych warfare. Yes, I know Issie,” Raquel said.

“Anyway, E’step was so rattled he called Sampsel Mahurin, who I learned was actually the head of Lodes crime syndicate. Sampsel Mahurin then called Melli Rizzo in Carrolton and told him he suspected that it was agents from the GEBI who were causing all the trouble.”

“Who is Melli Rizzo?” Maria asked, interrupting Issie.

“He is one of the directors in the ’Consortium.’ It is a little unclear how it works, but Doug theorized that the local crime syndicates are somehow linked forming the ’Consortium.’ They, in turn, formulate or oversee the activities of the local crime syndicates,” Issie explained.

“That makes sense,” Major commented. “It would prevent open warfare among the crime families.”

“That’s what Doug said,” Issie replied. “Anyway, Melli Rizzo told Sampsel Mahurin that he would send Jakes ’The Hammer’ Clydes and his hit team to Lodes to find Doug and terminate him. Actually he didn’t say Doug. He said those meddlesome GEBI agents. I found a security record for Jakes ’The Hammer’ Clydes. He is suspected of murder in a number of cities and he is one mean and intimidating looking person. Here, I’ll transmit you a picture.”

“We don’t need a…” before Raquel could finish her sentence, the picture of Jakes ’The Hammer’ Clydes appeared on her vistaview unit.

“Ooh, that is one mean looking man,” Karen exclaimed. “Look at those eyes.”

“Where is this Jakes ’The Hammer’ Clydes at now?” Gilbert asked.

“Terminated,” Issie replied.

“Terminated?” Jenny asked.

“Dead.” Sergeant Davies clarified.

“Oh! OH!” Jenny exclaimed.

“Yes, he didn’t intimidate Doug,” Issie added. Grinning, Raquel looked around the table and shook her head.

“Oh, yes, Doug and Javelle persuaded Sampsel Mahurin to confess all his sins,” Issie added. “He told Lodes Security all about the crime syndicate operating in Lodes.”

“Are you coming home now?” Raquel asked. “No, we’re going to Carrolton. Doug wants to take down the rest of this crime ’Consortium.’ They’re having a big meeting in Carrolton. That is, the directors are,” Issie replied.

“Issie, is my sister there with you now?” Karen asked.

“I’m here, Karen,” Ryan replied.

“Are you okay?” Karen asked.

“I’m fine. And I got you and Jenny a gift when Issie and I went to one of the malls here,” Ryan said. “Oh, Raquel, Maria, I got you a gift, too.”

“Ryan, did you get me a gift?” Sergeant Davies asked, grinning.

“No, but I will try to find something for you,” Ryan replied. “Ricardo, are you there?”

“I’m here,” Ricardo answered. “I got you a gift. Something you have been wanting for your kitchen,” Ryan said.

“Oh? What’s that?” Ricardo asked.

“A surprise,” Ryan said.

“Okay, thanks for the report, Issie; you guys be careful,” Raquel said, disconnecting.

“Sounds like it’s been a kicking butt, taking names type of day,” Sergeant Davies commented, grinning.

“I’m not sure about the names, but….” Raquel left the sentence unfinished.

Doug was surprised to see Major Flemington when he walked down the concourse. “Good morning, Major,” he said when he approached. “What brings you out so early?”

“I had some business here at the spaceport,” Major Flemington replied.

Doug didn’t need to do a mental scan to know that Major Flemington was not being truthful, but he said nothing. Instead he asked, “How are the women you rescued from the truck doing?”

“They were dehydrated and starving. They must have been locked in that compartment for three or four days. Otherwise, they are okay,” Major Flemington said. “They were taken over to the hospital to be checked.”

“Did the women tell you where and how they were abducted, major?” Doug asked. (He already knew they would have; Javelle had told the women that they were now safe and to answer all the questions posed by Lodes security officers.)

“They claimed they applied to some ad wanting extras in a movie or offering modeling jobs. Next thing they knew, they were locked in a room. Then they found themselves on that truck,” Major Flemington explained. Their story was similar to the stories the women from the gentlemen’s clubs had told.

“Perhaps you can issue a public alert notice warning women not to apply to ads wanting extras in a movie or offering modeling jobs,” Javelle told Major Flemington.

“Yes, that is certainly worth considering,” Major Flemington said. “But what I want to know is how you knew the women were on that truck? For that matter, how did you know how to find the truck?”

Shrugging his shoulders, Doug said, “What can I say? We lucked out.”

“Yes, but that does not tell me….” Major Flemington was distracted when he saw Issie and Ryan come walking down the concourse toward them. They looked like sisters, and male heads were turning to stare. Issie was ignoring all the stares, but Ryan was smiling and flirting with the men.

“Now those are two good-looking women,” Major Flemington said, still watching Issie and Ryan as they walked toward them.

It was the plan that they would not acknowledge one another. But Doug figured it would do no harm to introduce Issie and Ryan to Major Flemington.

Other than Ryan smiling at them, as she had been doing when the other men had stared at her, there was no acknowledgment that she even knew Doug and Javelle.

When Issie and Ryan came abreast, Doug said, “Good morning, ladies. I would like for you to meet Major Flemington, head of Lodes Security.

Displaying a winning smile, Ryan extended her hand and said, “Good morning. It’s nice to meet you.” Major Flemington, with a broad smile on his face, accepted Ryan’s hand and said, “The pleasure is all mine.”

Issie then extended her hand, and said, “Good morning.”

“That is Agent Ryan and this is Doctor Divjak with the Galactic Empire Bureau of Investigation,” Doug said, grinning.

Major Flemington was shaking Issie’s hand and had just said, “A pleasure to meet you,” when Doug had introduced them.

Major Flemington lost his smile, but he continued to hold Issie’s hand, as he turned his head to stare at Doug. Issie pulled her hand away and stepped back.

“I’ll see you later,” Doug said to Issie and Ryan, and they continued down the concourse.

Major Flemington continued to stare after Issie and Ryan. Doug was not sure if he was enjoying the view or in shock from learning who they were. But he finally said, “They’re with the Galactic Empire Bureau of Investigation? They’re with you?”

Doug shrugged his shoulders. “What can I say, Major? The girls wanted to tag along, and I would never have heard the end of it had I not let them come.”

Becoming more serious, Major Flemington said, “I recall from the reports that Lieutenant Ramsey and Sergeant Mulligan filed, a woman accompanied that man when those places were hit.”

Doug said nothing. Seeing that Doug was not going to respond, Major Flemington continued, “And I guess one would need a specialist to locate those trucks; probably someone like that doctor, who no doubt is a computer specialist.”

Doug extended his hand to Major Flemington and said, “Sir, it was nice meeting you, but we have to catch a spaceship and get back to Trenton. Doctor Creed called and said she has another job for us someplace in the Galaxy. And when the director speaks, I jump.”

Major Flemington gave Doug one of those looks that said, I know you’re lying.

Doug and Javelle continued down the concourse, making sure that Major Flemington was not following them. Then they turned onto the concourse leading to the airship terminal. They did not detect Sergeant Mulligan on the third level mezzanine.

It was nearly an hour later when Sergeant Mulligan exited from the Lodes Intergalactic Spaceport and found Major Flemington leaning on the front of the ground vehicle. “What did you find out?” Major Flemington asked, as he got into the vehicle.

After Sergeant Mulligan started the ground vehicle, he replied, “You were right, sir. They did not board a spaceship. Instead, they turned onto the concourse leading to the airship terminal. I observed them boarding an airship going to Carrolton. Sir, how did you know they were not catching a spaceship home to Trenton?”

“Because there are no spaceships scheduled to leave Lodes today that are going anywhere near the world of Trenton,” Major Flemington replied.

“Two good-looking women boarded that airship right before Investigator Kincaid and Investigator Jovok did. I was thinking of going to Carrolton myself, seeing those women,” Sergeant Mulligan said.

“Sergeant, you couldn’t handle those two women,” Major Flemington snapped.

With a sly grin on his face, Sergeant Mulligan said, “Sir, you might be surprised what I could do.”

“Sergeant, those two good-looking women are with Investigators Kincaid and Jovok. They’re agents with the Galactic Empire Bureau of Investigation,” Major Flemington announced.

“WHAT?” Sergeant Mulligan said, turning his head to look at Major Flemington and veering into oncoming traffic.

“LOOK OUT!” Major Flemington screamed.

“Sorry,” Sergeant Mulligan said, as he corrected. Then he asked, “Sir, how do you know they’re with Investigators Kincaid and Jovok?”

“Kincaid introduced me,” Major Flemington replied.

“When Lieutenant Ramsey and I investigated those hits, everyone said one of the black-clad individuals was a woman. Do you think one of them could have been one of those women?” Sergeant Mulligan asked

“It doesn’t matter what I think, Sergeant,” Major Flemington said,

“What are we going to do?” Sergeant Mulligan asked.

“Do? We’re not going to do anything,” Major Flemington replied. “You keep your mouth shut and tell no one.”

“Yes, sir,” Sergeant Mulligan acknowledged. “Why do you think they are going to Carrolton, sir?”

“I don’t know, Sergeant. But I suspect we’ll hear about it soon enough.”