The Empire: The Crime Consortium

Issie had booked rooms at the Carrolton Executive Hotel and Resort. It was a plush hotel filled with all the modern amenities. Issie and Ryan would again use their own names. Doug and Javelle would share a room using their aliases, Ray Spine and Mike Shims.

Unlike the terrestrial capitol of Lodes, Carrolton was more of a resort city. A number of amusement parks and attractions were located in and around Carrolton. It was a vacation mecca for many people, including intergalactic travelers. The Galactic Empire Bureau of Investigation operatives did not feel out of place, but they were not tourists.

As Doug and Javelle left to lease a ground vehicle, Doug dropped a bag outside Ryan and Issie’s door containing Ryan’s stuff, as she referred to it. The ’stuff’ was a 9mm hand blaster and her M-bar knife, and probably contained some other tools of the trade. Doug had not looked in the bag.

Javelle had no problem finding the Carrolton Country Club. It had a gated entrance and signs announced that members only were permitted to enter. As Javelle approached the gate, a uniform guard stepped out.

Perhaps the gate guards checked everyone entering, but Doug figured members were issued some type of electronic identification devise. Fitted to their vehicle, that identified the person entering and the gate guards would not have to personally check each ground vehicle entering.

Javelle reached into his pocket and withdrew something and showed it to the gate guard. He gave him some name and told him he was a member, but he had to lease a ground vehicle this day. Doug knew that Javelle imprinted the information in the gate guard’s mind as being true. The gate guard stepped back and waved Javelle through the gate.

Doug was impressed. The Carrolton Country Club was a fabulous place. It was impressively landscaped with manicured lawns, shrubbery, flower beds and larger trees. Off in the distance he could see a pond, probably man-made.

He saw a golf course, and Javelle was now driving by an area with tennis courts on one side. And on the other was a Galactic size swimming pool, or maybe there was more than one. Doug was not certain.

A little ways farther was a large building. A sign proclaimed it was the Carrolton Convention Center and it looked like it could accommodate upwards of ten thousand people. Next was the Evergreen Restaurant. It was a superlative looking place, but Doug wondered about the name: Evergreen.

On the opposite side was a spectacular hotel with a lavish front entrance. Doug guessed that it offered all the amenities a resort hotel could offer. Next there was an arrow pointing around a circular driveway listing other buildings all named this or that hall.

“How will we find where Melli Rizzo will convene his meeting?” Javelle asked.

“I’ll ask one of those people wearing a red uniform and that silly looking hat,” Doug replied.

A few minutes later they saw one of people riding toward them on one of the four-wheel motorized go-carts. Javelle stopped and Doug yelled at the man, who looked more like a teenager, and asked, “Hey, you know where Mr. Rizzo is going to hold his meeting?”

“I was not aware of any meeting. He usually has his meetings and get-togethers in the Osage Hall.”

Another person, wearing a red uniform and one of the silly hats, was approaching from the opposite direction. When the rider got close, the man yelled, “Hey, Nancy, know where Mr. Rizzo holds his meetings?”

“Who wants to know?” the girl replied.

“We have a work order here to check the sound system,” Doug replied. “Whoever took the order did not list the building.”

“He normally uses Osage Hall,” the girl answered. “Funny they would call for outside help. They have maintenance personnel on-ground to take care of all the maintenance problems.”

“Thanks, Doug said, “You will not mention you ever saw us.” He imprinted his instructions in their minds.

“You should have asked her where Osage Hall was located,” Javelle said.

“You’re a good navigator, Javelle, I am sure you can find it,” Doug said. “That girl was getting highly suspicious, if you hadn’t noticed.”

“I did not. I was confident you would handle the matter if there was a problem.”

“Yeah, well, I’m confident you can find Osage Hall,” Doug countered.

As Javelle continued to drive around the large circular driveway, Doug commented on how beautiful the inner area of the circular driveway was with all the flowers and pointed out a large fountain in the center with water pouring down the sides from various spots.

As Javelle continued around the circular driveway, they saw a sign announcing the Osage Hall. Except for one ground vehicle and a couple of those motorized go-carts, no other vehicles were present.

“Better not park in that parking lot, Javelle. Someone may become suspicious,” Doug said. “Slow down, I’ll jump out and you can continue around again while I check inside.”

Doug found the entrance door unlocked, which didn’t surprise him, having seen the two motorized go-carts outside. He figured some of the country club’s employees were inside. Doug mentally detected two brain waves down the right hallway and proceeded in that direction. A set of double doors was propped open and he saw a few tables set up. But considering the size of the room, he guessed it could accommodate two, perhaps three hundred people.

Doug continued down the hallway and came to another room with the doors propped open. Inside, he saw stacks of tables and chairs. And he detected that the two brain waves were also in the room, but he could not see them.

“Hey! Anyone here?” Doug yelled. A man walked out from behind a stack of tables at the end of the room. The man said nothing and Doug walked forward, mentally scanning for any sign of danger. The second man had joined the first. When he reached the men, one of them asked, “What do you want?”

“I was ordered to check the sound system before Mr. Rizzo’s meeting. Is this the right place?” Doug asked.

“Yeah, Mr. Rizzo always uses the Osage Hall, but why did they call you? We’re the maintenance men for this hall,” the man said.

Doug shrugged his shoulders and said, “Hey, I just do what I’m told. By the way, when is Mr. Rizzo’s big meeting scheduled?”

“Tomorrow at 1100 hours. But who are you? Where is your badge? No unauthorized personnel are permitted,” the man said.

“You will forget you ever saw me and tell no one,” Doug told the two men and imprinted the instructions in their mind. Doug had walked two-three hundred meters around the driveway when he heard a ground vehicle approaching. He glanced back and saw that it was Javelle. “The meeting is scheduled for 1100 hours tomorrow,” Doug told Javelle when he got into the ground vehicle. “What will we do until then?” Javelle asked.

“If you don’t think we have drawn undue attention to ourselves, drive around the circular driveway again,” Doug instructed Javelle. “Although this is a gated community, I’m guessing those crooks will be paranoid enough to bring guards with them. They probably won’t permit anyone to park in the parking area adjacent to the Osage Hall. We’ll need to find another convenient spot to park.”

“There is Osaka Hall,” Javelle said. “It is almost directly across from Osage Hall and there are walkways through the center. We can park at Osaka Hall and walk over.”

“Sounds like a plan to me, Javelle,” Doug replied.

It was going onto 1900 hours when Doug, accompanied by Javelle, went to one of the hotel’s lavish restaurants for the evening meal. Javelle, as usual, ordered a glass of water.

As Doug was eating, Ryan and Issie entered, carrying some bags with the logo of shops he knew had to be around Carrolton. If Issie saw him and Javelle, she gave no indication. Ryan, however, made a sweeping scan of the interior of the restaurant and Doug knew she had to have seen him, but she made no indication of knowing him and Javelle.

Doug finished his meal and was savoring his coffee. It was Kopi Luwak, the rarest gourmet coffee in the Galaxy, imported from the world of Brazillia. It did not surprise Doug that the Carrolton Executive Hotel and Resort restaurant would offer an exquisite gourmet coffee like Kopi Luwak.

“When are you going to call Director Ramsey with Anchors Global Bureau of Investigation?” Javelle wanted to know.

“I thought I would wait until morning,” Doug replied. “That should be plenty of time for him to notify agents here in Carrolton and get them organized.”

“When we met with him in Lodes, he did not impress me of being proactive,” Javelle offered. “He may refuse to send agents.”

“That is a possibility. But I think he will be curious enough to find out what is happening and send agents to investigate,” Doug replied. “Besides, we’ve taken the initiative to set up the directors, or CEOs, whatever they consider themselves. All they will have to do is take them into custody.”

“What do you plan to do tonight?” Javelle asked.

“I had not planned to do anything.” Doug replied. “You have something in mind?”

They are celebrating what they call ’caravel’ here in Carrolton. They block off some of the streets in the downtown section. It is supposed to be like a big, lavish street party,” Javelle explained.

“So you want to attend the caravel?” Doug asked.

“I thought that you, Ryan and Issie may wish to go,” Javelle replied. “Mingling with a large crowd, no one should associate us as being together.”

“And no one should know that we’re even here,” Doug added. “Issie and Ryan are sitting over there. Text them and tell them.”

After sending Issie a text message, and receiving a reply, Javelle put his vistaview unit back in his pocket and Doug asked, “What did they say?”

“They have to take their packages to their room and will meet us in the parking area in about twenty minutes,” Javelle replied.

“Will there be any problem if people see us together?” Ryan asked.

“No one knows we’re here. Besides, according to Javelle, there will be a lot of people at that caravel street party. No one should pay any attention to four more,” Doug replied. “Besides, I wouldn’t think you’d want to sit around in your hotel room all evening.”

The caravel was a wild street party. Bands played and there was dancing in the street. In other areas there would be a lone singer or a group of singers. The bars, restaurants and novelty shops appeared to be doing good business.

They did not bunch up, but Doug and Javelle remained in sight of Issie and Ryan. Doug saw them duck into a novelty store, so he and Javelle waited until they came out, both carrying bags.

The caravel street party ran for nearly twelve city blocks. It took nearly two hours to walk the distance, having stopped to listen to a band, or watch a group of gymnasts perform in the street. Another area had a group of jugglers. Doug ducked into a bar and purchased Rocky Mountain Spring beers for himself, Ryan and Issie. Ryan and Issie seldom, if ever drank, but said they would like a beer this time. Javelle declined a beer.

With all the stops to listen to the music or watch street performers, it took nearly five hours to circumnavigate the city blocks hosting the caravel street party.

Javelle had driven almost halfway back to the Carrolton Executive Hotel and Resort when they saw what appeared to be an altercation. “That is a security vehicle and those three men are attacking the security officer,” Javelle said.

From their present distance, Doug himself could not distinguish it from a regular ground vehicle, or who was involved in the altercation. But if Javelle said it was three men attacking a security officer, he accepted it as fact, knowing Javelle’s exceptional eyesight.

Javelle sped up. It was a cool evening and Doug had left the window up, but now he powered it down. Javelle skidded to a stop adjacent to the altercation. The three men looked up. Doug mentally immobilized them and jumped out of the ground vehicle. Ryan followed.

One man held the officer while the other two beat him. Doug grabbed the officer and mentally released the man’s arms that were holding the officer, and lowered the officer to the ground. “Check the other officer,” Doug instructed Ryan. He instructed the three men to place their hands on the officer’s vehicle and to spread their legs.

“There is another man over here,” Issie said.

“You will remain in that position until more security officers arrive, and will then confess your sins and tell them why you attacked these officers, and you will confess to any other crimes you have committed,” Doug told the three men and imprinted the instructions in their minds.

“I need to call for help,” Doug heard the officer say to Ryan. “But I think my arm is broken.”

“What do you need me to do to help?” Ryan asked the officer.

“Push the button on the vest comm,” the officer instructed. Ryan did so, and the officer called headquarters to report the attack and give their location.

“The other officer is unconscious,” Javelle said.

“Help will be here, shortly. I think we have done all we can,” Doug told Javelle. Then he said to the other officer, “Other security officers will be here to help you soon. When they get here tell them to order those three men to confess their sins.”

“Y… you can tell th… them when they get here,” the officer replied, obviously in pain.

“We have to go, but be sure and tell the officers when they arrive to order those three men to confess their sins,” Doug told the officer again. Considering his condition, Doug was not sure if he was coherent enough to fully understand so Doug imprinted the message in his mind.

“Hey, you ca… can’t leave,” the officer said when he saw them leaving. “Those men...”

“Sir, those men will remain there until other security officers arrive,” Javelle said.

“Good morning, Director Ramsey,” Doug said after finally navigating three layers of individuals at the Anchors Global Bureau of Investigation headquarters.

“Good morning, Mr. Kincaid,” Director Ramsey said. “You back home already?”

“Took a detour, stopped off in the city, Carrolton,” Doug said.

“Should I ask what you are doing in Carrolton?” Director Ramsey said, sarcastically.

“I went to Carrolton’s caravel street party. They host one fantastic street party here. Have you ever attended?” Doug replied.

“Yes, as a matter of fact, I have,” Director Ramsey said. “But something tells me you did not go to Carrolton to attend the caravel.”

“Well, there is the matter of the ’Consortium’ directors holding a meeting in Carrolton,”

“Really?” Director Ramsey remarked. “What do you plan to do?”

“I plan to call you, director, and you in turn can notify your agents here so they can arrest them,” Doug replied.

“For the record, Mr. Kincaid, we cannot go around arresting people without just cause.”

“Instruct your agents to order them to confess their sins. When they confess their illegal activities, then you will have cause,” Doug informed Director Ramsey.

“Whose cockamamie idea is that, Kincaid - yours? Tell people to confess their sins; I never heard of such a ridiculous idea,” Director Ramsey exclaimed.

“You never know. It works for me,” Doug replied. “Anyway, get your agents organized. I will call when I find out the location of their meeting,” and he disconnected the call.

The vistaview unit had been on the speaker, and Javelle said, “I do not think he will send agents.”

“You may be right,” Doug replied. “We need a backup plan.” Doug called Issie to say that he was not certain if Director Ramsey would send agents to arrest the ’Consortium’ and she may need to call Carrolton Security.

Doug and Javelle encountered no problem entering Carrolton Country Club. Doug commented to Javelle, “I took this for a private club, but after seeing the convention hall, the restaurant and resort hotel, I wonder why they even have a gate guard. There are people staying at the hotel. Obviously, when they hold a convention, people will come and go. It looks like it is pretty much open to the public.”

Javelle had offered the opinion that individuals were here by invitation and theorized that working class people were not permitted. He questioned why Rizzo would want to involve himself in criminal activities when he owned the Carrolton Country Club, which obviously brought in millions of credits a year.

Javelle parked in the Osaka Hall parking lot. They arrived nearly one and a half hours before the scheduled meeting. There appeared to be something going on at the Osaka Hall and there were a number of other vehicles in the parking lot. One more vehicle did not look out of place.

“What do you want to do now?” Javelle asked.

“Let’s walk over to Osage Hall and see what is going on,” Doug replied. “I see people out walking around, so we’ll not be raising suspicion.”

As they started walking through the park-like area encircled by the driveway, Doug asked Javelle, “Do the names of these halls mean anything to you?” In addition to Osage and Osaka, there were Onika, Okila, Ogaso and Orito Halls.

“Other than creating some type of theme, the names mean nothing to me,” Javelle said.

They walked a few meters on and some peafowl ran across the walkway. The male peafowl had a crested head and a large fan-shaped tail with brilliantly colored blue and green spots. Other birds were also plentiful and Doug saw feeders, some hanging from posts and others were on the ground.

The walkway came out about a hundred meters to the right of Osage Hall. Doug and Javelle turned left and continued walking the outer walkway. As they neared Osage Hall, Doug counted seven ground vehicles in the parking area, plus three motorized go-carts. Two men were in the parking lot area, and seven more men lounged around the entrance area to Osage Hall. From across the driveway, Doug perceived their jackets were a little bulky, perhaps concealing blasters underneath. Through their casual glances, Doug noted some of these men watching him and Javelle walk past.

They had encountered two men, and then a man and woman together, when they walked through the park area, and walking past them now were another man and woman. Doug reasoned it was not uncommon for individuals to be out walking around, and having walked by Osage Hall, although on the opposite side of the driveway, it would not have alerted the men lounging around the entrance to Osage Hall.

“Do you think all the ’Consortium’ directors have arrived?” Doug asked Javelle.

“It would be logical to assume they have,” Javelle replied. “Logically, Rizzo would want to impress the directors with brunch before the formal meeting.”

“We’ll walk around the driveway, then cut back through and confront them,” Doug said. “If there are any stragglers they should be there by the time we arrive.”

Doug and Javelle walked leisurely around the driveway, then cut back through the park and came out on the driveway. Walking through the park, Doug took out his vistaview unit and activated the audio and video blocker, and told Javelle to do the same. “We do not want to be seen on the evening hyperwave newscast tonight.” When they were adjacent to Osage Hall, they leisurely walked across the driveway toward Osage Hall.

This time, Doug counted nine men lounging around the front. When the men saw Doug and Javelle walk across the driveway directly toward Osage Hall, two walked forward to intercept Doug and Javelle. Showing the men an ingratiating smile, Doug said, “We’re just a couple of party crashers, and you will not interfere with us,” imprinting the command in their minds.

The other seven became more alert when the two did not stop Doug and Javelle. Javelle said, “You will not interfere with us,” and imprinted the command in their minds. Then he asked, “Are all the ’Consortium’ directors present?”

“All, but one. Sampsel Mahurin from Lodes was arrested or something and could not be here,” one of them replied.

“How many are present?” Doug asked.

“The other eight are here,” another man replied.

“Tell the two men in the parking lot area to come up,” Javelle ordered. When they arrived, Javelle instructed them to keep vigil at the entrance to Osage Hall and not to come inside, imprinting his command in their minds.

“How many more guards are inside?” Doug asked.

“Three,” a man replied.

Leading the way, Doug took the hallway to the right, as he had done the previous day. The door to the meeting room he had seen then was not open. But a man, Doug took as another guard, was talking to the maintenance men he had encountered the day before. “Handle the guard. I can deal with the other two,” Doug told Javelle.

The guard had his back to Doug and Javelle, but the two maintenance men saw them and said something. The guard turned to see two men he did not recognize, and reached under his jacket for his blaster when Javelle immobilized him. The maintenance men just stared as Doug and Javelle approached.

“Return to the front entrance, stay vigilant, and do not return inside,” Javelle told the guard, imprinting his command in his mind.

“You return to your work area and remain there until security arrives,” Doug told the two maintenance men, imprinting his command in their minds. “There should be two more guards,” Doug told Javelle, as he reached to open the door.

Considering the size of the interior hall, the half dozen or so tables, pushed together, left the hall looking empty. The last two guards were off to the side. A quick scan, visual and mental, suggested the two guards were there to watch the individuals prepare brunch. There were two men and one woman in white uniforms.

Doug and Javelle’s movement into the room caught the attention of the two guards. With a few quick steps, Javelle was beside them before they could act or react. “Remain motionless and be quiet,” Javelle said and imprinted the command in their minds. He then ordered the servants to remain where they were.

The entrance of two interlopers caught the attention of the ’Consortium’ directors. Doug had no problem picking Melli Rizzo out. Issie had scanned Carrolton news media sources and found numerous pictures of Melli Rizzo. He was evidently popular in Carrolton, attending various social functions.

Doug approached and said, “Good morning, Rizzo.”

Rizzo, as well as the other ’Consortium’ directors, just stared at him. Doug was not sure if it was seeing two interlopers or being addressed as Rizzo. Open-mouthed before finally composing himself, he asked, “Who are you? How did you get in here?”

“Who are these men, Mel?” Doug heard one of the men ask.

“I don’t know. But if they are from the Anchors Global Bureau of Investigation, they had better have a warrant,” Rizzo replied.

“Don’t be concerned about that, Mel,” Doug said, using the name the man had used. “We don’t need a warrant to talk to a bunch of slimeball crooks like you.”

“I resent your tone of speaking,” Rizzo said, “and it is Mr. Rizzo to you.”

“You don’t deserve the courtesy,” Doug replied. “Oh, by the way, Jakes ’The Hammer’ Clydes, that you sent after me, didn’t make it.”

“YOU!” Rizzo shouted. Rizzo had just told Doug that he resented his tone. He thought he was in total control. Considering he was in a place of his own choosing, his home ground, this was understandable. But hearing about Jakes ’The Hammer’ Clydes caused Rizzo to lose his resolve. A mental scan told Doug that Rizzo’s heart beat had increased. He was nervous, indeed frightened.

“What’s he talking about?” one of the men asked.

“H…h…terminated Jakes,” Rizzo stammered.

A squatty man, perspiring profusely, said, “Please don’t terminate us. We have credits.”

“Yes,” another echoed, “just tell us what you want.” It had not been Doug’s plan to make them sweat. But now that they were, let them squirm, he thought.

Another man, more macho than the others, said, “It will not accomplish anything to terminate us. Someone else will take our place.”

“Maybe I’ll lock you in the back of a truck, like you did those women, and just transport you around the country. You will come to know what it’s like to be locked up in a dark room with nothing but a bottle of water,” Doug said.

“Pl…please don…don’t,” one of the men explained. “I am claustrophobic.”

“It is time to pay for your transgressions,” Doug said. “When agents from the Anchors Global Bureau of Investigation arrive, or Carrolton Security Officers, they will order you to confess your sins. You will tell them about all your illegal activities. You will answer any and all of their questions. You will forget that you ever saw us,” and he imprinted the commands in their minds.

Javelle instructed the servants to resume serving brunch and they, too, would forget they ever saw them. He imprinted the command in their minds. Next, Javelle did the same with the two guards. Outside, Javelle instructed the guards not to interfere when authorities arrived and to forget they had ever seen them.

Doug and Javelle walked diagonally across the driveway to the walkway leading through the park to the Osaka Hall. Doug withdrew his vistaview unit to talk with Director Ramsey, telling him that the ’Consortium’ directors were at the Osage Hall. He stressed that the agents should tell the directors to confess their sins. Director Ramsey started to ramble on about not having the authority to arrest them. Figuring it would do no good to debate it, Doug disconnected the call.

Pointing to a bench along the walkway, Javelle said, “Shall we sit and wait to see if the agents from the Anchors Global Bureau of Investigation show up?” After about half an hour, a black ground vehicle, which Doug took to be an Anchors Global Bureau of Investigation vehicle, arrived. It stopped in front of Osage Hall and two agents got out.

“I do not think they came to arrest the ’Consortium’ directors,” Javelle commented.

“I think you’re right,” Doug replied. “Let’s give it a few minutes and see what happens.”

After about twenty minutes, the two Anchors Global Bureau of Investigation agents returned and got into their ground vehicle. Doug withdrew his vistaview unit and said to Javelle, “I’ll call Issie,” and hit the speed dial button, as sirens started blaring.

“Hi, Doug,” Issie said. “You need me to call Carrolton Security?”

“I thought so, but I think they’re here already,” Doug replied, seeing the first vehicle arrive with the emblem of Carrolton Security on the side. “Did you call them?”

“No, I was waiting for you,” Issie said.

“Well, they’re here. I’ll talk with you later,” Doug said, and disconnected. The first vehicle was a van-type ground vehicle marked ‘Carrolton Rapid Response Force.’ It was followed by six more regular Carrolton Security ground vehicles. About a dozen men in full riot gear exited the ‘Carrolton Rapid Response Force’ vehicle and rushed toward the entrance to Osage Hall. Security officers from the other ground vehicles were now joining the ‘Carrolton Rapid Response Force.’

One man, with an arm in a sling, remained by one of the ground vehicles. “That is the man who was attacked last night,” Javelle said.

“I’m guessing some of those men who attacked the officers last night, implicated Rizzo,” Doug commented. “He will not be aware that the other ’Consortium’ directors are in residence. Let’s walk over and cue him in.”

“Good morning, Sergeant,” Doug said as he approached the officer.

The officer was leaning against the ground vehicle and had his back to Doug and Javelle as they approached. The Sergeant looked around, stared a moment, and then said, “You? Where did you go last night? I need a statement from you.”

Rather than respond, Doug asked, “How are you doing today, Sergeant?”

“The arm was only dislocated, not broken, and just like my face, I have bruises all over my body.”

“How is your partner?” Javelle asked.

“He’s in hospital, in serious condition,” the officer replied.

“Should you be here?” Javelle inquired.

“I wouldn’t miss it. Three other teams were attacked and beaten. One of the officers died. The men who attacked us last night said Melli Rizzo ordered it.”

“Why would Rizzo order you and other officers to be attacked?” Javelle asked.

“All the officers who were attacked arrested people who worked in one of the establishments - strip joint, night club - owned by Rizzo. His name is not on the title as such, but it is well known that he owns these places. According to the men we arrested last night, it was meant as a message not to arrest his people,” the officer explained. “So I had to be here to see Rizzo’s face when they drag him out in security ties.”

“Well, we’re here to make heroes of you and Carrolton Security. Along with Rizzo, there are seven more ’Consortium’ directors’ from across the country, so tell whoever is in charge to arrest them all. As I told you last night, just tell them to confess their sins.”

The Sergeant gave Doug a stern look and asked, “Just who are you people?”

“Ah…we’re just a couple of good ol’ boys,” Doug said, grinning.

“Please excuse my friend’s manners. I am Investigator Javelle Jovok. My friend is Investigator Douglas Kincaid. We are investigators with the Galactic Empire Bureau of Investigation,” Javelle told the Sergeant. “But you cannot tell anyone.” He imprinted the command in his mind.

The two Anchors Global Bureau of Investigation agents had stopped their ground vehicle and were now walking back. Without even so much as a ‘hello,’ one of the agents yelled at the Carrolton Security Sergeant from ten meters away, “What do think you’re doing? You can’t come out here harassing Mr. Rizzo and his guests.”

“Shove it!” the sergeant yelled back. “This is our jurisdiction. If you yahoos from Anchors would do your jobs, we would not have to do it for you.”

The two agents looked at Doug and Javelle and one asked, “Who are you?”

Giving the agent a sneaky smile, Doug replied, “We’re just a couple of nosey busy-bodies.” Then he said to the Carrolton Security Sergeant, “Take care, sergeant.”

As Doug and Javelle turned to walk away, the agent said, “Come back here. I didn’t give you permission to leave.”

Doug called back over his shoulder, “Like the sergeant told you: Shove it.”

As Doug and Javelle walked across the driveway, Doug looked back and saw that the agents and the sergeant were in a heated debate and the sergeant was finger-punching one of the agents in the chest. Javelle said, “You know he was right.”

“Who was right?” Doug wanted to know.

“The ’Consortium’ director who said someone else will take their places,” Javelle said.

“Unfortunately, that is probably true. Makes you wonder if we ever really accomplish anything,” Doug replied.

“Hi, Raquel,” Issie said, when she saw who was calling. “How is everything at home?”

Without so much as a greeting, Raquel said in a sharp tone, “What’s going on there?” Raquel’s sharp tone of voice took Issie aback. Issie’s vistaview unit was on the speaker and Ryan, having heard Raquel’s sharp tone of voice, looked at Issie, puzzled.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what you mean,” Issie replied.

“Director Ramsey of Anchors Global Bureau of Investigation just called. He said you guys were causing all sorts of trouble,” Raquel said. “Now what is going on?”

“Er…we’re not causing any trouble. Well…not really,” Issie said.

“Not really? What does that mean? I think you’d better explain. I do not appreciate being called and chewed out when I do not even know what is going on,” Raquel said.

“Well…As I explained the last time we talked, we found out the ’Consortium’ directors were holding a meeting here. That is why we came,” Issie said.

“I recall you telling me. But that does not explain what Director Ramsey meant by ‘causing trouble,’” Raquel said.

“Are we on a private line?” Issie wanted to know.

“I am in my office. There is no one else around,” Raquel replied.

“Okay, well, Doug and Javelle, shall we say, invited themselves to the ’Consortium’ directors’ meeting so they could do their mental thing and make the directors confess their sins.”

“I know, Issie, but that does not tell me what trouble they caused,” Raquel pressed.

“That is what I am trying to explain,” Issie replied.

“Okay, go ahead,” Raquel responded.

“Okay. Doug called Director Ramsey and told him the ’Consortium’ directors planned a meeting, but he did not tell Director Ramsey where. He wanted to wait until he and Javelle had time to do their mental thing.”

“I get all that, Issie. How did that cause trouble?” Raquel wanted to know.

“Well, Doug and Javelle did their mental thing, and Doug called Director Ramsey to tell him where the meeting was and to send agents to come and arrest the directors. But Director Ramsey only sent two, and they did not arrest them like they were supposed to.”

“Is that when Doug and Javelle caused the trouble?” Raquel asked.

“No.” Issie replied. Then she told Raquel, “We went to the caravel last night and…

“The caravel? What’s that? And what does that have to do with the trouble Director Ramsey was telling me about?” Raquel asked, interrupting Issie.

“The caravel is a street party they host here in Carrolton,” Issie answered. “Anyway, on the way back to the hotel, we saw some men attack some security officers.”

“What does that have to do with the trouble Doug and Javelle caused?” Raquel asked, becoming even more impatient.

“We saw the three men attack Carrolton Security officers, and Javelle stopped and Doug immobilized them. There was nothing we could do for the security officers medically. While Doug lined the three men up and mentally conditioned them to confess their sins, Ryan helped the officer to report in and request help. Then we left,” Issie explained.

“Okay.” Raquel acknowledged.

“As I told you before, Doug called Director Ramsey. But Doug was not confident that Ramsey would send agents to arrest the directors. So Doug asked me to find the number for Carrolton Security, and if the Anchors Global Bureau of Investigation agents did not arrest the ’Consortium’ directors, then I was to call Carrolton Security,” Issie said.

“Okay.” Raquel acknowledged.

“The agents did not arrest the directors, so Doug called me. But before I could call Carrolton Security, they just showed up. One of the officers was the sergeant who we helped the previous night. The men who attacked the officers confessed that it was Rizzo who ordered them to attack the officers. This was either the third or fourth time officers were attacked. One of the officers died due to the beating.”

“Okay.” Raquel acknowledged.

“Since it was the same officer, Doug told him that other ’Consortium’ directors were present and he should arrest them all; and, of course, tell them to confess their sins.”

“Okay.” Raquel acknowledged. “But that still does not tell me what trouble Doug and Javelle caused.”

“Well, that’s just it. They didn’t cause any trouble, and hyperwave news here in Carrolton is having breaking news and special news reports telling how Carrolton Security broke up the nationwide ’Consortium’ criminal empire,” Issie said.

“You’re telling me that Director Ramsey is mad, or jealous, because Carrolton Security is getting all the credit for breaking up the ’Consortium’ crime empire?” Raquel said.

“I guess so,” Issie replied.

“Oh good Galaxy,” Raquel exclaimed. “I should call Ramsey back and give him a piece of my mind.”

When Issie didn’t respond, Raquel said, “So you are finished there?”

“Yes,” Issie replied.

“You’re on your way home?” Raquel asked.

“We will not be able to catch a spaceflight for four days,” Issie said, “We’ll have to take an airship to Los Amos to catch the spaceflight.”

“What will you do until then?” Raquel asked.

“Ryan and I got Doug and Javelle to take us to Ocean-11 theme park. Carrolton is a major tourist center and they have a number of theme parks,” Issie said, “and the caravel is really something. Ryan and I are going to persuade Doug and Javelle to take us tonight.”

The GEBI gang assembled at Raquel’s house. It became a custom from the first day of Raquel’s arrival on Trenton from Earth for them to meet at her house. Raquel’s husband, Ricardo, and their children, Jazzlyn and Izek, had already migrated to Trenton while Raquel continued to work at the old Global Bureau of Investigation on Earth. And her husband Ricardo, in addition to being an architect, was an excellent cook.

Everyone got a breakfast plate and sat down. Raquel announced: “Director Ramsey of Anchors Global Bureau of Investigation called me yesterday. He went on and on about all the trouble Doug and Javelle were causing.”

“That should not surprise you, Raquel,” Sergeant Davies said, grinning. “They’re good at that.”

“Well, it was not so funny when I didn’t know what he was talking about.”

“He was mad because Doug eliminated that hit team?” Harvey asked.

“Ramsey never mentioned that. No, it was about trouble Doug and Javelle caused in the city of Carrolton.”

“What did you tell him?” Maria asked.

“That I do not micromanage agents in the field. Of course, that remark did not go over very well. He lectured me about controlling my people. I let him ramble on a few moments and told him I’d heard enough and disconnected the call,” Raquel said.

“I would have given him a few choice words, had he tried to lecture me,” Major said.

“But I didn’t know what Doug and Javelle had been up to. So after I thought about it, I called Issie, and do you know what made him mad?”

Before Raquel could continue, Karen asked, “What?”

“Doug and Javelle, and of course Issie and Ryan helped but he didn’t know about them, found out that the directors of the ’Consortium’ were holding a meeting in Carrolton. Doug and Javelle found out the location and called Director Ramsey to send agents to arrest the Directors of the ’Consortium’. According to Issie, two agents finally came, but did not arrest anyone. As the two agents left, Carrolton Security arrived, and they arrested the directors. Apparently, Carrolton Security is getting the credit for taking down a major nationwide criminal empire,” Raquel explained.

“So Director Ramsey is mad because local security in Carrolton arrested the criminals and got all the credit?” Jenny asked in her cultured voice.

“Yes, mad, or jealous,” Raquel answered.

“When is Uncle Doug coming home?” Aisha wanted to know.

“In a few days, sweetie,” Raquel replied.

“Are they on their way home?” Karen asked.

“Issie said they have to take an airship to some other city to catch a spaceflight. Meanwhile, she and Ryan persuaded Doug and Javelle to take them to a street party in Carrolton, and to some theme park,” Raquel explained.

It had been thirteen days since they left Carrolton and the world of Anchors. The spaceship was one of the older models rather than the more modern Zillow K Class spaceships. It had taken twelve days to return to Trenton, capitol world of the Empire. It was now the morning of the fourteenth day and Doug, along with Zenobia (Ambassador Kennedy) had arrived at Raquel’s house.

Aisha saw Doug and Zenobia on the viewscreen when they arrived and yelled, “Uncle Doug and Aunt Zenobia are here,” and ran out to meet them.

“Uncle Doug, Aunt Zenobia,” Aisha screamed, as she ran down the driveway to meet Doug and Zenobia.

Doug scooped her up and said, “How is my favorite girl?”

“I’m fine, but I missed you,” Aisha replied.

“I missed you too, sweetie,” Doug said and set Aisha down. “Ask Aunt Zenobia what she brought you.”

“What did you bring me?” Aisha asked.

“Your favorite, maple cake,” Zenobia replied, smiling, and handing Aisha a box and said, “Here, and don’t drop the box.”

Inside, Doug greeted Major, Maria and Ricardo. And he said to Ricardo, “I see that your assistant is helping you this morning,” referring to Javelle, who, when not off-world with Doug, came early to help Ricardo fix breakfast.

“Hello,” Raquel said, as she entered the patio area. “Where are the girls?” referring to Ryan and Issie.

“They should be along presently,” Doug answered.

“Everything resolved on the world of Anchors?” Raquel asked.

“Well, the ’Consortium’ is in shambles, though I don’t know for how long. I keep remembering what one of the directors told me: ’Someone else will only take our places.’ He is probably right,” Doug told Raquel. “Issie told me about Director Ramsey calling you. Sorry about that.”

“That’s okay. The problem was, I did not know what he was talking about,” Raquel said.

“Yeah, I guess Ramsey was pretty mad because he did not get the credit for taking the ’Consortium’ down. But Carrolton Security arrested some people who worked in establishments owned by Rizzo. In turn, Rizzo ordered the security officers beaten up. Carrolton Security knew who orchestrated the attacks but could not prove it. Carrolton Security had it in for Rizzo but had no proof. As it happened, we intercepted some men beating up some security officers. The men, in turn confessed, naming Rizzo as having ordered the hits on the officers,” Doug explained.

The buzzer sounded announcing someone was coming up the driveway. Raquel and Doug looked up at the viewscreen and saw Gilbert and Harvey.

“What is the status of the trip to Earth?” Doug asked. Chairman Dived informed Raquel he was going to send a delegation to Earth, but she was not to announce the plan. Raquel told Doug, explaining that Chairman Dived wanted her to head up the delegation, but she had declined. (Raquel, on numerous occasions, said she never wanted to return to Earth.) Instead, she had told the chairman that Directors Major Justice and Maria Santos could head up the delegation.

“Murrell told me in his office a couple of days ago, they had not finalized the plans yet,” Raquel replied.

“Do you know, or have any idea, why he plans to send a delegation to Earth?” Doug asked.

“From the scuttlebutt I have picked up, it has something to do with the pollution problem on Earth,” Raquel replied. “Activists groups in the old cities of New York, Beijing, Mumbai and London want the Empire to assist in the cleanup of pollution.”

“Good luck to that,” Doug said. “I am guessing here, but I think the Empire wants to forget that Earth was the home world, the world where human life evolved.”

“Are you planning to go along if the trip is finalized?” Raquel asked.

“I’ll have to wait and see. I thought it would be nice to take Aisha and David back to see their grandmother,” Doug replied.

The buzzer sounded announcing someone was coming up the driveway. Raquel and Doug looked up at the view screen and saw Issie and Ryan. Raquel saw Ryan handing packages to Issie and asked, “What do the girls have?”

Smiling, Doug said, “I think they bought everyone a present.”

Sergeant Davies, along with Private Ling, arrived and stopped behind Ryan’s ground vehicle. When they exited, Ryan started handing them packages to carry in. “Did they buy everything on the world of Anchors?” Raquel asked. “And what is in that large box in the trunk?”

“I will help them with that box,” Javelle said, and walked out.

“That is a gift (looking around) for Ricardo,” Doug replied, in a low voice. “I understand it is a combination microwave, baking oven, skillet, and a few other attachments all in one.”

“Did you girls buy everything on the world of Anchors?” Raquel asked as Issie, followed by Ryan, walked in carrying packages.

“We didn’t have room for everything,” Ryan joked as she placed her items on the floor, alongside the patio wall.

A moment later, Sergeant Davies and Private Ling entered carrying an armload of packages. And Ryan directed them to place them with the other packages.

“Did you bring me a present, Aunt Issie?” Aisha asked.

“I sure did, sweetie,” Issie told Aisha. “Ryan and I both got you a present.”

After breakfast Ryan and Issie distributed the gifts they had purchased.