The Death of Biggar Fro

  * * *

  For the next two hours she drifted around the large main room of the casino, trying to pretend that she had no interest in what Biggar Fro was up to while making sure she barely missed a blink of his reptilian eyes.

  A crowd had gathered around the table, as it often did when a high roller was risking his hard earned money. Well, in the case of Biggar Fro ‘hard earned’ may have been something of an exaggeration; others worked hard so that he didn’t have to. Some worked so hard they were dead before they reached adulthood. There were even side bets being made on whether or not he would win each hand he played. The muscle kept the assembled beings at a respectful distance. No one got close to Biggar Fro except them, his doctor and the occasional Sutran beauty.

  The pile of chips diminished, bringing a frown to the thin face, then his luck turned and the pile began to grow once again. An Kohli estimated that he had won a small number of chips by the time he rose from the table. Given the denomination of the chips it was a still a big win by any normal standards, but Biggar Fro treated it as though it was small change. The chips were scooped up by the croupier droid to be credited back to Biggar Fro’s account. Unlike many gamblers he didn’t need to feel the weight of his winnings in his hands.

  The casino manager hurried across, wringing his hands unctuously. He stretched out a hand to greet his wealthy guest but it was ignored. Smoothly the manager ignored the slight and appeared to express his gratitude that Biggar Fro had graced his establishment. The small being ignored it all and the two bodyguards made sure that the manager didn’t get within arm’s reach. He was left trailing in the small party’s wake, an oily smile present on his lips until the casino doors shut on his guests, when it vanished as though it had never been there.

  An Kohli hadn’t seen the exchange, having anticipated their departure she left the building a few moments ahead of her prey. Now the night hid her, her dark outfit working to her advantage as she stood in the shadows opposite the casino’s grandiose front doors.

  Biggar Fro remained under the brightly lit canopy, the Jackon bodyguard placing his body between his charge and the road. The Aloisan stood expectantly at the kerb waiting for their ride. It wasn’t long before the stretched hover limo appeared and drew silently to a halt. It was gone again in seconds, leaving only empty pavement behind.

  An Kohli had been prepared for such an eventuality. She straddled her powerful electrically powered motorbike, rented at the shuttle port, and followed at a discrete distance. When a hover taxi approached a junction she slowed to allow it to emerge and place itself between her and her target’s vehicle. The journey didn’t take long. The hover car slowed and pulled into the impressive frontage of a hotel. An Kohli’s spirits nose-dived as she recognised it as being one of the high security establishments favoured by people who needed a lot of protection around them.