Price of a Bounty

  I saw Brody Delaney before he saw me, so I stood to get his attention. He walked over and joined me.

  “Hello, Brody.” I smiled. “It's nice to see you again.”

  “How do we do this?” He started to hand me his briefcase, but I stopped him.

  “Put that down. After a job well done, it's traditional to sit and have a drink first. We'll talk, and then make the exchange. There's really nothing to it.”

  He sat and placed the briefcase on the floor beside him.

  “How do I know you're not really working for Cybonautics? I wouldn't put it past them, and this could get me into a lot of trouble.”

  “You're being paranoid. Why would anyone at Cybonautics hire me to do something that will only advance your career?”

  He signaled to the waitress and ordered two martinis, one for each of us. As she was leaving, Guy walked by, stumbled into her, apologized and continued on to the restroom.

  I put my hand on top of Brody's and commanded his attention with my eyes. “Brody, I think you've got what it takes. You saw an opportunity and took it. I think you'll make an excellent CEO at CalTech.”

  “I can only do that if you've done what I hired you to do.” He spoke as if this had been his idea. That was a good sign.

  “I have, and I hope you'll remember that Kendra James gets the job done.”

  “Kendra, now I have a name to go with your face.”

  The waitress arrived with our drinks. As she turned to leave, Guy stumbled into her yet again, on his way back from the restroom. I covered my mouth and giggled. Brody looked at me rather than Guy. He smiled too.

  I reached out my glass. “I'd like to propose a toast...to new friendships.”

  Our glasses clinked, and we each took a sip.

  “Do you like what you do, Brody?”

  “I guess. It pays well. I didn't realize I'd have to be watching my back so much though. Everybody wants the top position, but everyone can't have it.”

  “I know what you mean. Those access codes you wanted? They'll help both you and your company get to the top, won't they?”

  “Yes, they should.”

  The waitress returned then with an appetizer. “Oh, I didn't order...” Brody began.

  “I did, before you arrived. Thank you.” I smiled at the waitress who set down two small plates and a platter with artichoke dip and cubes of bread.

  There was also small tracking device on the plate she set in front of me. I picked it up. “I hope you'll remember who helped you get to the top and that we'll be able to trust each other from now on.” I dropped it into what was left of Brody's drink.

  He looked down at his briefcase in alarm, then back at me. “Did I blow it?”

  “Not yet. I can't fault you for being cautious, but I wouldn't try anything like that again. I am good at what I do. I hope you believe that now.”

  He glanced around the room. I was glad to see that Guy had already left.

  “I also hope we'll be able to work together again sometime soon.” I stood and held out my hand.

  “What do you mean?”

  I dropped my hands to the table and leaned toward him. Did I really have to spell it out? “There may come a time when I'll want to call in a favor from a friend at CalTech.”

  Brody looked at me in alarm.

  “Don’t worry. You could always say no. Until then, let's get together for drinks every now and again.” I removed the list of access codes from my purse and handed it to him.

  “That's it?”

  “That's it, and to show you that I really am a nice person, I gave you a discount. I wouldn't leave your briefcase unattended until you've emptied it. Enjoy the dip.” I picked up a small piece of bread, scooped up some artichoke dip, popped it into my mouth and swallowed. “Delicious!” I held out my hand again. “It's been a pleasure working with you, Brody Delaney.”

  -Scott-

  Caught

  Raquelle was now able to access the airport security systems. A week before we traveled, she removed my name from the high frequency list. She was able to get into another part of the system as well. There, she removed my army title from the database.

  The day of our departure, Keira and I dressed up like a well-to-do couple going on holiday. Passing through airport security had never been so easy. The guards checked our IDs against their lists like always, but didn't bat an eye as first Keira and then I passed through the checkpoint. Guy would arrive on a later flight. We had all agreed that we shouldn't be seen together. It was risky enough with the two of us, though her new name lowered the risk some. We didn't talk much during the flight, anyone could be listening, and we arrived on time.

  In the airport, we located a restaurant and sat down to eat. Guy's flight, booked through a different airline, was due to arrive only two hours after ours.

  “What's he doing here?” I wondered aloud.

  “Who?” Keira followed my gaze.

  “Don't look.”

  She turned to me. “I'll be right back.”

  Before I could stop her, she stood and walked toward the restrooms. I looked again. He was pretending to watch the teleview at the newsstand. Yes, it was the same man who had followed April and me. What's she doing?

  A few minutes later, Keira returned to the table with a magazine held loosely under her arm. She sat down and placed a call on her portable transceiver. I continued to eat while I kept a close eye on the man. He was still pretending to watch the news.

  “Hi, it's Keira.” She turned on the vidscreen briefly, just to verify her identity, and then spoke quietly. “I need you to check on a number for me. It's 49-73-60-41. Yes, I can wait. It's registered to who? With those codes we got, can you go into the airline databank, and change my name from Kendra James to Madeline Jones? Yes, as quickly as possible. I don't want to have to give up my new ID so soon. Thanks.” She looked at me. “Elaine Ramsey knows we're here.”

  The man answered his transceiver, then walked away.

  “He's gone,” I said.

  “She got what she came for then. That means Danielle and April should be safe.”

  “What did you do?”

  “I checked his transceiver and returned it before he even noticed it was gone. He sent three pictures: one of you, one of me and one of us together.”

  “Then she knows you're alive.”

  “Without a doubt.”

  Just then, my transceiver buzzed. “I'll stop in tomorrow. Yes, that's the earliest I can manage.” When I disconnected, I looked at Keira with concern. “I've been ordered to return to base.”

  ***

  “You can't go,” Danielle said firmly.

  We sat in their parlor.

  “I have to. I've been given a direct order by a superior.”

  “You don't have to,” Guy corrected. “You could stay here indefinitely, but I think you should return.”

  “You think he should go back? To that, that lion's den?” Danielle asked.

  “All Ramsey knows is that Scott and Keira are here, but we don't know what she wants,” Guy explained. “She could have called Scott in at any time, but she hasn't. So why now?”

  He had everyone's full attention.

  “You said you were followed when you arrived with April.”

  I nodded.

  “But Ramsey didn't call you back then. The only difference now is that you're here with Keira.”

  “That's right,” Keira said softly. “She wants me, and we've known that for a long time.”

  “We have no reason to believe that she's aware of Scott's ties to the Resistance. You’re right.” Guy looked at Keira. “We can guess that she's calling Scott in to get to you.”

  April looked up in dismay. “Then Keira can't go back.”

  “Yes, she can,” I said. “Just not with me.”

  “Then you're really going.”

  Danielle's face was damp with tears. I hugged he
r close. The others sat waiting for me to make the next move.

  “We've worked so hard, spent so many years, getting people into the right positions so we could accomplish the most good. I can't let one person chase me into hiding.”

  With my sleeve, I gently wiped away Dani's tears. Then I looked at the others, “We need some time alone.” We stood, and I led her down the hall to the kitchen. A few minutes later, we heard the front door close.

  -April-

  Art Fantastique

  “Where to?” I wiped away my own tears. “What would you like to see?”

  “I'm not really in the mood for sightseeing,” Keira said.

  “How about Art Fantastique?” Guy suggested.

  I looked at him. “The shop is open right now. There would be customers around.”

  “That's all right. Let's show Keira what you'll be doing when you return to Tkaron. Then we can go to a restaurant or to a park...somewhere we can talk.”

  “All right. Follow me.” I led them to a busy street a few blocks from the house. There, I was able to hail a cab.

  I knew Keira's mind was elsewhere. Even so, as I gave the tour and explained some of the artwork that we had for sale, she acted impressed. I took them into the back room and shared a little of what Dani had begun to teach me.

  “We were told that these two paintings were created by the same artist, a man named Pierre-Auguste Renoir. But you can see that the lighting in this one is significantly different than in this one. Since the first has already been authenticated, we know that the second isn't an original,” I paused. “Sometimes, it isn't so easy though. See these?” I walked them over to another set of paintings. “These three paintings: Lamppost, Central Park and Birds at Topock Marsh, were all created by a woman named Chen Chi. They look very different don't they?”

  Guy nodded, and Keira looked at me with...was that pride?

  “What?” I said.

  Keira smiled. “I'm just really happy for you. This is the perfect job for you, isn't it?”

  “Yes, I think it is.” I turned to Guy. “Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.”

  He put his arm around Keira and said, “I'm glad it's working out for you.”

  “There's a small café just down the block. Would you like to get some coffee or tea?”

  Keira nodded, and Guy said, “Yes, that would be fine, Aimee.”

  I was starting to like the sound of my new name.

  We sat outdoors at a table with a colorful umbrella spread overhead. Keira asked some of the same questions I had when I first arrived, and Guy's responses were very much like Scott's.

  “How is it that the Mediterrans are so much more advanced than us? I mean, just look at all of this: hovercars, maglev trains, inexpensive and reliable public transportation...”

  “Energy pulse showers that clean and massage.”

  Keira raised her eyebrows.

  “No water needed, and safe food for everyone,” I finished.

  “How is this possible? Is it like this everywhere except Terene?” Keira looked to Guy for an explanation.

  “No, not everywhere. Some other realms are faring poorly due to natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis. A few, like Mediterra, are doing really well. As far as I can tell, there are only two realms where a large percentage of the population is kept down. And only in Terene is the Divide caused by wealth or lack thereof.”

  “But why aren't people fighting back? I mean look at how life could be. It could be good for everyone!”

  Guy shrugged. “The people who would fight aren't shown this.” He waved his arm at the expanse of city in front of us. “They don't know how it could be. Think about it, only the Elite have easy access to modern techno, and no one in Terene has anything close to what every citizen has in Mediterra.”

  “Then that's the answer,” Keira said. “That's what the Resistance should be doing. We should be working to educate people.”

  I knew what Guy was going to say because Scott had already explained it to me. “Someday, Keira. That’s the goal. For now, although our convictions are strong, our numbers just aren't high enough to start a revolution. And unfortunately, we don't have an easy way to educate everyone. You have to remember that our economy is still recovering from the war. Leaders in the Gov use fear to justify their decisions and control the population. They've set it up so that every single person is trying to get ahead by stepping on each other, when the only real way to make progress is to band together and cooperate.”

  There was something more pressing on my mind. “But what do we do now? About Elaine Ramsey, I mean.”

  Guy looked at me. “Nothing. Other than Scott leaving early, we'll stick to the plan, and in a few days, Keira and I will fly back.” Keira reached out and took my hand as Guy continued, “Whatever happens after that, you'll stay here with Danielle. Let us worry about events back home.”

  -Scott-

  Returning to Tkaron

  Both Elaine Ramsey and Major Phelps were waiting to greet me when I arrived at the airport. A few other soldiers milled around and pretended they weren’t here for me. I saluted and stood at attention.

  “Follow me.” Major Phelps turned on his heel. I fell in line. Elaine Ramsey followed. The major led us into a small grey conference room. He stopped suddenly and turned toward me. I heard the door close but kept my attention on the major.

  “Sgt. Maddock.” Major Phelps spoke in his familiar deep rumbling voice. I’d served under him for many years. He knew how to lead and was well respected. However, he was not part of the Resistance. “I’m glad you decided to return.”

  “Those were my orders, sir.”

  “What were you doing in Mediterra?”

  “I went on holiday, sir.”

  “You didn’t have permission.”

  “No, sir. I did not request leave.”

  “And where is the young lady?”

  “She decided to finish her holiday without me.”

  He sighed and looked down for just a moment. “Under normal circumstances, I would order an investigation into your activities overseas.”

  The major and I both knew the Mediterrans would never allow the Terenian military to run an investigation in their realm. They would do it themselves, and even with the agreement between the Resistance and their President, they would have to look like they were making an effort. Cover ups could be messy.

  “However, these are not normal circumstances, and we seem to have plenty of evidence without the hassle of an investigation.” Major Phelps opened a manila folder and reviewed some papers. “You’ve traveled to Mediterra on more than a few occasions during the past three years.”

  “Yes, sir. Usually under orders.”

  “I see that some of these orders were issued by me,” he paused and studied me carefully, “but I don’t recall having issued them.”

  I didn’t respond.

  “Well, Sgt. Maddock. It appears that we have a traitor in our midst.”

  I did not look away.

  Elaine Ramsey stepped forward and placed a document on the table. “I'm prepared to offer you a deal. If you sign this and give yourself over to Ramsey Corps, you will be honorably discharged, and no further disciplinary actions will be taken.”

  I read the document and picked up the pen.

  -Guy-

  Missing

  We'd returned to Tkaron over a week ago only to find that Scott had disappeared. After two days, I called him. When he didn't answer, I left a message.

  “Sgt. Maddock? This is Mr. Burke. I'd like to meet with you, if you have the time. There have been some updates to your portfolio we should discuss.”

  When he hadn't returned my call by the sixth day, I used a public transceiver to make another call. I kept the vidscreen turned off.

  “Sgt. McGraw?”

  “Yes?”

  “Call me.”

  20 minutes late
r, my secondary transceiver buzzed. This line was secure and was rarely used. I turned on the speaker and vidscreen.

  A woman in uniform appeared. “Guy Bensen?”

  I nodded. “Thank you for returning my call. Maddock said you were my link to the military if anything were to happen to him.”

  “I've been expecting your call.”

  “Do you know where he is? I haven't heard from Scott in over a week.”

  “The last I heard, he was on his way to Parisio. I figure something must have happened, and he decided to stay.”

  “No, I was there with him. He received orders to return to base, and he did, the very next day.”

  “He may have received orders, but he never returned to base. I checked the records when we were told he'd gone AWOL. The funny thing is, there have been no orders to search for him. With his rank and the number of years he's put in, that's odd. I thought maybe whoever was looking for him knew he was already overseas, but if he came back whoever wanted him probably has him.”

  “It's Ramsey.”

  She let out a low whistle. “If Ramsey has him. There's not much we can do, not without blowing our cover.”

  “Do you know where she may be keeping him?”

  “I’d guess the Ramsey Corps lab, but I don't know how you'll get in there.”

  “I need you to do something for me, Sergeant. Be my eyes and ears on the inside. Contact me immediately if you learn anything.”

  “Yes, sir!”

  ***

  Waiting was mentally exhausting. April and Danielle hadn't heard from Scott either. By the tenth day, I was restless and on edge.

  I kept a regular schedule at the firm, and Keira spent her days training with Eberhardt and Ricardo. But every evening, Keira and I talked in circles.

  Why had Elaine Ramsey taken Scott? To get to Keira. But that wasn’t working, so why was she keeping him? And why did she want Keira anyway?

  It was late, and once again, I was having trouble settling down. Keira brought over two glasses of wine. She handed one to me.

  “No, we need to keep sharp.”

  But she was insistent. “Don't kid yourself. You're not sleeping, your mind is constantly going. You need to relax.”