Kris Longknife: Audacious Part 31

"Yes, but will the guy who pushes it over be any less rotten than the state? I know the state, as much as I'm allowed to know it. But what do I know about this other bunch?"

"So, is the devil you know," Jack said, "better than the devil that just walked in off the street?"

"That's our question," Kris said.

"And while I live here, I don't know much more about it than you do. Is this the only arms h.o.a.rd?"

"We don't know," Kris said.

Martinez laughed bitterly. "I should know, but who's going to tell me."

The conversation might have ended on that point, but Kris did a quick survey of Jack and Captain DeVar, and chose to toss some more information on the fire.

"A friend of mine's dad was a cop. She's heading out in a few minutes to look over a few places we think just might have more guns. You want to go with her?"

"And do some real police work for a change?" the cop said.

Kris shrugged.

"Count me in. I'll call the office and sign for annual leave."

"And if they need you to look at any arms dump they find?" Jack asked.

"They know my mobile number. But I'm betting they won't call. Not me."

Jack left to connect Martinez with Penny. That left Kris staring at the pictures on the wall.

"You decided what you're going to do?" DeVar asked.

"Would it surprise you to know that I often make these things up as I go along?"

"What?" he said, shock in full fake. "You're human like the rest of us?"

"Oh so true. Well, at least one weapons dump is out of play," Kris said with a sigh.

"Are you sure?" Ruth said.

"The cops have it."

"And I bet every one of those cops is carrying something as deadly as what I'm lugging. How would they stand against a full a.s.sault team that wants those guns for their screaming hordes?"

"You think I made a mistake, Gramma? Not blowing it up."

"No, I think it looked like a good idea at the time. But keep an eye on it. It may not stay so good. Just keep an eye on that call."

"And everything else that isn't hidden," Kris sighed. "Did you have days like this, Gramma?"

"Days, months, years, Kris. Some of the best things I thought I'd ever done went sour on me. And some of the worst things turned out a whole lot better than I had any right to."

Kris leaned back in her chair, mulling that over for a while. "Are you telling me that even movers and shakers don't always get the moves and shakes they expected?"

Ruth grinned. "And a smart one learns to be grateful for the help."

Further reflection on that ended as Abby came in.

"The kids safe?" Kris asked.

"Cara's with her grandmum, so safe is not the word I'd use. Bronc had work he needed to do. Some gang hangs to sanitize."

"Does he know where his mom is?" Ruth asked.

"No, and doesn't want to. Not yet. He has a place he can crash for a few nights. He's no dumb kid. If he's survived this long in Five Corners, he couldn't be."

For a minute, they sat around the table, Kris and Abby, Ruth and Captain DeVar. Then Kris said, "Vacation over. Back to work. What do we know now that we didn't know yesterday?"

"I am noticing a pattern, Kris" came from around her neck.

"Talk to me, Nelly."

"The bugs at O'Heidi's place were the same as the bugs on those two gang gals. Same types. Apparently the same make, though I can't seem to match the manufacture's mark to any in known s.p.a.ce."

"Eden strikes again," Jack said as he rejoined them.

"And the ones at the warehouse?" Kris said.

"I was getting to that. Similar design but more sophisticated. And no maker's marks."

"Isn't that illegal even on Eden?" Kris said.

"I do believe so," Ruth agreed.

"Any similarity between those and the chip in that auto-gun yesterday?" Jack asked as he rejoined them.

"No maker's mark on those units, but they use the same manufacturing methods. I found the same 'fingerprints' on them. They are likely from the same chip foundry."

"I'd really like to meet Grant von Schrader," Kris said.

"Kris, I cannot find any home address for him, in either our databases or the Nuu reports."

"So let's try a different approach," Kris muttered. "That monster limo Vicky is being s...o...b..ated around in. Captain, did your social intel researchers notice anything about it?"

"I don't know. Gunny?"

A moment later a tech sergeant presented herself. "Betty, the princess here wonders if you found out anything about that limo Vicky Peterwald is using?" DeVar said.

"Let me check my computer, sir." It took only a minute. The screen on the wall began to flash with pictures of Vicky. Most were close-ups of her smiling self, b.o.o.bs threatening to fall out of this dress or that, Kris noted.

One showed her walking away from her limo. "There's the plates for it, sir. Can that help you?"

"I will need to buy another expensive database." Nelly almost managed a sigh.

"Abby, this a.s.signment is putting a major dent in even my monthly allowance," Kris said. "Could you put together a reimburs.e.m.e.nt voucher for Admiral Crossens.h.i.+eld?"

"I could, but don't bet on getting this much money out of that fussbudget."

"Maybe you can negotiate something halfway. The way things are going, I won't be able to afford to replace that dress you cut off me. Or give Nelly her quarterly upgrade."

"You better get something out of Crossie," Nelly said.

Betty and the captain managed to swallow any reaction to this insight into the finances of one of human s.p.a.ce's wealthiest women. Or her computer's familiar view of the head of Wardhaven's intelligence community. Gunny just scowled.

A moment later Nelly had the number of Prestige Travel.

"Kris, what are you going to do?" Jack asked with alarm.

"Why don't you watch and see? Nelly, get ready to tap a phone line."

"If I can," Nelly replied quickly.

"Now make the call."

A moment later, "Prestige Travel. We get you there in comfort and awe."

"Oh, good. I hear tell you have this huge white limo," Kris said, dripping hayseeds with every word. "The hugest on this here planet."

"Ah, yes we do." The agent's reply was carefully balanced, neither to inspire a penniless hick to go on, nor to frighten off a hick that had a lot of money she needed separating from.

"Well, this is Print-cess Kristine Longknife from Wardhaven way. I'd like to rent that s...o...b..at of yours. I got someplace to be tonight and I'm tired of showing up second best."

"Let me see what we can do about that, Your Highness. Can I call you back in just a second?"

"A second, maybe. A minute and I'll be talking to someone about having my own limo built."

"Yes, ma'am. Er, Your Highness. I'll be right back," and the call ended.

"I didn't know you had a hillbilly voice," Jack said. "Do you really think this guy is dumb enough to fall for it?"

"So far he's over the side and headed down," Kris said through a grin. "I don't think that fellow has any idea who I am and everyone here seemed to expect some kind of redneck from the Rim. So, let's see what happens when I give 'em one."

"Kris, he's calling a number. It's another one of those nine-oh-nine numbers that don't exist."

Kris didn't like that.

"Oh happy days," Nelly almost shouted. "He didn't pay for all that much encryption. I have him."

"Al, Al" came from Nelly in the Prestige Travel man's voice. "Your tub hasn't moved all afternoon. I thought that brat wanted to go places."

"She was right here, then suddenly, her bodyguard grabbed her and hustled her back in the house and I ain't heard a squeak from them all afternoon. So I'm just sitting here watching the flowers grow at this place. And boy do they got flowers."

NELLY, CAN YOU GET A LOCATION ON THE PHONE RECEIVING THIS?.

I CAN AND DO HAVE IT.

On the wall screen, a map replaced Vicky's smiling face. The flas.h.i.+ng green dot was far out on the outskirts of town in a gated area of large twenty-acre plots.

"Well, at least we know that much," Captain DeVar said.

That call ended and a second call opened, but not to the same area. This one managed to avoid giving out its location. It turned out the limo was no longer needed and would be available for the evening.

And Kris got rung back.

"Abby, I'm going to turn this over for you to negotiate. Are we going anywhere tonight?"

"Not so far. No one seems interested in your gorgeous presence after that art show."

"Gee, I wonder why?" Jack said.

"Try to rent the limo for tomorrow," Kris said, and took the incoming call. "Howdy, I'm so glad you called back. Let my personal a.s.sistant take it from here." Kris waved at Abby.

"Abby Nightingale, how may I help you?" came as smooth as honey. "Ah, yes, the princess does occasionally make calls herself. It causes us no end of trouble."

Kris scrunched up a face at Abby and might have thrown something, but nothing was handy.

"Oh dear, I'm afraid my employer is a mite bit addled where dates are concerned. That party is tomorrow night. She's going to spend a quiet night drinking at home tonight."

Now Kris would have thrown something.

"Very well. Send me the contract and I will return it with a payment voucher. Always glad to do business with a professional." And the call ended.

"Here's hoping we have somewhere to go tomorrow," Abby said.

38.

While the problem of what to do with a limo tomorrow night hung ignored in the air, matters for today continued.

Penny reported that the first three warehouses they looked at had only normal security, and apparently just normal contents. They had three more to check.

Abby, with Sergeant Bruce tagging along to supervise a Marine tech, was dispatched to see how close they could get to Mr. von Schrader's apparent residence and examine it as best they could. Nelly sent them off with several of her best experimental probes.

Which left Kris with nothing better to do than immerse herself in the Nuu report on this fellow. She didn't find anything she liked.