Nightmare - A Novel Part 29

"This is unlikely," put in Ched-Hisak with a bob of his head. "Her dermospray would have registered the transaction if she had moved her drug, and there is nowhere on Bellerophon that could mix her exact drug c.o.c.ktail unless they had her medical records. A black market for Dream drugs does not exist-they have no effect on the non-Silent and or on Silent for whom they are not designed."

"True," Ara admitted, and she let a tiny blossom of hope bloom in her chest. "But that leaves an awful lot unexplained. We found the blood of one of the victims on a s.h.i.+rt in Dorna's room."

"You did?" Kendi said, surprised. "Well, maybe the killer planted it there. But still ..."

"What?" Ara asked.

"There's something else," Kendi said. "It happened right after you left. Ben and I-that is, I I-invited a few people over that evening, and-"

"You had a party?" Ara growled. "I don't recall giving you permission to have-"

"You said the more people who were around me and Ben, the better," Kendi said loftily. "I was just doing what you said."

"I didn't say that-never mind. We'll discuss that later. What happened?"

"Dorna showed up," Kendi said, and explained in detail. "She blamed the killings on someone named Cole. We figure he's one of her alternate personalities, but if Dorna didn't use her dermospray before any of the killings, she-or he-couldn't have-"

Ara stiffened. "What was the person's name? The one Dorna said killed people?"

"Actually it wasn't Dorna talking," Kendi said. "It was a personality named Violet. She seemed nice until I grabbed her, and then I think she switched to another-"

"Kendi," Ched-Hisak interrupted. "Mother Ara asked of you a question."

"Oh. Sorry," Kendi said. "What was it?"

"What was the name of the person Dorna said was killing people?" Ara repeated.

"Cole," Kendi said. "She blamed the killings on someone named Cole."

Ara blinked. "That's the name of Dorna's brother."

"She has a brother?" Kendi said. "Where is he?"

"Let me see if I can find out," Ara said. "Give me a moment." She closed her eyes and felt around the Dream. After a moment, she found Lewa Tan's solid-world mind nearby. Ara reached for it and gently knocked.

~Yes?~ came Tan's mental voice. came Tan's mental voice.

Ara quickly explained what Kendi had told her. ~Do you know where Cole is now?~ ~Do you know where Cole is now?~ Excitement rippled across Tan's mind like the smell of cinnamon. ~There's information on him in the file. Listen to this-his school record says he set the bathroom on fire. Twice. Another time he was cited for setting a cat on fire. Arson and cruelty to animals are both hallmarks of a serial killer. Dorna isn't our killer. Cole is.~ ~There's information on him in the file. Listen to this-his school record says he set the bathroom on fire. Twice. Another time he was cited for setting a cat on fire. Arson and cruelty to animals are both hallmarks of a serial killer. Dorna isn't our killer. Cole is.~ ~But what's Dorna's connection, then?~ Ara said. But even as she spoke it fell into place. Ara said. But even as she spoke it fell into place. ~They're a team. Cole kills them in the Dream and Dorna cuts off fingers in the solid world.~ ~They're a team. Cole kills them in the Dream and Dorna cuts off fingers in the solid world.~ ~Which would explain the spot of blood on Dorna's sleeve and how the victims died even though Dorna hadn't entered the Dream,~ Tan said. Tan said. ~Okay, okay. Let me talk this out.~ ~Okay, okay. Let me talk this out.~ Brief pause. Brief pause. ~Dorna and Cole. Both abused as kids. Dorna develops multiple personality disorder, Cole becomes a sociopath. Cole is a coward but also a dominator who needs to control. It's why he kills-he's trying to control his victims and he kills them when they don't fall in line. He also dominates his sister Dorna. They're both Silent, so when dear old Mom sells them off as slaves and they're split up, they can keep in contact. Cole stays aloof and remote, ruling and killing from the Dream because it's safe there. He bullies his sister-or one of her personalities-into doing the dirty, b.l.o.o.d.y work in the solid world.~ ~Dorna and Cole. Both abused as kids. Dorna develops multiple personality disorder, Cole becomes a sociopath. Cole is a coward but also a dominator who needs to control. It's why he kills-he's trying to control his victims and he kills them when they don't fall in line. He also dominates his sister Dorna. They're both Silent, so when dear old Mom sells them off as slaves and they're split up, they can keep in contact. Cole stays aloof and remote, ruling and killing from the Dream because it's safe there. He bullies his sister-or one of her personalities-into doing the dirty, b.l.o.o.d.y work in the solid world.~ Ara nodded, though Tan couldn't see her. ~This complicates everything. Back when we thought Dorna was the killer, we at least knew what planet she was on. But Cole could be anywhere in the galaxy. How are we going to track him down?~ ~This complicates everything. Back when we thought Dorna was the killer, we at least knew what planet she was on. But Cole could be anywhere in the galaxy. How are we going to track him down?~ ~Sales records are the best bet,~ Tan said. Tan said. ~Once we explain why we want him, even the anonymous sales people will probably open their records to us. All we have to do is threaten to spread word through the Dream that they bought and sold a serial killer. They'll cave in or watch their business dry up.~ ~Once we explain why we want him, even the anonymous sales people will probably open their records to us. All we have to do is threaten to spread word through the Dream that they bought and sold a serial killer. They'll cave in or watch their business dry up.~ ~You're evil,~ Ara observed. Ara observed. ~I like that.~ ~I like that.~ ~Cole is younger than Dorna by about two years,~ Tan said. Tan said. ~So he'd be about twenty-four. Want me to come in there and start looking?~ ~So he'd be about twenty-four. Want me to come in there and start looking?~ ~I can handle this end,~ Ara told her, secretly glad to be out of Ras.h.i.+d's office and away from files full of pain and death. Ara told her, secretly glad to be out of Ras.h.i.+d's office and away from files full of pain and death. ~You keep trading notes with Ras.h.i.+d and see if anything else comes up. I'll get started with Silent Acquisitions right now and let you know what turns up.~ ~You keep trading notes with Ras.h.i.+d and see if anything else comes up. I'll get started with Silent Acquisitions right now and let you know what turns up.~ They parted company and Ara opened her eyes. Kendi sat on the gra.s.s of the pleasure garden, drumming his fingers impatiently on his thighs. On Ara's turf he was dressed in a long linen s.h.i.+rt, loose scarlet pants, and a matching scarlet fez hat. Ara thought he looked rather das.h.i.+ng. Ched-Hisak was nowhere to be seen.

"He said he had stuff to do," Kendi said in answer to her unspoken question. "So what did Inspector Tan say?"

Ara recited the conversation word-for-word. Kendi listened raptly, his face a picture of awe.

"How did you do that?" he demanded. "You even imitated her voice."

"Training, O my apprentice," Ara said. "You'll learn to do the same thing. Come on-we have some slavers to bully."

"Can we walk, please?" Kendi asked. "I don't want to barf my guts out on someone else's turf."

"We do have to work on that," Ara sighed. "It's not normal. But yes, we can walk. This way."

A few moments later, they were standing before the same chrome desk on the same blue carpet Ara had seen before. The Silent Acquisitions sign indicated the company was willing to meet Ara's needs, though she had her doubts on that score. The same red cone-shaped alien-or perhaps another member of the same species-greeted Ara and Kendi with the same cold pudding voice Ara had heard before.

"Are either or both of you connected with the Children of Irfan?"

"We are investigating a series of Silent murders," Ara told the creature, "and we have evidence that the killer came through your slave warehouses. I need to speak with someone immediately."

The creature's expression, if it had one, didn't change. Instead it said, "One moment," and vanished, taking the reception area with it and leaving Ara and Kendi standing on an empty plain. Whether the creature had left the Dream entirely or simply gone to another part of it, Ara didn't know.

A few moments later, another office appeared. This one had red carpet, scarlet wallpaper, and red plush furniture. Even the woodwork and the tables were red. Standing in front of the cherry wood desk was a rather pudgy man wearing a kimono of embroidered red silk. Kendi rubbed his eyes.

"Fas.h.i.+on pain," he muttered, and Ara nudged him.

"I am Sales Manager Leethe," the pudgy man said. His tone made it clear that although he hadn't made up his mind about Ara and Kendi, he was inclined toward hostility. "How may I help you?"

"My name is Mother Araceil Rymar of the Children of Irfan," Ara said. "This is my student Kendi Weaver. I am investigating a series of murders on the planet Bellerophon. So far over a dozen Silent women have been murdered in the Dream, and we have uncovered evidence that indicates the killer was sold through your company. I would like to see the sales records."

"Quite impossible," Leethe said. "Our sales records are confidential."

Ara's temper started to boil. Women were being murdered-another could go at any time, in fact-and this little man was citing confidentiality? Images of Iris Temm and Vera Cheel, torn and b.l.o.o.d.y, swam before her and mixed with Diane Giday's rotting corpse. She drew breath to snap out a reply, then carefully let it out. Kendi's eyes were on her.

Serene must you ever remain, she told herself. Serene, serene, serene Serene, serene, serene.

"I'm not sure you fully understand the situation, Manager Leethe," Ara said. "This person has tortured and murdered fourteen Silent women in the Dream. Five of them were monks at our monastery."

"The problems of the Children of Irfan are of no concern to this company," Leethe said, smoothing his scarlet kimono. For a moment, Ara expected the red color to come off on his hands like blood. "You and your kind cost us millions in revenue every year with your lying, thieving ways. If Emperor Bolivar and Empress Kalii hadn't granted you protection, we would have-"

Ara raised her hand. A bolt of lightning cracked from her fist and smashed a hole in the ceiling. Kendi gasped and leaped back. Leethe went pale.

"How-how dare dare you attack my turf," he sputtered. "Empress or not, you'll hear about-" you attack my turf," he sputtered. "Empress or not, you'll hear about-"

"Shut up," Ara snapped. There was a time for serenity and a time for anger. "Let's get a few things clear, Manager. First, the fact that I could crack your ceiling proves that I'm stronger in the Dream than you are, and that means you're going to listen. Second, if you don't cooperate with me, I will see to it that every corner of the universe hears about how Silent Acquisitions withheld information in order to protect a killer of Silent. Of Silent Silent, Manager. How many customers will you lose and how many Silent will refuse to cooperate with your company when word of this gets around? Third, there is something you are going to see, whether you want to or not."

Before Leethe could say a word, Ara reached into the Dream around them and twisted twisted. A blindfold appeared over Kendi's eyes and earplugs stopped his ears. He tried to pull them off. Ara could feel his resistance, but although he was strong-perhaps even stronger than she-he didn't have her decades of experience. Leethe's Dream office resisted Ara's touch, but his power was nowhere near Ara's, and his office melted and reformed under her anger. She snapped her fingers. Abruptly they were standing in a dead, black forest. A ghostly Temm ran screaming, and the branches tore her to pieces. Ara gestured, and the Dream changed again. Vera Cheel, transparent and wavery, sat wrapped in heavy chains on her sofa, scarlet blood pouring from a hundred wounds. A shadowy man in black chopped her finger off and wrote a number in blood on her forehead. Leethe made a low, animal sound in his throat and slapped his hands over his eyes. Ara mercilessly yanked them back down. The Dream changed one more time. Diane Giday's corpse lay stinking and slippery on her living room couch.

"Stop it!" Leethe cried. "You're making this up. It's not real!"

"It's real enough to prevent you from concentrating enough to leave the Dream or teleport away," Ara growled. The smell from Giday's corpse burned the very air. "Even a slaver must have some conscience-or a sense of self-preservation. The monster that did this pa.s.sed through your hands, Manager. Tell me what I need to know so I can find him."

Leethe had clapped his hands over his eyes again, but that wouldn't block out the smell. "Just end it, woman, and I'll tell you."

Ara snapped her fingers. The scene vanished, replaced by Ara's pleasure garden. The soft tinkling of the fountain and pleasant birdsong contrasted almost ghoulishly with the horrible images that had been there only moments before. Kendi's blindfold and earplugs evaporated. He blinked reproachfully at Ara and started to speak, then silenced himself under her heavy glare.

"The records, Manager Leethe," she said levelly. "And don't even think about leaving the Dream and not returning. I'm very good at whispering, and I have your scent."

Leethe lowered his hands. His pudgy face was pale above the scarlet kimono. "I told you I'd find them for you, and I will."

Ara conjured a chair for him and he dropped heavily into it. Kendi perched on the lip of the fountain next to Ara. Ara wondered if he noticed how the dynamics of her relations.h.i.+p with Leethe had changed. They were on Ara's turf now, and Leethe was sitting with his head lower than hers on a chair she had created. All of these were signs that Ara was in charge. She made a mental note to point this out to Kendi later as an example of Dream protocol.

Leethe closed his eyes, reaching out of the Dream to someone else-a records person, Ara a.s.sumed.

"I'll need dates," Leethe said. "And names."

Ara gave him Cole and Dorna's names and the date of their sale. Leethe opened his eyes.

"I thought you were looking for one person," he said. His tone was petulant.

"He has an accomplice," Ara told him. "Hurry it up."

Leethe shut his eyes again. A few moments later, he drew a deep breath and stood up. "Cole and Dorna Keller were both sold to one Mr. Barry Yaree, a human on the planet Trafalgar. He's a legal coordinator there, and his Silent slaves provide communication among circuit judges because Trafalgar is a low-tech world that doesn't allow artificial long-distance communication."

"And where can I find Mr. Barry Yaree?" Ara said.

"He usually creates a tropical beach for his turf," Leethe explained. He described it further, and as he spoke, a pattern began to form in Ara's mind. Eventually she received enough of Leethe's thoughts to find Yaree in the Dream.

"Thank you, Manager," she said when he was done.

Leethe vanished from his chair without further comment, leaving overlarge ripples and tears in his wake as a parting shot. Ara let the garden resettle before turning to Kendi.

"What was with the blindfold?" he demanded.

"There was no need for you to see it all again," Ara said.

"You don't have the right," Kendi said levelly. "You're not my mother."

"That's correct. I'm your teacher. And it's a teacher's duty to prevent harm to her students, both in the Dream and out of it."

"You don't blindfold me in the Dream and you don't stop up my ears," Kendi said. The anger in his voice was clear. "I'm not a slave, and I have the right to make my own choices about what I see and hear. If you don't think I should see something, then I'll leave. Horses and slaves are blindfolded. People are not."

Ara opened her mouth to refute this, then snapped it shut. "Point," she conceded. "I'll remember that next time."

Kendi looked surprised that she had given in. He nodded. "So what's next?"

"We're going to talk to Barry Yaree."

Barry Yaree happened to be in the Dream. He was a tall man, well over two meters, with an unruly shock of red-blond hair. Ara barely came up to the waist of his bathing suit. Behind them, a tranquil tropical sea lapped at a perfect white beach beneath a warm, benevolent sun.

"I remember those two," Yaree told them. His voice was oddly high and flute-like. "The girl was pliant enough, but her brother-what a lying little sack of trash. Lazy, mouthy. No matter how carefully we trained him, he couldn't seem to get into the Dream. And he was always giving us headaches. Broke stuff, stole, kept trying to get the female slaves into bed. Finally one day he actually grabbed my wife's rear end. I had the little s.h.i.+t beaten and then I sold him. He didn't seem to care. I kept the sister around for another year or so, then got a good offer and sold her, too."

"He never got into the Dream?" Ara said. She was already developing a crick in her neck from looking so far up.

Yaree shook his s.h.a.ggy head. "Not once. Went through a truckload of drugs and cost me a pretty set of credits, too."

That was strange, Ara mused. Cole must have gotten in later, then. Or had he been faking the fact that he couldn't get in? "Did you change their names?" she asked.

Yaree nodded. "To Jack and Jill. I thought it fit."

"Who did you sell them to?"

"A private slave dealer on Traveler III," the woman said. She had improbably blond hair, dark eyebrows, and a body that was slowly going to seed. Her turf looked like the grand ballroom of a fairy tale castle. "I was actually a little sad to see him go."

"Despite what he did to the cat," Ara said.

"Well, n.o.body's perfect." The woman s.h.i.+fted position on the throne she occupied. Her long blue dress, slit high up the side, revealed a fair amount of leg. "The little devil was insatiable, too."

"Sorry?" Ara said. Beside her, Kendi s.h.i.+fted uncomfortably.

"He wanted it morning, noon, and night," the woman said in a wistful voice. "Couldn't even bend over to adjust my stockings without him popping up behind me, the cutie. Hung like a donkey, too. G.o.d, what a time I had with him."

"And still you sold him," Ara said, unsure whether to laugh or be sick. Kendi stared.

"Well, you can only take so much," she said. "I mean, the cat was one thing, but the third time he set the greenhouse on fire-well, enough was enough. If you see him again, tell him I said h.e.l.lo."

"Of course," Ara said faintly. "What did you change his name to, by the way?"

"Little Tadpole." The humanoid lizard stuck out a long tongue and licked its own eyes. "But I call all my new slaves that, and he may not remember it. I only had the little creep a couple weeks."

"Why is that?" Ara asked.

"He kept yanking off my daughter's tail," the lizard said. "Thought it was the most hilarious thing. I punished him, but he didn't seem to give a s.h.i.+t. And his discipline was null. Couldn't even get the b.a.s.t.a.r.d to meditate for ten minutes. No wonder he was such a bargain. He ain't trainable, you ask me."

"Who did you sell him to?"

Ara sighed as she and Kendi crossed the border into his Outback. They should leave the Dream long enough to take food and bathroom breaks, but Ara didn't want to stop just yet, not when they had some good momentum going.

"He must have been lying," Kendi said as they walked over sand and stone. The walking was a concession to Kendi's teleportation nausea."All of his owners said Cole couldn't reach the Dream, but he obviously did."

Ara nodded. "Cole couldn't do what he's been doing without a lot of practice. Sheer power can accomplish a lot, but it can only take you so far, and he's shown a h.e.l.l of a lot of skill. I'm willing to bet he lied about not being able to reach the Dream, then started h.o.a.rding the drugs from all the 'extra practice' his owners made him do so he'd have a handy supply for when he really really went in." went in."

The Outback sun lay hot and heavy on her back and Ara began to wonder how long this trail would go on. This set of drugs, her second, was starting to wear off, and she didn't want to get a third hit-it would make her head-achy and out of sorts when she finally left the Dream. Her solid body was getting hungry, and the feeling was manifesting in her Dream body as well. Kendi was also looking tired and uncomfortable. It was growing difficult remaining civil to people who bought and sold Silent like cows or sheep. Still, she didn't want to give up. Every moment it took to find the killer was another moment closer to the time when he would murder someone else.

The next person on the list of Cole's owners was Betta Drew, a small, dark woman about as tall as Ara, though she was bone-thin and much older. Her hair was white and her teeth protruded. Her turf was a stark white room with three hard-backed chairs. The ladderback pressed uncomfortably against Ara's spine, adding to her current discomfort. She was going to have to leave the Dream soon and give it up for the night. A glance at Kendi told her that he was remaining at her side by sheer will alone. She was tempted to tell him to leave, then decided not to. As he had pointed out, she was not his mother, and if his drugs wore off completely and he were yanked out of the Dream-well, being left flat on his back for a day or two would be a lesson he wouldn't forget in a hurry and it would keep him out of trouble.

"That one!" Betta spat. "I'm sorry I ever laid eyes on him. Backtalker, mouthy, lazy. And a destructive streak. My dog disappeared a week after he arrived, and I'm sure he was responsible, though I can't prove it. Worthless, too-couldn't get into the Dream no matter how many drugs I gave him."

"Did you change his name when you bought him?" Ara asked. "I'll need to know so I can keep tracking him."