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"AFTER I arranged a bail hearing for your father in the morning," Agustino DaVinci told Randal. "A man caught me as I left the Precinct. He threatened to harm me and my family if I didn't drop your father as a client."
"What? Who was it?"
DaVinci shrugged. "He didn't give his name, He was a little, dark man with no distinguishing features."
"What are you going to do?"
DaVinci's smile was feral. "It's not the first time someone has tried to intimidate me. I have an excellent bodyguard service I use when this happens. I thought you might want to know about the threat, so you can take your own precautions."
"Did you report the threat to the investigating officers?"
"Yes. Not sure they believed me."
"Thank you for telling me." Randal got off the com with a frown.
"Trouble?" Devon asked.
"Maybe," he said slowly. "Dad's lawyer told me he and his family were threatened. Someone wants him to drop Dad as a client."
Devon's eyebrows rose. "Think he'll do that?"
"No, in fact, he seemed kind of perked about it. Said he has a bodyguard service he uses in cases like this."
"It sounds to me as if someone wants your dad and his partners to take the fall for the murder."
"I think he's right," Judith said. "We put your mom and mine to bed. I gave your mom a sleeping pill."
"Thanks," Randal said. "How is your mom taking it?"
"She's okay," Judith said. "Mostly she's mad. Kept talking about how Dad and the others were asked to employee Simone because some hush-hush agency wanted to keep an eye on her."
"Why did she go to the lab tonight?" Tash asked. "I mean, what made tonight special enough to break into the offices?"
Randal and Devon exchanged looks. "The data crystal," they said together.
"Can we check to see if it's there?" Devon asked.
"Let's go find out," Randal said. "You girls don't let anybody in while we're gone. If they threatened DaVinci, it's possible they might come here."
"Does the house have a security lockdown mode?" Tash asked.
"Yes," Randal said. He went to the vid console and keyed in a sequence. "There, I've put it in secure mode."
The vid screen divided itself into sections, each one showing an approach to the house.
"The robo servers have also activated the security mode," he said. "Let them screen any coms and answer the doors, okay."
"Okay," Judith said. "Umm, I hate to ask this, but Licorice needs a sandbox or something."
"Tell the servers, I'm sure they'll find something he can use."
Randal went to the wall cabinet and pressed a panel. He took out two pulse pistols, offering one to Devon, who strapped it on. He also handed the earthman a seven-inch knife in a sheath, selecting a rapier for himself.
"We've got air sleds in the garage," he said.
Tash and Judith watched the two men leave. Neither one had any intention of sleeping until they returned.
"I don't know about you," Tash said, "But I could do with a glass of wine."
"That's an excellent idea," Judith said.
When Devon and Randal arrived at Dreamedia Laboratories, only one police sled was still parked in front and the front door had a Police Seal.
"They've sealed the building," Devon said.
"Only the front door," Randal replied. He dismounted his sled and led the way to a side door. He entered a code and it slid open.
The vault appeared to be closed, but when they examined it, Devon said, "This has been opened sometime around midnight."
Grimly, Randal keyed in the code and the heavy steel door slid to one side. The drawer holding the crystal was open and empty. "It's gone," Randal said.
"Freeze!" an authoritive voice said.
Devon raised his hands and turned around. The man who had ordered them to freeze wore a policeman's uniform. He was also holding a pulse pistol aimed at them.
"My name is Randal Langeton, and I have every right to be here," Randal told him.
"Show me your ID," the man said.
Randal reached inside his jacket and pulled out a badge. He held it so the cop could see it.
"What's that?" he demanded.
"Run a scanner over it," Randal said.
Frowning, the man took out a portable scanner and aimed it at the badge. A blue light ran over it. He nearly dropped the scanner when a voice came out of the badge.
"Authorization level Blue. Bearer has authorized Clearance in all security matters. Cooperation is required."
"What the Hell?"
"An important piece of technology is missing. We need to know if it was taken into evidence."
"I don't have an evidence list. The detectives probably have one."
"Then contact them. Now."
"They've probably gone off duty by now," He protested.
"Do you like your job?" Randal asked him.
"I'm a good cop, mister," was the reply.
"Then com the detectives."
"Okay, okay, don't get your—never mind."
Devon looked thoughtfully at his friend, nodding to himself, as he realized he had been correct about why Randal had been chosen to come to earth to plant the protection virus into the Portal Authority programming.
He crossed his arms, half-sitting on a nearby desk. It shifted a little and he grabbed the edge, accidentally brushing the fronds of the large plant next to it. His eye caught a flash of light when the frond moved. He bent down and brushed at the potting soil. When he did, he found the hard surface of a crystal. His fingers closed around it, and he examined it. He held it out so Randal could see it. Randal nodded and pantomimed putting in a pocket. Devon did so.
The cop had his back to them while he spoke to the detective he had gotten out of bed.
"I know," he was explaining, "but this guy has high-level authority. What level? I think that badge thing said Blue Level. He says an important piece of tech is missing and he wants to know if we've got it in evidence."
"Give me a minute. I'll com the evidence lockup and ask them to check. What does this tech look like?"
"She wants to know what to look for," the officer said, turning around.
"It's a data crystal," Randal told him.
"Did you get that?"
"I got it. I'll com you back."
A few minutes later, Addicock commed back. "No, we didn't find anything like that. How important is it?"
"Very important," Randal told her. "I would bet it's what Gusset broke in here to steal."
"Who had access to it?"
"All three partners had access. They had no reason to steal it. I'm thinking Gusset's partner killed her for it."
"We didn't find any evidence of a partner."
"No," Randal agreed, "you were too busy pulling outdated blackmail letters off her computer. I suggest you look deeper into her criminal connections."
"How do you know she had criminal connections?"
"That's classified. You don't have clearance. Take my word for it—she had criminal connections."
"Dammit—" Addicock said.
"Goodnight, Detective," Randal said. "C'mon Devon. Let's go back to the house."
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