a passageway near where the girl went missing,” Moira said. “I’m assuming he thought he could bring something new to the investigation. He knew time was of the essence and felt he had to do something.”
“And it cost him his life?” Joro asked.
Moira nodded from her chair in front of the Engineer’s desk.
Tomika didn’t feel right sitting in the other chair, so she leaned near the bedroom door. Feeling useless, she offered to leave, but Joro insisted she stay. Giving in to the need to do something, she set a small glass of water at her mother’s elbow, who acknowledged it with a nod but left the glass untouched. Tomika offered a glass to the Chief Badge, but Moira shook her head.
“How did you know he was in trouble?” Joro asked.
Moira tapped the badge over her heart. “There’s electronics in here linked to our pads. When his heart rate skyrocketed then stopped, help was already on the way, but he was in a remote and unexpected location. By the time we figured out where he was, the killer was long gone. One important thing, Engineer. His sacrifice might have not been for nothing.”
“Continue.”
“In a nearby vent, we found a shoe with the missing girl’s initials inside. We also found a room that does not exist next to his body. I mean, the room and the door are not on any of the ship’s maps or diagrams. We think this secret room might be why he was murdered.”
“Interesting. Those maps are used across the ship, and they’re stored in a single location. Someone has the needed skills to access our diagrams database and remove rooms.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I assume there’s nothing in the room, and it was cleaned and sanitized.”
“Correct. The emergency response team could still smell the antiseptic, but we’re going over it anyway. Right now, there’s no telling what was stored there, but the worst-case scenario is we… I mean, he found the kidnapper’s kill room before he was murdered.”
Tomika felt her stomach roll over as she watched Moira. The Chief’s face revealed nothing, but her voice showed her palpable fury. Tomika could almost feel sorry for the murderer once he was caught. Almost.
Joro turned her chair a little and rested her hand on her fist. “When was the last time someone was murdered in the Back, Moira?”
“Decades, Engineer. I was a rookie Badge, and we caught a woman after she stabbed her husband for whatever reason. She was… not well, but he was popular, and the decision at the time was to hold a tribunal in front of the Triumvirate. That’s required for capital crimes. The vote was two to one to acquit, and she spent the rest of her life working in the human waste recycle center.”
Tomika didn’t have to ask who voted to convict.
Joro turned back to Moira. “What are you doing now?”
“We’re flooding the passageway in the area with everyone we can spare from the Badges and the Tech Corps. We’re looking for more rooms and more clues, but time is on the killer’s side, especially in locating the kidnapped girl. I have serious doubts we’ll find anything, but a lot of people are angry and taking this personal. I promise you this—we’re not going through the motions.”
“Fine.” Joro took a deep breath. “Next of kin?”
“None. Tank’s mother died years—”
“Wait!” Tomika jumped at the snap in her mother’s voice. “It was Tank?”
Moira sat erect. “Yes, Engineer. Didn’t I say that before?”
“No,” Joro snarled. “You didn’t.”
“I’m sorry, ma’am—”
“Shut up.” Joro pointed at Moira and Tomika. “Not another word. Nothing!” She jabbed at her pad, and a voice came back.
“Good day, Engineer—”
Joro cut him off. “Senior Assistant Engineer Barrett, do you hear me?”
“I hear the Engineer,” Barrett said, wonder filling his voice.
“Drop everything you’re doing and report to my office immediately. Do you hear me?”
“I hear the Engineer,” he repeated. “On the way.”
Joro put down the pad and looked at Moira. “Chief?”
“Ma’am?”
“Pick your most ethical Investigator and have them report here right now.”
“I hear the Engineer.” Moira lifted her pad and began tapping.
They did not have to wait long, as the summoned personnel arrived almost simultaneously. Tomika did not particularly like Chief Assistant Engineer Barrett, an older man whose features reminded her of the hawks from films in school, down to his piercing eyes and a nose that stood out from his face. He never smiled or laughed, and he was known to be a strict supervisor, traits Tomika forgave, all things considered. In addition to serving as the ship’s chief assistant engineer, the two departments he oversaw—life support and hydroponics—never faltered or made dumb mistakes. Without speaking, he sat in the open chair next to Moira.
Behind him was an even older man in brown Burner overalls who seemed small in comparison to the oversized Barrett. In fact, Tomika resisted the urge to reach out and touch him to verify the man was actually there. He seemed comfortable in the shadows around him, and he stood against the wall near her.
“We all know Senior Assistant Engineer Barrett,” Joro said. After everyone nodded, she looked at Moira.
“Everyone,” the Chief said, “this is Investigator Norris.”
Norris nodded. “Ma’am. Mr. Barrett.”
His voice was strong for a small, almost withered man, and his eyes never stopped moving, as if he were constantly assessing the threats in the room.
“Everyone, stand up. I have orders, and I want your full attention.”
Looking surprised, everyone stood.
“Is anyone not aware of the assassination of one of our Badges? Good. This makes things simpler.”
She focused on Barrett. “Senior Assistant Engineer, I am delegating full authority and decision-making responsibility for the investigation into your hands. You will receive all reports from the Chief Badge and Investigator Norris. Nothing comes to me from this point forward. Should the time come, you may be called up to sit with the Triumvirate to pass judgment in my place. Is there anything in what I just said you don’t understand?”
“There’s many things I don’t understand, Engineer, like the reason for these orders,” Barrett replied stiffly.
“You’re about to hear it,” Joro said ruefully. “Investigator?”
“Yes, ma’am?” Norris was tapping at his pad furiously. Tomika assumed he was already taking notes.
Joro took a deep breath. “The deceased was having an affair with one of my husbands, Enrique.”
Everyone in the room froze, and Norris stopped tapping.
“Yes, you’re absolutely correct in what you’re thinking,” she added. “I am a potential suspect, though I assure you I had nothing to do with the murder. In fact, I will repeat that for the record right here and now—I had nothing to do with the murder in any way, and I do not know the identity of the killer.”
Joro paused and took another breath. “I will also say for the record that I want this bastard hunted down and prosecuted. Nobody does what they did and gets away with it.”
Norris put away his pad. “Ma’am, we need to have a long talk.”
“Agreed, but if I can make a recommendation?”
“Of course.”
“Find Enrique and my other partner, Padmus, as soon as possible. Interview them separately, and tell them not to contact me or each other in any way for the duration of the investigation. That’s a recommendation only.”
“A good one, ma’am. I will do that right now.”
“This is the last time you and I talk like this, aside from my interview.” She regarded Norris. “You heard what I said to Barrett. Everything goes to him and the Chief. Nothing to me. Understand?”
“I hear the Engineer.” Norris touched his forehead and heart before leaving the room.
“Barrett, any more questions?”
“Even if I did, Engineer, I couldn’t ask you, could I?”
“No, you can’t. But I have a small favor to ask Moira, and I need you to hear it.” Joro wiped her face with one hand. “Chief, I’m moving in here immediately. Could you and Tomika go to my cabin and get my clothes and things? To keep everything honest?”
Moira shook her head. “I’m sorry, Engineer. Your cabin is part of an investigation now. Nothing in or out until we examine everything.” She looked at the bedroom door. “We’ll have to look in here, too, ma’am.”
“Of course. I’ll find a vacant office and cabin in the interim.”
“Engineer, if you make a list of clothes and things,” Barrett said, “Shelly will be happy to lend you everything you need.”
“Thank you, Barrett.” Joro sat back in her chair. “What am I forgetting? Oh, yes. Moira?”
“Engineer?”
“Padmus and Enrique no longer have access to Beverly Hills nor this office and cabin specifically. Not physically and not through the intercom. They are not to contact me. Find them new cabins, and please take care of that immediately.”
“Consider it done, ma’am. I assume we’re moving them to separate cabins.”
“That’s up to you and Barrett. I am done and out of this.”
“Understood.”
Joro looked to the Senior Assistant Engineer. “You have a question, Barrett?”
“I was going to ask how the meeting went, but that would be incredibly crass right now, wouldn’t it?”
Joro blinked, and Tomika was right there with her. The meeting with the Triumvirate met earlier that day but now seemed years ago. “Find time on our calendars tomorrow, would you?”
“Of course.” The Senior Assistant Engineer looked as if he wanted to say more, but instead he turned and left the room, the Chief Badge on his heels.
“Shit,” Tomika breathed.
“Agreed.” Joro rubbed her temples. “You’ve had quite the day.”
“You too.”
“Another normal day for a Burner.”
“Sure, it is.” Tomika laughed, maybe because she wasn’t ready to cry about Tank. Not yet. “What now?”
“Well, we have to find you a place to live since you can’t go back to the cabin.”
“I can crash anywhere.”
“Stay with me, wherever that is. We’ll be back in here when Moira is done.”
“You won’t mind?”
“Honestly, sweetheart, I could use the company. There’s going to be lonely days ahead until this all shakes out and I’m absolved.” Joro thought for a second. “It won’t take long. They’ll figure out I was in the Ring with the Triumvirate and you.”
Tomika watched her mother’s shoulder sag. His death is hitting her now and for good reason. Tank was their family friend for as long as she could remember. The idea that she would never see him again or tease him about his muscles was now hitting her, too.
She asked the question that most bothered her. “Do you think they’ll catch him?”
“The killer?” Joro’s features changed instantly, allowing her fury to show. “Whoever that fucker is, they better hope the Badges find them first.”
Tomika realized that the Engineer was not just angry about Tank’s murder, but in the position to avenge his death. The ultimate position and the ultimate ability, whatever that was.
She felt a chill she never experienced before in her mother’s presence.