Cryogen, Mars: An Interplanetary Espionage and Murder Mystery.

By Kevin F. Owens

Martian businessman Jutt Bristol is killed by accident while visiting the Martian polar ice processing town of Cryogen, leaving behind a top secret project to develop a new propulsion system for the military. Soon after his demise, two custom's officials are murdered, agents he had been paying to overlook a smuggling operation. Space freight pilot Blue Hieidelburn, transporting Jutt Bristol's cargo to Mars when the customs murders happen, is jailed on smuggling charges and suspicion of murder when he arrives at Mars. The mysteries of those deaths create problems for star media journalist Terra Antoni

Twenty-six year old Terra Antoni has special access to a developing story about the first interstellar space probe to an earth-like planet orbiting a star twelve light years away. Her coverage of the story is interrupted by a smuggling and murder story involving Jutt Bristol, the uncle of her fianc. She is compelled to come to the aid of an innocent Philippines based space freight pilot jailed on the murder charges. Recruiting a Filipino detective to help with the investigation, they uncover the mysteries of the crimes, leading to revelations that the United Nations Space Force is involved with a secret mission to hijack the secret propulsions prototype.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Dec 12, 2013
• ISBN: 9781491832394

Kevin F. Owens

Originally from Tacoma, after working several years with Boeing, Kevin Owens moved to Virginia in the 1970's for a new career with an electrical contractor. In Washington, D.C. he met and married a Filipina immigrant, and they raised two daughters, both now married with professional positions. A portrait of Kevin should include his separate fascination with space as a future frontier. As a kid he won a school science fair blue ribbon with a project on Mars. While his daughters were growing up he wrote a series of science fiction stories for them about Mars as a future frontier.

Book preview

Part A

Prologue

CHAPTER ONE

POLAR DEATH

F inally, the voice he loathed to hear disturbed his discomfort. Ion… Glad to see you. It’s a little unusual for you to venture this far north!

Ion Preston gritted his teeth. He shifted his gaze from the dream-like images shown in the wall-to-wall holograph of a tropical beach. He focused his attention on the voice that had popped the bubble. Jutt Bristol had a knack for stating the obvious while appearing innocent. Ion stared at the balding son-of-a-bitch, wishing he could strangle his ‘business partner’. He would not. He was not the violent type. I’m not here for social reasons.

The Cryogen airport restaurant was the last place Ion would volunteer to visit for social reasons. The smoke streaked fading walls had probably not been washed for years. A large splotch of exposed insulation in the ceiling was as unappealing as a scab. The transparent ceramic table top over a video menu display looked like something out of a junk yard. Ion closed his eyes, and breathed deeply. Food odors mixed with disinfectant smells were distracting. The air filters must not work.

Jutt Bristol hung his pressure helmet on a magnetic hook, and then sat himself across from Ion. He pressed the selection for a ‘Whiskey Polaris’, and then spoke to the table microphone. Double shot, bring a snack. He looked at the entrance to the kitchen. The waitress understood. He focused on Ion Preston, What seems to be the problem?

Ion studied his partner. Jutt Bristol’s broad smile, sparkling blue eyes, tan wrinkled forehead were accented by the white hair along the sides of he otherwise hairless scalp, creating the illusion of a warm trusting face. Socially, Jutt was usually friendly. As a businessman, Jutt could be as cold, conniving, and ruthless as they come. Ion came to Cryogen to deal with Jutt in person, to see his eyes when they talked. He watched the waitress bring Jutt’s order.

Ion stared at Jutt, Jutt, since you finessed control of Rama, I’ve done my best to get along with you. You bought a majority of the stock and gained control of the business… my business.

Ion spoke softly, I built Rama with my bare hands, and I wasn’t about to give it up because of you. I figured you were just a businessman out to get rich any way you could. That, I can understand…

Get to the point! You didn’t fly up here to tell me this. You’re here to chew my ass. Jutt continued to smile with the aura of innocence.

I’m not going to let you destroy Rama, Ion paused to study his opponent’s face, I’ve overlooked a lot of your crap, but now you’ve gone too far.

What are you talking about? Jutt showed a genuine air of surprise.

Ion could not trust the face he was looking at. Jutt Bristol was good at faking emotions.

I’m talking about the chain of phony companies to smuggle contraband to whatever you’re doing here. I’m talking about counterfeit Rama products you imported to sell on Mars, the shit you’ve been piling on the reputation of Rama. You are not going to destroy my Company!

What? I’ve done nothing to Rama!

Jutt, I’ve been around you too long to believe your traxel shit. You have three choices. Dissolve the smuggling operation, separate yourself from Rama, or the criminal evidence against you goes to the police. If I disappear suddenly, it automatically goes to the police.

Jutt Bristol silently stared. He breathed deeply, and then sipped his drink. Ion, I don’t know what you think I’ve done, but I swear… I’ve done nothing against Rama. He motioned to the cubicle where restaurant customer pressure suits were hanging, Those are all Rama outfits. I push Rama goods. The pressure suit I’m wearing is from a recent shipment I sold to the ice factory. I understand your feelings, but you are wrong on that point!

Ion stared at the wall where the pressure suits were hanging, and then he turned again to his business partner. I’m not going to argue with you. I’ve wasted too many nights fighting you on business decisions in the past. I’m telling you, I’m not letting you wipe out Rama without a fight.

Relax, Ion…

Damn it, I don’t want to relax. I want to be rid of you. I know you set up an elaborate smuggling network, with the military covering your tail here in Cryogen. It has to stop. I have proof of the bribes you paid customs. Why in the hell would you smuggle in fake Rama products? Is a few bucks worth the reputation of a Company?

Fake products?

You’re doing it again!

Jutt leaned back, glancing out the window at the truck pulling into the water works factory, Ion, Cryogen has nothing to do with Rama. I’ve never bootlegged your products. I’ll show you what ‘Marscold’ is all about.

Marscold? Ion was dubious.

The military research project I’m doing here. Come with me.

Here’s what I’ll do. You have one chance to persuade me. If you convince me, I’ll give you time to straighten out the mess. If I leave here convinced that you’re trying to play another game on me, then you either sign control of Rama back to me, or I send you to jail.

Jutt’s smile was still there, but beads of perspiration’ glistened from his forehead. Deal. If Marscold doesn’t convince you, I’ll sign a paper to that effect, now. However, if you agree that what I have in Cryogen is a good deal, I’ll give you a piece of the action on condition that you give me time to prove that I am not bootlegging Rama products.

I want that signed paper, transmitted to my account in Crater City, before we go anywhere.

You’ve got it. Jutt pushed a button at the end of the table, changing the video display into a document format. He verbally repeated his pledge, asking the computer to fill in the details. Once everyone had a hard copy of the agreement, he instructed the computer to warm up his personal polar rover, and then stood. We’ll go on the surface to my place. He retrieved his pressure helmet, It’s quicker than the tunnels.

Sealed in full polar pressure suits, the two men strolled across the carbon-dioxide snow coating the streets of Cryogen. The subterranean tunnels interconnected the town like the networks in an anthill, with a warm, pressurized, breathable atmosphere. However, the two blocks to Jutt Bristol’s condominium was more direct on the outside road surfaces. A passenger rover going towards the airport rumbled past them. They ignored it, walking silently on. Their communicators were set on the same channel, but the only transmitted sounds were their breathing. Ion did not want to talk. Jutt did not want to say anything that might trigger an unpleasant response from Ion. The light from the exhaust of a plane taking off briefly illuminated the town before the wide-winged silver craft disappeared into the mist.

In a frigid land of no winter sun, the only exterior illumination in Cryogen came from man-made sources. Daily polar temperatures seldom rose above minus 150 degrees Fahrenheit, so cold that carbon dioxide from the Martian atmosphere began condensing into a frigid haze. Over time, particles from that fog settled to the surface like snow. Heat from area street lights, air vents, and vehicular traffic vaporized the CO2 snow, creating a rising cloud of steam.

The mist shrouded road lights glowed along the three-block main street of Cryogen. With the heart of the town buried underground for protection from the elements, the frosted surface structures appeared deserted, like a ghost town rising from a frozen wasteland. The only visible movement in town was the occasional heated, pressurized trucks heading to the factory to unload ice blocks; chunks of glaciers that had been frozen solid for millions of years. The glaciers at the north polar hood held the most extensive reservoir of surface water on Mars. That water gave Cryogen a reason to exist. The factory at the far end of town melted the ice, separated the water into component hydrogen and oxygen by electrolysis, and then piped the elements south to the cities and farms near the equator. There hydrogen was recombined with oxygen to produce water. The water made life possible on the growing planet.

The lights of a convoy of six trucks appeared out of the fog. A small, brightly flickering flame from a hydrogen pressure relief valve above the town’s heating plant actually kept the dark polar locality well lit.

Ion turned his attention from the trucks back to Jutt Bristol. What was Marscold? His own detectives had attempted to investigate what was going on, but were frustrated by military secrecy guarding whatever was going on. He was about to ask questions, but he noticed something was wrong. Jutt, your backpack is kicking sparks!

What the hell? Jutt turned his head to look over his shoulder. A series of blue-white sparks were spitting out from the backpack. Damn, must be the generator. They’ve been having trouble at these temperatures.

Don’t talk now, Ion pushed his companion, Get inside. There’s an entrance!

Jutt walked rapidly in the direction Ion had pushed him. This is a new pressure suit. It shouldn’t be malfunctioning yet.

An underground access airlock was thirty yards ahead.

Ion followed closely, stepping easily to avoid slipping on the snow. Halfway to the airlock the area suddenly lit up with an explosive flash of brilliance from Jutt’s backpack. Momentarily stunned by the blinding flare, Ion quickly realized that Jutt was in serious trouble. The explosion had knocked Jutt to the ground, and ripped a hole in the back of his heated pressure suit. Ion moved quickly, lifting Jutt to pull him to the entrance. The concussion of the explosion had rendered Jutt unconscious. The inside of Jutt’s faceplate was frosting over; a crimson liquid splattered in front of the mouth. The abrupt loss of air pressure, from 800 to 8 millibars, had caused hemorrhaging in Jutt’s lung’s air sacs. The immediate loss of oxygen would lead to suffocation, and the instant drop of temperature to minus 150 degrees for the air the lungs were gasping for would cause hypothermic shock.

Ion dragged his business partner into the airlock. Once inside with he warm, pressurized air, he removed Jutt’s helmet. Bright red blood oozed from the lips of the unconscious Bristol. Ion rolled him on his side in effort to clear the air passages. There was an involuntary cough, where Jutt spit a mouthful of blood across the floor. Then he went limp. The sporadic breathing stopped. Jutt Bristol was dead.

Part B

Space Freighter

CHAPTER TWO

BATAAN SPACEPORT

A lthough the office looked like an oversized bamboo hut, once inside the lobby, Zenia Olsen found a more up-to-date building, a military prefab structure designed for fabrication on the Moon. The wall opposite the entrance was filled with an electronic display of the company symbol. A computer voice greeted her. Welcome to E.M. Transport. May I help you?

Zenia ran her thin fingers through her short hair. I’m looking for Blue Heidelburn. She tried not to reveal exasperation, but she was tired of always beginning conversations with a machine.

If you have a shipment, it must be inspected and loaded by tomorrow morning. Any information you need is on the screen.

A four foot square section of the wall altered the image to a blue tinted menu display. The next freight launch from Earth was scheduled for March 2nd, arriving at Mars on March 26th. The three Martian spaceports served by E.M. Transport were Crater City, Wells, and Lowell Canyon. Prices for cargo were divided into bulk crates, volatiles, agricultural, and fragile; and those classifications according to weight and volume.

I’m not here about cargo. Zenia responded.

Please show your identification, and state your business.

Zenia removed a card from her pocket, and placed it against the data reader on the wall. I would like to see Mr. Heidelburn on personal business.

You are not listed in his files. Please elaborate.

I am Mary Olsen’s sister. Colonel Andrew Potter sent me.

The video display on the wall faded, changing the wall to a clear window. Beyond the window was a business office. A section of the wall slid open. A forty-five year old Filipina woman stared up from a desk where she was working with a computer. She had a beautiful oval face except for an abundance of blemishes on her cheeks. A thin middle-age Filipino man, dressed in traditional local shirt and shorts, sat beyond her work station, holding a coffee cup in his hand.

Kumista, Miss Olsen! She had a friendly, no-nonsense expression. I’m Bibi Sandoval, Mr. Heidelburn’s office manager. How may we help you?

The room had the standard office assembly; multiple video screens displaying data lists, a recessed automated kitchen galley, and a door to a lavatory. Beside a corridor leading to a door was a wall with several three-dimensional still photographs, including one of Zenia’s blond sister, Mary Olsen, dressed in a United Nations Space Force Lieutenant’s uniform; she was posed in front of a space fighter.

You look a lot like your sister, Sonny Ortigas sat his coffee on Bibi’s desk. At least like her picture. Kaakit-akit na bulaklak.

Zenia did not react. She understood she had just been called a ‘pretty flower’ in Filipino, but wanted to withhold announcing that she understood the language.

Please excuse Sonny. Bibi gave him a stern look, and then turned to Zenia, He gets funny after an all night poker game. Miss Olsen, we have no record of you in Blue’s files. What can we do for you?

It’s a personal matter… Colonel Andrew Potter suggested I talk to Mr. Heidelburn.

A flashing light at Bibi’s desk momentarily distracted her. Zenia could not see the video image, though she listened to the conversation. Yes, Colonel Kafdar?

"Morning, Bibi. When does Blue leave?

Noon, tomorrow. You have a shipment?

Did Lee Chang bring his cargo yet?

No, but he promised three containers. I’ll check.

Thanks. The communication ended.

She looked at Sonny, Is Blue decent?

Asleep on the back deck. He’s hung over. Mimi and Aurora were swimming in the beach when I left them.

A blue light flashed on Bibi’s console. A female computer voice whispered, There is no coffee in the food unit on the back deck. Blue wishes you would bring coffee and hangover pills for him.

He wishes? Bibi twisted her mouth in exasperation, Boss, are you drunk again?

Never mind, a deep, slow male voice responded, Bring emergency help. Is Sonny still there?

Sonny shook his head, pointing to the clock, indicating he had to go.

Sonny’s leaving. He has work. Are you decent?

What do you have in mind?

You have a visitor.

If it’s a shipment, take the order, and have it ready to go by morning. If it’s a salesman, we have all we need.

She is neither, Bibi was irritated. She wants to talk to you about the war.

After a momentary pause, Blue’s voice said, Have her bring the coffee and pills.

Put your clothes on. Mendoza expects you in Cebu. Peters has another cargo coming through Lee Chang. Kafdar was checking on that shipment.

You handle the details. Just send the coffee.

Bibi shook her head, and then addressed the computer. Black coffee and hangover pills on a platter. She looked up at Zenia, Here’s your chance to talk to Blue. Down the hallway, don’t pay attention to the house, and out on the back deck. His coffee is in the galley behind me.

Zenia sighed, and stepped into the galley module.

Did you get any sleep? Bibi asked Sonny as he rose to leave.

A couple of hours after your boss cheated me out of my stake. I don’t think he did.

The living quarters beyond the office were wood and bamboo. The living room reeked of stale beer and pulutan. Playing cards were scattered across a dining table, and assorted women’s garments adorned the sofa. As she found her way through the home, Zenia thought of Colonel Andrew Potter’s words of caution, Blue was a top pilot… he safely landed a transport on Mars after his engines had been blown off by enemy fire… he is a good businessman, salvaging abandoned Space Force Transports orbiting Mars, and turning those into a space freight business… but his personal life is for parties… . drinking, gambling, sex…

The sliding glass doors opened to a shaded bamboo patio deck with wood steps to the beach. The patio gave an excellent view of Manila Bay and Corregidor Island. Across the bay, Manila glistened in the morning sun. Splashing in the surf a few yards from the patio were two naked Filipina women. The well developed maidens giggled and splashed each other. Zenia swallowed hard, trying not to react to an embarrassing encounter. She averted her eyes to the patio where the soft sounds of a familiar love song caught her ear; Starr Swenson singing ‘Whispers from the stars’. Lounging on a patio chair was a thin, unkempt man in need of a shave. Beside him was a self propelled automatic office console. The unwashed European was wearing trousers, but nothing else. His receding brown hair seemed to lengthen his face. His eyes were closed.

Mr. Heidelburn? Zenia whispered.

Coffee? He opened one eye.

She put the tray on top of the console beside him, then handed him the cup of coffee.

He opened both eyes. Slowly, he sat up. Sipping the coffee, he directed her to sit in a bamboo chair beside his

She remained standing, scanning the surroundings. The nearby palm trees accented the humid air. A passenger space shuttle flew by overhead, accelerating up and to the east, towards orbit. A leafy bush grew to one side of the patio.

Blue popped hangover pills into his mouth, chasing them with another sip of black coffee. He stared out at the beach where his beautiful friends still splashed in the water. Thanks for the coffee. Bibi said you know me from the war?

I’m Mary Olsen’s sister, Zenia answered. Her pastel yellow environmental suit filtered the air to make her comfortable in the Manila humidity. The lacy trim made her youthful twenty-two years seem younger. Thin and clean, she was plain in comparison to Mimi Reyes and Aurora Sanchez, the splashing playmates.

Mary? The sleepy gaze in his eyes cleared abruptly. You… you’re Mosquito’s sister? He sat up, pointing to a portable kitchenette in the comer, Care for anything?

She waved away the suggestion. Watching Mimi and Aurora approach the patio, she blushed slightly when their naked bronze bodies stepped up on the deck. To avoid looking at them, she tried staring at Blue. Mimi came directly to Blue, smiled at Zenia, and then kissed his forehead. Halika na sa tubig, Blue. Sasarap ang pakiramdam mo?

Blue patted the woman’s thigh. Later. I have a guest. Mimi, could you take a bottle of scotch to Jem Regal? Make it with love…

Sige, she briefly glanced again at Zenia, then said, Maybe we come back later. Mimi smiled, motioning for her friend Aurora to join her inside.

Zenia’s reddened cheeks returned to normal color once the two were gone. Mr. Heidelburn, I’m sorry I interrupted your party. Perhaps, I could come at a better time.

Party? He squinted. Oh, Mimi and Aurora! That wasn’t a party… they’re friends… a little poker game He sipped the coffee, Last night. They lost. He smiled.

Zenia was not amused. A sudden breeze flicked at her hair. Zenia appreciated the smell of sea spray more than the stale beer.

He waved her to sit down. Please, I’d like to talk to you. I’m sorry about your sister. I thought a lot of her. Did you want information about what happened to her?

Not exactly, she settled back into the bamboo chair. General Johnson showed me the file tapes on her. He directed me to Colonel Andrew Potter in Tokyo… because Potter was your commander… was there when she died. Mister Potter suggested I see if you could help…

Blue eyed the slender woman. Her hair was darker, but otherwise she looked like Mary. Two things. First, just call me Blue. Second, what help do you want?

I’m sorry, Mr. Heidelburn… I mean Blue… I’ve been trying to return my sister’s remains to Biloxi since the war. My family doesn’t feel right about her being left on Mars. It has bothered me for years.

I had good times with… you’re sister was a friend. But, this is a government matter.

I’ve contacted the United Nations, the Space Force, and the Martian Government. I was told that the United Nations efforts to return their Space Force dead to Earth after the war were futile. The Martians were in no mood to permit Space Force teams in to dig up private lands.

The war was six years ago.

General Johnson wired my request to the Martian Militia. Mary is buried on the farm of Terra Antoni. Since her family suffered severely during the war, the Militia was unwilling to broach the subject with her. General Johnson recommended I contact Terra Antoni personally.

I piloted Colonel Potter’s Lander. What did Potter say?

He said you had a friend who is close to Miss Antoni.

Blue glanced skyward and whistled. He looked out at the water. He then commented, The music you’re listening to is that friend.

Zenia attuned her ears to the background music. It was still Starr Swenson. You know her?

Blue put his coffee down. Starr operates a club in Crater City. We were friends before the war. What do you know about Terra Antoni?

Her reputation; I read the biography about what she did in the war. I’ve seen her newscasts.

Blue spoke to the computer cabinet. Jay-Jay-Jay-Two! Run this morning’s broadcast from Mars once more. A video display abruptly appeared with a logo for the Martian Broadcast Agency’. A young male addressed the camera, News from Cryogen is that businessman Jutt Bristol died from a pressure suit failure. The police have released few details, but Mr. Bristol is important on Mars. He was vice-president of the Rama Corporation and shared control of the Newton Company, famous for asteric mines in Mariner Canyon. His death had an unsettling effect on the stock market.

Hold the report. He turned to Zenia. Jutt Bristol is the uncle of Terra Antoni’s fiancé. He also owes me payment for shipments I’ve made. Blue spoke again to the computer. Advance broadcast to the Terra Antoni report."

Terra Antoni’s famous face filled the screen; she had short stylish hair and large dark piercing eyes. Zenia had read, and reread, Nick Ralston’s book about Terra Antoni’s role in the war. Terra continued with her commentary, "One-hundred and seventy-two years after the robot Starship Columbus was launched, the flight has finally arrived at the Earth-like planet circling Tau Ceti, twelve light years away. The laser signals, transmitted twelve years ago from that far away star, are just now arriving. We knew of the eight planets circling Tau Ceti before the Columbus was launched. The mission began because an early lunar based observatory found that one of those planets has liquid water on its surface. The returning data we are getting now indicates the presence of chlorophyll on that same planet. Since chlorophyll is created only by live vegetation, it appears that there is life elsewhere in the Universe, twelve light years away.

The Starship Columbus was programmed to conduct a detailed surveillance of the planet, then land probes in search of life forms. The Martian Science Institute, with exclusive news release rights for this mission, will be making new information available as the signals are decoded. Much credit for what is happening now has to go to their director, Dyn Palmer, who personally saw to the reconstruction of the Columbus tracking antennas after the originals were destroyed during the…

The image stopped advancing, the sound disappeared.

That’s Terra Antoni, Blue stretched his arms, and then reached once more for his coffee. I’ll ask Starr if she can talk to Terra. I leave for Mars tomorrow.

Zenia always thought that Terra Antoni was a fascinating celebrity. The report she just aired was equally fascinating. However, it was irrelevant to Zenia’s quest. Can I go with you?

Blue made a face of displeasure, placed his cup back on top of the console, then leaned back, I fly a freight transport.

For six years my family tried to bring Mary home. I’ve got to go. I’m begging for your help.

You have passport clearance.

I gave my identification when I came in.

He addressed his computer again. The news broadcast image was replaced by a data display.

Blue muttered to himself, Biloxi… University of Miami… worked as a magician for Disney… scuba diver for Cousteau Enterprises… Aircraft pilot’s license… interesting… He turned to Zenia, Happy Birthday!

Zenia smiled, not answering.

Zenia, I can’t take passengers. I don’t like tourists on these cargo flights. The trip takes three weeks one way as of this week. I’ve had it with space sickness and untrained civilians that endanger the ship. I’ll ask Starr to talk to Terra. That’s all I can do for you. Sorry.

Zenia was used to disappointment. Tell me how to find Starr. I’ll take a commercial flight.

Starr owns the Club Fir Tree in Crater City, Blue surveyed Zenia’s long face. Have you been in space before?

No, but its time I went.

Have you flown?

Mary took me flying in her Space Force fighter.

That’s what I mean. You have your sister’s balance system. He again addressed his computer, Zenia will be logged as my copilot, at standard wage. She’ll be meeting Mendoza in Cebu this afternoon.

What?

Robert Mendoza. Bibi will give you details.

You want me to fly your plane to Cebu? Don’t you want to see how well I fly first?

If you crash, you won’t go to Mars with me.

What are you going to do?

He did not get up. Don’t wake me. Talk to Bibi. We launch tomorrow at noon.

Zenia had worried about flying an unfamiliar plane, but she was just a passenger on a flight with a computer pilot. She wasn’t needed. At Cebu airport Jun Mendoza handed her a manifest for three fruit-filled cargo containers, and once the transaction was complete, he tried to leave her with the unloaded shipment. When she told him the fruit would not go to Mars unless he helped load it, his men made jokes about her, but they put the containers on the plane.

The computer controlled return flight was just as uneventfull. The plane landed itself, and taxied into a Hanger. Once the plane was parked, robot cargo handlers opened the plane’s rear access door and brought the three containers out on the floor for inspection.

On the hanger floor two business men approached Zenia. She recognized them from the computer files she studied during the flight. Rick Burgess, a muscular, curly haired redhead, was a business agent for Lee Chang, a Manila based Exporter. Jem Regal, smaller and younger, was the Martian Customs Inspector that Mimi Reyes was supposed to bring scotch to.

Jem Regal, eyes sparkling, said, Miss Olsen, Bibi Sandoval asked me to meet you here.

Inspector Regal? Zenia shook his hand, and then gave him the electronic cargo manifest.

I’m Jem, he winked, It’s always a pleasure to meet Blue’s friends. He motioned towards the other man, Rick, do you know Miss Olsen?

Rick’s eyes had mystery to them. He asked, How long have you been with Blue?

Pleased to meet you, Mr. Burgess. Was I supposed to meet with you?"

Bibi didn’t know I was here. I happened on Jem a few minutes ago. Tell Blue our final loads will be here this afternoon.

Zenia was puzzled. You should tell Bibi. I’m too new to know what to advise.

Rick nodded, I’ll call. We need inspection, too. Jem, can you stop by this afternoon?

A friend loaned me a yacht for a week. I’m hoping to get an early start.

Leaving town? Rick questioned.

Jem smiled, Fishing. He patted Rick’s arm, Get the paperwork ready. I’ll be over after I check this.

Rick turned and left

This a special shipment? Jem Regal continued smiling.

Fruits from Cebu. Zenia grimaced, Does that make it special?

Jem reviewed the manifest. He looked up, took her hand in his, and then gently squeezed her fingers. I guess I can inspect by the book.

She withdrew her hand.

He cleared his throat, glanced down at the manifest again, and then approached the first of the containers. He opened the door, and stepped inside. Minutes later, he stepped out of the cargo container and attached an electronic seal to the latch. As soon as he disappeared into the second container, Zenia noticed the approach of Mimi Reyes, one of Blue’s party girls.

Miss Olsen, Mimi had a sing-song voice, Bibi said I could find Jem here with you.

Even her accented English sounded sensual. Zenia pointed towards the container.

Mimi addressed the open container. Jem?

The young inspector appeared at the door. Mimi? He stepped out, I’m happy to see you.

Mimi clasped his hand, and kissed his cheek. Blue asked me to bring you a present. Gently, she pulled back.

Jem showed a young man’s excitement that quickly shifted to a mild frustration. I’d love to. I’m taking a boat out when I get off. I’ll wait for you.

Mimi asked, Blue’s throwing a party tonight. Aren’t you going?

I told him yesterday I was leaving after work. He didn’t mention that to you?

Mimi grinned, If you’re finished, I can go with you.

He rubbed his hand over her shoulder, I have to check a cargo for Lee Chang. Then I’m finished.

Chang? Mimi’s playfulness ebbed, Is Rick Burgess there?

Rick was here a moment ago. He’s supposed to meet me at Chang’s

She took Jem’s hand, kissing his fingers. I’ll meet you at your beach house.

He lifted his wrist to her lips, then said, Speak to my sleeve, ‘this is Mimi Reyes, please let me in’.

She repeated his words. He continued to grin. My door will open for you.

She put an arm around his waist. Would you like to have a friend on the boat?

I’ll be gone a week.

She patted his cheek. It could be fun.

He swallowed audibly at his good luck. He turned to Zenia, Everything is fine in your cargo. He closed the door, and attached a sealing strap to the latch.

CHAPTER THREE

EARTH LAUNCH

Rocket motor three, gimbal!

Zenia watched Blue on one of the cockpit security monitors; he stood on the hanger floor behind the spacecraft watching the test. Zenia’s finger adjusted the appropriate dial. The ship’s computer could do this better than the human hand, but Blue’s stern commentary