Hunted

Chapter 7: Eva Marie

Outer Harbor Space Dock was located just inside the Hope city limits. It was a neatly ordered complex of domed buildings that covered over three hundred square kilometers, with the domes getting progressively larger-to handle larger ships-the further into the site one went. Underground and out of sight, a massive network of rail cars moved bulk materials from the ships to waiting ground transport vehicles and back again, while above ground a grid of access roads was always buzzing with activity as ships' crew members, occasional passengers, and those with smaller loads hurried to their destinations.

As Father Sanders took the second left inside the complex and passed between rows of buildings, he breathed a gentle sigh of relief. Haley assumed it was because they were out of sight of the main road.

"This is it, here on the left," Sanders said. He pulled up close to one of the smaller buildings. The two men checked over their shoulders in turn, saw no one paying particular attention to them, then hurried inside.

The Eva Marie was a small ship as far as interstellar frigates go, but it was still a breathtaking sight for Haley, who seldom had an opportunity to see a space-going vessel at such close proximity. The ship looked to be a string of connected geometric forms: a sphere in front, followed by two progressively larger cube sections, a wide rectangular section, and then a thinner rectangle with three circular openings that obviously housed the ship's triple engines. Discounting its landing gear, it still stood fifteen meters high and ninety long. The basic design was that of an older model, not at all like the sleek vessels being produced the last several years, but the ship's pristine outward appearance would fool a novice into thinking it new.

Coming across the dock's fire-polished floor to greet them was a middle-aged man who carried forty extra pounds, mostly in the stomach. He walked with a severe limp, which was so exaggerated that it took Haley a moment to notice any of his other features. His face was rotund like his stomach, puffy in the cheeks and under the chin, and an unkempt mop of curly gray hair lay haphazardly above his brow. A few day's growth of stubble covered his chin and lip, odd in that having facial hair permanently removed soon after adolescence was so much the norm that Haley had only seen two other men in his life with a mustache and beard. His eyes appeared very dark, maybe from the bay's dim lighting, closer to black than brown. The man looked from Sanders to Haley, considering the latter with an appraising and not altogether pleased look.

"I knew you were in a hurry," he said to Sanders. "But I didn't think it was this bad. Are the police right behind?"

Sanders smiled shyly. "Actually, they were on the way to the rectory as we were coming out."

"Well, we'd better be off then," he said with a scowl. He limped a sidestep to Haley. "The name's Elijah McKee, owner and operator of the Eva Marie."

"Jack Haley." He held out his hand, which McKee took hesitantly.

"So I've been told." He shook Haley's hand coldly and returned his attention to Sanders. "If there's nothing else, we'd best be on our way. The police will be looking for your car."

Sanders nodded. "Thank you, Elijah. I appreciate your help."

"Anytime, Father Tim. You know that." He turned and started hobbling toward the ship.

"He's a good man, Jack," Sanders whispered. "Seems a bit distant, but he'll look out for you. I wish you well."

"Thanks again, Father, for everything."

They shook hands and Sanders departed. Haley turned and caught McKee with a dozen quick steps. "Your ship is quite impressive."

McKee stopped and looked at Haley with one eyebrow arched. "You think so?" he asked gruffly.