Star Law: A Marshal Cole Series

Chapter 15 (c)

Goroshenko was still complaining. "Where are we? Four men in a room is completely suspicious, no?"

They were standing in the threshold of a doorway to a room off one of the passenger corridors. The room was empty save for a computer and a Nan nanufacture station on the far wall.

"This is a meeting room. I booked it for a card game," said Singh. "Computer, please set up room for a poker game, four players.

"Please remain just outside the room during set up," a disembodied computer voice said.

Singh, Goroshenko, Adjani and Adisa stood back as the room used TransForm technology to create a poker table, four chairs and a hanging light. The Nan station at the back created chips, cards and other paraphernalia related to the game of poker including alcohol. It was possible to synthesize most brands but connoisseurs could order from a choice wine cellar and bar.

"Now, we're talking!" exclaimed Goroshenko.

"You won't be playing any cards here, Russian," spat Adjani.

"I don't even know how to play cards," said Adisa.

"I will teach you," Goroshenko laughed with a glint in his eye.

"What you'll be doing is breaking into Aubrey Chase Chen's cabin, retrieving the brush and coming back here," said Singh. "The rest of your foolishness can be put to rest. Your tattoos glowing through your skin practically scream: Look at me! Turn them off."

Goroshenko had a sour look on his face but touched a spot on his arm and the lights under his tattoos shut off. "None of you ever have fun."

The room completed its transformation and they stepped inside. It now resembled a back room of a casino. Goroshenko went straight for one of the bottles only for Adjani to grab it. "No drinking."

Singh went up to computer station and placed his datapadd down and floorplan images of that desk came up. "Pay attention everyone. We are here." He stabbed a finger at the room on the screen where they were. "This is 50 meters from the Ms. Chen's cabin. It is just down at the end of this corridor, well within your range."

Goroshenko looked closely at the images on the screen. "Do you have a floorplan of the cabin I have to enter?"

Singh punched up the data showing the cabin lay-out. Actual crime scene pictures were displayed next to it. "The brush can be seen in one of these pictures. It is not listed in the crime scene inventory of items removed so it is still in the cabin."

"Along with a lot of other debris and dried blood," said Goroshenko.

Adisa placed a bag on the table containing protective covers for shoes. "These should do. There are gloves and protective suit too."

"I am not rolling around in the crime scene," said Goroshenko. "Gloves and boots should do."

"How much can you carry with you when you apport?" Adjani asked.

"In theory, I could reach out and touch someone and apport both people," said Goroshenko. "In practice though, I can only project a field a few centimeters from my body which means clothing, small backpack."

"Have you ever tried to apport two people at the same time?" Adjani asked.

Goroshenko stared straight at Adjani. "No, they kept pushing Ulfson to do that. They stopped asking when he apported himself and just the hand of the person they wanted him to take."

Adjani didn't say anything but his open mouth was response enough.

"You can begin in about 10 minutes," said Singh. "I will be monitoring security from my cabin."

Goroshenko blanched. "You're not staying?"

"I have set up a passive monitoring system back at my cabin," said Singh. "Any attempt to replicate that here will be detected."

Singh turned to the door to leave but Adisa caught his eye first. "Comm silence unless a security problem?"

"Yes, it would appear the investigation has tightened considerably in the last hours," said Singh. "I will contact you my direct way if there is any problem."

Everyone in the room knew that Singh's biggest strength was his ability to mentally communicate with anyone in the group. His range was ship-wide and in a meditative state over long distances within line of sight. He had other heightened senses as well but of all the things he was most proud of was his technical prowess. His computer wizardry made him feel that he wasn't just a walking telephone.

"And if there is a problem?" Goroshenko asked.

"Leave the room and scatter," said Singh. "Till there's an all clear."

Before Goroshenko could add another tart remark, Singh slipped out of the room.