Star Law: A Marshal Cole Series

Chapter 16 (a)

Marshal Cole made his way back to the passenger cabins. The deck he was on was mid-range cabins just below stateroom and suite level accommodations. His own cabin was roughly half the size which suited his needs just fine. In some cases when transferring prisoners, he actually slept in the security offices across from remand cells. Having a cabin was a bit of a luxury.

The corridors in this part of the ship were quiet. He mostly passed housekeeper and stewards rather than passengers. Most people would be in the areas of the ship where amenities were which meant Central Plaza. Restaurants, fitness centers, libraries, theaters and casino were generally found there.

The list of names that Boz has shown him were mostly ones he didn't know. However, one stood out right away. It was a bolt out of the blue and he knew her personally had to deal with. He arrived at the cabin and as per custom stood to one side as he rang the bell.

A voice came over the speaker in response to the chime. "Yes?"

"Commonwealth Marshal, open up, please," said Cole. He stood facing the exterior camera and flashed his tin star.

There was a pause for a few seconds before the response. "Come on in."

The door slid to one side and Cole stepped tentatively in. He peered down the hall and saw a taller man with hints of gray in a dark mane of hair. Looking like a cross between businessman and civil servant, the open collar suggested casualness but the stance did not. There was a hand resting on a credenza where a folded towel sat.

"I'm stepping in," said Cole. He put a foot forward and crossed the threshold and the door swished shut behind him. He paused under the light at the entrance.

"Marshal Garner Cole," said the man inside the corridor. It was a statement not a question.

Cole moved ever so slowly to raise his hands up. The man before him remained expressionless and still had his hand on the credenza and under the towel. With his left hand, he reached to the front of his drop leg holster and undid it. His Clarkson & Koora Mark III pulse pistol was now only held by a leg strap which he also undid. Using only thumb and two fingers he gingerly hung gun and holster up on a closet hook to the left of the door.

"Agent Richard Tilston-Horn," Cole said. He dropped his hands to his side.

The man inside slowly removed his hand from under the towel. "Have we gotten so paranoid in our old age?"

Cole smiled a bit. "We've gotten this old because we are paranoid."

"By the way, it is Agent Richard Tilston-Horn, retired," said Horn with a chuckle. He approached Cole with an extended right hand. Shaking hands seemed perfunctory and both men embraced with some back slapping to boot.

As Cole stepped back and looked at his friend, he could see lines head not seen before. "They finally let you retire?"

"Hard to to continue work in the field when everyone knows you're an agent," answered Horn without elaborating. Cole didn't need to press further. He knew.

Looking over at the towel on the table beside, Cole pulled it back revealing a Loswen Berger 22 pulse pistol with a silencer. "They let you retire with an agent pistol?

"I kept it for my collection," said Horn. "To show to uninvited guests."

"Of course," said Cole chuckling.

"I had no idea you were aboard the ship," said Horn. "What kind of intelligence officer am I? When I boarded in Arcturus, I'd read that you were being treated there after a big arrest."

"Treated here," said Cole. "Didn't want to be around for the hullabaloo back planet-side. Been in my cabinet till now recovering."

Horn smiled a bemused smile. "How'd you find out I was aboard? I've barely left my cabin. Did you see me out and about?"

"No, I had no idea till I saw your name on the passenger manifest," said Cole.

"The passenger manifest?" questioned Horn. "What gave you cause to look at that? Or is that something you routinely do?"

"No," said Cole. "I went over when there was a murder aboard the ship."

Stunned, Horn sat down on a chair near the credenza. "And seeing as there's a murder, you came straight to me? You suspect me?"

Cole stepped forward, smile and placed his hand on the shoulder of his friend. "Of course not. I know exactly why you're aboard this ship."

Horn raised his eyebrow in surprise. "You do?"

"It is the same reason as mine," said Cole. "The Recedo Boötis system."

Horn nodded his head in recognition. "The Black Adder Cloud's retreat. Who knew what lay within?"

"Who indeed?"

"I didn't know you'd seen it too," said Horn. "It was so brief. Just a flash really and totally meaningless until now."

"I saw it," replied Cole. "How could I not? It is perhaps the only pathway for her to get back to us." At this Horn fell silent. Cole patted his shoulder again. "But this is something we can talk on later. I do need your help and this is something you likely to have great insight on."

Horn's jaw tightened and he shook his head in assent. "Tell me what you need."