Star Law: A Marshal Cole Series

Chapter 19 (e)

"Don't thank him yet," said Cole. "There is usually a price to be paid for Volk's help."

There was a thrum from Cole's mobile. He picked it up and scrolled through the screen. So much data was coming in regularly. What he saw made his eyes widen.

"You look like you've seen a ghost," said Horn who couldn't help notice the surprised look on his friend's face.

"Not a ghost but damn near close," said Cole. "See for yourself."

Cole placed his mobile on the desk and the imagery was placed up on the main screen. It showed a wrecked cabin was illuminated in the blues, purples and whites of the Black Adder Cloud that was clearly visible in the large exterior windows.

"Aubrey Chase Chen's cabin?" asked Horn.

"Yes."

"I placed my own security cameras up on the off chance that I was correct in my theory that our suspect is searching for something," said Cole. "I kept it off the books."

"How old is this data?" questioned Horn.

"In the last hour," said Cole. "I am kicking myself for not setting it up to give me immediate notice."

Both men resumed watching the big screen. The camera recording was keyed to movement and started when a vibration passed like a wave through the room. An instant later man appeared as if from nothing.

Horn was startled. "I can see why this took you aback," he whispered.

The man on the screen appeared to be human, had tattoos and had a little backpack. His appearance was vaguely European although the blues and whites of luminescence made it hard to tell.

"He's looking for something," observed Cole.

"I think he already knows where to look," pointed out Horn.

The man stared intently at a fixed position on the floor and moved towards a side table near the bed. He bent down and retrieved an object. He looked at it for a moment then secured it in a pocket.

"Was that a...?" The question hung there for a moment as Cole shook his head in astonishment.

"Yes, I think it was a hairbrush," said Horn, equally dumbfounded.

The man stepped into the center of the room and then a little vibration occurred and he was gone. Vanished.

Cole sat down a moment and backed up the recording so that is featured just the face of the man they had just seen. "This man is aboard this ship presumably. He is now our lead suspect."

"He also seems to have the ability to teleport from place to place using a method not presently known," said Horn. "Doubtless, it will not be easy to locate him."

"It certainly will be a challenge," said Cole with a raised eyebrow. "But then you and I have faced a few in our time."

Horn sat down with Cole. "We certainly have. We'll be sure to get right to it once they let us out of lockdown."

Despite themselves the two men laughed.