Red Entaries

8 The Rising Sun

Joanna went missing. Cliff was one of few to know her last whereabouts.Cliff was uneasy with Joanna meeting Mugg. Cliff wanted to go with her, now that she's at the mercy of a nasty black-snake. Or was it a ruse, using a poor old chap to run and split on him?

Cliff bit his lip trying to make a decision, remembering what Joanna said, You'll have your pay when you do your job. Still gambling greedy thoughts of Illegal Shanghai Casinos where he entertained the idea of winning thousands upon thousands of dollars. Then with bold confidence of Joanna coming through for him, Cliff mocked Trevor, "A blasted idiot," as he started his after hours quota.

At Lunar Life Corp Trevor was busy talking up a blond haired woman he trusted. He was a lady's man caring for the pleasures of pleasing women this night. Cliff took advantage of Trevor's carefree trusting heart knowing only Tyrone and a couple security guards believed Joanna was the thief.

"Ha,ha, ha." Cliff reveled in this situation laying out the components of a miner tool saying, "Who could stop her and me?" Joanna would be the regional black-snake leader she wanted to be. And I'll win my self a blimey fortune. Only the most renowned gamblers enter illegal Shanghai Casinos, and I'm one of them."

It was the eve of a storm six hours from sunrise. Cliff watched two arriving police vehicles, intently; as he broke off a moment from his welding and hammering. Then silently an unmarked patrol vehicle hovered up alongside his workstation. Cliff assumed grimly someone was piecing all the pieces of Joanna's crime into one puzzle, possibly Blake.

"Excuse me sir," a man left his car running to meet Cliff. "I have a few questions to ask you concerning an employee's absence." Cliff saw another officer eye him closely in the passenger seat. "Is it true," he removed a note-pad-unit from his pocket, "You have a personal relationship with Lorena Brown?"

"No, but—" Cliff was interrupted by the long sleeved gentleman tightening his hat.

"How long have you known her?" The security officer's voice rose intensely. Cliff paused a moment as another question was thrown at him. "Did you talk to her on January the twelfth, and during the corporation space-jet's emergency landing?"

Cliffs hook his head hesitantly as the officer watched for shifty eyes and posture. "Aye, I've known her a short while." A cold shiver ran up Cliff's spine and arms, crossing them tightly; he held his breath unable to exhale.

"There was a theft—" Cliff heard these words as if time stopped.Electricity ricocheted between his teeth only able to respond at the question's end. "—And Lorena Brown our prime suspect, now missing. We were unable to track her down. Are you a member of the Mob or with the protesters that were on Ninety-second Street?"

Cliff felt no way out, "Blastin' no you bloke! I didn't steal nothing. Time I last saw her," the guard watched Cliff closely,"when I left for home on January twelfth."

The investigator's tone changed as he searched Cliff's eyes. "I have no more questions for you at the moment, but be assured I'll be back." The blue suited man began to take his leave.

"What bloke's behind it?" Cliff blurted unintentionally.

The officer stopped to turn removing his hat with a fresh scowl as if to question Cliff all over again. "Who's behind what?"

Cliff added, "the investigation I mean."

The security guard spoke a single word deep inside Cliff's soul,"Blake." Then a blue blur entered the vehicle not wasting a second, driving off.

Relieving his anger with a bitter exhale. Cliff stomped his foot in rage, "I knew he was behind it!" Blake suspected Cliff was really a Mob member.