Hollow Point Happiness

Contract 4: A Personal Touch

Chris jolted up, he was handcuffed to a chair. The world around him was eerily familiar. Mana walked around the corner, knocking over some beer bottles on a dresser.

"You have a nice home, you're well off if your living like this on Earth of all places. I didn't think cops got paid this much."
"Why are you doing this? Why are you in my house?"
"I just want answers Grimes, that's all."
Chris actually relaxed hearing the name, "Oh, ok. This is a bit much. Pablo send you?" Mana stopped pacing but didn't say anything, "I guess I never did tell him why I left, I didn't think he'd really care though, I finished my deal with him after all. I'm a full-fledged good cop now, no more behind the back deals."
"I'm well aware you work for the Stellers, that's not why I'm here and I'm not working for a 'Pablo' either."

Chris started to feel a hint of fear, this was bad if this wasn't one of Pablo's guys, "He probably just didn't say his name when he sent you are? How much did he pay you?"
Mana glared at him, "I'm not here on anyone's behalf Mr. Cartwin, nor am I being paid. This is something... personal per se."

Chris started to sweat, this wasn't one of Pablo's guys, "Um-ok then. How can I help?"
Mana stood right in front of him spinning a knife in her hand, "Well, you can start by telling me everything you know about the Triple Alliance of Kings."
"Shit, someone is going after Pablo. Not that I care anymore but he did help me." Chris thoughts flowed as he looked at a picture of himself, a woman, and a young girl on a dresser, "I owe him to hide what I can."

Mana tapped her watch with the blade, "Let's keep this timely Mr. Cartwin."
"Ok look, its a smuggling group, drugs, arms, people, the usual stuff. Its run by three guys, call themselves kings, they work out of Io, Europa, and Ganymede. Head guy in the group's name is Pablo, he's from Venus, I don't know his real name."
"That's fine. What was the group doing in during the latter half 2280?"
"Um... let me think. At that time I think they were working with ALPHA Tech trying to smuggle shit to Pluto, ALPHA wanted to take on Warmage and monopolies the planet. I mean massive large scale attacks, they hired hundreds of mercenary groups along with the Triple-A."
"What do you know about the Sinco-Ona Research Station?"
That caught Chris off guard, "Uh, nothing actually, Like I said I was working for the Triple-A, Pablo refused to accept that contract he was one of the few that turned it down."
Mana stepped towards him, "Really, how odd. Are you sure that's all you want to say?"
Chris nodded cautiously. He heard a faint noise as the girl put her hand to her ear, she nodded but didn't speak.
"Mr. Cartwin did you know that it takes approximately 20 minutes for someone to die of diluted Zinco poison, after a few seconds they start to have seizures, last for about 15 minutes before their entire body freezes up because it starts to slow their heart so it can't pump blood, building, and building pressure until after about 20 minutes, well," Mana balled and un-balled her fist, "It pops. It tends to be about 17-18 mins for women due to their smaller bodies. And even shorter in children for the same reason."
Mana looked at her watch, "Mr. Cartwin, its been 12 minutes," She into the man's eyes, he had tears building, "And Mr. Cartwin, you have a very small daughter."

Chris screamed, "I've told you everything! I really don't know!"
Mana ignored him, "What about a man named Robert Brighten?"
Chris's face was pale, "Please...please... don't do this. I've told you everything."
Mana put the knife away and took out the pistol, she pulled over a chair and sat facing Chris, "Mr. Cartwin, you have at best 3 or 4 minutes till it's your life on the line not you're daughters. I'd advise you not to lie to me."
"I promise, I'll give you anything, I don't know anything," He started to choke up, "Don't hurt Ash! She isn't part of this."

The both sat there, Chris trying to get out of the restraints. Nana tapped her watch,

"2 minutes Mr. Cartwin."
"FINE! I'll tell you! But give Ash the antidote first!"
Mana smiled, "It would be my pleasure," She put a hand to her ear and began talking, "Defrag bring her in."

A humanoid robot came in, it was a combat unit. It held a young girl, no more than 7 or 8.

"Place her on the floor Defrag."
The robot gently placed the girl on the floor.
"Mr. Cartwin do you want to know something."
Chris tried to compose himself, "What?"
"I hate to wait, Mr. Cartwin."

The gunshot filled the room, but all Chris heard was his own screams.