Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
“We don’t know—we weren’t allowed to interview her or to investigate any of the killer’s crime scenes. The most I was able to do was pick up a few random pictures from the Outernet and even those were censored.”
“The females of Yonnie Six have almost no use for males at all,” Captain Thal’nx explained, seeing Sky’s confusion. “They treat them abominably there, keeping them in slavery and forcing them to service the females in power sexually with no compensation at all.”
“Really? They don’t even pay them for penetration?” Sky asked, surprised.
“They think of males as animals—to be used and abused as they like,” Commander Torin remarked. “Which is one reason that, while they accepted a female Ambassador from us, they refused to allow any male officers to examine the crime scenes or read their forensics reports. The same goes for Zetta Prime, where males are outlawed and not allowed on the surface of the planet.”
“They’re not cruel to males there—they simply have no use for them,” Captain Thal’nx added, speaking to Sky. “Allowing males to roam around their world is against their religion.”
Sky wondered how in the world the women of that planet got their eggs fertilized but that was off the point—she had a fresh crime scene she needed to assess.
“So both worlds the killer has hit are ruled by women,” she said, frowning. “And neither of the other worlds allowed you access to their forensics.”
“Correct.” Commander Torin nodded. “Which is why I’m so grateful that Captain Thal’nx here, has agreed to let me work with you.”
Sky wasn’t grateful—she was still certain that having a male along would only muddy the waters. But she couldn’t disobey a direct order from her Superior Officer—she had no choice but to let the giant Kindred tag along.
“I guess we’d better get over to Region Twelve and see what’s going on,” she said, lifting her chin. “When did the murder take place?”
“Last night, after the final call for lights out, we think,” Captain Thal’nx said.
“After the final call?” Sky frowned. This case was getting stranger and stranger. By tradition and law, all doors were locked after the final call—how would the killer get in if the door was locked against him?
“Yes.” The Captain nodded. “The body of the Ambassador was found early this morning by the maid service her building employed. When the two males who usually serviced her domicile came in to clean, they found her.” She shook her head. “One went into hysterics and began molting, unfortunately, but the other had the presence of mind to call it in.”
“I’ll need to interview the sensible one—we won’t be able to get anything out of the molting one until he’s finished shedding his old skin and can talk again,” Sky speculated. “But I’ll want to go over the crime scene first.” She nodded. “I’ll get right on it.”
She turned to go, but Captain Thal’nx put out one six-fingered hand to stop her.
“Wait, Special Agent Sky’lar—be sure you arm yourself first.” She sounded troubled. “This killer is clearly targeting females and we don’t know where he is or even what he looks like. I’d feel better if you were well protected.”
Sky felt the pit of her stomach grow cold. She was always armed—there was a short, sharp blade inside her boot, strapped to an ankle holster. But she knew that wasn’t what Captain Thal’nx meant so she nodded.
“I’ll stop by the arms locker and check out a blaster and a stun-stick before I go,” she promised. Unwillingly, she turned to Commander Torin, who was standing silently at her side. “You need weapons?” she asked shortly.
He shook his head and pulled open his leather vest. There, in a holster as large as her head, was the biggest hand-cannon Sky had ever seen. She lifted both eyebrows and looked up at him—it still irritated her to have to do that!
“You carry that much heat with you all the time?”
He shrugged, his massive shoulders rolling with the movement.
“It’s a lawless universe, Special Agent Sky’lar. I don’t have the luxury of living on a peaceful, orderly world like Portex Three.”
Sky scowled at him.
“If you’re implying that my job here is easy—”
The big Kindred held up both enormous hands in a gesture of peace.
“I would never say anything so insulting. I was actually complimenting the society here.”
“We keep things neat, orderly, and mostly peaceful,” Captain Thal’nx said primly. “That’s what comes of a society ruled by women.”
“You could be right,” Commander Torin said thoughtfully. “Or possibly it’s due to your people being Reptilian rather than Mammalian.”
“We can debate it later,” Sky said. “Right now, we have a crime scene to cover. Come on.”
She turned and walked out of the office, not waiting to see if he would follow her or not. If he could keep up with her, fine. If not, she wasn’t going to baby him. This case was hers to solve and it was her reputation on the line—maybe she ought to make that clear to the big Kindred, she speculated.