Greeting loyal readers. Once again Ben comes up with a chapter a little out of the ordinary. Learn a little more about the mysterious English teacher, Harrison Wolfe. This chapter contains none of the boys, but is full of mystery and suspense.
The Boys of the Lady Lex Chapter 25 "The Shadow of the Wolfe" Written By Douglas DD and Benjamin Tc
Harrison Wolfe sat in a chair in the back of the "Lady Hawke". He looked paler then normal and he had slept most of the way back from Earth. Everyone was so busy during the funeral that no one took notice that Harrison Wolfe was not present among some of the other teachers from the junior academies and the regular academy.
The "Lady Hawke" jolted as it docked on the "Lexington". The hatches opened with their all familiar hiss and the boys on the shuttle scrambled off only to meet Master Sergeant Flint who greeted them with pushups and sit-ups due to the fact the boys hadn't done any since they were gone.
"May I help you Mr. Wolfe?" asked Major Zjan-Ren who came into the back to check on Harrison Wolfe. Major Zjan-Ren had gone to Earth to for the funeral.
Harrison Wolfe opened his eyes. He looked at the stern looking face of the Kriton. He closed his eyes again and spoke. "I can make it to my cabin on my own, Major. Good day."
Zjan-Ren grunted and bowed in acknowledgment and went on his way. Once the shuttle was empty, Harrison Wolfe pulled himself out of the chair. He grimaced with the pain that shot through his body. He held his breath and placed his right hand over a red stain on his shirt over his right side and walked, barely, to his cabin. Lucky for him he didn't run into anybody.
Wolfe entered his cabin. He secured his door and proceeded to his bathroom. He took off his blood stained shirt to reveal a large brutal gash on the right side of his abdomen. He opened his medicine cabinet and pulled out a bottle of bluish-green liquid. He opened it up and poured it onto his wound. There was a hissing sound along with some smoke as the liquid hit the gash. Wolfe let out a growling yelp through his clenched teeth as the liquid flowed onto the wound.
He then taped a white bandage gauze over the wound and went too his recliner and laid down on it. He took a bottle of Muldoonian Wine and poured himself a glass. He guzzled down the first glass and poured himself a second where he would just sip it. He lay there replaying the last three days over and over his head. Once he was done with the sequences he started back at the beginning again. It started when the "Lady Hawke" landed on Earth.
Big Billy Swine sat in the steam room. He was huge. He was over 6'6" tall and over 400 pounds of rolling fat. He was so fat that no one could see his shriveled up dick because the fat just hung over it. He sat their laughing and talking to two young beautiful girls who only reason for being with Big Billy Swine is because he had both power and money and lots of it.
Outside the steam room were two guards. They were just as tall as Big Billy but instead of their bodies being covered with fat, they were covered with pure, prime muscle. Not to mention they were masters of protection.
Sitting out in the front lobby was an older man. He was shifty looking and he knew whom to please and when to please them. He was also very loyal to the person who put money in his pocket and in this case it was Big Billy Swine.
There was a pounding on the glass door as someone tried to get in. The guard told him they were closed. The shadowy figure kept pounding. Finally the guard got fed up and grabbed his keys. Before he left his desk, he looked at the close circuit monitors and saw the shadowy figure standing outside the door. The guard readied his weapon not liking this. He went to the door and unlocked it, but the figure was gone. He took one step outside, looked around and saw no one. He turned around to go back in and there standing in front of him inside the building was the shadowy figure.
"How did you sneak by me? Who are..." There was a silent blast flowed by a thud as the guard hit the grown dead. The shadowy figure grabbed the corpse and dragged him inside and threw him into a broom closet. He locked the front door and ensured no traces of what just happen was left behind, other then the body in the closet.
The first guard scratched his crotch as he heard Big Billy Swine laugh with the girls. He figured that young blond and red head had to be desperate if they are hanging with Big Billy Swine. "Hey Nikki, he's gonna be in there for a little while longer. I am gonna go lose those three burritos I had earlier today."
Nikki, the second bodyguard nodded. The first guard went to the nearby stall and went in and closed the door. He undid his pants and pulled them down with his boxers and sat down. Soon the room was echoed by loud watery sounding farts and splashing. Once the guard was done, he wiped and stood up. He pulled up his boxers and pants and turned around to flush. There hanging upside-down in front of him was a shadowy figure.
"What the?"
Nikki heard a thud followed by the toilet bowl flushing. Something to his well trained hears didn't seem right. "Everything come out okay, Jules?"
There was no response. Nikki drew his weapon and started to listen and look for anything out of the ordinary.
"Jules, make sure you spray air freshener, I can smell you all the way out here."
There was still no reply. Nikki knew something was skewed. He walked into the bathroom portion of the locker room where there were five stalls. He slowly opened the first one and saw nothing out of the ordinary. He cautiously advanced to the second stall. He opened the door ready to fire, but there was nothing there. He continued to do this until he reached the last stall. He opened the final stall. Unlike the rest this one wasn't empty. There lying with head in the toilet was Jules. His throat had been slit from one end to the other.
"AH SHIT!!!" said Nikki. He quickly turned around to go get Big Billy Swine, but the shadowy figure was blocking his way.
"Going somewhere?" said the figure followed by a piercing sound as a knife went deep inside of Nikki, twisting and cutting up his insides, and then pulling back out. The guard fell dead onto the cold tile floor.
Big Billy Swine sat in the steam room with his two girls laughing and talking. The steam room started to fill up with more steam.
"Billy, why is it getting steamier in here?" wined the blonde.
"I don't know. I told Jules and Nikki to keep the steam down to a minimum."
The steam continued to build up in the room, getting thicker and thicker. Soon it was hard to see in the room and getting a little too hot to handle.
"I've had enough of this," said the redhead. She made her way to the door and jiggled it. "Hey! It's locked."
"It shouldn't be," said Big Billy Swine.
The redhead pushed and pulled on the door to try to get I open. "Hey! Open the door!!!""
Big Billy Swine sat on the bench as the room was now filled with so much steam one couldn't see the door. All he heard was his two girls trying to get someone's attention to get out of the steam room that was getting unbearable to handle. Big Billy Swine was finding it hard to breath by this point. He squinted his eyes as a shadowy figure emerged from the steam.
"Who are you? How did you get in here? Nikki!! Jules!!!"
"Don't waste your breath. I already took care of them. Now tell me about Jake Masters."
Big Billy Swine laughed. "Jake Masters? He's been dead for years."
"Don't fuck with me Swine. He's alive and you know it. Now tell me how I can find him."
"Fuck you...you who ever the fuck you are. How dare you come into my fucken steam room and fuck up my entire day. I don't have to fucken tell you fucking nothing. Now get the fuck out of here!!" Big Billy Swine lost his good mood that he was in when he was alone with his girls.
"You think I am fucking around, do you?" The figure kept his eyes on Big Billy Swine as he pointed his small phaser gun behind him. Keeping his eye on Big Billy Swine he fired a shot."
"OUCH!!! You son of a bitch grazed my ear," screamed one of the girls who cupped her ear with blood seeping through her fingers.
"Consider that my only warning. Now tell me what I want to know or the next shot will be a few inches closer to the other ear."
The other girl start to creep up on the shadowy figure. She was just a foot away and ready to strike when the shadowy figure pointed his gun behind him, again not removing his eyes from Big Billy Swine and fired a shot. The shot was followed by a thud.
"Now if either of you try to overtake me you will end up in the morgue with your friend." The shadowy figure had slight remorse for killing such an young girl, but on the outside that remorse was never revealed. "Now Billy I am in a bad mood. I have no heartache over killing. Matter of fact I love killing, it is my hearts second passion. It's been a while since I killed and today has been a great day for me, but I am almost out of people to kill. And boy how I would love to take you down, But you hold information I want and I am ready to kill you if I get it or not. Now tell me about Jake Masters." The shadowy figure aimed his weapon towards Big Billy Swine.
"You don't fucken scare me."
The shadowy figure fired his weapon into the right blubbery leg of Big Billy Swine. This time the tune to Big Billy changed. He now started to whimper and cry. "You fuck!!!"
"Now tell me what I want to know before someone orders a very large crate to bury you in." The figure took aim at the center of Big Billy's chest.
"All right, all right. I'll tell you. According to my sources Masters has been working on some big job for someone in SFA. I don't know who Masters is working for and I don't know what the job is. But what I can tell you is that it has to be someone pretty important because Master's contract is the biggest he ever made for any one job."
"Where can I find him?"
"I don't know."
The figure fired his weapon at the other blubbery leg.
"Son of a bitch. Okay, okay. No more shooting. I don't know where he is at this exact moment, but I know Krispy Keaton has been keeping in touch with him better then me."
"Where can I find Keaton?"
"He hangs out at the old time theater on Ellington Drive."
"Swine I know where you live. I know every move you make. I will be your worse nightmare's shadow. You try to warn Masters or Keaton or even talk to yourself about our conversation, I will come back to see you, but my next visit I will shoot more then your legs. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, but you haven't heard the last of me yet. I am a very powerful man you know."
There was no response. A cool breeze whipped through the steam room stirring up the scene. The girl with the bleeding ear tried the door and it was open. She never heard or scene anyone move past her in the thick steam blanket that covered them. She stepped out of the steam room and no one was there. The room was silent
The shadowy figure made his way down Ellington Drive. He went past sex shops, pawn shops, drug emporiums and liquor stores and he was propositioned by a few prostitutes. He made his way down heading to the small old time theater. He looked down the side dark alleys as he walked down the littered sidewalk and saw drunks on skid row and drug addicts searching for their next high. Ellington Drive was not in the best part of town.
Before reaching the theater, something sitting in the barred up window to a pawn shop caught his attention. He walked over to the window and saw a book. He could tell it wasn't in the best of condition and definitely not a first edition, but he knew he could use that book for other purposes. So after he was done with taking care of his business at the theater he would stop back here and purchase The Red-headed league.
The figure continued down the sidewalk until he was in front of the theater. He went to the ticket window and purchased a ticket. He slipped the ticket salesman a few extra bucks and proceeded into the lobby of the theater. A man with a ball cap pulled over his eyes, wearing dark sunglasses and a trench coat with its collars up, accidentally bumped into the figure. The man was not looking where he was going. The figure rubbed off the incident after making sure nothing was planted on him or taken off of him. He proceeded into the dark theater where there was a women getting fucked by two men up on the screen.
The figure went down a couple of rows and he saw a loan man sitting in the center of the aisle. The figure scooted into the row behind the man and sat down.
"Keaton, I have a job I need done," said the figure.
There was no response.
"Keaton, I have a delicate job to be performed and I am told you are the person to get it done."
Still no response.
The figure reached out and touched Keaton. His head bobbed forward. Keaton was dead. The figure got up calmly and left the theater.
Harrison Wolfe checked into his hotel room. It was late and he was exhausted. It has been a long day. Tomorrow was going to be longer with the funeral and all. Not to mention some other personal business he had to take care of. He went over and turned on the television screen. He sat down in a recliner and lit up his pipe.
"This just in," said Mariah Kingsly, the high class looking news anchor women. "Two big time crime figures have been found murdered today. Calvin Keaton known as Krispy Keaton was found murdered at the Grand View Theater on Ellington Drive. The police have not identified the cause of death. On the other side of town, the big crime boss William Swinoski also known as Big Billy Swine was found murdered at Pectoral Gym. The gym's guard, who has not been identified yet, and two of Swinoski's boy guards were also found dead on the premises. The Chief of Police had no comments at this time."
Harrison Wolfe flipped the channel off. He pulled out a book that he has purchased earlier and opened it to begin to read the adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
Admiral Whitaker sat at his desk watching his ex-wife reporting the deaths of two crime figures. He thought to himself how he hated that bitch and maybe one day he will be watching the news as her death was being reported. But right now, she was the least of his worries.
"Admiral, there is a man on the phone for you. He calls himself Sam."
"Put him through on my classified secured line, Molly."
"Yes, Sir."
Whitaker picked up the phone. "What the fuck is happening, Masters?"
"Nothing, I am doing my job that you hired me to do. Ambassador Talon is dead and before his body can be cremated by the sun, another ambassador will be dead. Then within the next few months certain pieces of information will be leaked out, two new ambassadors will be assigned, and the fate of this boy I have with me will come and then by the end of the summer if not before, you will have your little war which will help you defeat the Earth president in the next election in 2 years."
"Everything isn't going according to plan. You know someone has been looking for you?" said an irritated Whitaker.
"Who?"
"I don't know. That fat slob, Swinoski, called me from his steam room claiming that someone sneaked in and shot him once in each leg and was asking about you. He couldn't keep his mouth shut and told this...this shadow about Keaton. I immediately took care of both Swinoski and Keaton. But I have no idea who this shadow is. Who the fuck is looking for you and how do they know you are even alive let alone working on a job? Did you fuck up Masters? Because if you did."
"Wait right there. Jake Masters doesn't fuck up. I have no idea who this shadow is who is looking for me. He could be my next customer for all I know."
"No future customers shoot contacts in the legs and kill their bodyguards and hookers if they want to hire you for a job. He knows Masters and may God help you if your plan blows up in your face. Because I am NOT going down on this. Is that clear?"
"Don't you dare threaten me Admiral. Jake Masters is true to his word. I will get this job done and no one will lead it to you. My reputation is at stake here too you know. Now, let me do what you hired me to do and get off of my case. If some shadow man finds me, well Jake Masters will have a little present waiting for him. Good bye Admiral."
Whitaker slammed down the phone pissed. He turned around in his swivel chair and saw a body sitting in the corner of the room, smoking.
"You realize if you hadn't fucked up in the beginning, we would be in this mess now?"
Major Zjan-Ren sat in his hotel room meditating. His thoughts were interrupted when by a knock on the door. He grumbled and stood up. He walked to the door and opened it up. There standing in front of him was a Kriton. He had the normal features of a Kriton. High cheek bones, golden skin, hair straight and a little past the shoulders, talk, brawn, and broad shouldered. But this particular Kriton had silver hair instead of shiny black hair. His face was not smooth, but tattled, wrinkled and worn. He had a scar that ran from the corner of his right eye down to his chin. This Kriton was definitely well seasoned and been around the block several times.
"General Elihu, I didn't expect to see you here," said Major Zjan-Ren as he offered the typical Kriton greeting gestures and offered him into his room.
General Elihu strolled in, carrying himself tall, proud and firm. He gave the hotel room a quick look over and turned his nostril up and curled his lip. He was not impressed by the living arrangements, regardless how temporary they would be for a Kriton.
"Earthers do not know who to live."
"The quarters are cramped, but satisfactory. So what do I deserve the honor of this visit General?"
"Major, the council back on Kriton is beginning to think that this treaty with Earth isn't going to work. Especially now that Ambassador Talon is dead. There is already word leaking out that people are blaming Kritons for his death and that it wasn't the act of natural causes like the earth's autopsy report said it was. Some Kritons think that Earth wants to challenge us to a fight and try to take over our homeland."
"That's absurd General. Why would Earth want to do that? We are far superior then they are and we would win this war before it was even officially begun."
"The Earthers don't think like we do Major. Some Kritons think that this Lexington project is a secret ploy to use against the Kriton government."
Major Zjan-Ren laughed. "General, I been on the Lexington since day one and I can assure you that this ship is no threat to Kriton. This ship is filled with boys who couldn't fight their way out of a wet paper bag."
"Nevertheless, I don't trust these Earthers. They stink of hatred towards us. They reek of havoc and chaos. Major, if there is a war brewing in the air, it will be Kriton that attacks first and it will be Kriton that finishes it. Now what do you know about these Earthers? You have been working closely with them the past two months."
"General, with all due respect, we don't have to worry about the Lexington. She is no secret weapon to be used on the destruction of Kriton. And if she was, I would do my duty and protect Kriton even if it met destroying that ship and all the inhabitants on it, including myself."
General Elihu let out a small growl. "I just wanted to be sure where your loyalties lay Major. Ambassador Ka already trusts the Earthers too much and because of that I am sure that will bring him to his demise. And if Ambassador Ka is assassinated, I will order my force to attach Earth without mercy."
"General, do you have any proof that Ambassador Ka's life is in jeopardy?"
"Not yet, but that is where you come in. Ambassador Ka trusts you. He says I am acting irrational. You can easily get into the embassy and look around to ensure his safety. Plus you work as chief of security on an Earth ship. You can do some intelligent work to see if Earth is indeed plotting to attack Kriton."
Major Zjan-Ren didn't say a word. He just nodded his head acknowledging he would find out what he can. General Elihu smiled knowing he had support from the Major and left. Zjan-Ren left out a most unsettling sigh. He looked at the time. It was late, but he knew he had to go to the embassy now. The funeral was first thing in the morning and he knew he couldn't wait until after the funeral.
Major Zjan-Ren left his hotel room and went to the street. He found a taxi shuttle and told him to take him to the Kriton Embassy. The Kriton was unaware that following them in an unmarked car was a shadowy figure.
The Kriton arrived at the embassy. He was let in despite the time. He waited in the great hall until someone came to see him.
"Ah Zjan-Ren my old friend. Welcome to the embassy. I heard you were coming to Earth for the funeral and hoped you would stop by, but I didn't expect it would be at his late of an hour," said Colonel Ar. He too had hard Kriton features. His hair was a mixture of gray and black. But his disposition seemed to be more up and cheerful then most Kritons.
Zjan-Ren smiled and the two Kriton's embraced briefly. They have been friends since they were children. The two Kritons exchanged salutations and greetings and a little small talk. Then Zjan-Ren stated his business.
"Ar, I was visited by General Elihu tonight. He thinks the Ambassador's life is at stake and that Earth is trying to start a war with us."
"Zjan-Ren, General Elihu is an irrational old war hero. His days are numbered and he wants to get that last fight in before he goes to the Great Land. The council been trying to get him out of the Kriton Forces for over a month, but unfortunately he has too strong a following to get him removed."
"Do you think Ambassador Ka's life is in danger?"
"I suppose it is, Zjan-Ren. After all he is a figure of authority. All figures like that run a certain risk to being killed."
"Do you think that Ambassador Talon was murdered?"
"According to my sources, no. He was an old man and his heart gave out on him. Earther's hearts aren't as strong as Kriton's hearts are, you know." The Colonel saw the worried look on his old friend's face. "Look, Zjan-Ren. Times are changing. Ambassador Ka sees that. He knows that. He hates the Earthers as much as the next Kriton does, but signing this peace treaty in a few months and trying to get a long with this inferior race is something that must happen as tragic as it seems. The Ambassador's life will be threatened many times like it already has. People will try to destroy what he has started to build before its completed and I will assumed that some people along the way will get killed in trying to keep this dream of Ambassador Ka's alive. But you have to believe me old friend. This change that is in the air is change for prosperity. Change for honor. Change for the good of both Kriton and Earth. Now, it's late and I have to get up early tomorrow for the funeral. We will discuss this more detail after the funeral. But until then, I will put you up in one of our spare rooms. Tomorrow you can have breakfast with the Ambassador because I know he would love to see you and after breakfast you can accompany him to the funeral. I know he has asked about you quite frequently."
"Very well. It will be good to see the Ambassador again. I am just doing what the Ambassador had requested of me two months ago and I am doing it the best to my ability."
"I am sure you are and from what I understand, the commanding officer you work for Captain Thatcher,"
"Hatcher. Captain Stephen Hatcher."
"Ah yes, Hatcher has been very pleased with you. Especially since you saved his offspring by staying cool and rational during extraordinary circumstances. Now, follow me and we will continue this in the morning."
Staring down from a balcony in the Great Foyer of the embassy was the shadowy figure. He watched with a great deal of interest. Zjan-Ren sensed he was being watched. When he turned his attention to the balcony there was nothing there.
The next morning Zjan-Ren awoke and walked out onto his balcony and watched the sun rise. It had been a long time since he saw a sunrise like this. But as spectacular as it is, Earth's sunrise had nothing compared to Kriton's sunrise.
The Kriton took in a deep breath of the fresh spring air and went back inside. He did his morning ritual and was ready to have breakfast with the Ambassador. The last time he saw Ambassador Ka or even talked to him was when Ka gave him his orders to sign onboard the Lexington as her Chief of Security.
"Good morning Major Zjan-Ren," said Ambassador Ka as he was seated at the head of a long table in the breakfast room of the embassy. "Please have a seat. The Colonel told me you came by last night." Ambassador Ka was more firm and strict sounding compared to the cheery disposition of Colonel Ar.
"How is the Lexington project going? I understand that you had Kriton technology installed on it."
"Yes, Ambassador. Earth was unwilling to help as she should have, so I took it upon myself to get Kriton involved. In return come fall after the academy Olympics Kriton delinquents will be admitted to this program."
"That is if the `Lexington' wins the Olympics."
"She will Ambassador. Captain Hatcher is a fine leader and the cadets are a tough bunch of boys."
"I understand you became an elder to one of the Earther boys."
"Yes, Ambassador. Young McDowell. He has talent with the sword but no balance. I am teaching him how to gain balance."
"And how is this Young McDowell doing in seeking his own balance?"
"Slow. He isn't picking up on it like Kriton boys."
"But he is not Kriton. He is an Earther. They aren't as quick to the draw as us Kritons are. Now tell me Major. Did you deliver that hockey puck to the Captain when I first sent you to him?"
"Yes, Ambassador. I did."
The Ambassador said nothing. He just sat their contemplating. He knew there were only two Earthers he could trust. That was Ambassador Talon and Captain Hatcher. Now that Ambassador Talon was dead, there was only one Earther he trusted. But how much trust could he put into a man who was willing to shoot down his own offspring?
The Ambassador and Zjan-Ren finished their breakfast and headed to the funeral. The shadowy figure watched from a distance as they climbed into their vehicle shuttle. Across the street their stood another figure. He was wearing a baseball hat, sunglasses and a trench coat with the collars up around his face. The Ambassador's vehicle left the embassy under armed protection. The mysterious baseball hat man turned and headed in the opposite direction. The shadowy figure followed close behind. But not too close.
Kalon Masters stood bored at the funeral. He wanted to be on board the "Wonder Boy" with Douglas and his crew instead of being on the ground with Johnny Cooper and his crew. He wasn't sure who was more fidgety, him or the cadets.
Kalon was looking around trying to figure out how to occupy his time to make this long and drug out funeral go. Then he saw something that caught his attention. He saw a figure moving along in the crowd. A figure he hasn't seen in many years. A figure he was sure was dead.
"Jake?" he mumbled to himself.
Kalon broke formation and headed towards this figure. But by the time he got to the spot where he saw him, the figure was gone. "It couldn't be Jake. He was killed. I saw it with my own two eyes. He shook this off as if he just thought he saw someone who looked liked Jake Masters, the man who raised him and taught him most everything he knew. He then went back to the cadets.
The baseball hat figure climbed the darken staircase to an apartment complex that should have been condemned five years ago. The complex was in the bad part of town, only a few blocks from the old time theater on Ellington Drive. The baseball hat figure kept looking behind him to ensure that he wasn't being followed. He finally made it to an apartment on the top floor and entered it. He turned and locked all five locks on the door.
He went into the bathroom and turned on the faucet to the rust stained sink. He took the hat off and bent over and splashed some cold water on his face. When he stood back up and looked in the mirror that was hanging above the sink, he was startled as he saw a shadowy figure standing behind him.
"Who the fuck are you?" asked the man.
The shadowy figure stood there for a moment before answering. "Why did you kill Keaton?"
"I don't know what the fuck you are talking about." The man was reaching into his coat pocket where he had a small split pea laser shooter. The shadowy figure quickly pulled out a weapon of his own and fired it at the man's hand. He howled in pain.
"Who are you working for and why did you kill Keaton and Swinoski?"
"I can't say otherwise he will kill me," cried the man.
The shadowy figure fired another shot, but missing on purpose. "You tell me what I want to know and you will have a chance to run away from the person who would want to kill you. You don't tell me what I want to know, and then you don't have to worry about being killed by the man who hired you, because I will kill you myself."
"Your threats won't work on me."
"Very well." The shadowy figure fired another shot. This time hitting the man in the about eight inches above his nipple on his right shoulder. The Man cursed as he was knocked against the sink and causing the mirror behind him to go crashing to the ground shattering around him.
"Son of a bitch!!!"
"You broke the mirror. You just got cursed for seven years bad luck. But I can change your luck. Tell me what I want to know."
"You're too late whoever the fuck you are. What you hope to stop is beyond the point of return." The man quickly reached for his split pea shooter with his left hand, but before he could succeed in doing so, the shadowy figure fired a fatal shot.
Admiral Whitaker went into his office. He shut the door and poured himself a stiff drink. He unloosened his dress uniform around the collar and sat down at his chair. He took a few sips of his drink and closed his eyes. He opened his eyes when his intercom system beeped.
"Molly, I don't want to be disturbed."
"I know Admiral, but the chief of police is here to see you."
"Send him in." Admiral Whitaker stood up as a short, bald man came walking in.
"Excuse me Admiral for bothering you on this solemn day, but I have news that you might want to know first hand."
"What is it Chief?"
"Do you know this man?" The chief of police held up a picture of a body lying on a floor that was covered with shattered mirror pieces.
"Yes, I do, Chief. That is Commander Stewart Wiley. He was the executive officer on board the `Excalibur' who tried to assassinate the ambassadors a few months ago. He had escaped while being transported to a prison."
"As you can see, he is dead now. Any idea who might have done it?"
"Hell if I know. Probably the Kritons because they weren't too happy that he escaped. We had people looking for him, but we couldn't find him. We thought he might have fled the planet."
The chief of Police asked a few more questions and then he was on his way. Admiral Whitaker closed the door and locked it. He turned to his attention to his drink and downed it. Why was his perfect plan going to hell in a hand basket?
Harrison Wolfe sat in his hotel room reading a book as the sun went below the horizon. The funeral was over and he had missed it. He put his book down as the phone rang.
"Hello...I heard of it...thanks Myrna." Wolfe hung up the phone and stood up. He prepared himself for some things and then left his room.
Wolfe walked outside and grabbed a taxi shuttle. The driver took him to the bad part of town. Wolfe saw that were passing an old time theater on Ellington. The cabby pulled over a few blocks later in front of "The Windy Knoll" a tavern where the toughest of the toughest hung out.
Harrison Wolfe went inside the smoke infested rowdy tavern. He looked around and found a man with a long pony tail and smoking a cigar sitting alone at the bar. Harrison Wolfe went over to the seat next to him and sat down. He ordered a drink.
"I thought you were dead," said Wolfe.
The cigar smoking man looked over to Wolfe. "Dorian Foxx? I forgot you even existed."
"I know what you are doing Jake. I know you were behind Ambassador's Talon's death. You won't get away with it."
"Dorian? This isn't the Dorian Foxx I once knew. You're like me."
"I am nothing like you, Masters."
"Bullshit!!! You have more notches on your rifle then any hired hit man in the galaxy. You are the second best at this game you and I play."
"Second best?"
"You and I both know I am the best at this mercenary business. You and I are a lot alike."
"No, Masters, we're not. You kill for money. I kill for a greater purpose."
"There is no greater purpose then money Foxx. You know that."
"I want to know who you are working for."
"Ha!! You expect me to just tell you my clients' names and what jobs I am currently working on? This just goes to show you why you are only second best."
"You realize if you succeed in what you are doing, this can avalanche into a full scale war between Earth and Kriton."
"I don't give a shit. Matter of fact, wartime is when a men like us prosper the most. You oughta know that."
"I was offered this job a few months ago and I turned it down. This war can be fatal to both worlds."
"You turned it down and I picked it up. You're loss my gain. Now Foxx, I have no qualms with you, so run along and mind your own business. Do what ever you do these days and let a man make his way of living without inference."
"Masters, I can kill you where you sit faster then you can take a puff of your cigar. But it isn't you that I want. It is the person who hired you. I will get to him and I will stop this war even if it means killing you in the process."
"Is that some sort of threat Foxx?"
"Take it as you will."
The tavern came to a complete silence as the door opened in and a whirl of fresh air blew the smoke around. Major Zjan-Ren stepped into the tavern, feeling all the eyes boring in on him. Harrison Wolfe turned to see who came in that caused the room to fall to silence like it did.
Jake seized the moment of opportunity and pulled out a switch blade and cut a long gash into the side of Harrison Wolfe. Harrison growled with anger and he quickly reached for his weapon tucked inside the back of his pants and fired at Jake who was now getting up to run. Jake grunted as he felt the blast graze his side. Jake pulled out his fire weapon and aimed it Wolfe.
Major Zjan-Ren quickly pulled his baklava from his sash and the watery blade sprung into action. "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" yelled Zjan-Ren as he brought down his sword slicing through Jake's wrist, causing the weapon still gripped by his hand fall to the cigarette butt, beer stained covered floor.
Jake screamed in horror as his right hand was severed from his arm. He quickly reached into his pocket with his good hand and pulled out some Kaljardian Flash Dust. He flicked it into Zjan-Ren's eyes. Zjan-Ren was temporary blinded. Wolfe went to fire another shot, but his target was blocked by a howling Zjan-Ren. By the time Wolfe managed to get himself off the stool, Masters had escaped out the back. Wolfe bit his lip to alleviate the pain and he ran through the back after him. He made it to the back alley, but Masters was gone. The trail of blood stopped suddenly, as if Masters had jumped into a vehicle and took off.
"Did you get him?" said Zjan-Ren as he came up behind Wolfe, who was looking through blurry eyes.
"He got away. How did you know I was here?"
"Actually, I was across the street keeping an eye on this man. I saw him at the funeral today and I knew something wasn't right with him. Especially since he brushed up against Ambassador Ka. So I followed him all day until he made it here. I stood outside across the street just keeping an eye on things. I couldn't go in the tavern because a Kriton would stand out in a place like that. Then I saw you enter and I found that most peculiar. So this is when I decided to go in and investigate to see why an English teacher was going in a place like this to talk to a man like that. Who are you?"
"I am Harrison Wolfe and I am nothing more then an English teacher." Wolfe winced as pain shot through him from his wound.
"Come on; let's get that wound checked out. It looks pretty bad."
"No doctors, Major. This little incident stays between you and me. Now contact your embassy and tell them that Ambassador Ka was most likely stuck with a poison. I believe Jake Masters liked using Exomondonianthal. It is undetectable in the body once the body expires. It takes about twelve hours for it to take effect and cause the victim to die of a simple heart attack."
"I heard of that poison." Zjan-Ren quickly found a phone and contacted Colonel Ar. He explained to him about Jake Masters, but he left the portion of Harrison Wolfe out of it. Zjan-Ren had found out that the Ambassador had fallen ill, but with this news he might possibly recover. Zjan-Ren knew why the Ambassador didn't die as quick as Ambassador Talon did. It's because Kriton's has stronger hearts then Earthers.
The door chimed. Harrison Wolfe woke up. His side still hurt. He looked around and remembered he was back on the Lexington. He must have fallen asleep while remembering the events on Earth. The door chimed again. Wolfe covered up his bandage with a blanket.
"Enter."
Major Zjan-Ren entered. "I just got off communications with the embassy. Ambassador Ka was indeed administered Exomondianthal. Thanks to you, we were able to give him the antidote in time. The Ambassador is expected to make a full recovery."
Wolfe said nothing. He just sat there in his chair.
"Mr. Wolfe, I don't know who you are, or why you are here. But my instincts say that I should trust you. My instincts have never let me down yet, so I will follow them this time. I suppose you wouldn't want to tell me what you know, would you?"
"Major Zjan-Ren, I am an English teacher. Nothing more, nothing less. The only thing I know is how to grade English papers and teach the world of literature. If this is what you want to know from me, I would be most happy to talk to you."
Zjan-Ren didn't say a thing. For some reason Wolfe wanted to keep everything to himself and for the time being Zjan-Ren will respect that. He turned to leave when Wolfe stopped him.
"Major."
"Yes, Mr. Wolfe,"
"Thank you."
"You're welcome Mr. Wolfe." Major Zjan-Ren bowed his head and left.
To Be Continued...