Chapter 10: Death of a Prisoner

I looked up as the commander walked out of his office. Amanda shifted to follow my look, “Something up?”

The commander headed towards us and I nodded, “I think we just got picked for something.”

He stopped in front of my desk and tossed a data stick, “Grab your things. A prisoner died in custody on Gable. They need a officer to head the investigation.”

I glanced at Amanda, “Our custody or the constables?”

He turned away, “The constables.”

I stood and Dragon leaped from her perch while Cynthia flew to Amanda. We went up to our quarters to grab a ready bag and then headed to dispersing. Marshal Taylor was at dispersing cursing and glanced at me, “The dispersing comp went off line.”

I shook my head, “They need to replace it. It has not worked right since it was hacked.”

I turned to the wall monitor and pulled up ships leaving the system. Amanda touched the screen, “This liner.”

I nodded and glanced at Taylor talking on his comm before turning to leave, “I will get the tickets at the port.”

Amanda glanced at me as we walked to the lift, “Out of your own pocket?”

I shrugged as I hit the ground floor button, “I will put in for reimbursement.”

She kept looking as we walked out and across the lobby and I sighed, “It is money from the school. I have not been using it but since I found out Samantha is alive...”

Amanda nodded, “I understand.”

She grinned, “So when are we taking a vacation so I can meet her?”

I smiled, “You just want to lay out on the beach and get a tan. I saw you peeking at the holo vid she sent.”

She laughed as she walked around to get in our vehicle, “True.”

I sat back as Dragon climbed down into my lap and Cynthia joined her. I caressed both as we lifted and headed towards the starport. We left the vehicle in the secure parking area and walked in. I headed to the kiosk and shook my head at the out of order sign before starting for a counter with a long line of people. I stopped to one side, “I need two tickets on the liner going to Gable.”

The woman barely glanced up, “Get in line.”

I set my badge on the scan plate and her terminal froze. She looked at me with wide eyes and I smiled, “I need two tickets on the liner to Gable ... now.”

She nodded as the man she had been helping shifted away. I lifted my badge and her terminal came alive. She looked something up and frowned before looking at me, “All they have is a first class suite.”

I pushed my comp towards her and she used a comp remote and blinked before printing the tickets. I accepted them and she blushed, “Do marshals really make that much?”

I glanced at her before turning, “No.”

I handed Amanda the tickets as we started walking towards the gates. She did not say anything until I heard her stomach growl. I shook my head and turned in at one of the food lounges, “We have time and I better feed you before Cynthia bites me.”

Amanda grinned as she dropped her bag on a stool and sat on another, “That was when she was just a baby.”

I sat beside her and let Dragon jump to the bag as I ordered. I glanced at Amanda as we ate, “It will not be long before I am reassigned.”

She looked at me, “Because Michaels got promoted to lieutenant?”

I nodded, “You are a senior sergeant and need to be partnered with a deputy.”

She sighed and nodded before going back to eating. She grinned and looked at me after we were done and leaving, “We could file for espousal assignment.”

I looked at her and smiled, “You would still have to have another partner.”

She nodded and was silent all the way to the gate where we gave our tickets to an attendant. She directed us to a comfortable lounge and told us it would be another couple of hours. Amanda sat and held Cynthia on her lap before looking at me, “But we would still be together when I was not on assignment.”

I caressed Dragon as she played with my fingers, “You are more trouble than you are worth.”

Amanda grinned, “I know.”

I nodded, “I will file the request when we return.”

I looked at her, “But when we take vacation and go see my sister you get to tell her.”

She laughed and bumped my shoulder before relaxing. First class in a liner is luxury with crew asking if they could help every time they saw us. Gable is a lovely planet with rolling green hills and shallow blue oceans. We walked out of the port and took the slide walk towards the parking area. Dragon and Cynthia both leaped into the air to fly as soon as we were outside.

After checking our vehicle they flew down and through the door Amanda held for them. I sat back, “The central constable detention building. They are all waiting for us.”

She nodded as she sat in the driver’s seat and lifted the vehicle. It was not long before we dropped and set down and I frowned at the newies in front of the building. We grabbed our bags when we got out and Dragon clung to my shoulder. I started for the main doors and one of several constables moved to intercept us. I showed him my badge and nodded to the newies, “Move them.”

He looked back, “They refuse to leave.”

I stopped and turned to walk towards the crowd of newies. They shifted as if they realized I was someone. I stopped and looked back and forth, “Move these vehicles out of the restricted zone and break this up.”

One went to shove something towards me and I shifted to the side as I pulled my weapon. They backed up quickly and I put my weapon away, “Move the vehicles and break this up. There is a media room for you to wait in.”

I turned and took a step when one shouted, “Who do you work for!”

I sighed and stopped before turning, “I am a marshal and work for the emperor and here on his orders. Now break this up and go to the media room before I have your companies fined and your license revoked.”

I turned again and joined Amanda by the door. She grinned and touched the alarm plate as we walked in, “Want to bet they blow that up and change what you said?”

I smiled as we crossed to the main desk, “That would be a serious mistake.”

I nodded to the desk sergeant, “We need to speak with the constable commander, the detention center commander and the on duty doctor that pronounced Ser Davis.”

He looked at us and smiled, “Marshals?”

I nodded and he turned to use a comm. I looked back and did not see the newies moving and sighed, “Also have a response team detain those newies. Have the vehicles removed and destroyed and schedule an appointment with a system judge.”

He looked at me and then out the door before grinning, “Yes sir!”

He barked orders to the other constables in the lobby and they headed towards the door. Amanda grinned and we turned as an officer in a plain constable uniform walked out of a lift. He crossed to us and nodded, “Marshals?”

I looked him over and gestured to Amanda, “This is deputy sergeant Swift and I am deputy lieutenant Morpheus.”

He blinked and then turned to the lift, “Everyone is waiting.”

When we walked into the large conference room two men stood. One I knew was the doctor and from the suit the other was the detention center commander. I looked at the constable as he walked around to join them and smiled, “I like the uniform constable commander.”

He smiled and gestured to the seats. I set my bag in an empty seat and sat while Amanda walked around and touched a device to the window, “Laser bugged.”

I shook my head, “Scrambled it but I want the ID.”

She nodded and I looked at the constable commander, “Start with Ser Davis’s arrest. What was he charged with?”

I went through each detail, all the way to his death and the cause which was death by strangulation. I sighed, “What did the detention vids show?”

The detention center commander shifted uncomfortably, “They were hacked.”

I looked at the constable commander, “Did you have a comp tech examine it and did he identify the hacker?”

He nodded, “But we have not found him.”

I gestured to Amanda who had been watching, “Give her the name.”

I looked at the detention center commander again, “I want to speak with every guard, the monitoring tech and janitor that was logged in.”

He nodded and I stood, “Get them here as soon as you can and put them in courtroom nine.”

They looked at me and I sighed, “It is an empty arraignment court with a truth scan pillar correct?”

They nodded and I looked at Amanda, “Go find the hacker and use whatever you need.”

She smiled as she turned and headed towards the door, “The company that was bugging the room was solar news inc.”

I looked at the constable commander, “Commander please brief the media in the media room.”

He nodded as he stood and I followed Amanda out but when I walked out on the main floor the desk sergeant waved to a courtroom, “The judge is waiting in courtroom four.”

I nodded and changed direction and walked into the court filled with newies. I went straight to the pillar and placed my badge on it. The judge glanced at my file, “Marshal.”

I looked at the newies, “These reporters ignored a legal order to disperse and move vehicles out of a restricted zone. They were informed that I was here under orders from the emperor. They were informed twice to go to the media room to be briefed and ignored it. Pursuant to imperial law and under reporting of news and reporter conduct that these reporter have violated ... I am asking the court to revoke their license and fine their companies one hundred thousand credits.”