Society Man

Manny phoned the police in Papeete to report the accident but didn't stop. No one gets seriously injured in a high-speed crash these days. The roll cage cab design and the full cocoon air bags make sure of that. Of course, he had the same safety equipment on his car. That meant that whoever tried to bump him wasn't intending to kill, just delay or intimidate. A wreck would be an inconvenience, not a serious threat.

He switched on his autopilot and reached over for his notepad to make a note. As he did, Karol's first words came back to him: "I see you're still taking notes."

Manny slowed, turned around and headed back to the crash site. It wasn't hard to find in the double moonlight. There was a huge scar in the soft sand.

He drove to the bank of the dry river and parked. Below a ghostly figure was limping away from the truck as if trying to hide in the shadows. He clicked on the microphone and turned the exterior speakers to high. "It's okay Karol. I'm not coming after you. I just came back to see if you're okay."

She came out of the shadows and slumped against her ruined truck.

"I phoned in the accident so there should be help here soon. Just wait by the truck. I'll see you back in Papeete."

Manny watched her for a minute, as if waiting for her to say something. She rubbed her calf and ignored him. Reluctantly, he backed away. He planted a distress locator on the road where the truck had veered off and then continued south to the home and lab of Dr. Fleet.

###

As Manny pulled up in front of Science House, the orange edge of the new morning sun was just rising from a golden Forever Sea. He pulled a bio-scanner from his utility case and swept its beam slowly down the length of the building, The scanner picked up two large life forms in the lab.

Manny went to the door and pressed the bell and held it for 10 seconds-a duration sure to annoy anyone. It got Fleet's attention. The older man was Manny's height but was built like an aging wrestler. "Whatever are you doing here at this hour, young man?"

This was the moment in the mission when what he did next counted the most. With Karol well behind him, Manny was free to do his job. In a single, smooth movement, he pulled a laser pistol from his pocket and rested the muzzle of the deadly little weapon on the bridge of Fleet's nose. The older man's stance stiffened. Manny carefully watched Fleet's eyes and facial expressions.

Once certain that Fleet wasn't going to try anything physical, Manny held his ID card in front of the doctor's pale face. "Sir, take a good look at the display screen on this card. It identifies me as a Special Operative First Class of the Society for Protection of Indigenous Intelligence. You'll also see, if you pay attention, that I am appointed Executive Governor of New Tahiti under Article Twelve of the Interstellar Exploration and Colonization Charter."

The older man nodded slightly.

"Dr. Michael Fleet, you are under arrest for conspiracy to circumvent Article One. I believe this colony is in violation of the law, and I believe that you have evidence to help prove it. All your notes and laboratory equipment are hereby impounded. Furthermore, you are ordered to cooperate with my investigation or face further charges."

"Tanner told me about you, but he said you were just a troublesome writer."