“I can’t do it.” My mouth was bone dry. I needed a drink.
“What’s your answer, Mr. Mozambe?”
Sweat soaked my underarms. I felt sick. I had to piss. I can’t sign.
“Mr. Mozambe?”
We were so close. I held that vid in my hand. What can I do, Paul? I can’t let Niki go to prison. I just can’t. I banged my head on the table…
I’m sorry, Paul. “W-what do I get for signing?”
“I always knew you were more reasonable than your reputation. I will bury the evidence against you. I will let you tear up the warrant to search your home right now.”
“You promise to leave me and Niki alone?”
“I promise. All we want is Paul Chang.”
“I get my pension.”
“That can be arranged. We’ll let you retire instead of being fired. How does that sound?”
What can I do, Paul? “Do you have a pen?”
Gilkyson had to hold my hand still while I moved my fingers and signed by the X. He ran his scanner-hand over my signature, uploading it into the system.
They kept me locked up for another thirty minutes. I spent the time formulating a long-shot plan to save Paul. I had to redeem myself. They unlocked the door and ushered me out of the building before the silent stares of my former workmates. I was weaponless and badgeless. I wasn’t a cop anymore.
I hit the street and was instantly drubbed by pouring rain. I called Paul. His holo materialized on the street, falling rain making his image blur. “Hold on, Juno.” His holo froze on hold. Damn!
I made for the car, Paul’s frozen holo floating alongside. I called Maggie. Her holo appeared on my other side, the three of us moving through the downpour. I blurted, “Where are you, Maggie?”
“I’m at the station. Where are you?”
“They just let me go. I’m on my way to the car.”
“What happened? They wouldn’t tell me anything. All I know is Chief Chang is out as chief, and C of D Banks is in charge. Nobody knows why.”
“They’re forcing me to testify against Paul.”
“You agreed?”
“They have me dead to rights. They were going to arrest Niki.”
“Niki? What for?”
“Never mind that. We can still pull this off, Maggie. I’m going to organize a raid of the spaceport.”
“You’re not a cop anymore, Juno.”
“Paul and I still have loyal friends in KOP. They’re not all rats. We’ll find somebody to do it.”
“What if it leaks back to Simba and the mayor?”
“We go anyway. We’ll find something…we have to find something and find it fast, before the Bandur cartel crashes and the whole city comes under their control. Get all the paperwork together on the shipping orders. We’ll need names, tracking numbers-anything related to Vanguard Supplies. I’ll call you when we’re ready to move.”
We’d get proof of the slavery operation, proof of the mayor’s involvement. Then they’d have to reinstate Paul. They’d let me recant my statement. I’d claim I signed it under duress.
I made it to the car and climbed inside. Holo-Paul passed through the passenger side door and took a seat. I waited impatiently until Holo-Paul finally unfroze. “Juno,” he said.
“They’re making me testify against you.” I spat the words so fast that they were hardly intelligible.
“I heard.”
“They were going to arrest Niki.”
“I know, Juno. It’s okay. You did what you had to do.”
“I’m sorry, Paul. I didn’t know what else to do.”
“You had no choice. You’re forgiven, okay?”
The knot in my gut began to loosen. “Thanks, Paul.”
“Listen, Juno, you don’t need to worry about this anymore. You’re off the hook. Sasaki and I have it under control. We just made the decision to go to plan B while you were on hold.”
“What’s plan B?”
“We’re going to take him out.”
“What do you mean?”
“Mayor Samir. We’re putting out a contract on him.”
“Wait, Paul, there may be another way. Let Maggie and me raid the spaceport. We’ll get you evidence of the slave trade.”
“It’s too late for that, Juno. We’re going ahead and offing the bastard. He doesn’t know who he’s messing with.” Holo-Paul smiled all chipper. I could picture Real-Paul’s expression, closed fist, gritted teeth.
“Wait, let’s talk about this first.”
“The decision’s already made, Juno.”
“Dammit, Paul, let me handle this. I’ll prove the mayor and Simba are running slaves. Once we get that proof, we’ll be able to say that they trumped up the charges against you. We’ll say we were probing into the slavery ring and the mayor fired you to kill the investigation. You’ll come out smelling rosy.”
“No. This way is better. You can’t guarantee you’ll get the evidence.”
“Think it through, Paul. The mayor just fired you, and the next day the mayor shows up dead? Everybody will know you were behind it. You’ll lose the public’s support. Once that happens, you’re finished.”
Paul spoke with steely resolve. “He’s taking KOP away from me, from us. I’m not going to let him get away with it.”
“He already took it away. They’re going to charge you with corruption. After you kill him, you think the new mayor’s going to reappoint you?”
“If I lean on him hard enough, he will. I’ll show him pics of his dead predecessor, and he’ll learn to stay out of my way.”
“You think you can intimidate the entire city?”
“If that’s what it takes. We took over KOP, you and me. We can take over the mayor’s office, too.”
“You took over KOP because you wanted to make a difference. What do you want now?”
After an annoyed sigh, he said, “That was a long time ago. I was a fool to think I could change anything. Lagarto can’t be helped, you know that.”
I paused for a few seconds, arranging the words in my head. “You know what your problem is, Paul? You always think too big. Maybe saving the planet is beyond your reach, but you have it in your power to stop the slavery ring. As we speak, Simba’s people are trolling Tenttown, buying up kids.”
“What difference would it make if we did stop Simba? Another slavery ring would just take its place.”
“Yeah, but until it did, think about all the kids that would’ve been saved. It would make a difference to them. ” I took a deep breath. “Listen to me, Paul, if you kill the mayor you won’t get KOP back. Call off the hit, and we’ll talk it out. Where are you?”
“I’m at Bandur’s.”
“I’m coming over.” I started the car and steered for the Bandur place. “Tell me you won’t do anything until we talk.”
I felt encouraged when Paul didn’t respond immediately. He was thinking it over. I was getting through. “You know I’m right,” I said.
“Okay, Juno. We’ll talk first.”
“Is Tipaldi there?”
“Yeah, he’s around here somewhere.”
“Watch out for him, Paul. He’s with Simba.”
“You sure?”
“Hundred percent.”
“Okay, Juno. I gotta go.”
I gunned the gas.
I swung the car onto Bandur’s street. I knew that if I could just keep Paul from killing the mayor, we could turn it all around. It wasn’t too late.
I left the car running, jumped out into monsoon rain, and rushed up the walk past shrub animals that accused me, the mayor’s turncoat witness, with still stares. Bandur’s door swung open of its own accord. The home system’s voice welcomed me and told me to go to the lounge. I skidded over the stone floor with wet shoes, my twisted ankle making me slide all the more. The lounge door moved aside for me.
The lounge was decorated with recessed lighting and space furniture. Tip Tipaldi came my way.
I met him nose to nose. “You’re a traitor. You told Simba about the vid of the mayor.”
Tipaldi thumped me in the stomach. I keeled over into a fetal ball, gulping for oxygen. I rolled on the lounge floor, Tipaldi’s spit-shined shoes at eye level.
I gasped, “I have to talk to Paul.”
A voice sounded from the far side of the room. “You’re too late, Juno. You missed him.”