Page 3 - Extraterrestrials, Foreign and Domestic

Remains to be Seen

Bauser moved closer to the lab table. “You think the two are
related?”
“They must be.” Soznizot ran his hands through his thinning
blond hair. “Everything was calm until the investigation began. I
tried to keep it under wraps, but you know how it is: when some
big-wig is involved, the locals working here get a little piece of
information—usually scrambled—and in ten minutes the Chanters
are broadcasting it all over the city.”
The acting chief district superintendent permitted himself a
brief smile.
“Yes, a very efficient system of communication, but one quite
vulnerable to manipulation. So the crime has political implications:
anything to do with the Beater?”
Soznizot glanced up sharply.
“You know about the Beater?”
“Well, yes, I do have some background in Vomisan affairs,
although it was acquired many years ago. Things don’t change very
fast here, though: isn’t the Big Gong still located just to the north
of the royal scrap yards?”
“Uh, let me check.”
Soznizot twiddled some dials and invoked a city map. “Right.
Now, that’s very interesting. The scene of the crime is on the same
axis as the gong and the palace. No doubt another piece of the
puzzle. Just isn’t time to put it all together. Listen, chief: over the
years, the Agency has withdrawn its forces here; no reason to
maintain a strong presence in such a peaceful place, right? Hasn’t
been a bit of trouble in ages. Just my luck for it all to fall apart
during my tenure. Barely got my feet wet.”
Bauser adopted a soothing tone.
“Is this your first post?”
“Well, yes, unless you count the training missions. But I’m fully
qualified for this position, sir. Got top marks in alien
criminology and rules of evidence at the Academy.”
“All right. Since I’m here to advise you, perhaps we can start at
the beginning. Why haven’t you gotten a new Vomisan
counterpart? His advice would have been more valuable than
anything I might come up with.”
Soznizot shrugged and resumed fiddling with the analyzer.

2