"What people?"
"Anyone coming to ask the Peace Force for help. Anyone who comes to our new station." Harriet paused. "Well, your new station, anyway."
Birch stared at her in shock.
"Come on, Sergeant Birch, don't tell me you haven't been thinking about it." Harriet looked at him, suddenly wondering whether she was asking too much. "You'd only have to be here a day or two a week, and I reckon Ben sign up as a trainee in a heartbeat. Get him up to speed, and you'd still be able to run your shop."
"Blow the damned shop!" exclaimed Birch. "I'm in! Where do I sign?"
Harriet laughed, then saluted him.
"What's that for?"
"Technically, you outrank me."
"So I do." Birch grinned at her. "I could get used to this, trainee."
"Don't forget you'd be working for Bernie," Harriet warned him. "Hell, I'd better let her know about this. Last she heard, she was running one station and two trainees. Now she's got twice as much on her hands." She took out her commset and dialled the robot, but she got an answering message instead.
"Thank you for calling the Peace Force. Your call is important to us, and if you mention coupon code G-A-L you will be offered a twenty percent discount on your first night in our cells."
"Hey Bernie, it's Harriet. Just letting you know we're getting funding from now on, thanks to the Residents' Association. I've also reopened the Chirless Peace Force station and put Birch in charge. That's all, bye."
"That's all, she says," muttered Birch. "Bernie is going to have a fit."
"Trust me, when Foster's cash starts pouring into the account, she'll be too busy ordering new batteries and proper equipment to make a fuss." Harriet glanced towards the stairs as Alice arrived, taking them two at a time as usual. "Hey you. All good?"
Alice nodded. "The robot's fixed, Flint's happy, and Bernie will be getting a repair bill."
"Two out of three isn't bad," said Harriet, with a smile.
"Trainee Alice, I hope you wiped your feet before you entered my station," said Birch severely.
"Your station?"
"I'm the new commander. You should address me as sir, and a proper salute wouldn't go amiss."
"Oh great, now I've got two superiors. Bernie and you."
"Three, if you include me," said Harriet.
"So when do I get a station?" demanded Alice plaintively.
"There is another city on Dismolle," said Birch. "Actually, Galumi's more of a town, but I hear they've had some problems lately. Maybe we could take a quick look?"
"One thing at a time!" protested Harriet. "Can we at least tidy this place up first?"
And with that, they set about preparing the planet's second Peace Force station.
Galumi could wait.
Epilogue
After several nights of pitched battles on the streets of Chirless, we're happy to report that things appear to have settled down at last. We're told that Anita Darting, the infamous crime lord, was attempting to establish herself in the city once more. Fortunately, a group of Chirless Peace Force veterans banded together and put a stop to her plans. It's rumoured that one or two members of the Dismolle Peace Force assisted in this effort, but that rumour has yet to be confirmed.
In other news, Agatha Foster, head of the Residents' Association, insists the recent increase in fees is a temporary measure. Others are not so sure, since no 'temporary increase' has ever been rescinded.
Finally in the news, it is with some surprise that we announce the re-opening of the Peace Force station right here in Chirless. David Birch, a veteran of the Force, will be in command, and he will be assisted by new trainee Ben James. The lines are open, and anyone with concerns about their safety or security are encouraged to call for help.
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What's next in the Harriet Walsh series?
These three books are it for the time being, but look out for more Harriet Walsh titles in future!
In the meantime, you might like to check out the Hal Spacejock series, also by Simon Haynes. Harriet Walsh features in book four, No Free Lunch, as well as several later books in the same series.
Harriet is also mother to the main character in the Hal Junior series!
Simon Haynes was born in England and grew up in Spain. His family moved to Australia when he was 16.
In addition to novels, Simon writes computer software. In fact, he writes computer software to help him write novels faster, which leaves him more time to improve his writing software. And write novels faster. (yWriter)
Simon's goal is to write fifteen novels before someone takes his keyboard away.
Update 2018: goal achieved and I still have my keyboard!
New goal: write thirty novels.
Simon's website is spacejock.com.au
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Publication Details
This edition published 2018 by
Bowman Press
ISBN 978-1-877034-29-9 (Paperback)
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination, or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
The Hal Spacejock series:
Hal Spacejock ZERO: Origin (2020)
Hal Spacejock 1: A Robot Named Clunk *
Hal Spacejock 2: Second Course *
Hal Spacejock 3: Just Desserts *
Hal Spacejock 4: No Free Lunch
Hal Spacejock 5: Baker's Dough
Hal Spacejock 6: Safe Art
