“Total garbage!” the raven-haired beauty said, waving her cocktail glass around and spilling it on the table. “This is America! Things like that don’t happen.”
The two sober girls weren’t so sure. And the other two girls, a little wobbly to begin with, began to sit up straight and take notice.
“Then I spoke with the manager of this bar,” I said. “But he’s in on it too. And the waitresses. I think this whole town is some sort of honeytrap. They lure us here and then figure out who they want to kidnap.”
“If what you’re saying is true,” the raven-haired beauty said, wavering on her seat. “Then there would be lots of girls who’ve gone missing.”
“They have,” I said, pointing. “Over there, in that alley, are missing girl posters. A wall of them. There’s hundreds of them. Maybe thousands.”
“Then why isn’t this on the news? Why hasn’t this place been investigated?”
I shrugged. “Maybe it has. Or maybe they bought everyone off.”
The friends shared uncertain looks.
“What do you want us to do?” the mousey one said.
“Spread out,” I said. “Tell everyone here they’re in danger. They’ll get kidnapped if they try to leave.”
“I’ve got an even better idea,” the raven-haired girl said. “How about we get another drink?”
As she waved a waitress over, the other girls, struggling to control themselves, finally burst out laughing.
“That is the best story I’ve heard in a long time,” the mousey one said, slapping the table. “You should be a comic.”
“I’m telling the truth…” I said, albeit a different version of it.
Sharon flicked her notebook open to jot down the order. Once the raven-haired beauty was done, she grabbed the waitress’s arm.
“Hold on a sec,” she said. “Maybe you can help us. This girl just sat with us and she says all the cops and the workers here are part of some kind of kidnapping ring. Is that true?”
Sharon looked from the raven-haired beauty to me. The fake smile fixed on her face flickered for just an instant. The others might not have noticed it, but I did.
My cover was blown. Thanks a lot, asshole.
“No,” Sharon said. “Of course not. Why would you believe such a thing?”
“I was… was only kidding,” I said, and my laugh was so fake I could have learned it from the Changeling’s school of acting. “Ha-ha.”
“You didn’t look like you were joking,” the girl wearing a red wig said.
“That’s how you tell a good joke, isn’t it?” I said, scrambling for an answer. “By making it sound real.”
I got to my feet. “Anyway, I guess I’ll be seeing you guys around.”
I came face to face with a pair of cops and froze.
They reached for their handcuffs.
I turned and ran, knocking a girl carrying cocktails on her ass.
The police tore after me.
By now, partiers in the street had stopped to watch. They exchanged looks but didn’t want to get involved. It was only a matter of time before a have-a-go hero did.
I skidded and changed direction, slamming the door of an Irish pub open. The customers paused in their conversations and turned to look at me.
I shouted into the eerie silence, “Everybody! Get out of here! This place isn’t what you think it is!”
One girl stood up. “Is there a fire?”
No, but it was a good idea. I didn’t have time to explain what was the matter. Not that anyone would believe me anyway. My earlier interaction was proof enough of that.
“Yes!” I screamed. “There’s a fire! Everybody get out!”
The customers grabbed their things and hustled toward the nearest exits. They knocked the police officers back outside in a sudden wave of panic.
I ran for the back of the room and shouldered the door open. I bolted out and…
Ran into a strong pair of arms. The officer held me tight to his chest as I kicked and screamed—all in vain.
“No!” I screamed. “No!”
I’d caused a little fuss, but once everyone realized there was no fire and it was a hoax, they would go back to having a good time.
And life would return to normal.
Nighteko
The tractor beam could be used not only to freeze targets in place and pull them toward the ship, but its bright light had another useful side effect. It made subjects pliant.
The Cornicians that stood to attention before the pods were drowsy and half asleep, like moths to a flame. They drooled and, given time, would return to normal.
I began at the most distant pod and looked the creature over. He was a male and would be used as the head of the household in a lord’s mansion. He looked the type.
“Get in the pod,” I said.
He did as I asked.
The next creature was destined for a pleasure house on Ryxix 5. She was voluptuous, beautiful… with slimy green skin and a cone-shaped head. I guess some people had that fetish.
“Get in your pod,” I said.
The next female was destined to be a governess of a wealthy household. I took her from a higher education facility. She ought to be well-suited for her position.
I was about to tell her to get in her pod when I noticed something.
“Raise your left arm,” I said.
She slowly did.
Wrapped tightly around her wrist was a thin chain. Its locket consisted of a polished stone in the shape of a spiral. I inspected it and pressed a button on the side. It flicked open to show moving images of two people she must have cared about. An older male and female.
Her parents.
Alice slipped into my thoughts like an assassin. We were in my quarters, naked, our bodies entwined, sharing that sumptuous moment immediately after great sex. She fingered her chain about her wrist. The bracelet her father had given her before he died. She opened it to show me the images inside.
I reached up and felt at the rings
