“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.
TWENTY-NINE
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.”
I looked around, but couldn’t see the source of the voice from my floored perspective. A pair of scuffed shoes with mismatched socks walked out from behind the bar-Simba. A second pair followed, imported leather-mayor. NO!
I looked up to see the two of them standing in front of me. The smell of recent lase-fire registered in my nose. Oh god, no. It couldn’t be. Paul was still alive. He would still pull through this one. He’d been down before, but he’d always wound up on top. He was too smart to let this happen. He was too damn smart.
The mayor spoke with a politician’s rehearsed tone. “Sorry we can’t talk. We’re on our way out. We’ll be placing our anonymous call in ten minutes, so you won’t want to dillydally.”
I watched the three of them leave, Tipaldi carrying a box brimming with tech equipment-Bandur’s books.
I called out for Paul, knowing there’d be no response. “Paul!” My stomach felt like it had collapsed in on itself. I took deep breaths to keep from vomiting. I crawled on all fours, my arms and legs shaking. I made it to the bar and took a look behind. Matsuo Sasaki and Ben Bandur were lying on the tiled floor, one blackened hole in the back of each head. They’d been done from a kneeling position-execution style.
I grabbed a bar stool and pulled myself up. Music was playing-some kitschy lounge tune.
“Paul! Where are you? Paul?”
I saw him. I went to him, crossing the room on wobbly legs. I said to him, “I’m sorry.” He didn’t answer. He was sitting in an egg-shaped chair that floated over the floor, lase-pistol in his mouth, his brains slagged across the
