Christmas in Montora (The Chronicles of Montora Book 4) Page 7

  "She has a large bruise, and she is a lot sorer than she probably wants to admit."

  "I'm just glad you didn't lose anybody," Signe said. "These people are too precious."

  "Thank-you, Signe," Boodles said.

  "We've got the survivors off this continent. Where did we put the dead?"

  "We collected DNA information on them and buried them in the field above the mining site."

  Franklin nodded. "That was very wise, Martin. If this thing gets out, as it inevitably will, it'll be a lot harder for somebody to sneak in and find the proof."

  "That was my thinking," Boodles said. "As carefully as this was set up, you can bet something will hit the planetary media, and pretty soon too."

  "I hadn't thought of that," Franklin said. "But it makes sense. I sure hope there wasn't anybody else out in the woods."

  "When we picked up the first one, we did an extensive search of a fifty-mile radius. We had several drones up, and I had the SAR team out."

  "Did the search and rescue folks know what was going on?" Signe asked.

  "No, and they were curious too," Boodles said. "But the regimental people have long ago learned not to talk."

  "Has the videographer been interviewed?" Signe asked.

  "Another closed mouth person," Boodles said.

  "I'm not surprised," Franklin said. "What else do we need to look at, Martin?"

  "That's pretty much it. We policed the area and picked up every artifact we could find. I think we got it all."

  "The next thing is to develop a strategy for our response to any questions," Franklin said. “I wouldn’t be surprised to get a com call this afternoon asking for my comments.”

  "And that is a political question," Boodles said, "And I am delighted to leave that in your hands, Margrave."

  "Thanks, Martin," Franklin grumped. "Thankfully you maintained OpSec."

  "That's just out of habit," he said. "And we can maintain it. Everyone is trained to direct questions to me. My standard answer is that we never comment on regimental operations. And we don't."

  "Okay, then it comes over to me," Franklin said. "I think I can throw a red herring into the mix. If anyone asks, I can say we have incarcerated a citizen for illegal prospecting. Evan Stephens did us a favor."

  "But that won't stop them," Signe said.

  "You're right," Franklin said. "But when they press further, all I need to do is give a blank look, and we can start unraveling things. The only way anyone would have knowledge of this event, is if the instigators say something, right?"

  "In the short term," Boodles said. "I suspect you won't be able to keep a lid on it indefinitely. If somebody stumbles across our new friends on Parkland, then hell will let out for lunch."

  "I need to go talk to Glenn Foxworth," Franklin said. "My first impulse is to let Willard Krause know what happened and let him watch for possible connections off-planet."

  "What if he decides to stomp on you, Franklin?" Signe asked.

  "Oh, he probably will anyway. If Dad's experience is any guide, he will yell at me for not keeping things under control and for letting something like this happen."

  "I don't understand how he could think something like this was preventable," Signe said.

  "Oh, he wouldn't," Franklin said. "I think he just uses this to motivate those of us who have the responsibility."

  "He's really not a nice man," Signe said.

  "Oh, I agree, Sweetheart. He and Dad have been friends for years, and they don't get along. I just plain don't like him. I don't believe his mission to save the universe for mankind entitles him to be a four-star horse's necktie."

  "So why even involve him?" Signe asked.

  Franklin looked over at Boodles and grinned. "I guess because his mission really is to save the universe for mankind. I agree with Dad that somebody needs to do it, and since Willard Krause has obviously volunteered, I'm happy to let him have it. Besides he made a tactical error where I was concerned."

  Boodles leaned forward. "Do tell, Franklin. I've never heard of the Admiral making a mistake."

  "Well, you know Dad is a reservist. That's allowed Krause to keep his claws in him. Somehow, when I came to Montora, I managed to resign my commission. I wonder if he even realizes it. So, my maneuvering room is much better than Dad had when he was here."

  Signe sat and pondered what he had just said. "That's really interesting, Darling, but I'm not sure I would hang my hat on that."

  "Why not?"

  "Remember who Willard Krause is, Darling. He just loves those circles within circles."

  Franklin sobered suddenly, and Boodles laughed out loud.

  "Franklin, once again you're coming in second place."

  "I don't even know what to say at this point."

  She reached out and patted his leg. "You see, Martin, my husband is a humble man."

  "More like humiliated," Franklin said.

  "On that note," Signe said, "do we have anything else, Gentlemen?"

  "I'm done," Boodles said. "I need to get back to our prisoners."

  "You understand the consequences if any of them escape, Martin?" Franklin asked.

  He nodded. "We need to get them out of here as soon as possible."

  "Keep me updated, then, please."

  "Oh, I will."

  After Boodles left the office, Franklin looked at Signe. "Do you think we can invite your parents for dinner tonight?"

  "It's a bit short notice, but probably it can be done."

  "I need an extended conversation with your dad. I want to make sure we have things organized before this breaks loose."

  "I think we can keep this under wraps for a while," she said.

  "Don't kid yourself, Signe. We didn't checkmate the other guys; we just blocked their move. You can count on their trying something else."

  She nodded. "Okay, I can see that. But we're in a strong position."

  "We are, and I intend to take full advantage of it. I just wish Hai Ciera was in town. He is far more ruthless than I am, and that's what we need right now."

  CHAPTER NINE

  “So, do you agree with your dad's assessment of our situation?” Franklin asked.

  He and Signe were sitting over breakfast at the small table in their suite.

  “Daddy made some good points, I think,” she replied. “There's a lot of sense to the notion that what Willard Krause doesn't know won't hurt him. And he expects us to control things here without bringing him in each time.”

  “I just keep thinking that if things blow up, I mean worse than they already have, it's going to look as though we were hiding things from him. Plus, if this was instigated from off-planet, he really does need to know.”

  “I would agree with that, Darling,” she said. “But I would suggest we cross that bridge if we come to it. If the news of our mineral wealth has spread that far, we've got much bigger problems.”

  “That's a horrible thought. I wonder if I ought to try to cut a deal with Carlo Roma to develop our mining industry. He wouldn't hesitate to station enough forces around here to keep things quiet.”

  “I doubt he would do that,” Signe said. “If the Centaurans appropriate his businesses eventually, they would have a legal pretext to come in here.”

  “I hadn't thought of that. You're just full of happy news this morning.”

  She giggled. “That's what you get for marrying somebody who is nearly as intelligent as you.”

  He grinned at her. “While I thoroughly approve of your modesty, let's be honest, Sweetheart. You've got to be two or three hundred percent smarter than I. That's one of the reasons why I married you – to keep me out of trouble.”

  “I thought it was for my money,”

  “Speaking of which, I never talked to Glenn about a dowry. Maybe I should call him and tell him I'm bringing you back.”

  “Don't you dare!”

  “He would then probably make you go to work scrubbing floors for Louie.”

  “That's not funny, Franklin!”

  He snickered. “I'll be your dad would think it was funny.”

  “He would. Mommy would have kittens, though. She is really sensitive about our proletarian past.”

  Franklin cocked his head. “I haven't heard this, Signe. I had assumed that your parents came up through the professional classes.”

  “No, they didn't, and you have to promise not to say anything to Mommy about it. She would die of embarrassment.”

  “Cross my heart and hope to die of old age.”

  “Come on, Franklin, get serious!”

  Franklin had learned early on that Signe's toleration of his joking had limitations.

  “Sorry, Precious. You know I would not do anything to embarrass your mother. Glenn, on the other hand, is fair game.”

  She snorted. “I think Daddy is rather ahead in that game.”

  “After coming out of the shower at the Cambridge Golf Club last week to discover my clothes were missing, I concluded your father was a mortally dangerous adversary.”

  “Well, as infantile as the games played by you two are, I thought his hanging your clothes in the tree in front of the club was inspired.”

  “I'm just glad Louie felt sorry for me and convinced the attendant to retrieve them.”

  “Louie's a saint,” she agreed.

  “No, he's not,” Franklin laughed. “You should have heard him on the golf course. I didn't know he knew so many bad words. Some of them I had never heard before, and I've heard most of them. Then the poor Woogie spent the rest of the afternoon apologizing to everyone who had been in earshot.”

  Signe raised her eyebrows. “Louie was swearing? That's hard to believe.”

  “He missed a four-foot putt. This was following a series of spectacularly bad shots. He swore at the ball; he swore at the golf club. He insisted the game was invented by the spawn of Satan. He swore at me for bringing him along. He swore at Marple for being human. Then he swore at your dad for laughing at him.”

  “Oh, my,” Signe was giggling again. “Daddy tries really hard not to laugh at Louie.”

  “Your sainted father laughed so hard he fell on the ground. Did you know that Woogies change color when they get really mad? Louie went from pink to kind of grey.”

  “What were you thinking, taking Louie out on a golf course?”

  “He said he wanted to go,” Franklin said. “I warned him, but he wanted to go anyway. The funniest part was at the end of the game. He told me it was absolutely the worst day of his whole life, and when could we go out and play again?”

  “That sounds ominous,” she said. She was still consumed with giggles.

  “He told me he's going to find a partner to install a golf course on Woogaea. He said it would help them understand humans.”

  They both laughed then. Once the laughter subsided, they continued working on their breakfast.

  “What is your family's deep dark secret then, Signe?” Franklin asked.

  “It's really nothing so awful,” she said. “I grew up in a home without much money. Mommy always worked at a shoe store. Daddy was a customs officer. We moved around a bit – Daddy was able to advance somewhat. He eventually managed the customs shed on the DeGaulle. That's the French orbital station back at Earth.”

  “What's wrong with that?” Franklin asked. “Your parents have come a long way.”

  “That's what I think. Daddy got sacked by the station commandant because he refused to look the other way when one of the French officers tried to bring in contraband.”

  “So how did he end up here?”

  “He had met Carlo Roma somewhere, I'm not sure where, but Carlo was impressed with Daddy's honesty. After he got fired, Carlo heard about it and came looking for him. He hired Daddy to be an auditor in the purchasing group in one of his businesses. Daddy uncovered some major league abuses going on. After that, he was kind of a roving trouble-shooter for Carlo. That's what got him sent out here.”

  “It sounds like a rags to riches story,” Franklin said. “And this bothers your mother?”

  “You betcha. She is scared to death one of the local hoi polloi will find out about it. She thinks it would ruin her.”

  “Okay, Signe, I understand. You know I wouldn't do anything to hurt your parents. They're great people.”

  She smiled at him. “I think so. Mommy and Daddy used to fight about money a lot when I was growing up. But they gave me a lot of love, and it was clear they loved each other. I never felt deprived.”

  “I think you turned out alright,” he said.

  She reached across the table and pinched his cheek. “And you're a sweetie.”

  “And what's with having breakfast up here?” he asked.

  “Mrs. Marsden decided there was not enough privacy in the Duke's Dining. I told her I didn't want to make the help carry everything clear up here. She told me that most of them needed the exercise.”

  “There's somebody else I wouldn't want to cross,” Franklin said.

  “Who? Mrs. Marsden? Franklin, she's a sweetheart.”

  “A sweetheart? Come on, Signe. Have you seen how she terrorizes the staff? Even Eden's afraid of her.”

  “But she keeps an eye out for you and me. And she dotes on Sarah.”

  “So maybe she does have a heart, then,” Franklin said. “She usually keeps it well hidden.”

  They turned to look at the door as somebody tapped on it.

  “Come,” Franklin said.

  Gerard Blakely stepped in. “Sorry to bother you, Margrave. Mayor Mittal called and asked for a moment of your time.”

  “Fine. Transfer to my comm,” Franklin said.

  “At breakfast?” Signe asked.

  Franklin shrugged. “He never calls unless there is something I need to know about.”

  “You don't suppose he found out about the riot yesterday, do you?” Signe asked.

  “That's exactly what I'm thinking.”

  Two minutes later, Franklin’s comm trilled.

  “Nyman.”

  “Mr. Margrave, I apologize for bothering you so early in the day.”

  “Not a problem, Mr. Mayor. What's going on?”

  “This so-called preacher you sent down here last weekend.”

  Franklin looked up at Signe and raised his eyebrows. She leaned forward to listen, and he held the comm away from his ear so she could hear as well.

  “Um, Mr. Mayor, you have me at a disadvantage.”

  “That preacher you sent down here to set up the Margrave's church in Woods Crossing. I cannot understand what you are trying to do.”

  “Whoa, hold it a minute, Gore. Take it from the beginning. You've lost me completely.”

  “Margrave,” Mittal said patiently. “Mr. Garrett Farrell shows up here last Saturday and invites everybody to church services on Sunday. Says he's setting up the Margrave's church. So, folks show up in the village hall, just bein' polite-like.”

  “Okay, I think I'm following you, now, Mr. Mayor. What happened?”

  “Well, young Mr. Farrell is quite a preacher, as I guess you know. He launched into a... I don't know what you call it, anyway, he spoke out against the Harmonite Church. He called on them to repent from the polygamy and their heresies. Said you were going to have to close their church sooner or later, and the rest of the people shouldn't do anything to support them.”

  “Farrell said that?” Franklin asked.

  “Pretty much. What I wanted to know, Margrave, was if this is in your plans to drive the Harmonites out of here?”

  “Drive them out?” Franklin's shock was such that he repeated the mayor.

  “Right. Look, Margrave, I know they're a little strange. No, they are a lot strange. But they are a key part of the business in this town. It would destroy us if they left. They are some of the sharpest businesspeople I've ever seen.”

  Franklin took a deep breath. “I think I know what's going on, now. Let me reassure you, Mayor Mittal that Mr. Farrell was not representing me or the government in any way. I have no intention of running off any law-abiding citizens in the Margraviate, nor do I intend to force everyone into my religion. The League Charter guarantees religious liberty, and for that matter so do I.”

  “That's a relief, Margrave. I was getting concerned. I have a few hotheads down here who usually do not need a lot of encouragement, and they are getting riled up.”

  “What's a good time to hold a town hall meeting, Mr. Mayor?”

  “The crops are in, so you could do it most anytime.”

  Franklin nodded. “Does this afternoon work?”

  “I think that would work.”

  “Okay, pass the word we're going to hold a meeting. I want to get this stopped before it gets away from us. You can expect us after lunch. Now, I have a couple of preachers I need to speak to.”

  “Thank you very much, Margrave. That is very reassuring. I was concerned.”

  “You're welcome, Mr. Mayor, and thank you for calling this to my attention. You did the right thing.”

  Franklin closed his comm unit and slapped it down on the table. “Jeez! Does it ever stop?”

  “Do you think Father Riggs actually sent Garrett down there?” Signe asked.

  “Land, I hope not. But Riggs is definitely the source. He was going on about it to me a couple of weeks ago. We have to stop this right now, Signe.”

  “I cannot believe Father Riggs could say things like that,” she said.

  “He told me one time he believed the Devil went about the village passing out stupid pills. I believe the good father, himself, has been partaking.”

  He picked up his comm unit and punched a couple of buttons.

  “Gerry, I need Father Riggs and Garrett Farrell in my office in ten minutes. Send one of the trucks for them.”

  He closed up his comm unit again and looked at Signe, who was studying him.”

  “You've got that look, Precious,” he said.

  “Do you think it might be wise to cool down for a couple of hours before you talk to them?”

  Franklin shook his head. “I think I want them to see me really mad. I've got to shock them out of this nonsense. I can't believe they are being this stupid.”

  “What can I do to help?” she asked.

  He shook his head. “I'm going to have to handle this one. Well, yes there is one thing: have Gerry remove the chairs that are across from my desk. I want these two bozos as uncomfortable as possible.”