Read Online Crescent by Phil Rossi - Free Book Online Page B

larger eyes, was flying across the void of space toward a giant, neon-green can of a soft drink called Wheezie ! She stripped off her space suit as she went. The screen dissolved into a news story. He was about to look away when he saw that the feed was about a missing colony ship bound for New Juno. Apparently, the ship had disappeared a few days back. Several important political figures had been onboard, on their way to a summit to discuss the escalating violence in the Habeos systems. Gerald didn’t want to know.
    The anchorman segued into a local story. Apparently, a young mother of two had also gone missing, leaving her toddlers home alone for days. Hungry and confused, the toddlers were otherwise no worse for wear, but there was still no sign of the mother. What kind of person just walks out on their kids like that? Gerald thought. He wondered why the hell Maerl insisted on playing the news in the bar.
    “That’s the third missing person story they’ve aired on the news this week,” Maerl commented as he stepped back around the bar. “Better keep an eye on that girl of yours.”
    “She can take care of herself, provided she’s not too drunk.” Gerald finished his beer and slid the empty bottle away. Maerl placed another before him. Gerald reached for his wallet, but the bartender held up a hand to stop him. He pointed over Gerald’s shoulder.
    “Courtesy of Dr. Donovan Cortez and his daughter, Dr. Ina Cortez. They want you to join them for a drink.”
    Gerald turned on his stool. He recognized Donovan Cortez from Kendall’s office. Cortez sat in a booth on the far side of Heathen’s beneath a glowing caricature of a shapely female figure. Beneath the shape were the words Drink Femalien ! Cortez wore a suit, minus the jacket. His shirt collar looked too tight for his chubby neck. Curly gray hair, matted at the top, sprung out around the doctor’s ears. Ina Cortez sat beside the doctor, half in and half out of the booth. Her cornsilk hair was combed straight and parted in the middle. It fell past thin, pale shoulders that were exposed save for the narrow straps of her small dress. Her eyes were pointed downward and hidden behind long lashes. She looked uncomfortable. And both she and her father looked woefully out of place. Gerald stood and made his way over to them.
    “Dr. Cortez?” Gerald said amicably enough as he stepped to the booth. The older man looked up at him and smiled. Cortez tried to stand too quickly; the olive green table shuddered and threatened to spill the two drinks that sat atop it. Cortez’s plump lips spread in a wide smile.
    “Mr. Evans!”
    “You just bought me a beer, Doc. You don’t need to act surprised to see me.” He paused, waiting. When Cortez said nothing, Gerald spoke again. “Generally, this is when you’d ask me to sit.”
    “Oh yes, yes. I’m sorry. I’m not used to…   doing this sort of thing. Please, sit.”
    “Hello,” Gerald looked to the daughter. “ Ina, is it?” he inquired. She raised her eyes to him and offered a quick smile before averting her gaze again. She was the crazy girl who had spoiled Gerald’s morning coffee. Her blue eyes didn’t hint at recognition, so he decided to keep his mouth shut. No sense in heightening the awkwardness. Gerald sat. “So, what sort of thing is this, anyway?”
    “It is my understanding that you are Crescent Station’s salvage man.”
    “Yeah, that’s right. For how much longer, I don’t know. Things haven’t been going all that smoothly.”
    Donovan frowned and looked perplexed.
    “Chalk it up to Kendall and I not exactly seeing eye to eye on the definition of salvage. ”Gerald took a sip of the beer Donovan had bought him. He set the bottle down and noticed Ina’s bare ankle. It was delicate and pale. There was a tattoo there, nestled just below her ankle bone. The artwork looked like a small rose, but Gerald couldn’t be sure without staring, and he didn’t want to make her or her father any