Read Online Fool's Gold: Carson Lyle's War - Part One by Thomas J. Rock - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Thomas J. Rock
Tags: Military science fiction
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Like the agents said, he should be in jail. Then there was the matter of that fink, Shorty. He'd have to contact Betty, as soon as possible. She'd be able to put the word out. He hoped there would be an obituary for that fink on the newsnet by the time he got back to Atlantia. What about the 501st? If what the agents said was true, then it was something he couldn't let go. He had to take the chance on being able to find that mech commander.
Jack, if you have any ideas, I could use them now.
He started to take another drink.
A nearby voice said, "If you want the real thing, I know a place nearby."
Chapter 14
Lyle wasn't in the mood for small talk. "Thanks. I'm good with this," he said, without looking up.
"No, we really should go up the street a bit."
Lyle looked up, from the tumbler. There was a mountain of a man standing in front of him, flanked by two smaller mountains on either side. The way they were positioned had him pinned in the booth.
Lyle rubbed his forehead with his right hand. Will this damn day ever end?
"Is this where I go out back with you to 'talk'," he said with air quotes, "and you mug me? Because that is not going to go the way you expect it to."
"No," said the tallest mountain. "You need to explain how we're going to recoup the loss of our cargo."
Son of a bitch.
Lyle straightened, looking up at the man. He was huge. Over two meters tall and even through the bulky, rough looking, flight jacket, looked solidly built. Genetic manipulation, maybe? The other two were similarly built, but slightly shorter. All three shared the same grizzled appearance, as well: Long, dark hair. Unshaven faces. They didn't look like they would be part of the 501st. Maybe they were local haulers hired by Grey Corp that were supposed to meet him and take the cargo? That would make sense. Maybe they could take him to the 501st? Maybe.
"Look," Lyle said. "This would be the third time people have picked me up to go talk somewhere, this week. I'm done with that." He slapped his hand on the table. "Have a seat, I'll buy you guys a drink, and we can talk right here."
He'd hoped getting them to stay in a public setting would put their conversation on an equal footing, and maybe it would give him more time to figure a way to fix this mess.
Lyle was a little surprised to see them sit down. The two slightly smaller men sat in the booth on either side of him and the large mountain pulled a chair over and sat down. Even when seated he still towered over everyone at the table.
"So," the mountain said. "You land, get taken into custody for two days, and get dumped here. That's not what we'd have expected given your reputation. You've pissed off a lot of people. Care to explain?"
Lyle knew he had to be careful. Judging from the way the man was talking, they didn't seem like hired guns for the 501st. They had to be directly associated. What should he tell them? And how much? Carson knew it looked extremely suspicious to be arrested at landing and then just let go. If the roles were reversed, he'd automatically assume someone to be finking for the Authority. He could tell them what the agents wanted him to do, but that just might leave a shadow of suspicion hanging over him in spite of that honesty, or worse yet, they'd kill him on the spot just to be safe. He decided it might be better to spoon feed them just enough information to keep their interest…for now.
"Hey! It wasn't my fault," he said. "I had no idea this job was on Authority radar. All the documentation was in order…or so I thought. Looks like Grey Corp screwed us both."
The big man shook his head. "No. The question is: Why don't you have a reservation on the detainee transport? How is it you're not in shackles? I mean, they impounded your ship. There had to be charges."
Lyle glared straight back at the man. "I don't think I ever got you name."
"Kagan," the man said. "This is Dex and Varga."
"I don't know what
Jack, if you have any ideas, I could use them now.
He started to take another drink.
A nearby voice said, "If you want the real thing, I know a place nearby."
Chapter 14
Lyle wasn't in the mood for small talk. "Thanks. I'm good with this," he said, without looking up.
"No, we really should go up the street a bit."
Lyle looked up, from the tumbler. There was a mountain of a man standing in front of him, flanked by two smaller mountains on either side. The way they were positioned had him pinned in the booth.
Lyle rubbed his forehead with his right hand. Will this damn day ever end?
"Is this where I go out back with you to 'talk'," he said with air quotes, "and you mug me? Because that is not going to go the way you expect it to."
"No," said the tallest mountain. "You need to explain how we're going to recoup the loss of our cargo."
Son of a bitch.
Lyle straightened, looking up at the man. He was huge. Over two meters tall and even through the bulky, rough looking, flight jacket, looked solidly built. Genetic manipulation, maybe? The other two were similarly built, but slightly shorter. All three shared the same grizzled appearance, as well: Long, dark hair. Unshaven faces. They didn't look like they would be part of the 501st. Maybe they were local haulers hired by Grey Corp that were supposed to meet him and take the cargo? That would make sense. Maybe they could take him to the 501st? Maybe.
"Look," Lyle said. "This would be the third time people have picked me up to go talk somewhere, this week. I'm done with that." He slapped his hand on the table. "Have a seat, I'll buy you guys a drink, and we can talk right here."
He'd hoped getting them to stay in a public setting would put their conversation on an equal footing, and maybe it would give him more time to figure a way to fix this mess.
Lyle was a little surprised to see them sit down. The two slightly smaller men sat in the booth on either side of him and the large mountain pulled a chair over and sat down. Even when seated he still towered over everyone at the table.
"So," the mountain said. "You land, get taken into custody for two days, and get dumped here. That's not what we'd have expected given your reputation. You've pissed off a lot of people. Care to explain?"
Lyle knew he had to be careful. Judging from the way the man was talking, they didn't seem like hired guns for the 501st. They had to be directly associated. What should he tell them? And how much? Carson knew it looked extremely suspicious to be arrested at landing and then just let go. If the roles were reversed, he'd automatically assume someone to be finking for the Authority. He could tell them what the agents wanted him to do, but that just might leave a shadow of suspicion hanging over him in spite of that honesty, or worse yet, they'd kill him on the spot just to be safe. He decided it might be better to spoon feed them just enough information to keep their interest…for now.
"Hey! It wasn't my fault," he said. "I had no idea this job was on Authority radar. All the documentation was in order…or so I thought. Looks like Grey Corp screwed us both."
The big man shook his head. "No. The question is: Why don't you have a reservation on the detainee transport? How is it you're not in shackles? I mean, they impounded your ship. There had to be charges."
Lyle glared straight back at the man. "I don't think I ever got you name."
"Kagan," the man said. "This is Dex and Varga."
"I don't know what
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