notes.”
“Right. Just tell him that the Torrey detour was successfully completed.” He thought for a moment. “And if you have time, I'd like you to check out American-related crime in the Americo-Belgian community in western EC. You have a computer on?”
“I always have a computah on.” Rolvo was silent for a few moments. “Nothing specific comes up. Can you narrow the keywords?”
“Try murder or attempted murder.”
Another moment of silence. “Nothing above average. Americo-Belgian, you said?”
“Refugees, mostly.”
Rolvo grunted. “There is a possible connection. What ah your circumstances?”
How much could he say? This wasn't official ASP business, of course, but since an arrest was being made... “Newly immigrated American family being terrorized with death threats.”
Another grunt. “I see. Yes, a connection. Eastahn Europe. Four recently immigrated American socio-familial groups have been murhdered, with a total of twelve groups receiving death threats.”
Will frowned. “But that's Eastern Europe?”
“The circumstances are similah. From the data, I would guess this is paht of a chain reaction against American immigration. There is an ASP investigation in progress now. Agent Tarent was assigned, before his murdah.”
“ Murder ?”
“You may not get a vacation aftah all, Vullahman.”
Will shook his head. “I guess not. But what about this particular situation? I apprehended the man giving the death threats. My guess is he just wanted a shot at robbing the house and didn't like the new Americans. Do you think there's more of them, a sort of chain group?”
“I would say that this is an isolated incident,” Rolvo said. “But err on the side of safety.”
Will sighed. “All right. I'll have the local police do an investigation in the neighborhood and have them keep an eye on things. Thanks, Rolvo. Talk to you back at HQ.”
There was a grunt, and the line went dead with a beep. Typical Rolvo. Will powered down the comm and settled on the couch to wait for the police to show up.
************
Another fifteen minutes passed, and then there came a knock on the door. Will strode to the door and cracked it open a notch. The Torreys stood outside. Will opened the door and let them in, and May gave him a hug. "I knew you could do it," she said, grinning up at him.
Will followed the Torreys into their living room. When Mr. Torrey saw the tied-up taxi driver, his face hardened. "So you're the one who's been harassing my family?"
The man refused to answer.
"Well, justice has caught up with you, you blackguard." Mr. Torrey kept up his gaze, and the man looked away. "Your reward for torturing us for the last twelve days will be a nice prison cell."
The taxi driver shrugged.
"Does his voice sound like the one that kept calling us?" Mr. Torrey asked, turning to Will. "He hasn't said a word since we came in."
"He's convinced that anything he says will be used in court, despite the fact that I'm not a policeman. No, his voice isn't right, but it's easy enough to synthesize your voice if you know how to do it."
Outside, a car door slammed, interrupting Will's explanation. Will glanced out the window and saw the flashing lights of the police car. "Looks like your ride has arrived," he said.
************
Will stepped into the smooth interior of the jet and heaved a sigh. The Torreys were safe and his job was done. A work well done was nothing to be ashamed of, and Brownbarr himself had sent Will a message.
It had only been last night that Will had caught the Torreys' intruder, but Brownbarr had said that he was eager to debrief Will and thank him for his work. No mention of a new mission, thankfully. Full vacation credit and extra time off—the works. The only thing that marred it was the bad connection that had made Brownbarr's voice metallic and grainy. But, Will thought with a shrug, he was probably off investigating this murder business in Eastern Europe and had a bad
“Right. Just tell him that the Torrey detour was successfully completed.” He thought for a moment. “And if you have time, I'd like you to check out American-related crime in the Americo-Belgian community in western EC. You have a computer on?”
“I always have a computah on.” Rolvo was silent for a few moments. “Nothing specific comes up. Can you narrow the keywords?”
“Try murder or attempted murder.”
Another moment of silence. “Nothing above average. Americo-Belgian, you said?”
“Refugees, mostly.”
Rolvo grunted. “There is a possible connection. What ah your circumstances?”
How much could he say? This wasn't official ASP business, of course, but since an arrest was being made... “Newly immigrated American family being terrorized with death threats.”
Another grunt. “I see. Yes, a connection. Eastahn Europe. Four recently immigrated American socio-familial groups have been murhdered, with a total of twelve groups receiving death threats.”
Will frowned. “But that's Eastern Europe?”
“The circumstances are similah. From the data, I would guess this is paht of a chain reaction against American immigration. There is an ASP investigation in progress now. Agent Tarent was assigned, before his murdah.”
“ Murder ?”
“You may not get a vacation aftah all, Vullahman.”
Will shook his head. “I guess not. But what about this particular situation? I apprehended the man giving the death threats. My guess is he just wanted a shot at robbing the house and didn't like the new Americans. Do you think there's more of them, a sort of chain group?”
“I would say that this is an isolated incident,” Rolvo said. “But err on the side of safety.”
Will sighed. “All right. I'll have the local police do an investigation in the neighborhood and have them keep an eye on things. Thanks, Rolvo. Talk to you back at HQ.”
There was a grunt, and the line went dead with a beep. Typical Rolvo. Will powered down the comm and settled on the couch to wait for the police to show up.
************
Another fifteen minutes passed, and then there came a knock on the door. Will strode to the door and cracked it open a notch. The Torreys stood outside. Will opened the door and let them in, and May gave him a hug. "I knew you could do it," she said, grinning up at him.
Will followed the Torreys into their living room. When Mr. Torrey saw the tied-up taxi driver, his face hardened. "So you're the one who's been harassing my family?"
The man refused to answer.
"Well, justice has caught up with you, you blackguard." Mr. Torrey kept up his gaze, and the man looked away. "Your reward for torturing us for the last twelve days will be a nice prison cell."
The taxi driver shrugged.
"Does his voice sound like the one that kept calling us?" Mr. Torrey asked, turning to Will. "He hasn't said a word since we came in."
"He's convinced that anything he says will be used in court, despite the fact that I'm not a policeman. No, his voice isn't right, but it's easy enough to synthesize your voice if you know how to do it."
Outside, a car door slammed, interrupting Will's explanation. Will glanced out the window and saw the flashing lights of the police car. "Looks like your ride has arrived," he said.
************
Will stepped into the smooth interior of the jet and heaved a sigh. The Torreys were safe and his job was done. A work well done was nothing to be ashamed of, and Brownbarr himself had sent Will a message.
It had only been last night that Will had caught the Torreys' intruder, but Brownbarr had said that he was eager to debrief Will and thank him for his work. No mention of a new mission, thankfully. Full vacation credit and extra time off—the works. The only thing that marred it was the bad connection that had made Brownbarr's voice metallic and grainy. But, Will thought with a shrug, he was probably off investigating this murder business in Eastern Europe and had a bad
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