weapons came from his kit, he was stationed in the area and therefore familiar with the patterns and the wiring. Not to mention he was large enough to have hung the victim from the rafters.” Matt said.
“No,” Richards said. “He was in custody when the other murders occurred.”
“Besides he’s too large for the environment suit, and he was in custody for the second and third murders.” Officer Parry said.
“It is still possible that he was an accomplice.” Matt mused.
“How can we know?”
“So why are we still holding him?” Perry asked.
“Are you kidding? He was the only suspect in a public murder. If we let him go, we’d have to admit there’s a murderer on the loose. So until we find the killer, he stays in custody.” Rishards said.
“He’d entitled to a trial or release. How can we just hold him?” Perry asked.
“He has 48 hours to request a trial.” Rishards said. “Every day when he awakens we inform him of that right, unfortunately the next morning he doesn’t remember to request it.”
“Doesn’t he have an advocate? I mean whose looking out for his rights?” Matt asked.
“Dales, he’s a burn out. He doesn’t know what’s happening. No harm, No fowl.” Perry said.
“He’s human. He still has rights.” Matt said.
“And he can press them anytime he wants.” Rishards said. “The fact that he doesn’t remember to is, well convenient, for now. It buys us time.”
“Doesn’t make it right.” Matt sat quietly for a moment. “Okay then. What do we have?” He mused. “A corridor. At least two people. One, the victim, the other the murder under six one. Mr. Kossman one who is over six one and was found unconscious at the scene may or may not be the murderer but won’t get a trial in any case.”
“We still haven’t ruled him out.” Rishards said.
“No, of course. It wouldn’t be convenient. Any DNA evidence?” Matt wanted to have had something to hang on the man, if for no other reason than to assuage his conscience.
“Not yet,” she said. “It was a very busy hall, perhaps hundreds go through each day, maybe thousands or tens of thousands of samples. At the time, we thought we had our killer. I would have been a waste of resources and wouldn’t have helped the investigation. It was a public hallway. Everyone in the colony could make a justified claim for having been there.”
“Is it possible Kossman could be faking it?” Perry asked.
“Faking?” Matt considered the idea. It hadn’t even occurred to him to ask. Was it possible to fake that kind of memory loss? Perhaps, but he didn’t think it was possible to fake the damage done by the surgery “I think you’d have to have the surgical staff in on it, and the ship’s crew. Pretty elaborate planning just to kill a secretary don’t you think?”
“Let’s just stick to what we have.” Rishards added.
“Perry, can you put the files up on the screen?” Matt asked. The young officer ran his fingers deftly across the keyboard. The display on the wall lit up with images and documents. Center screen the grizzly image of the body, hanging took prominence.
“You’re right.” Perry conceded. “It does look like he was crucified.”
“So what? We start tracking down any one who still has faith in God.” Rishards asked.
“Don’t tell me…” Perry started.
“Yes, “She admitted. “I’m a Baptist. That doesn’t make me a suspect.”
“Are you devout?” Matt looked at her.
“That is none of your business.” She turned to the monitor.
“I’m not critical; it’s just that I haven’t known many people of religion.” he admitted.
“Despite popular opinion, we’re not delusional children too naive to let go of our fantasies.” Matt wasn’t sure how to deal with this outburst.
“I never said you were,” he said.
“Oh come on. Chill out, detective. Don’t be so touchy.” Perry said.
“I’ve been harassed my whole life about my beliefs. I don’t find it funny. And I don’t like seeing my
“No,” Richards said. “He was in custody when the other murders occurred.”
“Besides he’s too large for the environment suit, and he was in custody for the second and third murders.” Officer Parry said.
“It is still possible that he was an accomplice.” Matt mused.
“How can we know?”
“So why are we still holding him?” Perry asked.
“Are you kidding? He was the only suspect in a public murder. If we let him go, we’d have to admit there’s a murderer on the loose. So until we find the killer, he stays in custody.” Rishards said.
“He’d entitled to a trial or release. How can we just hold him?” Perry asked.
“He has 48 hours to request a trial.” Rishards said. “Every day when he awakens we inform him of that right, unfortunately the next morning he doesn’t remember to request it.”
“Doesn’t he have an advocate? I mean whose looking out for his rights?” Matt asked.
“Dales, he’s a burn out. He doesn’t know what’s happening. No harm, No fowl.” Perry said.
“He’s human. He still has rights.” Matt said.
“And he can press them anytime he wants.” Rishards said. “The fact that he doesn’t remember to is, well convenient, for now. It buys us time.”
“Doesn’t make it right.” Matt sat quietly for a moment. “Okay then. What do we have?” He mused. “A corridor. At least two people. One, the victim, the other the murder under six one. Mr. Kossman one who is over six one and was found unconscious at the scene may or may not be the murderer but won’t get a trial in any case.”
“We still haven’t ruled him out.” Rishards said.
“No, of course. It wouldn’t be convenient. Any DNA evidence?” Matt wanted to have had something to hang on the man, if for no other reason than to assuage his conscience.
“Not yet,” she said. “It was a very busy hall, perhaps hundreds go through each day, maybe thousands or tens of thousands of samples. At the time, we thought we had our killer. I would have been a waste of resources and wouldn’t have helped the investigation. It was a public hallway. Everyone in the colony could make a justified claim for having been there.”
“Is it possible Kossman could be faking it?” Perry asked.
“Faking?” Matt considered the idea. It hadn’t even occurred to him to ask. Was it possible to fake that kind of memory loss? Perhaps, but he didn’t think it was possible to fake the damage done by the surgery “I think you’d have to have the surgical staff in on it, and the ship’s crew. Pretty elaborate planning just to kill a secretary don’t you think?”
“Let’s just stick to what we have.” Rishards added.
“Perry, can you put the files up on the screen?” Matt asked. The young officer ran his fingers deftly across the keyboard. The display on the wall lit up with images and documents. Center screen the grizzly image of the body, hanging took prominence.
“You’re right.” Perry conceded. “It does look like he was crucified.”
“So what? We start tracking down any one who still has faith in God.” Rishards asked.
“Don’t tell me…” Perry started.
“Yes, “She admitted. “I’m a Baptist. That doesn’t make me a suspect.”
“Are you devout?” Matt looked at her.
“That is none of your business.” She turned to the monitor.
“I’m not critical; it’s just that I haven’t known many people of religion.” he admitted.
“Despite popular opinion, we’re not delusional children too naive to let go of our fantasies.” Matt wasn’t sure how to deal with this outburst.
“I never said you were,” he said.
“Oh come on. Chill out, detective. Don’t be so touchy.” Perry said.
“I’ve been harassed my whole life about my beliefs. I don’t find it funny. And I don’t like seeing my
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