Hathor Legacy: Outcast (2 page)

2
Deeper and Deeper

In spite of his misgivings after his conversation with Cat, Jonathan went to his club that evening. With a little help from his f
ather, he'd bought an old warehouse by the shuttle station and turned it into a popular venue.

Naming it, "The Answer," he'd opened the club expecting it to be a success. And it was. There was nowhere else in the city where everyone could come t
ogether to dance, drink and do whatever they desired.

Taking up his usual position in a private lounge overlooking the dance floor, he scanned the crowd. From the looks of things, it was going to be another busy night.

On the level below, the floor was packed with bodies writhing to the thumping beat. Multicolored lights flashed, illuminating the darkened space at timed intervals. The occupancy was limited to 500, and he was sure they'd have to close the doors soon. It wasn't unusual for lines to form outside, which only added to the exclusivity. 

Behind him he heard the clink of glasses and laughter as a few of his regular guests relaxed on the plush couches. It was time to join them and try to be a good host.

Damn it. Cat should've gotten back to him by now. What was taking her so long? Forcing a smile to his lips, he acknowledged one of his patrons as she waved to him from the dance floor.

"I didn't think you'd be here tonight," a voice purred behind him.

Jon spun around. He looked into the dark eyes of a woman wearing a black tank top and pants that looked like they'd been painted onto her shapely body.

"Ilana. Where have you been?" Jon drew her into his arms, ta
king in her spicy perfume. Every time he saw her, her hair was a different color and length. Now it was black and cropped short, barely touching the bottom of her ears. His eyes were drawn to dangling crystal earrings hanging down to her bare, creamy shoulders.

"I had business to take care of. Sorry I didn't tell you I was leaving last time," She raked her hands across his back. "I heard about the explosion at the mine. Is it true your father is mis
sing?"

"He left for Hathor before the blast. We haven't heard from him yet."  He led her over to a couch at the rear of the lounge. "But I'm sure he'll contact us when he gets in."

"Of course he will." Ilana whispered in his ear, her fingertips playing over the growing bulge in his pants. "You know, Jon. There's something I've always wondered. Why did you call your club, 'The Answer?'" 

Jon shuddered as she continued to tease him. "It's a private joke."

"You won't tell me? There shouldn't be any secrets between us."

"It's got nothing to do with us." Between her scent and what she was doing to him with her fi
ngers, he was aching. But as he was about to reach over and do some teasing of his own, she abruptly pulled out of his grasp.

"Is that how you're going to treat me? I was going to tell you something. Now I don't know if I should," she said, her voice trembling.

"What is it?"

"When I was coming back on the shuttle from Hathor a couple of days ago, I overheard a man and woman talking. They were saying things about the mine and they mentioned your f
ather's name a lot." Her dark brown eyes filled with alarm. "I don't think they were business people, Jon. They sounded dangerous."

"Did you get a look at them?"

Ilana shook her head. "I only heard them talking."

"We'll tell Cat to check this out. She'll want to question them."

"Cat?" Ilana asked.

"Catherine Mantee. She's Chief of Security at the mine."

"Oh no, I can't." Ilana's eyes filled with tears. "Suppose they come after me?"

Now he'd done it. Jonathan wrapped his arms around her, ge
ntly patting her shoulder. "It's okay. Don't worry. I'll tell Cat myself."

"I'm so sorry, Jon. I wish I could be more helpful." She eased herself out of his embrace. "I have to go. Do you mind?"

"What? You just got here."

"I'll see you later. I promise." She got up and rushed towards the stairs.

"Wait, Ilana!" He reached the stairway in time to see her disappear into the crowd below.

Now what? Well, at least he had a lead on the thieves. Cat would have to follow it up. If she didn't, he'd handle it himself.

*****

Two days later Jonathan wasn't any closer to getting answers. Even offering payment for i
nformation had led him nowhere. And to make things worse, Cat had refused to believe Ilana's story.

Disgusted and tired of the gossip from his friends about his f
ather and the theft, he left the club early and headed home. Friends? Sure they were, as long as he paid for the entertainment.

In the meantime, Ilana hadn't turned up again. Not that it was surprising. Appearing and di
sappearing unexpectedly was the norm for her. But as frustrating as it was, it always left him desperate to see her again.

What was surprising was to find her huddled in his doorway when he got back to his apar
tment. As soon as she saw him, she launched herself into his arms.

"Ilana! What's going on?"

"They're after me! We have to get inside."

He touched the fingerpad on his front door, identifying himself to the security system. As the door swung open, he cast a wary glance behind him before helping her inside.

Under the brighter lights of the foyer, he took a good look at her. Dark smears of eye makeup streaked her face, making her skin look ashen. When he released her, he saw that her short silver jacket was ripped at the shoulder. 

"Ilana, what happened?" He guided her to one the couches in the living area. "Are you all right?"

She nodded. "A man chased me when I was leaving the transport station. He grabbed me, but I was able to get free. I ran all the way here."

"We'll have to contact mine security."

"No, Jon! I--I think I know who it was. The other night after I went back to my place, I had a message. A woman told me to leave Astarte as soon as possible."

"Why didn't you call me?"

Ilana managed to stop sobbing long enough to answer him. "I don't know. But I recognized the voice, Jon. It was the woman from the shuttle. They know I overheard them."

"But how could they?" Jon asked.

"I don't know how!" Ilana leapt up and paced the room. "Maybe it's because you've been asking around. They must be getting nervous. Jon, I've got to leave this planet."

"We need to report this." He stood and put his arms around her. "Mine security can protect you."

"For all you know, those people killed your father. I'm leaving as soon as I can. I need shuttle passes and security clearance to get to Hathor. Can you help me?"

"What about the company you work for? Can't they get you passes to go back?"

"My trip here wasn't for business, Jon. I came just to see you. The mine put extra security in place after the theft. Suppose they stop me? If I can't leave, those people will come after me." Trembling, she started crying again. "Please, Jonathan. I want to get back to Hathor."

All this time he'd been hoping to persuade her to talk to Cat d
irectly. But the shape she was in, it wasn't going to happen. Helping her to leave Astarte was the only way to be sure she'd be safe.

"Don't cry. I'll get you on a shuttle."

Gripping him tight, she whispered in his ear, her warm breath tickling him. "I knew you could help."

The buzzer sounded. What the hell? He wasn't expecting vis
itors.

"Go into the bedroom, close the door and stay there." He waited for her to head into his room. After he heard the door click shut, he strode over to check the security monitor. Cat's face stared back at him. Now this was unexpected.

"Jonathan." Cat gave him a quick smile as she entered. "We've got to talk." She took off her black company-issued jacket and slung it over her shoulder.

"You have news about my father?" Jon asked.

"Got anything in your bar?" She gestured towards a set of glass shelves along the opposite wall. Lined up on them was an assortment of liquors, most of them souvenirs of his father's travels.

"What do you want?"

"You still have your father's Scotch?" she asked.

"Sure."

Brandon had gotten it during one of his infrequent trips back to the Earth system. Jonathan poured the amber liquid into a glass and handed it to her. He noticed she'd practically finished it before he'd poured his own drink. By the time he settled down on the couch across from her, her glass was empty.

"You want more?" he asked.

"No. I couldn't handle another one." Cat set the glass down on the table in front of her. "Look. I'm going to get to the point. You're interfering with our investigation."

"I'm trying to find out what happened to my father. What are you doing about it?"

Cat stiffened. "Brandon's also my friend. Besides, I told you he left for Hathor."

"Then why haven't we heard from him by now?  You can't stop me. If that's why you came, you can leave now." He hoped the authority in his voice would sway her, but her e
xpression didn't change.

"As Mine Security Chief I can stop anything I choose." Cat pointed towards a hunk of golden brown crystal sitting on a shelf above the bottled liquors. "I was with your father when he found that. When he showed it to me, I told him it was the most beautiful crystal I'd ever seen. And, b
elieve me, Brandon and I found a lot of them."

Jonathan sighed. He'd heard this story before. All about the old days before his father and mother had met. Brandon and Cat had been freelancers working in one of the mining install
ations on Hathor. Eventually they joined Novacorp and took over the mine on Demeter, making it the most profitable one in the system.

But he knew her reason for bringing up the past. It was the same reason she always brought it up. Cat had known his father long before he, his mother and his sisters were in Brandon's life. She wanted to remind Jonathan who had been there first. 

"I do have news. The security monitor replay showed your father walking with a woman about an hour before the explosion," Cat said. "He was probably on his way to the shuttle."

"Do you know who she is?"

"Couldn't see her face. We were able to track her up to the explosion. Afterwards the monitor malfunctioned."

"It must've been the woman I told you about. Was there a man with her?"

"Jonathan, there was no couple on the shuttle plotting to steal from the mine. That friend of yours is lying." Cat looked away for a moment. "But, there's something I didn't tell you."

"What is it?"

"They found the Ops Director a few hours ago. His body was thrown into one of the shafts in Sector Eight. Not far from where your father was seen with the woman."

Jon's heart thundered in his chest. For all he knew, his father could be at the bottom of a min
eshaft right now. Or maybe he did go to Hathor. There had to be a way to find out.

"If you can't confirm my father was on the shuttle, your inve
stigation skills aren't worth a damn." Jonathan headed back to the bar to pour another drink. But his attempt at staying cool wasn't working. His hand shook so much that half his drink splashed onto the countertop.

"Look, I need you to stop causing trouble and trust me. All you need to know is that your f
ather left for Hathor." She stood up and grabbed her jacket. "Let me handle this."

"Sure." He gulped his drink down, refusing to make eye contact with her. The next thing he heard was her footfall across the floor. The door opened and closed, followed by silence.

After resetting the door to lock, Jon sprinted back to his room. When he entered, Ilana was sitting on the bed examining his tablet. Startled, she dropped the device. Jon picked it up. Luckily it hadn't broken when it hit the stone floor.

"Were you looking for something?" he asked, as he sat down next to her.

"I was checking the shuttle schedule. There's one leaving tomorrow. Who was that?"

"Cat. A security monitor showed my father walking with a woman before the explosion."

"Did they really see her on the monitor?"

"They couldn't identify her." Jonathan expected Ilana to be r
elieved, but she started crying again. "What is it?"

"Please, Jonathan. You have to help me leave." She clutched his shirt, her nails digging into his chest. "Why don't you come with me to Hathor? I could help you look for your father there."

"I don't know. What if these people go after my family?"

"Jon, your family is wealthy. You can hire a team of security guards to protect them. Will you get the passes? Can we leave t
ogether?"

"Yes, Ilana. I'll get them. We'll leave on the next shuttle."

*****