Page 50 - The Chronicles Ser2 (6-10)

been an unruly child, the discipline of the Constabulary, it seemed, would “sort me out”. He
was right of course!” His wrist chronometer vibrated to inform him of another appointment.
He made his excuses and left. As he was leaving the front door; Arthur surreptitiously
handed him a note. He put it in his coat pocket and headed to where he’d parked the car.
When he had settled in he opened the note. It was in a hand he knew and read

“Word on the Grape Vine is Hagron is being called in to mediate a dispute in a Syndicate run
venture. You might be getting another corpse to deal with. V.v.G”

Arthur had passed on a message from another of Felix’s informants; he signed
himself Vincent van Gogh. Vincent was his real name, and he was a commercial graphics
artist by profession. Sub-Space Monitor as a hobby. The fact that Vincent knew about
Whelks meant that someone at HQ had leaked word of the investigation to the
Underground. If the killers were wise they would have left for another sector by now. This
would probably also mean that the Chief was blasting all at HQ, so he decided to find Lomax
and Dreck and catch up with what they had. Lomax was no fool when it came to confronting
the Chief in his “Irish”. The two of them would probably be in Maxim’s Café Bar. He headed
off to the Downtown district making sure he wasn’t followed…

Chapter 2

“It’s only Business”

Telford came round to find he had been tied to a chair in the office of the Head of The
Kinray Group. Mortimer Glass was staring at Telford with a wicked looking grin on his face.
“I do not think your client…” he looked at a sheet in front of him then continued “Luis
Lisette Bordeja former Head of the Battelle Syndicate will be requiring your services after all
Mr Hagron. It would appear he has met with an unfortunate “accident”. He apparently
seems to have slipped whilst inspecting the mincing equipment in one of the groups Pet
Food factories. Messy way to end one’s life you’ll agree” Glass oozed the statement from his
pursed lips. Telford winced. “I really do appal hostile takeovers; they tend to leave open
ends that need tying up!” He added winking in a sinister fashion. “But you need not worry
on that count; the Kinray Group will need you to continue supplying your services to the
newly “merged” Syndicates” He snapped his fingers the two goons that had drugged him
came forward. “Gaston; Herne, please untie Mr Hagron and make him comfortable we have
matters of importance to discuss. Mr Ha… May I call you Telford; it’s a shame to make this
so formal. Telford could I offer you a Singorian Brandy?” Telford rubbed his wrists and
decided to play along; after all the man before him held the lives of hundreds in his hands,
which figure now included his partner and himself. He took the offered Brandy and listened
to the proposals of the Head of the Kinray Group.

Lomax and Dreck were in window seats watching the scene outside. It was sunny
and they ordered Krank a strong Klipka; a local substitute for the long extinct Coffee drinks
that used to be found on Terra. He savoured the first sip before telling them his news. When
he’d finished he added a Savroi Cake to his order and let the news sink in. Lomax was the
first to speak.

“If there has been another killing; we should be hearing about it soon. If my suspicions are
correct, the Kinray Group will make a bid to expand their territory. All we do not need right