Murder in New Eden

by Charles C. Cole

Table of Contents

Chapter 17: Corporal Boyer

Pelkey and Boyer walk outside into an alley where there’s a waiting black police vehicle. The vehicle resembles a 1923 Ford Model-T Police Depot Hack.

Boyer balks. “Why’s it look like that, like someone should be delivering milk in it?”

“The hack?”

“It doesn’t look right.”

“Our founding fathers, as it were, thought the old world was a better world. And so they encouraged us to live that way, as if it truly were the old world.”

“That’s messed up.”

“It’s worked for us.”

“And you have no guns?” asks Boyer.

“We have guns.”

“You do? I thought you didn’t have weapons. Where? Let’s get some.”

“They’re locked up in a vault under the police station.”

“What good are they locked up?”

“Our founding fathers had a thing about guns,” Pelkey explains.

“This is really messed up.”

“I didn’t know; it’s the only world I know.”

“Stick with me, and you’ll end up running this place.”

“I like the sound of that.”

“Take me to the police station,” says Boyer.

“But that’s where the police are.”

“And the guns. And I want the guns. They’re not going to stop us. Take me to the police station.”

Pelkey is frozen, keenly aware that this might very well be his last chance to escape before things get messy, but he’s also keenly aware that there is no escape and never was. An enchanting vision of himself as the new mayor seals the deal.

“I get a bit mission-focused,” concedes Boyer. He spins Pelkey toward the door and pushes him outside.

They climb in the vehicle and drive off. Wayne stands up from behind a parked car and watches them leave. She dashes inside to look for Dr. Valdez and, after finding him, comes immediately back out, bending over, grabbing her stomach, feeling intensely lightheaded.

Cody and Petrillo run toward her.

“Are you okay?” asks Petrillo. “You’re not hurt?”

“No, but Valdez is.”

“I’ll check on him.”

She grabs at his hand. “There’s nothing you can do.”

“So Pelkey’s the mastermind, this whole time?”

“I don’t think so. I don’t think Dr. Valdez knew what he was dealing with, what Boyer’s capable of.”

“Boyer’s up?” asks Cody. “How’s he look?”

“Determined.”

“Where are they going?” asks Petrillo.

“I know where I’d go: after the weapons cache.”

“But that’s under the police station.”

“So?”

“I guess he knows what he wants,” says Wayne.

“Do you think they told him about you?” asks Petrillo.

“No, because I’m the off-switch. Do you think they’d really tell the most powerful man in New Eden that his boss his looking for him, to tell him to stand down?”

“What if they open the armory before he gets there and they give guns to all of the officers?” asks Petrillo.

“Then they might stand a chance, maybe. Remember he doesn’t know where he is. He has no way to determine the good guys from the bad guys.”

“But we’re the police, for God’s sake!”

Cody is already thinking of next steps. “What’s the fastest way there?”

“You can use my penny-farthing, the high-wheeler, and cut across the park.”

“Fine.”

“You got this,” says Wayne.

“He’ll listen to me, don’t worry. I just have to get there before he does something I’ll regret later.”

“Meanwhile, I’ve got to call the chief,” says Wayne. “Tell him the human wrecking ball’s coming his way. Any recommendations?”

“One,” says Cody, “stay out of his way. I mean it. Maybe you could have him empty the building. Don’t give him a reason to kill. He won’t unless he’s provoked.”

“What do you think Valdez did to provoke him?”

“Woke him up.”

* * *

Fire alarms ring throughout the police station. All of the police are filing out of the building. There must be twenty blue-uniformed police officers gathering on the sidewalk, shoulder to shoulder, in one long uneasy line. They look like they are waiting to be inspected, and a failure means getting kicked off the force.

Mayor Willie Brandt approaches the scene. He never likes being out of the loop. “What’s going on, Chief?”

Chief Schiavelli stands beside the front door, holding it open for stragglers. “This is just a drill. No running. No talking.”

“You have something you want tell me?’ asks the mayor.

“Yes, I want you to go back to your office for the next twenty minutes. Don’t come out, no matter what you hear.”

“What am I going to hear?”

“It might sound like yelling. It might sound like me on a bullhorn. Or it might sound very similar to gunshots.”

“Gunshots?! Is there a problem? Where’s Sergeant Cody?”

“On his way. This is not his fault. In fact, I’m hoping he can contain the situation before it escalates.”

“Do I want to know what’s going on?”

“Afterwards. Ask me after it’s all over. Good-bye, Mayor Willie.”

The mayor isn’t ready to leave.

With three rapid, attention-getting honks, a black police vehicle resembling a 1923 Ford Model-T Police Depot Hack pulls up a half-block away. It parks sideways in the middle of the street. Boyer steps out, Pelkey reluctantly follows his example.

“Guess they’re expecting us,” says Pelkey.

“Gentlemen, I want everyone to listen to me,” says the chief, quietly and calmly. “The man approaching us — and I don’t mean Director Pelkey — is a highly trained assassin, just like Sergeant Cody. In fact he works for Sergeant Cody, but we don’t think he knows Sergeant Cody is here. We think he wants the guns in the armory, and we’re going to let him have them. Our job is to stay out of the way until Cody arrives.”

“Is that such a good idea?” asks Brandt.

“Do you want to tell him no?”

The mayor shakes his head, but he can’t help being stubborn. “I’m sure he respects authority.”

“The last person who got in his way was Dr. Valdez, who decided to thaw him out without telling the rest of us. And it didn’t go well.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“So long as he knows we’re on the same side, a fistful of bullets isn’t going to make a bit of difference. I’m willing to bet my life that he could kill quite a few of us, maybe all of us, before we could stop him. There’s no need for that. So just let him walk by. Do not provoke him in any way. In fact, if you do provoke him — I’m talking to you, Sergeant Ambrose — I’m telling you now, you’re fired. Keep your hands down at your sides, please, everyone.”

Corporal Boyer, in his dress whites, strides down the middle of the street, slowly and deliberately, clearly afraid of nothing he sees. Pelkey follows, but always a few paces behind.

The chief picks up his bullhorn from the ground at his feet. “Director Pelkey,” he calls out, “what have you been telling our new guest?”

“Things have been a little crazy lately, and we need to restore law and order. Apparently, that’s his specialty.”

“Did you tell him about Cody?”

“Who?”

“Sergeant Jefferson ‘Jeb’ Cody.”

Boyer stops. He turns back to Pelkey. If looks could kill...

“I don’t know who you mean,” says Pelkey, weakly.

“Really? Has anyone in this police force met or trained with our friend, Sergeant Jeb Cody? If so, please, very slowly, raise your hand.”

Slowly, as instructed, everyone does then, just as slowly, they lower their hands.

Someone moves forward through the crowd. “My name, young man, is Mayor Willie Brandt. I’m in charge here.”

“I don’t care.”

“You should. I have a lot of authority here. I could very easily cut the power that keeps the rest of the members of your team on life support. I don’t think you’d like the results. Why don’t we go to my office and talk?”

“I’ve got this, Willie,” says Schiavelli, sliding his left arm and then his body in front of the mayor. “No need to get testy.”

“Are you some sort of commander?” asks Boyer.

“I’m Chief of Police Leo Schiavelli. Cody works for me.”

“Where is he?”

“On his way, as a matter of fact. Very excited to be reunited with you. You should know we’re on the same team. He’s been very helpful. I’m sure he’ll be overjoyed to see you.”

“You’re lying.”

“All of us? Son, we can’t agree on what it takes to make a good cup of coffee. You think I can get all of these police officers, the city’s finest, proud and committed to public safety, to agree to letting a complete stranger, a likely threat to our way of life, waltz unescorted through our station, if Sgt. Cody hadn’t specifically instructed us on how to deal with you?”

“Tell me where he is, or I’ll make you wish you had.”

“He should be here any moment.”

“Last chance: tell me where he is or I’ll start hurting people.”

“You’re bluffing!” scoffs the mayor.

Cody calls out. “Here I am!” He’s still atop the high-wheeler. “Somebody please help me get off this rodeo clown car.” Nakamura steps over to help.

“That’s the second time in one day, I’ve saved your butt,” she whispers. He smiles briefly.

“Boyer, stand down! There’s been a serious miscommunication.”

“Sergeant Cody, is it really you?”

“It’s me.”

“Where are we?”

“Far from home, but surrounded by good guys. They only thawed me out a couple of days ago.”

“And the others? Maccario. Abbott. Ward. Randall. Conti.”

“Sleeping like babies, last I looked. I told them we’re better as a package deal, but they weren’t buying it.”

“Can I see them?”

“That’s not up to me.”

Boyer is struggling to process everything. “Safeword?”

Cody can’t recall. “Are you kidding me? That was a freaking long time ago, Boyer. Let it go.”

“Not to me. How do I know you haven’t been compromised?”

“Because I’m telling you,” says Cody. “That should be good enough.”

Boyer resumes walking, menacingly, right at Cody.

“Don’t do this, Boyer.”

“You know the protocol.”

“Can we make an exception just this once?”

“Safeword?”

“Fine, you big baby. Give me a second, will you?”

But Boyer doesn’t stop until they are nearly nose-to-nose.

“Last chance.”

Cody plays with his fingers, counting off, silently, previous safewords. The gesture reminds him of the most recent term. “Redrum! Ring a bell? That was your idea, so it had better. Redrum!”

Boyer snaps to attention with an air of apology.

“At ease, soldier.”

Boyer stands stiffly at parade rest. The chief recognizes the maneuver.

Sergeant Ambrose calls out, “Can we go back inside now? Is it over? My wife’s going to kill me.”

The chief, still using the bullhorn, calls out: “The drill is over. Everyone back inside. Good job, everyone. You passed.” He lowers the horn. “No running. No talking. Nothing to see here.”

Pelkey turns around and starts to walk away quickly.

“Would one of you men...? Never mind,” says Schiavelli, thinking of a better idea. “Nakamura, would you mind very much collecting Director Pelkey and bringing him back here?”

“Not at all, sir.”

Hearing his name, Pelkey turns to walk away quietly. He starts to run, but Nakamura manages to catch him with ease. She twists his arm behind his back as if to break it.

“What now?” asks Boyer.

“Chief, have you got room in the Department for one more?”

“I get to answer that,” says Brandt. “I’m in charge. Remember? And the answer is no.”

“I think, perhaps, we should talk, Willie,” says Schiavelli. “I wouldn’t want us to turn away a golden opportunity.”

“The mayor and the chief of police have to go figure out where we fit in,” says Cody, throwing a friendly arm around his compatriot’s shoulder.

“The guys are oaky?”

“Last I looked. Welcome to the future.”

“Is there a mission? Point and shove if there is. I’ll do the grunt work. I’ll walk point. I’ll even dig latrines. It doesn’t matter to me. I just want to be useful.”

“I think we should ask the rest of the team.” Cody grabs Boyer’s right hand with both of his own. “See if we can come up with a consensus.”

“I’d rather you just told me. It’s easier on my brain.”

“Let’s talk to the team.”

Boyer drops his hand. He thinks back to just a short time ago. “Sorry. We can’t. I killed the doctor. He wasn’t being honest with me. I didn’t trust him. He forced my hand.”

“You killed Dr. Valdez?” The mayor turns white.

“I’m sorry.”

“I told you, Leo: using a laser canon to kill a fly.”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Mayor and Mr. Chief of Police. I was disoriented. I guess I messed up.”

“It’s all right, son,” says the chief.

“No, it is certainly not all right,” counters Brandt.

“I know someone else who can wake the rest of the guys. She woke me, and I turned out all right.”

“I do not approve,” says the mayor.

“Let’s you and me go to my office, Willie, and strategize the best next steps in our changing world. Cody’s got everything under control down here, don’t you, Cody?”

“Yes, sir.”

Proceed to Chapter 18...

Copyright © 2018 by Charles C. Cole