On:
It was 9 o’clock sharp as Marcus rang the door bell at the Harringer Estate. A real live butler answered the door. “Yes?”
“Mr. Marcus Dinn. I’m expected.”
“Yes… Mr. Dinn.”
As he followed the gentleman’s gentleman into the library Marcus took note of the immense wealth on display in the foyer. Statues and paintings covering several centuries both from Earth and Alpha Centaurie. The walls genuine wood paneling, not reproduced from a replicator. They entered the library, ‘Madam will be with you shortly”
“Thank you.”
“Would you care of coffee? Juice?”
“No thank you.”
“As you wish then.” and the butler left the room.
It must have been one of the largest book collections on the planet. It was amazing anyone would have so much …paper and binding still.
The doors opened and Veronica waltzed in. “Marcus..my dear, I cannot thank you enough for this.”
She was dressed in a bronze brocade robe, her hair and makeup polished to perfection. As she came across the room and kissed his check she just poured class.
“Veronica. You can drop the show if you like. I really don’t know why you put on the appearance of ….”
She smiled and raised an eyebrow. “An air head? Why don’t you know?”
“So everyone will underestimate you.”
The butler reappear bringing a tray of coffee and pastries.
“I really do insist you have something Marcus.” she said taking a croissant as the butler poured.
“Fine.” Marcus walked over to a desk, a computer terminal sat upon it. “May I?” he asked.
“Of Course.. You should be able to access any thing in the house primary core from there. Here let me key you in.”
She walked around the desk and entered the commands. Marcus went right to work as the butler set a cup next to him.
As he worked he cleared his throat. “Veronica…. You realize I have to ask the obvious.”
“The obvious? The… Is your husband running around on you question? No…he wasn’t, or isn’t,..... trust me.. I would know.”
“Would you?”
“Marcus… a woman always knows.”
He stopped and looked up from the terminal. “I didn’t realize.”
“What?”
“That it is your family that the money comes from.”
“Surprised? You thought all of this came from Dexter Industries?” she asked sweeping a hand around the room.
“Well, yes.”
“Marcus. Dexter Industries is just a small part of the family holdings. It’s something to keep Mathew occupied.”
“Why here on the Phoenix Colony?”
“Rather than on that miserable world we use to call home?”
“Let me guess. You don’t make this much money and not make a few enemies.”
She took a seat in a plush chair across the room and crossed her legs, her robe falling apart just enough to attract his eyes. She pulled the robe together after a pause that seemed deliberate.
“A few. Anyway… We’ve come to genuinely like it here.”
“Even with all the ups and down with the government.”
“Makes life interesting does it not? Not at all like boring old Earth .”
Marcus clicked off the terminal and stood up, finishing his coffee.
“Well?” she asked.
“Not much here I'm afraid. I’ll need to visit his office at Dexter. Review the security logs for the last day anyone saw him.
“I’ve called ahead. They are expecting you.”
She walked him to the door.
“Marcus… I really am concerned. This is not like him. A day or two at the most, that is all he’s ever been gone.”
He turned at the door. “We’ll find him Veronica.” he said taking her hand and giving it gentle squeeze.
As he drove back into Omega Prime, headed for the Industrial section he wondered about the references he had found and not mentioned to Veronica. Mathew seemed to have done a lot of research the last couple of weeks on… Klingons.”
Off:
Marcus Dinn
Owner of RICKS and Oz
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Federation
Veronica Harringer
Wife of Mathew Harringer
CEO of Dexter Industries.
