Karen cruised high in the atmosphere for a smoother more economical flight. The sun had set a few hours ago, above was awash with points of light and swirls of gas, below the sea mirrored the sky, though less defined and distorted by the ocean’s slow swell.
Her star gazing was interrupted by the navigation system indicating the start of the planned decent to Diogo Island, Karen throttled back the engine, a reassuring whine and the slight ticking of cooling engine parts sounded from the rear of the craft. The arrow dropped into a shallow dive, the view from the cockpit filled with the rippling array of the reflected stars, after a few moments the lights of the resort became discernible from amongst the others.
“Karen Banks to Diogo control” she called over the intercom
A few moments of silence followed… a slight crackle came through the speakers in the cockpit
“Diogo control to Karen Banks, we have your vessel ID information, what are your intentions?”
“I’m requesting to land sir”
“Landing clearance granted, sending landing vectors to pad 6, safe landing miss”
The navigation system received the vectors, her HUD googles projected the required flight path, she continued the decent … gear down … landing thrusters activated … she pulled back on the control stick and gave the craft a small amount of reverse thrust to slow the forward momentum and level the craft. She touched down on pad 6 and with a flick of a number of switches the arrow’s systems were shut down and the canopy opened. She grabbed a hold all bag and climbed down from the cockpit. Karen gave her body a stretch, it had been a long flight and although the craft had a comfortable seat the interior was cramped.
She looked around and spotted a man approaching from across the landing pad, wearing all black and what appeared to be a gun holster on his belt. She straitened her flight jacket and walked towards him.
“Greetings Miss Banks, I’m Steve Wilson chief operator of this facility, we have been expecting you”
He was not the usual OS&C representative, sleek, well-spoken and full of smiles, he was instead broad shouldered tall and rather intimidating, his face was weathered with a scar running from below the left eye to the chin. “How had he known I was coming” Karen thought and was about to ask a question along those lines…
“Pines informed me about your trip here, I gotta say we don’t often get head quarter types around here, the situation must be serious!” His voice hinted at an undertone of sarcasm.
“Well we have a missing person to locate and Mr Pines wants it resolved as soon as possible” Karen replied with a slightly harsh tone
“Well that can wait till morning Miss, it must have been a long flight for you. We have made arrangements for your stay, please follow me to your room” He turned and starting walking without waiting for Karen’s reply.
“Nice man” Karen thought and raised her eyebrows.
She followed Steve until he stopped in a corridor lined with doors, he drew a door card from his pocket and opened a room. He spoke as he handed the card to Karen.
“It’s no luxury room I’m afraid as its usual reserved for crew of supply vessels but I’m sure you will manage, I have arranged an escort to meet you here at 1000 tomorrow, he will be able to take you anywhere on the resort, night Miss Banks”
The room was even sparser then her own apartment, there were no windows, a single bed with what looked like unwashed sheets and a wash pod consisting of a toilet, shower and sink. The walls were devoid of any decoration if you discounted the oily finger marks around the light switch.
After washing and changing Karen turned on her datapad, a new message from Lorleii, it turned out her ship was being repaired and had delayed her trip to Curacao. It was a shame as Karen was anxious to meet, she felt there were unanswered questions and any help would be useful to the investigation. It was clear from the message that Lorleii was relieved there had been a sighting of Moleigh but the disappointment about the lack of other leads was apparent. “Hopefully that will change soon” thought Karen. She laid down and searched the bedside cabinet for something to read… a well-thumbed copy of Kusari babes… “Bloody typical” she muttered.
*Beep Beep Beep* *Buzz* *Beep Beep Beep* *Buzz*
Karen awoke and reached under the pillow, grasping the datapad she swiped the alarm off… 0930…
It had been an uneasy sleep filled with restless thoughts, the itchy hard bed had not helped. A feeling of apprehension filled Karen whilst getting ready for the day, these were not the normal surroundings for an OS&C pencil pusher…
*Knock Knock Knock*
The escort arrived promptly at 1000, she opened the door… expecting another Steve, another hench ex-military type. Instead, in the door way was a smartly dressed man wearing glasses and holding a datapad, Karen attempted to hide her surprise but was sure the man was a little bemused at her facial expression.
“Umm greetings Miss Banks, George Errington” he offered his hand
Karen shock his hand but noted his rather limp handshake…
“I’ve been requested to take you on a tour of this facili….”
“I need to go to Bar lounge” Karen interrupted, she had no time for games and it felt to her that this was some sort of tactic to interfere with the investigation…
“Well …well that will… umm… come later in the tour miss” George stuttered
“No you can take me now” she insisted
“That’s not possible, Bar lounge is closed till 5 pm, but if you follow me I can show you around the extensive client entertainment village…”
“I’ll wait till 5 then, just show me where it is located, I’ll make my own way thanks”
George tapped at his datapad…
“I've sent you a map with a route to the bar, hope you enjoy your visit Miss Banks” his voice notably sharper. As he took a step back from the door Karen slammed it shut.
She paced back and forth in the small room and waited for the time to pass, the investigation was not going as planned, the list of questions were growing steadily longer and no answers were forthcoming. Her frustration was growing “Who the hell is messing me around!” She almost said out loud.
7 hours later
The bar was located at the tip of small headland on the Northern coastline. Unlike most facilities on the Island, which had been built on the surface and were overtly signposted, it had been built underground into the bedrock and was not even on the official tourist maps. After some time searching Karen located one of only two entrances to the bar, the elevator door was cut directly into the volcanic rock in a passage way far from the main tourist routes. The message from George indicated the other entrance was linked with a small marina nestled in the cove formed by the headline and was only accessible from the sea. She stood with her finger on the down button and checked the immediate vicinity for any CCTV cameras…there were none… *button pressed*
The doors of the elevator opened to the dark interior of the bar, though it had not been open long the air smelt of stale cigarette smoke, dust particles danced in the few dim lights dotted over the bar and tables. The place was empty, apart from the barman, whom was busying himself by cleaning the taps.
Karen approached…
“What can I gets ya?” the man asked without even looking up
“I was wondering if you could help me with a missing person whom was seen here a few nights ago”
She asked whilst placing a photo of Moleigh and her ID onto the bar. The barman half-heartedly inspected the photo…
“Never seen her”
“Well do you agree this is you and this is the women in the photograph?” Karen showed the video pointing at the screen.
“look Miss...” he checked the ID card “...Miss Banks I see a lot of people come and go thought this place, I don’t remember her, now is there anything else?”
“Was there anything odd about that night?” she added quickly
“Either I can pour ye a drink or I can ask ye to leave”
“Pint of liberty ale”
She grasped the cold perspiring glass and took a mouthful as she walked to a table…pondering what the hell she was doing, why she was here and why no one seemed to want to help. Despondently she placed a cigarette into a long holder, it had been a present from Daniel, and lit it. She sat for a while slowly smoking and drinking her pint. The emptiness of the bar seemed odd, as if someone had informed the usual clientele that there was someone poking around.
*Swoosh*
The doors to the other entrance slid back, two men entered the bar dressed in overalls, ordered some drinks and took a table. They were in a jolly mood and discussing some aspect of their work.
“It’s a Pithogamantus breaching for sure” “Come on Terry that was clearly a ship impact..”
“What are you two talking about?” Karen interrupted
The men spoke of their scientific investigation into the marine life of Curacao, it turned out they were OS&C researchers and were discussing an odd sound contact they had recorded recently. One thought it had been caused by the sound of a large marine mammal like animal jumping from the water during its mating ritual, the other believed it must have been a ship impact. Karen was shocked, was this the break the investigation needed, what were the chances. The pair only drank in the bar as it was the only place on the island they would afford and it happened to be accessible from their vessel… “Some luck at last” thought Karen. She did not inform them of the investigation, no longer trusting the information with others, and instead told them she was looking at a transfer from the Head Office to Diogo and was on a tour of the island. Karen arranged to travel with them on their visit to the location of the sound contact, faking some interest in marine wildlife. They seemed happy for the female company though a little complexed by why she would want to spend potentially the next few days on-board a small research vessel.
Karen left the bar and messaged Lorleii, if this sound contact turned out to be Moleigh’s ship she had to be there, and more so she was anxious to meet in person.
