Plague Planet (The Wandering Engineer) (32 page)

“Dedicated fabricators? A let down from a full replicator, but I
see your point. But we'd have to shop around for the right company. Location,
power, connections, materials...”

“Right. And too many of those roads lead to Hodges. Let's see if
we can avoid the corruption. In fact see if you can make up a list. If
necessary we'll take the project out of his jurisdiction, though he's one of
the counties with the best distribution methods around...”

“Rail, river, air, and road access you mean. But the same holds
true to a few of the larger businesses in Metropolis and Gotham...”

...*...*...*...*...

“Boss we've got a problem,” Sheriff Coltrain said, twiddling his
thumbs in front of him. The commissioner looked up from the hoagie he'd been
eating and grunted. Boss was a right boar when someone interrupted him when he
was at the feed bag. Unfortunately that was six or seven times a day. “It's
um...”

“Out with it. Can't you see I'm eating?” Hodges demanded, and then
took another bite.

“It's um, someone put a hit out on that admiral fellow.”

“They did?” Hodges asked, eyes wide. “Who Lawrence? Tony?” Tony
had actually been amused by what had happened to Lawrence and his crew.
Apparently Biscuits and Books had treaded on his territory a few times so he
had been rather... unseemingly gleeful over Biscuits departure.

“No, um, I don't think so,” the sheriff said and squirmed. “I'm
not sure who boss, we're looking into it now. I didn't know about it until some
of the other sheriffs and police commissioners called me this morning.
Apparently someone tried to put a bomb in a hotel near Metropolis where the
admiral had been staying. They thought he'd be back.”

Hodges winced. Suddenly, his appetite deserted him. Slowly he set
the sandwich down and then used his cloth napkin to wipe his greasy fingers and
mouth. He loved pigs feet hoagies, but that news had just killed his appetite.
“They caught them?”

The sheriff nodded earnestly. “Yeah boss, they broke them quick.”

“You know what this means right?”

“Um...”

“It means if he gets killed I'll get the blame! And the man still
owes me money!” Hodges growled, balling the red and white checker napkin up and
then tossing his napkin down. It was only partially true, Irons had paid his
port fees and for two thirds of his fuel as well as half of his bill for his
activities on the planet. Of course Hodges was charging him for room rental,
security for his shuttle, shuttle parking... “Besides if the other
commissioners are in on this I'll be in trouble.”

“Do, uh, oh, um, boss, I was just thinking...” Rosco said.

“Dangerous that,” the fat commissioner said, giving the sheriff a
look. “Don't strain what little brain you've got,” he said in a sarcastic voice
as he mocked him. Rosco wasn't known for thinking deep thoughts.

“Oh, now that's plain rude!” Rosco said, rearing back affronted.

“What do you have Rosco?” Hodges demanded, rubbing his brow, eyes
closed.

“It's just, what if someone puts a bomb here? Won't someone get
hurt? Or if someone shoots at him? People around us... Lulu, you, me...”

Hodges flinched, eyes wide in fear. He didn't like his own fat
neck on the line let alone his family. “That could be me!” he said, gulping.
One meaty hand went to his chest, clutching at his vest. “It could!”

“Or they could say they were going for him and um...” the sheriff
said and shrugged helplessly.

Hodges glared at the sheriff. “You find me Lawrence.” He waved a
stern finger at the sheriff. “I want him here,” he demanded, stabbing a finger
on the arm of his barber chair. “You put the word out, no one goes after Irons.
I want it known if this nonsense doesn't stop here and now,” he thumped the
table in front of him with a meaty index finger. “Here and now,” he growled.
“I'll put a contract on whoever started this mess. I'll pay double!” he
growled.

“I'll um...”

“Get!” Hodges growled with a dismissive wave.

“I oh, oh, I'm gone,” the sheriff said shrugging his shoulders as
he rushed out to do the boss's bidding.

Hodges stared at the hoagie for a long moment then slowly picked
it up again. After a moment of studying it he turned, shrugged and then opened
his big mouth wide. “I can't see letting this go to waste!” he said, growling
as his he bit down.

...*...*...*...*...

Hodges nodded to Fat Larry as the two bit mobster came in two
hours later. Larry's posse knew the routine, they stayed outside the
restaurant. No one pissed off Hodges. “Lawrence,” Hodges said, unsmiling as the
mobster entered his backroom office.

Fat Larry grimaced and gulped a little. It wasn't being called
Lawrence that bothered him right now. No, it was something else. He didn't like
the way Boss was looking at him with those beady eyes. Boss could ruin anyone's
day with a word. He knew he was a small shark next to a big one here. A big
shark that was eying him like he was lunch. He started to sweat, wondering what
else had gone wrong.

“Yeah boss, um, you asked to see me?”

“I didn't ask, I told Rosco to get you in here. I heard a tale
about a hit. An unauthorized hit in
my
county,” Hodges said, growling.

“Um... if this is about Biscuits...”

“I'm not talking about that thick headed thug. The world is better
off without him,” Hodges said waving a hand. He would've appreciated it if
they'd made the body disappear in the swamp, but leaving it out served as a warning
to others not to get too cute.  “I'm talking about who ever put the hit out on
Irons. I'm getting all sorts of flack about that. I never authorized it, and
won't unless he becomes a problem. So...”

Fat Larry spread his hands apart in supplication. “Boss, you know
I wouldn't go behind your back, not over something like this.” He licked his
lips slightly, feeling sweat on the back of his neck. That wasn't technically
true, he had tried to get Irons whacked in his restaurant, but he didn't want
to bring that up now. Hodges glared up at him from his seat.

“I hope you didn't. But you're going to put the word out that the
contract is rescinded as of now,” he growled, fist banging the table. Fat Larry
flinched.  “I mean now. And I want whoever did put it out
dead
. Don't
even bother with a hole, dump em in the swamp. The gators need to be fed,” the
commissioner growled.

Fat Larry's eyes were wide. Hodges really was serious! “Boss, um,
I'm not sure, um...”

“Word is its Books or someone around him. Find out. I want this
nonsense dealt with fast and quiet.”

“But um, boss, Ole Blue himself is now after Irons. He made it
clear if anyone interferes he'll take them out,” Larry replied desperately. He
was sweating profusely now. Talk about caught in a vice! He thought.

“Ole Blue?” the commissioner said, eyes going wide. “Oh dear, dear
me, then you're in quite a spot aren't you?” he asked sitting back.

“Um...”

“Ole Blue won't be interested if the contractor can't pay after
all. He gets sort of uptight about that,” the commissioner said, reminding them
both of a certain incident a few years ago that they'd both love to forget.
Blue hadn't stopped at the contractor, he'd wiped out his entire family and
everyone associated with him. Hodges had been forced to stop the killing by
bribing the Veraxin with the fee, plus a penalty for not paying right away.
He'd been furious over it, but he'd done it. It was either that or he'd have to
go after the damn Veraxin, and he knew he'd end up a puddle if he did.

“You just kill the contractor. I'll see to Ole Blue,” Hodges
finally said. He winced internally, wondering how and who he could charge the
bill to.

“Thanks Boss,” Fat Larry said with a relieved nod. He took out a
hanky and blotted his face and neck. The ceiling fan did little to alleviate
his sweat. Not all of it was from the humidity. He felt like he was swimming in
his suit right now.

Hodges eyed him. “You'll thank me by paying the fee.”

“Boss!” the mobster protested, looking up, eyes wide.

“Yes?” Hodges asked mildly.

Fat Larry's eyes fell. “Nothin boss.”

“Then get out of here. You've got work to do and so do I,” Hodges
said, jerking a big finger over his shoulder. Fat Larry bobbed a nod and showed
himself out quickly and quietly as Hodges turned to the papers on his desk.

After he was gone the commissioner sat back and rubbed the bridge
of his nose, eyes closed. He turned back and forth in his barber chair. “Ole
Blue, it had to be him,” he sighed.

...*...*...*...*...

The familiar and dreaded clink, clink of a set of spurs on the ground
made the fat commissioner looked up in anxiety. He'd dreaded this, but knew he
had to go through with it, the other commissioners were leaning on him hard
about it. He'd decided to make it official, taking the meeting in his office in
town. He didn't like the idea of witnesses but it might deter Blue from getting
too.... ornery. After all, even he should have some limits right? He wasn't
sure if he wanted to find out. The door opened and the Veraxin assassin came
through the door, followed by the sheriff.

“You wished to speak with me Hodges?” Ole Blue asked, tipping his
hat back. His mandibles clicked a little, showing his annoyance. He was here
out of amusement that someone would summon, him, and also avarice, the sheriff
had promised him a consult fee for attending. Getting the clownish duo to pay
up for a moment of his time would be child’s play.

“Come in my friend, sit down, sit down,” Hodges said, rising and
waving to a nearby chair.

“Don't mind if I do,” the Veraxin said, coming around the chair and
taking a seat. Hodges opened his mouth to say something but the Veraxin tipped
the chair back and rested all four of his feet onto the edge of Hodges's desk,
knocking over a photo of his precious Lulu.

The Veraxin couldn't be very comfortable in the chair, it wasn't
designed for his centaur body but he didn't seem to care. He pulled out a cigar
from his right breast pocket and then lit it with a match. He waved the match
out and then clenched the cigar in his mouth, puffing on it. After a moment he
tossed the match over his shoulder.

Rosco dodged the match and then pointed with a finger. “You, you,
know there's a perfectly good brass spittoon right over yonder,” he said wiggle
waggling his finger.

“That a fact,” Ole Blue drawled, turning his head to pull the
cigar out and spit in the opposite direction. Hodges winced. “So what do you
want lard ass?” he asked, putting the cigar back in his mouth for another puff.
He was enjoying this. Seeing Hodges gulp and pale was amusing.

“I want you to change your mind about trying to kill this admiral
fellow,” Hodges wheedled, coming around to stand next to the Veraxin. He
crossed his arms over his fat paunch. “He's doing a lot for us. Besides,
Lawrence has assured me that the contract has been canceled,” he said bobbing a
nod.

“That a fact,” the Veraxin drawled in a mechanical voice.

“So, no payday,” the sheriff said.

“Should he be here for this?” the Veraxin asked, not looking at
the sheriff.

“He's with me,” the commissioner said.

“Suit yourself,” the Veraxin chattered. “Lawrence?” he asked.

The sheriff stuttered. “He, he, he mean's Fat Larry don't cha
know,” he stuttered in a small voice. He looked down at his shirt as the
Veraxin finally turned to look at him.

“That a fact,” the Veraxin drawled again. “He didn't put the
contract out. But I'm curious, why do you want this Irons fella alive?”

“He's doing a lot of good!” Hodges said with a self-effacing
smile. “Isn't that enough?”

“He means the man hasn't paid for all his fuel, and my fat little
buddy hasn't squeezed more out of him,” the sheriff interjected.

“That a fact,” the Veraxin said once more. He eyed the
commissioner. “Is it a problem?”

“No, no, I'll get my money,” the fat commissioner said waving a
hand. “But it's also politics. The other county commissioners and police
leaders have made it clear that Irons isn't to be touched. I do hope you
understand,” he said.

“So, all the commissioners are in on it?” The Veraxin asked. “All
trying to squeeze the man?” He'd heard about the admiral's good deeds. He
wasn't sure what to think about it, other than that it was a waste of time, and
rather amusing. Irons knew by now his number was up, letting the man put the
best spin on it was just amusing.

“No, no, it's not like that. Irons does it all on his own. He
shows up and starts fixing stuff, he doesn't even wait to be asked.”

“So?”

“So there isn't any point in this. No credits.”

“You going to stop me?” The Veraxin croaked, looking at the
sheriff with a cold look. The sheriff paled and gulped.

“We're not saying that. We're saying there's no point,” Hodges
said, spreading his hands in placation, sweat beading his brow. He reached up
with a hanky to blot at it.

“If this is all you've got, I expect a consult fee deposited in my
account,” the Veraxin said, getting up so quickly he startled Rosco and Hodges.
Both flinched. Ole Blue tipped his hat and turned. “Be seeing you around boys,”
he said and walked out.