God's Bounty Hunter (Biddy Mackay Space Detective Book 1) by T Olivant (reading in the dark .txt) 📕

“I knew they’d send someone after me.  I sort of thought it would be someone a bit more impressive than a child with a laser pistol.”

“I’m twenty-seven,” Biddy said. “I’m a detective working for Scotclan.  And it’s a stungun.”

The Augment smirked again. “What’s the matter, too scared to use lethal force?”

“You’ll have heard of the murder clause,” Biddy said, just about managing to speak through gritted teeth.  The stungun was at her hip, but she kept her hand on it where Lu Tang could see.  Elvis and Phil were also in the room, just waiting for the Augment to try something.  Hoping he would, judging by their tense faces.

“Ah yes, I had forgotten.  One of the worst tendencies of Gods is to punish blasphemy rather severely.  If it helps, I won’t tell anyone if you kill me right now.”

Was the guy making a joke?  Man, he was obnoxious.  She looked up at the camera on the wall.  Of course, every moment in this room would be recorded as part of the suspect’s testimony.  But that meant she had to watch her step as well.  No doubt Campbell would love to find something in her actions that he could use to bump her back down to a probationer.

“Let’s go back to the start,” Biddy said, firmly.  It was time she showed the Augment who was in control. “What is your name?”

“Lu Tang.”

Biddy shook her head. “No, it isn’t.  That alias has only existed for a few weeks.  I want to know your real name, please.”

The Augment’s fingers tapped against the table in front of him.  It was an annoying, arrhythmic sound and it was getting on her nerves.

“Lu Tang will suffice for the moment.”

Biddy’s hand tensed on the stungun.  The Augment noticed and let out a chuckle.

“You know,” she said softly, “no laws exist to stop me from electrocuting you in the nuts.”

“Charming,” the Augment said and winked at her.

Biddy was finding it hard to reconcile the irritating creature in front of her with everything the Clan had taught her about the Gods.  All knowing, all powerful… not all good.  Not even the most ardent of believers thought that the Augments were all good.  But still, the Gods were meant to be something above and beyond even the comprehension of a lowly human.  This guy just seemed like any other arrogant alpha male type.

But there was still that tiny sliver of doubt.  It wasn’t like she was a true Faithful or anything, but she still had that niggling feeling in the back of her brain that she was wrong to even speak to a being like the Augment.  What would it do to her soul if she did hand him over to Scotclan?

Biddy shuddered.  She needed to stop worrying about the whole God thing.  In front of her was a guy who had most likely murdered two hundred people.  An asshole.  Remember that.

“You look like you’re thinking hard about something.  Better be careful not to overtax that puny human brain of yours.”

“I was thinking about how easy it would be to take you back to the surface and blame your unfortunate death on a group of angry miners,” Biddy sniped back. “No murder clause then.”

“Ah, but you seem the type to be afflicted with a terrible case of morality.  No, I don’t think you would let others take the blame for my demise.  More is the pity.”

Biddy stared up at the ceiling.  She wanted to get rid of him so badly, and yet she wanted answers even more.  Perhaps it was time to try another tactic.

“I’m sorry that your friend was shot,” she said.

“Tibo?  An acquaintance, nothing more.  But shooting him was a little unnecessary.  I trust he is receiving medical attention?”

“Yes.  He’s stable, for now.  When we return to Eritree I’ll arrange to have him transferred to a more extensive medical facility.”

“He is talking?”

“No.  Unconscious.”

Biddy tried to gage the man’s reaction, but if anything he was disconnected.  He certainly didn’t seem to feel any concern for the man who had helped him.  What an asshole.

“You don’t seem the shoot first kind of girl,” the Augment said.

“Detective, not girl.  And no, I’m not.  Actually it wasn’t me or any member of my crew that shot him, it was someone else.”

“Someone else?”

“An observer we had been obliged to take onboard.  From Scotclan.”

“That would be the same organization as Chief Campbell?”

“Yes.”

“May I ask why they are interested in me?”

Biddy’s eyebrows shot up. “Why do you think?  You killed everyone onboard the Westward Ho!”

“Do you really think I was responsible for that ship going down?  Do you simply believe everything you’re told?  I was told you were a Detective?  Perhaps the meaning of the word has changed in the last century.”

“Hey,” Biddy said, not appreciating the guy’s tone one little bit. “You’re lucky I haven’t let my crew rip you to pieces.  Whole families were on that spaceship for God’s sake.”

“For my sake?  Oh no, definitely not mine, as I believe I made clear.”

Biddy moved closer so that she was staring straight into the Augment’s large black pupils. “You are not a God.”

Biddy heard an intake of breath from behind her, either Phil or Elvis, she couldn’t see which without taking her eyes off the Augment.

Lu Tang stared at her. “Maybe you are not so stupid after all.”

Was there such a thing as hate at first sight?  It would be beyond evil to kill a God, a crime for which there could never be forgiveness.  But at that moment Biddy Mackay would have happily broken the man’s neck.

“Tell me about the Westward Ho!,” Biddy demanded.

“No.  Not when you have already made your mind up.”

“Then tell me what you were doing on