The Interstellar Police Force, Book One: The Historic Mission by Raymond Klein (ebook reader 7 inch txt) 📕

thinking of going over to Dave’s Coffee Pot to get some coffee. Would you like to join us?”

“Yeah, sure,” she looked over toward Trisha and Pimples. “Hey guys! I’m going with Jeff. I’ll see yah later tonight, okay?” Trisha and Pimples just looked at Jennifer with their blank stares and said nothing.

As Jennifer reached for the Thunderbird's passenger door handle Genghis stood on the seat and jumped over the console into the back seat. “Wow!” she exclaimed, as she got in and closed the door. “It’s like he understood what I said.”

“You’d be surprised.” Jeff said as he looked over his left shoulder and started to pull from the curb.  He had to stop abruptly as a man in his mid thirties was passing in front of the cruiser. Trent came within inches of bumping him. “Oh, pardon me, sir! Are you alright?”

The man had to jump back a little. “No problem, pal! My fault, I’m good.” He continued walking. “Have a good day.”

Trent eased into traffic, informing Jennifer of the dangers of jaywalking, and drove on to Dave’s. The man walked across the small sidewalk and entered Ray’s Bar. He had to wait a few seconds by the door for his eyes to adjust to the dark interior. He then walked over to the bar, sat on a stool and ordered a Killian’s. There was nothing striking or different about this man. He was of average height and build, with no real identifying features that would make him stand out in a crowd. The only thing that set him apart from others in the bar was that he was one hundred and two years old. In Earth years, of course.

The bartender placed a brown beer bottle in front of him, and he took a long drink of the cold carbonated amber liquid. “Psst!” He savored the taste for a moment, becoming very fond of the popular beverage. “Psst!” He reached for a bi-fold laminated covered menu when he heard that annoying sound again. “PSST!” He looked over to where the sound was originating and saw Colus Valda’s pudgy form sitting at a small round table by the wall. He was frantically waving with both hands for Bollar to join him.

Bollar rolled his eyes, grabbed his beer, and walked over and sat with Valda. “What’s the problem, Colus?”

“They're here! They're here!”

“Oh, calm the hell down. Who’s here?”

“The IPF,” he said. “Who the hell else! I saw an agent coming out of my dwelling.”

“Was he wearing a hazmat suit?”

“Oh! Funny!” Valda hated not being taken seriously. “We’ll just see how much you laugh when he catches up with you and replicates you back to your slimy self.”

“Alright, alright. How do you know he’s IPF? Maybe the local law enforcement agency finally figured out what you’ve been doing.”

“Oh, Please! They're inept.” He chuckled, “They haven’t a clue to who’s doing the burning. Oh! Did you see the morning news media broadcast?”

“Yes, Valda,” Bollar said, while taking a pull on his beer. “It was a very nice fire.”

“Nice!” Colus Valda said while getting excited thinking back to the blaze. “It was masterful!” Colus was sitting with his knees together and slightly hunched over. “It was the fastest burn yet.” He slowly started rotating his hips. “There was so much combustible material in that building that it just went! And did you hear about the firefighter? Burned to a crunchy crisp!” He now started slowly twisting his back and gave a funny little laugh. “Have you ever noticed since you became human, that when you get really excited about something your . . .”

“That reminds me,” Bollar interrupted, as Valda was pointing to his lap. “I want the Interrupter back. I have a job I want to do. You don't even need the damn thing.”

“No! No! I do now,” Colus said, straightening up, “That’s how he’s been tracking me. I’m sure of it! He’s using those cameras in town to follow me. I have to keep the Interrupter on at all times just to move around. Give me two, three days. Let me find some place to hole up, then you can have it for your little heist.” He thought for a second, then lied, “I need more currency, that agent stole all mine.”

“Again, Colus?” he said. “You need to start stealing stuff from these buildings before you burn them. Take it over to Ted’s.” He gestured with his head to the side wall that separated both establishments. “Sell ‘em. Get your own currency.”

“Oh, don’t worry, I will. And keep an eye on the entertainment box. I have a great target lined up for next time. It’ll be my best work ever.”

Bollar tipped the bottle back and finished his beer. He then reached into his pocket and pulled out two hundred-dollar bills and handed them to Colus. “This is the last, I’m not supporting you anymore.” He stood. “I’ll be back here again in three days for the Interrupter.” He leaned down and placed his palms on the table and looked Colus Valda in the eyes. “Be here!” He turned his back to Colus and started to walk away.

“What about the others? Should we tell them the IPF is here?”

Bollar looked over his shoulder and said, “I don’t give a rat's ass damn about the others.”

“What about Moffit?” This made Bollar stop in his tracks. Colus glanced nervously around and said, “Should we tell Prodor?”

Bollar turned around and walked back to face Valda, “Would you rather Prodor Moffit find out that we’ve known all along that the IPF was here?” He paused and thought. “I’ll tell him tonight.” He turned again and walked to the front door and opened it. Colus Valda was bathed in a rectangle of bright sunlight, causing him to avert his eyes.

Chapter Thirty

Jeff Trent, Jennifer Winkles, and Genghis Khan were at a small round table inside Dave’s. Genghis was sitting on his haunches in between Jeff and Jennifer. There was another couple at the far end of