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

the second-floor restaurants, but Genghis wasn’t allowed in. He wasn’t a service dog. So, they chose from the takeout menu and ate in the food court. Jeff asked, and Jennifer explained what a service dog was, quietly thinking to herself that shouldn’t a police officer already know that.

When they got back to the apartment, Jennifer put together a couple of outfits and modeled them for Jeff and Genghis, surprised that the big dog looked interested. She thought how intuitive he seemed to be. Much more than any other dog.

Everything she modeled was color coordinated and interchangeable. She had good taste in clothing and had pairs of jeans, t-shirts, blouses, flip flops, sneakers, and dress shoes. She had clothes for sleeping in and clothes for hanging around the house. She had a pantsuit and a little black dress for the occasions when she wanted to dress up. But not everything she selected on their shopping spree was for everyday wear. She did get a few things for “work.” She had short shorts, brightly colored t-shirts that were a size too small, leather skirts, fishnet stockings, pumps, and her favorites, black army boots. The “work” clothes she had insisted on purchasing herself.

She was in the middle of modeling work apparel, while Trent was trying to explain that maybe it was time for a career change, when there came a rhythmic thumping that grew louder. Jennifer looked around as the thumps caused the walls to vibrate and said, “What the hell is that? An earthquake?”

There were two sharp raps on the front door that made all three of them jump. Jeff got up, walked over, and opened the door, then took one involuntary step backward.

“Mister Trent,” came the rapid machine-gun voice of Mrs. Remke.

“Well, good evening, Mrs. Remke. How can I help you?

“Mister Trent, I believe when I handed over the keys to this apartment that you and I had an understanding.”

“An understanding, Mrs. Remke?”

“Yes, an understanding that I would be notified if you were to be having overnight guests, which I’ve seen that there’s been a young girl here. Now it’s no business of mine whom you choose to be with, even though she is half your age, still I should have been notified.”

“Yes, that’s right, and forgive me, Mrs. Remke, but,” Trent stammered, “she’s . . . I mean that she’s not. Hmm, how can I explain this, she’s not my . . . she’s ah, my . . .”

Jennifer walked up beside Jeff. “Hi, it was Mrs. Remke, right?” she said, extending her hand.

With an astonished look on her face, Mrs. Remke slowly took Jennifer’s hand. “Yes.” She looked at Jennifer from head to toe. “Yes, Mrs. Charles Remke and,” another look up and down, “you are?”

Jennifer was wearing a tight red low-cut t-shirt, black leather skirt, fishnet stockings, and no shoes. “Oh, I’m . . .” She looked at Jeff, then back to Mrs. Remke. “I’m, uh, Uncle Jeff’s niece, Jennifer. Nice to meet you.” She quickly shook Mrs. Remke’s hand, then released it and absentmindedly wiped her palm on her skirt. “I’m going to be staying here with Uncle Jeff for a while, you see my folks are going through a messy divorce and Uncle Jeff was kind enough to take me in.”

“Obviously over you,” Mrs. Remke muttered under her breath, then, “Do you,” one more look up and down, “always dress like this?”

“This? Oh, no, no, I was just showing Uncle Jeff my Halloween costume.” She gave a little curtsy. “What do you think?”

“Well my dear, if you're planning on going trick-or-treating as a two-dollar whore, then you’ve succeeded.”

“Okay, then.” Jennifer turned and walked away.

Mrs. Remke looked up at Jeff. “Well, Mister Trent, being kind to an unfortunate family member shows good character. I’ll let it slide this time, but next time I would like to be informed in writing.” She turned and started for the stairs. “Goodnight, Mister Trent.”

“Yes,” Trent said, “goodnight, Mrs. Remke,” and quickly shut the door.

Jennifer was standing next to Genghis rubbing his ear. “Daaamn!” She drew the word out. “She’s scary.”

“Oh, don’t you know it!”  Genghis agreed.

Bollar was standing a few blocks from Chloe’s duplex. He could see Valda’s fat silhouette in the front window. He had secretly followed him here after the last time they met. He knew that Colus would have to come out sooner or later. Maybe, Bollar thought to himself, if there was some way that he could entice Colus out. Probably with a jar of that peanut butter substance, or some other food product. No, wait, he could use the Interrupter. That would definitely get Colus out. A meeting at Ray’s so Colus could get the device back. Yes, that would do nicely.

Bollar turned and started to walk away. He had the Interrupter in his hand. He calmly shut it off.

Jennifer was in Genghis’s bedroom, now hers, trying on another outfit when the computer on the coffee table made an alert tone. Genghis and Trent both glanced over to the bedroom door. They could hear Jennifer saying something about a little black dress she was changing into.

Genghis quickly walked over to the computer, activated it, and then said in a whisper, “The Interrupter! It’s been shut down.”

“Maybe it was accidentally shut off,” Trent said in amazement. “He may not even know it!”

“That’s always possible,” Genghis said. “It’s extremely good fortune for us, though. We should patrol tonight.”

“Yes, before he realizes it’s off.”

“Hey!” came Jennifer’s voice from behind them, making them both jump. “Who ya talking to? I thought I heard voices.” She was standing just inside the living room by the hallway wearing the black dress.

Jeff reached down and turned off the computer. “Ah! Just got a message from . . . HQ!” He nervously looked at her. “We have to go out for a little while tonight.”

Jennifer walked up to them and looked at the black screen of the computer. “You got Skype on that thing?”

Jeff just said, “Yup!” Then changed the subject. “Oh,