Titan's Plague: The Trial by Tom Briggs (story reading .txt) đź“•
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- Author: Tom Briggs
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“Which is a point I’ll make in the negotiations. There’s no reason why we should go to trial since all the evidence demonstrates self-defense during a fight. If the state’s attorney tries to impose a severe sentence, we’ll prevail.”
“What happens to me? I mean, what kind of sentence do you think I’ll wind up serving?”
Nancy thought for a second. “I don’t like to predict, but I think we can get the charges dropped in exchange for you leaving Karakorum and returning to Earth.”
Pati tried to see the negatives in her proposal. “That’s it?”
“That’s just the result of the criminal charges. There will be additional negotiations with the McLears.”
“I thought you said I’m cut off after we resolve my legal issues.”
“If the charges are dropped, that makes you Richard McLear’s widow and legal heir. Then, you’ll have a new set of legal issues to deal with, which are better than the criminal ones. It won’t be about them supporting you. It’ll be about how much of that company you own.”
Pati had to wrap her brain around the revelation. Part owner of McLear Industries, one of the wealthiest and most powerful companies in the solar system. “That’s nice,” she said, “except I’d rather get back to Earth.”
“You’ll be on your way back to Earth while I handle the negotiations. After we finish with the criminal charges, we can sit down and discuss what you want from a settlement.” Nancy sat forward and looked Pati in the eyes. “Although I have to advise you now if you want half of that corporation, it will take a very long time.”
“No, nothing like that,” Pati said. “I just want to get home and maybe have enough to live on for a while.”
“I think we can exceed your expectations, then,” Nancy said. She sat back again. “Where are you from on Earth?”
“It’s an island in Western Europe called Ireland. We’re about as far west as you can get there, a place called Dingle.”
“I’ve heard of Ireland, that’s about it, though. What’s it like?”
“We live on the ocean.”
“Oh, you have beaches there?”
“Not like the ones you’re thinking of. The weather isn’t always so warm, and it’s cloudy like here on Titan. My family has a fishing boat, and we catch fish the ancient ways instead of manufacturing food from raw materials.”
“Wow, how was it?”
“It’s nasty doing the work, although the fish tastes better to me, even though I know most people can’t tell the difference. My father has been using robots the last few years because none of my brothers or sister wants to take on the family business.”
“That’s too bad.”
“Well, as I said, it’s nasty work. Deal with odors that you never have up here. Everywhere I go here seems so clean.”
“That’s what I’m used to.”
“Oh, so what’s your, ah, where you from?”
“I grew up in Karakorum. My parents emigrated from Earth’s moon, and they got jobs drilling in the oil fields.”
“Drilling, I thought—" Pati said.
“No, they just called it that because it’s like drilling for oil on Earth. They’d ride out on helicopters and assist ships that landed to fill up with the methane and ethane liquids. The locals here called it oil, because, well, it’s close to the same thing. At least that’s what my parents told me. They also told me I would not be doing the same work when I grew up. My education was one of their priorities in life.”
“Is that why you became a lawyer, because they wanted you to?”
“They wanted me to go into chemistry. When I told them I was interested in law, they loved it, until they found out the expense. God love them, though, they took it in stride and helped me finish early.”
“Finished early,” Pati said, “that’s impressive. How old are you now, if you don’t mind me asking?”
Nancy smiled. “Thirty-five.”
“You look younger than me, and I’m twenty-four.” Pati held up her hand to stop Nancy from commenting. “I know, it’s the low gravity. All of you look so young I can’t ever tell how old you are.”
“It’s a little different, I’m sure,” Nancy said. She had a timepiece on her left wrist, which she checked. “I think my physician friend arrives at his office in a few minutes. Let’s walk over and see him before he can take any patients. Then we can come back and finish our work.”
“Okay,” Pati said and stood up. She followed Nancy out of her office door and into the hallway. She couldn’t help feeling confident about her future.
* * *
Pati heard the front doorbell ring. It was late in the afternoon, and she’d spent most of the day working with Nancy Tate. She’d gone home when they were finished, heading straight to the kitchen to get a meal after arriving. The bell rang before she made it to the dining room.
She returned to the door and activated the exterior camera. A small screen displayed the visitor: a short lady, not so young, and not yet middle age.
“Can I help you?” Pati asked, through the intercommunications circuit.
“Yes,” came the reply. “I’m Connie Pearson, with the Titan News Network. I am looking for Pati McLear. Would you be her?”
Unsure of what to say, while not worried either, she responded. “Yes, that’s me.”
“Do you have a few minutes to answer some questions?”
“I was getting ready to eat.”
“I could come back in an hour.”
“I’m not sure I’ll be done eating.”
“Two hours, then.”
Pati didn’t want to see her then, either. However, she decided it would be better to let her in now, just to see what she wanted. Pati opened the door manually and noticed the lady was shorter than she was. “Yes, I’m Pati McLear.”
“I’m Connie Pearson. Can I come in?”
“Sure, this way.” Pati led her into the great room toward a chair for them to sit on.
Connie stopped along the way. “This is where Richard McLear died.”
Pati didn’t think her statement was tactful, especially when the widow was in the room. “Yes, he died here.” Pati walked back to her instead of offering her a seat. “I’m not sure I can speak about this without consulting my attorney.”
“Who’s your attorney?”
“Nancy Tate.”
“She’s been around a while, even before I got here.”
“You’re from Earth,” Pati guessed. She was a decimeter shorter than Pati, and Pati decided she could not have grown that short in low gravity. She also had medium-brown hair, pulled back in a business look, and wore simple casual blue slacks and a matching shirt with a subdued pattern. Not quite business dress at Karakorum, yet not down to the casual level either.
“Yes, I’m from the east coast of North America.”
“I’m from Ireland in West Europe.”
“I know, your wedding was big news here on Titan, and I reviewed your bio back then. And we usually know what the McLears are doing, since their actions can affect everyone on Titan.”
“I see.”
“So, it’s really important I get to talk to you, hear what happened from your mouth, because I can’t always trust city hall to give me the correct story.”
“There’s not much to tell, at least nothing I didn’t tell the medical technicians. There has to be a public record you have access to.”
“Then, you’re saying you killed Richard McLear in self-defense.”
Pati wouldn’t be caught. “No, just that I don’t think I can help you with any new information. Especially since I haven’t talked to my lawyer about it.”
Connie smiled. “How long before you can do that?”
“I’ll talk to her tomorrow, or at least try to contact her.”
“I’ve been told you’ll be tried for Richard McLear’s death, is this true?”
Pati shook her head. “I can’t say one way or the other.” Nancy was still waiting on the word from the state attorney’s office on what they planned to do. She said they moved at a glacial pace, so it wasn’t concerning that when they finished for the day, she’d not been notified of any action on their part.
“They don’t plan to try you.”
“No, I just don’t know yet, so you’ll need to speak with the prosecutors if they’ve made that decision by now.”
Connie nodded. “I’ll talk with them tomorrow. They’re not usually working this late, at least most of them. I’d think if you have Jack Reagan assigned to the case, he’d have spoken to your lawyer by now.”
“Who?”
“One of the assistant prosecutors. He should be the chief prosecutor in that office
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