Free April 6: And What Goes Around by Mackey Chandler Page B

on their own.
    It was getting
near the start time for the entertainment this evening. On a quiet Thursday it
would be a singer or a pianist, not a band or a series of acts. Two of the
empty tables filled and with just a couple minutes until the lights dimmed the
last empty table near her in Jesse's section was claimed by a middle aged
couple. April was happy to see it filled on a Thursday.
    They were
interesting, no doubt at all they were Earthies, but they had all the signs of
life extension therapies. Their apparent age suggested that they'd been older
than was usual when they got treatment. Tourists were often well dressed, if
Earth in styles, it wasn't cheap to lift to Home after all, but these two were
better dressed than usual. His jacket was perfectly tailored and April knew the
little purse the woman carried was about five thousand EuroMarks. He carried
himself with authority. Not the self-conscious ramrod stiffness of a control
freak but the real self assurance of someone who didn't know what it was to feel intimidation.
    Phillip, the host held
the lady's chair for her after switching it around so they both faced the
stage. She was obviously used to having that done for her by how smoothly it
went. The host went away and Jesse was serving drinks to the next table over.
Once finished there he tucked the small tray under his elbow and turned to the
newcomers. His face went through shock, then fear and despair. He looked over
each shoulder in turn seeming to be surprised he didn't find hands on him.
April saw something very unusual was happening and triggered her spex early to
record the encounter even before he looked over his shoulders.
    When Jesse looked
back at them the man made a small restraining gesture above the edge of the
table, palm down. Jesse bent his knee and for a second April thought he was
going to kneel before them, but the man made the outstretched hand flutter
emphatically and frowned, which seemed to stop him. He was still frozen to the
spot where he was standing, completely flustered and not responding normally.
    The host getting the
high sign from the bartender that something was amiss turned back. The woman
saved any confrontation by getting up and hugging Jesse. She looked past him to
the worried host and waved him away with a smile. She was a big woman, as tall
as Jesse and held his elbows to his sides, leaned in close and spoke low to his
ear, smiling and visibly calming him. He finally gave a few nods of agreement
though if he said anything it was too low for April to hear. When she sat back
down Jesse went off to the bar.
    He must have
gotten a drink order while the woman was close. He had just a few words with Phillip,
looking embarrassed and leaving him still looking dubious. By the time he returned
and served the couple Jesse seemed composed again.
    April sent the
video to Jeff's man Chen, suggesting they should know the identity of this
couple. She didn't expect a quick answer. Sometimes it was several days before
Chen responded to a message from her. This time he answered in a couple
minutes, just as the lights started dimming.
    "Jon's people
said they came in two days ago on the regular shuttle from ISSII. They are
traveling as Ferdinando and Sancha Jimenez which seem to be false identities. A
net search and Interpol inquiry shows no hits except similar names of historic
persons."
    "Are the
historic personages Spanish royalty?" April asked, having a sudden idea.
    There was no
immediate reply. A couple more minutes went by before Chen came back.
"Yes, one of the kings in Spain before it was really one country, King of
Leon and Count of Castile and his wife. The first of the kings of Spain to
claim to be an emperor back in the early ten hundreds. Are you a big history
buff or did you arrive at that by some other route? Sometimes you freak me
out."
    "A different
route entirely," April admitted, but volunteered no more. "Would you
please have one of your underlings find photos and brief