Free Chewing Rocks by Alan Black Page A

testicles gently.
    McNally agreed, “Yeah, and we are going to catch her. Maybe we can keep her alive for a while. We can bust her tail up while we bust up her claim. That way we can get paid and get laid all at the same time.”
    “What is that guy’s name?” Hunter asked.
    Franklin said, “What guy?”
    “You know, that guy that works for Miss Queene, what’s his name?”
    Franklin replied, “ I dunno. ‘W’ something?”
    McNally said, “Walter, I think.”
    Chapter 8.1
    “Wallace, I think that went well, don’t you? Queene asked.
    She continued without stopping or waiting for Wallace to respond. “I do think we are ready to contact Sheriff Bob. Let’s do this one on the comm unit. I am not sure I am up to another face-to face with the badgeman.”
    Queene pressed the interoffice comm and said, “Get me the sheriff’s office. I want to speak to Sheriff Bob directly. Let me know when he is on line.”
    Queene asked Wallace, “Any word from ship 10123?”
    Wallace shook his head, “No, Miss Queene. I gave them strict instructions to keep radio silence for their outbound trip. As you suggested, they were highly receptive to intercepting Miss Whyte and the Sedona. Not that they could radio back if they wanted. Nor do they have any reason to check to see that their transponder has malfunctioned.”
    A voice blared through the comms, “The sheriff is on vid, Miss Queene.” The screen blinked, flashing a quick pink blip to announce the call was transferred to Queene.
    Queene turned to the screen, “Bob, how delightful to see you again.”
    Sheriff Bob smiled from the screen, “Evelyn, it is good to see you too. It is a shame we haven’t been able to get together again. I do swear that it has been a busy week.”
    Queene smiled back, “That is exactly what it is , Bob; a shame. I know our schedules have not been able to match up…yet. Anyhow, I have more unpleasantness I need to lay on your broad shoulders.”
    Bob gave a quick frown, “Unpleasantness? Well, Evelyn, that is what I am here for. You tell Sheriff Bob and I will help in any way I can.”
    Queene said, “There isn’t much to say and even less to do about it. I just need to report to you Queene Mines has had a major theft. But, I fear it is a closed case.”
    The sheriff put on his professional law enforcement face. “Major? How major? And why is it a closed case? We should be able to get your property back.”
    Queene replied, “The four men we disciplined over the bar fight at Mario’s have stolen a mining ship.” She continued on without giving the sheriff time to respond. “The four men: McNally, Cooper, Hunter and Franklin have taken our ship number 10123. It had been completely restocked and ready for an outbound mining mission. We did have to fire them. We even docked them a month’s pay each. But we hadn’t thought to change our security codes to the docks, so they still had access to Queene property. They just got in and left. They also did some damage to the docks and one of the airlocks, but no one was hurt.”
    The sheriff shook his head, “How could they just get in and take off? Don’t your ships require key codes and passwords?
    “Yes, but somehow they must have gotten them. Our own security agents are looking into how they might have gotten th e information. It seems they have damaged 10123’s transponder and shut off the radio. We haven’t been able to track them, so we don’t even know where they are going. I just don’t know what to do.” Queene looked sad, confused and lustful, all at the same time.
    The sheriff nodded sagely. “I can take care of this for you.” At her expression of surprise, he held up his hands in surrender. “You are right; I can’t get the ship back. If they are off Ceres then they are out of my jurisdiction. However, I will send out a report to all law enforcement agencies in the solar system. There isn’t anywhere they can go we can’t find them, and they can’t stay out there