Free Looking at Trouble by Viola Grace Page A

over.”
    “You have the stasis field? The compression band?”
    “I do. Ready when you are.”
    Reeda nodded, waited until Na was in place and she said, “Now.”
    Officer Na snapped a compression band around the wound, activated the stasis field and started a drip with fluids. The medics arrived a moment later and groaned when they saw the dead Selna on the floor.
    Reeda sighed. “Concentrate on the live one. Call the coroner for this one.” She flicked her fingers toward the young woman. Purple blood arced through the air and struck the dead woman.
    Reeda scowled, and Officer Na handed her a wipe. Her hands were covered in blood to mid-forearm. She gripped the wipe and jerked her head toward the back. “Na, there is also an injury. Malkor was stabbed and knocked out.”
    Na sighed. “I will attend him until backup can arrive.”
    Reeda nodded. “I am going to go and wash up unless you need images.”
    Officer Meejo raised his head. “We will take a scan.”
    He set the scanner to run around her body and take in the splashes of blood and the scorch mark across her abdomen. “How were you alerted?”
    “Liimar found out you were delayed, so he sent for me.” Reeda nodded. “I am sure you can guess the rest.”
    The medical team had the Krigat on the med board and were guiding him out of the shop.
    The scanner chirped that it was complete, and Reeda went to the back of the shop to use the lav and wash her hands. The purple blood had started to dry, so she had to scrub to get it out of her skin. She was still stained, but at least he had a chance to survive.
    After blotting her hands with the towel, she came out to see the coroner wrapping the body and Malkor still getting first aid from Officer Na. Everyone was in the front of the shop, and the cleaners were waiting outside.
    No shop was left in unusable condition at the Hrevek Marketplace. Even a death could not stop commerce.
    She looked over at Liimar. “I am heading back to my stall. Have a good day.”
    Officer Meejo nodded. “I will be over for a statement shortly, Miss Rrkra.”
    She nodded. “I can’t wait. See you later, Liimar.”
    “Thanks, Reeda.”
    She smiled as he called out and made her way through the crowds to her kiosk. She had proper detergents at her stand, and she should be able to get the stain out of her skin.
    Reeda dropped the shield on her stand and dug around until she found the supplies. She sat and chatted with shoppers and other vendors while she slowly got the blood off her hands.
    When the peacekeepers arrived to take her statement, she kept it to the basics. She had checked the situation, verified that the couple had had hostile intent and she had acted.
    Officer Meeja looked at her with a quirked brow over his central eye. “And how did you know their intent?”
    She sighed. “I have a talent for knowing when I am looking at trouble.”
    Meeja put his recorder away. “Your registration please?”
    She extended her wrist, and he scanned her talent chip.
    He checked the scanner. “This is your fourth incident in six weeks.”
    She nodded. “Yes, it is.”
    “You will have to come in for an interview.”
    Reeda sighed. “I understand. Can I come in after the close of the market today?”
    “No. You need to be in our offices by three in the afternoon. There are analysis specialists in today, and you would benefit from speaking to them.” Officer Meeja smiled at her. “I think it would benefit you and your family greatly.”
    There was something under his words, and she didn’t get any warning signs. He was trying to give her an opportunity.
    “I will be there. If the files are ready, I can go now.”
    He chuckled and winked two out of his five eyes. “Give me an hour. Not all of us are as quick witted as you.”
    She blinked and nodded in agreement. “One hour from now I will leave the kiosk and head for the station.”
    “Done. I will make sure they are ready for you.”
    Reeda nodded. “Done.”
    He put his