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"Sands was tied in with the Teklords," Dan told him. "Sooner or later he was
bound to get killed."
"But he was killed sooner--because of your father. What I've been after is
revenge."
Molly asked, "What's the next phase of your plan?"
Pickfair strolled over to the left hand wall. He gestured and it became again
a vidscreen.
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This time, though, lake was up there on the screen. Alone,
carrying a stun gun he was making his way slowly and cautiously along a
metal corridor.
"Cardigan has been led to believe that he's outfoxed me," explained the studio
head. "Actually, I've allowed him to get possession of an electro key for this
place. Just four minutes ago he entered this facility. In another two and a
half I'll meet him in that corridor--and kill him." /8
Susan Ferrier slipped into the large land van that served as her dressing
room. It was parked, along with six others, at the edge of a clearing in the
section of the Dickerson Jungle that was being used as a location for Jungle
Commandos.
She sank down onto her couch, tugged off her boots. "Trina?" she called.
Her robot maid didn't respond.
"Damn, is that half wit on the blink again?"
"She's pretty much defunct." Gomez, smiling broadly, stepped out of the
bathroom.
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Susan inhaled sharply and reached toward a pillow.
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"Gun's not there anymore, chiquita," the detective informed her.
"You--you're Gomez, aren't you?"
"Si, none other He sat in a canvas chair, facing her. "I must say you look
much better than you did the last time I saw you." "What do you mean? We've
never met."
"But we have, cara. Through the magic of video, I was able to see you on your
deathbed."
"I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about." "Porfavor, spare me the
malarkey." He continued to smile at her. "You undertook the part of Jean Marie
Sparey. You played to a very limited audience, but it was undoubtedly
lucrative all the same."
"Listen, Gomez, I didn't know they were planning to kill anybody."
"Sure, and they coerced you to take a part in this epic, too."
"But that's true. You don't comprehend how vicious and dangerous Roddy
Pickfair can be."
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"I do, but I've got you down as being pretty vicious yourself."
She leaned forward, resting her palms on her knees. "What did you come here
for?"
"To round up the rest of the delightful folks who had anything to do with Beth
Kittridge's death," he replied. "That includes Larry Knerr, China Vargas and
you."
"Don't you understand what I've been saying? I was simply hired to play a
part."
"Tell it to the judge."
"Is Cardigan here with you?"
"Why?"
"Just tell me if he went into the underground rooms hunting for his son."
Gomez frowned. "That was what he intended to--"
"You have to catch him and stop him, Gomez," she urged. "Roddy's set a trap
for him."
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Roddy Pickfair chuckled. "I'll be leaving you, kids, to keep my appointment
with Cardigan," he told them. "This wallscreen will keep running so that you
can follow the whole thing."
On the screen the figure of Jake was moving slowly along an underground
corridor.
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"In a way, I'll be sorry to kill him finally," admitted the pudgy young man.
"This has provided me with a good deal of fun and amusement these past--"
"You can't!" shouted Dan. "I'm not going to let you kill my father."
He broke away from Molly's grip.
The wall suddenly went blank. The lights in the room and in the hallway died.
Darkness closed in and absolute silence.
"What's going on, you idiots?" cried Pickfair. "Switch to the emergency power
system."
Then he made a pained grunting sound and something metallic hit the floor.
Light blossomed next to him.
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"Dad!" said Dan, laughing.
Jake, grinning over at him, set the newly lit electric lantern beside the
crouched figure of Pickfair. "You okay? Both of you?"
"We're fine--but what are you doing in that Brazil Wars uniform?" Dan went
hurrying over to him. "We were watching you on the screen and you were dressed
differently."
"Get up, Roddy," suggested Jake.
The studio head remained crouched, rubbing at his wrist. "You used a decoy."
"Yep, that was an android performer named Jacko Fuller--made up to look like
me," admitted Jake. "Gomez rented him. It's the first time he's worked in over
a year."
"But you used China's electro key to get into the facility. And we've been
monitoring your progress ever since."
"I figured you would, which is why I sent in Jacko."
"Then how did you get--"
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"Your security system isn't all that tricky. After I'd studied the plans for
this place, I worked out a way to get in." [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]