In The Family

Chapter 11

"There's a pattern in every crime -

something that give the police an edge on the criminal's weakness,

and we know he has a weakness or he wouldn't be a criminal."

Helen Nielsen

Marchan froze the image and slowly began to enlarge it. Institutional holo cameras did not have a very high resolution, so it became a fine line between enlarging something enough to identify what it was and enlarging it too much which would then distort the image.

"There, stop there, Officer Marchan," Spock told him. "I believe that's the best that can be attained for our purposes. It is a relatively good image of the perpetrator."

"But…but…where's the other guy? There were two?" Leonard asked, looking intently at the screen, puzzled. "He's gone."

There was no sign of the second man, but Jim was sure he was there, just not in camera range. He would certainly have followed the first perpetrator. "He's somewhere close, Bones, they were working together. One of the other cameras will catch him. Remember both men ransacked Doris' office."

The four officers could clearly see the image of the man who was, as Mayri had told them, bearded. She'd been right about that. He was tall, obviously muscular, with a broad, bulky built under his clothing. Even through his dark tunic sleeves, the bulge of his large biceps could be seen. He looked, Jim mused to the others, like someone who trained rigorously to build and maintain all that bulky muscle. His hair was thick and dark like his mustache and beard, and his eyebrows were also dark and thick. His eye color, however, was hidden by his hooded lids and thick brows. Hired muscle, Jim thought, certainly this was no entitled representative of a huge conglomerate like Antares.

The image would be more than adequate for Gavin and Sonnai to identify him, Jim thought. "Officer Marchan, would it be possible for me to get a copy of this holo to send to one of my friends? I'm sorry I can't reveal his name, but he is a Starfleet officer. He has access to wanted criminal data bases from across the sector, unless, of course, you have your own resources for identification."

"Yes, of course, Captain, if I may have your comm code. Let me send you a copy, that would be very helpful," Marchan said, as he typed in Jim's comm code. "Unfortunately our Nara police department has very limited resources. The Nara governing body decided that allocating more funds for our department was not a priority because we have no real crime here in the colony.

Mostly what we have is a little vandalism, usually by kids, an occasional petty theft now and then, stealing a chicken, or fruit from an orchard, and we've had an occasional case of heated domestic disputes, but that's about it. The kids are usually punished by the parents and we have a counselor at the University that deals with the domestic situations. If it's serious enough we arrest the abuser and they're shipped to Earth for adjudication. There are only four of us in the police department, soon to be five when our newbie graduates from the police training center on Earth. For our required quarterly refresher courses or updates to our technology, we call on Federation trainers. They've been very helpful coming to train such a small police force as ours. So yes, Captain, it would be great if your friend could find out who this man is."

Jim nodded satisfied. With the holos of the illegal digging, Sarek's copy of the prospectus which, according to Doris, was riddled with lies, the documented break-in to Doris' office, the assault on Mayri, Scotty's research into the digging equipment, and Gavin and Sonnai's investigations into Antares' checkered past and illegal activities, enough proof was already in the works to bring down the Antares Mining Corporation.

"Spock, let's see if we can find the other man. I'd like to have both holos to send to my friend."

Spock nodded, quickly scrolling through the time stamps, and fast forwarding the videos. "There he is," Spock pointed. "Already waiting at the lift for his partner in crime."

"Can you get a closer look, Mr. Spock?" Officer Marchan leaned in to the monitor. "Same black clothes, Captain. Similar build. He kept his face well down while he waited for his partner."

"Hired muscle," murmured Leonard.

"I would surmise they arrived with the Antares Corporation entourage. I understand there were several in the group. They are staying at the only Hospitality Inn in Nara," Marchan said. He froze the image and sent it to Jim's comm. "As soon as your friend can identify these two, we'll see about arresting them."

"You don't think they'll attempt to leave Nara?" Leonard asked.

"I doubt it, Bones. If they came by private shuttle with the Antares group, they won't leave while their bosses might need them."

There was a faint knock on the control room door, and Officer Timmons opened it.

"Everything alright at Dr. Stemple's home, Timmons?" Marchan asked.

"Yes, Sir. I checked the entire house as you ordered, and made sure Dr. Stemple and Miss Mayri were fine. When I left, Dr. Stemple was preparing some food for Miss Mayri. I also made sure the security shield was activated before I came back here."

"Jim if you and Spock are finished, I'd like to check on Mayri again before we beam back to the ship. She's also due for her meds soon."

"I think we're finished, Bones. Detective Marchan, as soon as we're back on the ship, I'll send these copies to my friend. I'll update you as soon as I hear from him."

"Thank you, Captain. Officer Timmons and I will check the entire building one more time before we leave and lock up. I also have to notify the University President about the break-in. I don't think Dr. Stemple had time to do it. The President will be very upset, nothing like this has ever happened in the entire history of the University."

"I am sure Dr. Stemple did not notify the University President, Detective, there was no time for her to do so. I will apprise Dr. Stemple you have done so and have relived her of that duty. Captain, Doctor, we best be on our way back to the house. I am uneasy about leaving Dr. Stemple and Mayri alone for too long. Goodnight, gentlemen."

The three men walked back to Doris' house in silence, each preoccupied with their own thoughts. Jim thoughts were on his report to Admiral Boyce and speaking with Gavin about this latest incident, hoping they'd be able to identify the perpetrators, and that by now, Gavin or Sonnai had found out something incriminating about Antares. Leonard was thinking about Mayri's injury and her narrow escape from a skull fracture, and Spock was trying, without much success, to keep his concern (he did not say worry, because Vulcans do not indulge in that useless emotion) about Doris and Mayri alone in the house. He noted dispassionately that the fact that he himself, had enhanced cousin Doris' security shield did not seem to diminish his concern.

At the front door, Spock put in the new and enhanced code into his padd and the security shield dropped. Jim looked questioningly at him. "There is also a hidden key padd, but I thought it best not to use it. Who knows who may be watching the house. For the foreseeable future, I have advised cousin Doris to input the code into her personal padd which is then automatically locked after usage."

"Good idea," Jim said, looking around the area.

"I bet before this happened Doris didn't even bother with the security shield," Leonard muttered.

"Just like Ma," Jim responded. "Now Peter does it after he feeds the animals at night. When Pop was gone, Sam did it, then when he left home, I did it. We just didn't trust Ma to remember to do it. It's been a worry to me ever since I left home. I know Jonathon, Father Joe, Gavin and Violet check in on Ma and Peter regularly, but I just feel better when I know the security shield is put up at night."

"Well at least your Ma locks the back door now when she's working in her office," Leonard consoled Jim. "She didn't even used to do that before the breakin." (1)

"That's some slight progress at least," Jim smiled tightly.

"Cousin Doris," Spock called out softly. "It is I, Spock. We have returned. Dr. McCoy wishes to check on Mayri before he and the Captain return to the ship."

Doris came from the kitchen and smiled a welcome. "We've just finished eating, Leonard. A light meal as you ordered. Mayri is feeling better, aren't you, dear?"

"I am, Dr. McCoy. I still have a slight headache, but other than that, I'm fine."

"Thought you would be, but you may suffer from slight headaches for the next few days. That's usual even with a slight concussion. A mild analgesic will take care of them. I'll leave a few with you. I want to give you one more thorough examination before we beam up to the ship, and you're also due for your nighttime meds and then to bed with you, young lady."

After his very thorough exam and med dosage, Leonard pronounced Mayri well on the road to a complete recovery. "Only light duties for you tomorrow, Mayri. You may go to the office day after tomorrow, and no classes until then either. Tomorrow you should sleep late, eat a good breakfast, and I want you to rest in the afternoon. It may be that you can go back to your dorm room after that."

"I'll order the flowers, Mayri," Doris told her. "That was the last thing on your list, right?"

Mayri nodded reluctantly. "I can do it, Dr. Stemple, really I can. The party is tomorrow evening, and you'll have a lot to see do."

"I'll take care of it first thing in the morning. Stop fretting, Mayri. I want you to rest tomorrow. It's just the one big centerpiece for the table and a couple of smaller ones. We're not entertaining royalty, it's just a small birthday celebration. We'll be ready, I don't want you to worry about any of it. And you want to feel fine for the party, don't you?"

"I do, Dr. Stemple."

"Then you just follow Dr. McCoy's orders, or you won't feel well enough for the party."

Mayri sighed in defeat. "Yes, all right. I'll do what you say, Dr. Stemple, I would hate to miss it."

And with that assurance from the stubborn Mayri, Jim and Leonard decided it was time to beam back to the ship.

Spock walked with them to the foyer to let them out. "I will update my mother and father about these events, Captain. My father will not be pleased. I will reassure my mother that cousin Doris is quite well. Knowing my mother she will want to speak with her cousin herself."

"Yeah, I think it'd be good for both of them to talk to each other, Spock," Leonard said.

Before their beam up, Jim murmured a soft "stay alert, Spock."

"I will indeed, Sir."

Jim nodded. With the enhanced security shield and Spock's keen Vulcan hearing and strength, he was certain Doris and Mayri were safe inside the house.

Once back on the ship, Jim, with Bones at his side, headed to his quarters. "I can't put off updating Admiral Boyce any longer, Bones. I can't believe I have to update him again so soon and with worse news this time. The break in to Doris' office, and the attack on Mayri will infuriate him…he was angry enough about those illegal bore holes we found."

"And Richard Barnett isn't going to be happy either, Jim, and worse of all, we still don't have actual proof who did those things. I mean we know, but we don't have concrete proof."

Jim huffed in frustration. "I know it, but I'm betting that Gavin and Sonnai will find out who these guys are. Hired muscles are never squeaky clean, Bones. I have a feeling this isn't the first job they've done for Antares, I bet they've gotten into trouble before, probably serious trouble, and those Antares lawyers get them off."

Jim started pacing, thinking of everything that had transpired since he'd last spoken to the Admiral this morning. "And I haven't even had a chance to tell him about Uhura's report, that Antares is cash poor, on the verge of bankruptcy, and about Doris' birthday party, that she invited the two Antares representatives." He sat down and pulled out his padd. "I'm going to make some notes, Bones, this is going to be a long debrief."

"I'm gonna' make us some hot tea, Jim. We can drink it while you write down your briefing notes for Dr. Boyce. Come to think of it, I better jot down a few notes too, knowing Boyce he's gonna' want a full report on Mayri's condition. First and foremost he's a doctor, and a damn fine, carin' one."

There was silence as the two men sipped their tea while they jotted down their respective notes. When he was satisfied with his debrief notes, Jim glanced at Bones. "Finished?"

Leonard glanced at them once more, and nodded. Jim opened his comm station.

"Yesss, Captain, how can I help you, Sssir?"

"Lt. M'Ress, patch me through to Admiral Boyce, please. If his office doesn't respond, go ahead and use the comm code that I left with Lt. Uhura."

"Aye, Sssir. It may take a few minutesss, the comm relaysss are busssy tonight, Captain."

After a few minutes, M'Ress' voice came back. "Admiral Boyce for you, Captain."

"Thank you, Lieutenant. Kirk, here, Sir."

"What's going on that warranted another comm, Captain? Nothing good, I imagine." The Admiral looked like he'd just woken up from a sound sleep, and Jim realized it was 2:00 am in San Francisco.

"I'm sorry to wake you, Admiral, but no, I'm afraid it's nothing good." Jim's voice was tight. He breathed deeply and relaxed his tense muscles. "We've had several developments, and I'm afraid the Antares situation has deteriorated even further, that's why I decided it was best to brief you now, Sir."

Admiral Boyce ran a tired hand down his face. "Alright, Jim, you may begin the briefing."

Jim pulled up his notes on his padd and knowing Dr. Boyce's preference for succinctness, briefed him with bulleted notations. As he predicted, Admiral Boyce was furious. "This is unconscionable, Captain. To think those two goons injured that young girl, and broke into Dr. Stemple's office. Are you sure she's alright, Jim?"

"Yes, Sir." Jim gave Bones a side glance. He didn't know if the Admiral would want to speak with the doctor, but he wanted Bones to be prepared. Bones gave him a slight nod. He was prepared if Dr. Boyce had any questions. "Dr. McCoy treated her head injury and examined her thoroughly. She's spending the night with Dr. Stemple, and Mr. Spock is with them."

"Good, good. Wouldn't be good for either of them to be alone."

"I agree, Admiral. This whole ryetalyn thing has escalated exponentially, Sir. Antares must be getting desperate for those mining rights. What Lt. Uhura discovered makes me think that their creditors must be pressing them, and they're desperate for the ryetalyn revenue. They need cash."

"I agree. That certainly explains their getting more aggressive, although what they hoped to find in Dr. Stemple's office eludes me."

"They might have been looking for more communication from Dr. Stemple to the Federation Council sub- committee, Sir, trying to discover which way the wind is blowing about the mining prospectus."

"Yes, possibly, but obviously they're completely unaware about our daily computer uploads across the sector with all sensitive Science, Medical, and Security files."

It had been a long standing practice of the Federation worlds to upload classified data to the vast servers residing on all Memory Alpha sites across the quadrant where the data files were triple encrypted, then purged from local computers on a daily basis. Classified and sensitive data theft was a constant, clear and present danger from Fleet and Federation enemies.

"Jim, is Ambassador Sarek aware of this new development?"

"Not from me, Sir, but Mr. Spock told me he was going to speak with Ambassador Sarek and Lady Amanda after we left."

"Better him than me," Boyce added grimly. "I can only imagine Sarek's reaction. A Vulcan's cold logical anger is nothing to be trifled with. Personally, as well as officially as the Federation Council President, Sarek is formidable. As I've remarked many times to Admiral Barnett, we can be thankful the Ambassador only uses his powers for good," he added.

Jim cleared his throat, silently agreeing with the Admiral. As he and Bones knew all too well, angry Vulcans were damn scary. He went on. "I'm waiting for a report from Commander Bradford, Sir. I feel confident he and Lt.,Connolly will discover the identity of those two men. The holo images I sent them were pretty clear, and they've worked with far less. Once they've been identified, Detective Marchan will, along with our Enterprise Security officers, arrest them. Deceive Marchan has requested my help, Sir. The Nara police department is very small, only four officers, and barely equipped, with only minimal resources. They don't even have a jail. Apparently there is no crime on Nara, only minor infractions, mostly kids misbehaving."

The Admiral nodded. "It's been that way since the beginning. Lucky Nara. Wish we could say the same for other colony planets, and of course you have my authority to help Nara law enforcement. Alright, Captain, I believe thats all for now. I'll update Richard Barnett and you keep me posted about Commander Bradford's findings….and what Ambassador Sarek has to say about all this."

"I will, Sir, Kirk out."

"Well that went better than I thought it would," Jim told Bones with a sigh of relief.

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"(1) The Infinity Particle