Part Eleven
"Where is he?" Chris Larabee asked of Josiah Sanchez who emerged from the tavern after Alex had gone to find the Captain and informed him of what had happened to Julia Pemberton.
At the time, the captain and the group of officers with him had been attempting to discern the exact whereabouts of Mr. Wickes. They had discovered that after his confrontation with Buck and Mary, had chosen to retreat to the little shanty town some distance away from Four Corners where he ran the women under his stable with an iron hand while at the same time offering their delectable attractions to paying customers. Chris had been in the process of preparing horses to ride out there in the hopes of seeing if Q was in the vicinity. Picard's report indicated that Q often like to take the part of a bystander who could witness the play he had set into motion without actually taking centre stage. Since he had not shown himself during Chris' confrontation with Bob and Chris doubted that he could play much of a bystander with a serial killer, so that only left Mr. Wickes.
Mary had describe the man as odious to say the least and he wanted to leave her behind but somehow, instinct told him that since it was necessary to split the group up, it was probably best that they remain in large groups at least. When Alex came to find him, he had suspected the worse just by the expression on her face. Most things affected Alex little. She had the ability to shrug it off with more detachment than any one on board, except perhaps a full-blooded Vulcan with all the discipline that entailed. When he had seen the shaken expression on her face, Chris knew instinctively what had happened. It took a lot to shake her and only the worst possible occurrence could have warranted that hollowness in her eyes when she had approached.
"Inside," Josiah motioned towards the batwing doors of the saloon.
Chris nodded slowly and then asked again. "How is he?" He ventured more gingerly even though he knew that it was somewhat of a foolish question. He knew precisely what it was like to lose the woman that he loved and Chris' reaction had been extreme, he did not expect Ezra's to be any different.
"Bearing up." The Counselor replied. "He's in there questioning the locals who found the body."
It did not surprise Chris that Ezra would hold together. He would do so because he was not someone who showed his grief to those around him. Ever since Chris had known Ezra, the captain had learnt enough about the man to know that his security chief was fiercely private, even more so than himself. Although Ezra's mother was a successful resort owner who now resided permanently on Risa, his youth had been anything but easy. His official record read more like sordid fiction than an account of someone's life.
Ezra had grown on the pleasure cruise circuit. His mother, a fortune hunter of some sort, who traveled across the galaxy, dragging her son with her to every place that, might produce get rich quick schemes. There were several husbands after the Starfleet officer who had been her first and Ezra's father. They remained fleetingly for it was soon obvious to them that only one man had Maude Standish' heart. Her son. They moved through this precarious state of existence, something rich, sometimes not but always on the move. The advantage to this uneasy life was the fact that while he was traveling from one place to another, Ezra became an impeccable judge of character. He could see something shady a mile away. His instincts were razor sharp and his ability to see through the masks that often confused so many humans because of the number of alien faces that made up the galaxy these days were unparalleled.
Chris had often wondered what the scene must have been like when Ezra announced to his mother that he was entering Starfleet Academy. It must have been one hell of a surprise. Until that point, Ezra had either been assisting in his mother's schemes or playing the tables himself and as a card player; he had no peer anywhere. Like someone said, Ezra made the Ferengi cry. Nevertheless, Ezra had made it to the Academy on scholarship alone and accepting his lecturer's recommendations that his talents lay in security, Ezra had never looked back.
Chris had met him when he was a lieutenant and even then his canny sense was standout among the security officers stationed on the Yorktown. At the time, Chris had been a first officer, just about to make rendezvous with the Rutherford. Ezra had impressed him so much during his time on the Yorktown, not only in his handling of different races but his ability to see through a lie. By the time Chris boarded the Rutherford, he was impressed enough to know that when his first command came through, he would want Ezra on his command staff.
"Where's Nathan?" Alex asked, peering through the doors and seeing only Ezra inside.
"He's gone off with the..." Josiah paused as he forced himself to say it. "He's gone with Julia."
For a moment none of them could speak and the silence that fell over them was brief but left lasting impression on each of their minds. Chris had lost crew men before. It was the part of the job no captain liked but had to endure. However, it seemed worse because it was Julia and because it was caused by something as foolish as Q's games.
"Was she like the others?" He asked again after the moment had passed.
Josiah exchanged a glance with Alex before the Counselor shook his head slowly. "She was strangled and she did have the trade mark coins in her eyes but if it wasn't for her clothes and her hair, we wouldn't have recognized her."
"What?" Chris exhaled a strangled gasp.
"He broke just about every bone in her face Captain," Alex said softly. "Ezra figures she tried to fight him off and that only made him angry. He probably did it to subdue her."
Chris would imagine he would have to since Julia would not sit still and allow such a fate to befall her, still hearing that made Chris determined to get the rest of his people out of here. Without saying another word, Chris stepped onto the floor of the saloon and immediately captured the attention of Ezra. The security chief whispered something to the old man across the table from him, excusing himself as he came to meet the captain. As he approached, Chris noticed the sadness in his eyes but nothing else that could indicate that he had lost the love of his life. Chris admired his ability to control his emotions.
"Ezra," Chris said gently. "How are you doing?"
Ezra's voice was low and grieving but he did not give Chris the impression of someone who could not do his job and Chris would not take that away from him when the captain was certain that it was all that was holding Ezra's composure together. "I am fine Captain." He answered softly.
"I don't know what to say..."
"Chris," Ezra stopped him before he went any further. "I appreciate the sentiment but right now I do not wish to think about what has happened beyond catching the culprit responsible. I failed her once, I will not do so again by allowing her killer to go free."
"I understand." Chris nodded; once again feeling his faith in Ezra reaffirmed even though he would have understood completely if Ezra had succumbed to his grief. "What have you found out."
"It happened very quickly. It is likely it was done by the time we noticed she was missing." Ezra replied after a moment. "He took advantage of our confrontation with Mr. Top Hat Bob and the time taken for everyone to emerge after it was all said and done. By the time people had begun to pay attention, the body was already there."
Ezra tried to remind himself that 'the body' he was speaking about was not Julia. Julia was dead. That lifeless figure he had seen earlier was not his Julia and if he kept thinking of it as her, he would not be able to function. He knew he was poised a precipice, that would allow the pain swallow him whole should he chose to fall over it. Thus he remained where he was trapped between sorrow and rage and the balance was precarious enough as it was.
"So what's next?" Chris asked.
"I am not certain," Ezra remarked. "This town is not that large so I will find him. According to Josiah, he was visited by a Pinkerton detective who seemed to allude that he might know more about this killer than I do. I am endeavoring to locate him."
"I would have thought he would be on the scene after you found her." Chris responded.
"So did I." Ezra said thoughtfully, his thoughts churning inside his head. After an instant, he looked up at the captain once again, the temporary fog having dissipated from his mind. "Suffice to say, I shall be meeting the gentlemen soon enough."
"Alright," Chris nodded agreeing that Ezra ought to concentrate on finding Julia's killer. "We'll carry on as planned. We'll be going to find this Wickes and hopefully Q."
"Take care Chris," Ezra warned. "I am not entirely sure how you are going to deal with this Q when you encounter him but it is safe to assume the game he is playing rather deadly."
"I hear you," Chris replied. "You take it easy." The captain tipped his hat slightly in his direction and was on his way again, disappearing past the bat wing doors.
Ezra walked out the door, where he could hear Josiah and Alex speaking. He assumed they were most likely receiving some parting instructions from the captain regarding his state of mind. Ezra could hardly blame Chris for doing so if such were the case. The captain could not allow friendship to dictate his actions. As security chief, Ezra understood the folly of that better than anyone else. However, when he stepped past the doors onto the wooden walkway that ran before the saloon, Ezra realized that Josiah and Alex were not talking to Chris or any orders regarding himself but to a stranger.
Alex turned to him as he approached and announced. "This is Silas Poplar."
"The Pinkerton detective." Ezra stated firmly.
Poplar stared at him. He was young, aged somewhere in his early thirties. His eyes studied Ezra closely as he approached and the security chief felt something stirring inside of him that immediately pushed Julia's death aside and brought all those hunter's instincts inside him to bear. Whether or not Poplar realized what it is he inspired, Ezra could not say for certain but there is a moment when between men where battles lines are drawn even if they are not spoken.
"You are one of the men charged to guard this town from mishap I assume?" Poplar replied, sounding not at all impressed by the title.
"Yes I am, although it appears that I was too late to prevent the latest infraction." Ezra remarked, no sign of Julia's death on his face but rather cool detachment that showed both Alex and Josiah that his mind was working fast and furious.
The Science Officer considered Ezra one of her closest friends. His ability to go for the jugular was something she admired and respected and often found themselves on the same side of any debate when it came to the security of the Maverick. A strange happenstance when their individual roles on the ship was so different.
"I am aware of that but unfortunately, our opportunity to catch this man has slipped through our fingers." Poplar remarked. "He will not kill again for some time and usually in another town." However as he said this, he was eyeing Josiah most closely. Ezra did not miss the innuendo or the direction of his gaze.
"Is there something about Mr. Sanchez that inspires your interest?" Ezra asked, wanting to see his reaction of for that matter, any reaction.
"I have it on good authority that Mr. Sanchez was in Vesta City two nights ago. He has still not produced a suitable alibi as to where he was at the time of those murders." Poplar replied, all but forgetting Josiah and Alex as his eyes remained fixed on Ezra's.
"Do you have any reason to believe that he is responsible beyond that one scant fact?" Ezra asked automatically.
"Not until the bodies began appearing here." Poplar pointed out.
"That hardly means anything Mr. Poplar," Ezra countered. "You were also in Vesta City and now you are in Four Corners, am I to assume that you might have committed these crimes simply because you happened to be in the same place at the same time?"
Poplar seemed outraged by that suggestion and his face turned red from indignation. "I have been tracking these killer for some time now. You would suspect me?"
"No," Ezra shook his head slowly, monitoring his response most coolly. "However, Mr. Sanchez, was with me and Miss Styles here, at the time of the second killing. There is no way he could have committed the crime. Since you brought up the point, I would like to know where you were at the time of the murders."
"I was investigating." Poplar responded smoothly but Ezra could look straight past his eyes and know with absolute certainty that he had been shaken.
"I see." Ezra nodded and then asked once more. "You say that he has killed twice and moved on. How much time do we have before the next set of killings?"
"Not long." Poplar answered quietly. The arrogance in his voice was not as prevalent before. "The urge takes him soon enough. Its like a physical need, he can't quench, a desire that must happen."
"Ezra," Alex spoke up. "We have to find this guy before he leaves town. Once he's gone, he'll just do this somewhere else."
"Ezra?" Poplar shifted his gaze back to Ezra in something that was almost surprise. When he realized that the gambler was staring at him hard, Poplar recovered quickly and produced another quick answer. "You must be the famous gambler Ezra that I've been hearing about."
"Yes," Ezra nodded, that same mask on his face. "Ezra Stanford."
"So you are he." The Pinkerton man grinned, pleased that he had managed to escape unscathed from that particular minefield.
Alex's eyes widened and she prepared to correct Ezra when the security chief silenced her with a look and faced Poplar once more. "If I could impose on you to stay for a day, I would like to confer with you some more. The killer will not attempt to leave town because it would be rather noticeable for him to flee so soon after the murders. This is a small town," Ezra continued. "Everyone is aware of everyone and any hasty departures may caused undue incrimination."
Poplar's smile faded from view. "I am at your disposal of course." The man replied. "Would you mind if I examined the body?"
Ezra did not like the idea of this man being anywhere near Julia's form alive or dead but he could not afford to let the man's suspicions be raised. If Poplar left town, they would never catch him and with their needing to be in Four Corners to uncover what plan Q had in store for them, Ezra would not be able to go after him. Fantasy world or not, that was no idle promise he had made to Julia. "Of course," Ezra complied politely. "You know the way to the undertakers?"
"I was there when the first victim in this town was found." Poplar answered and started to draw away.
"I shall see you about Mr. Poplar." Ezra said coolly as Poplar retreated.
They did not speak until he was well away from them and out of sight. When he was gone, Alex let out a held breath.
"He knew your name!" She gushed. "He knew it even before he heard me say it."
"That's why I had to confirm that it was not Ezra Standish he knew but simply Ezra." The security officer answered still staring after Poplar, even though the man was no longer in view. "Well Josiah, what do you think?"
"I think we have a definite possibility." Josiah nodded, aware of what Ezra suspected. While Ezra had been conducting his interrogation, Josiah had been studying Poplar's behavior and everything he had seen confirmed the worst.
"I think you are right. When we confronted him about being the killer, he was more than a little defensive, not the outrage of innocence but that of a defensive nature. If this were at all reality, I would be at this moment trying to learn if he was in all those different places before the murders occurred or after. I would bet a fortune to say it was before although the truth will never really be known."
"I think he wants to be caught." Josiah stated.
"I beg your pardon?" Alex looked at him astonished. "He was trying to pin it on you. That doesn't sound like a man who wants to turn himself in."
"I know," Josiah agreed with her statement there. "However, this kind of psychosis is very difficult to simply label. In one instance, he's not a sociopath. The urge as he calls it was a very personal description and if he truly did not want to be caught, he would have left the minute the deaths occurred, not pretending to be the lone crusader for justice. He is seeking justice but he is trying to get others to see that he might be the one to focus their attention. Of course, the part of him that kills also tries to protect himself. His mind is always in conflict."
"You mean it's a mess." She declared.
"Mess or not," Ezra said icily. "If he killed Julia. I will kill him."