Bubblegum Crisis: Stage Three

Part Thirteen

"Holy shit," Priss Asagiri breathed out as the brown haired singer read about the death of Genom executive Brian Mason.

"You swore!" Sho pointed, laughing as the little boy sat with her at the kitchen table.

Priss laughed softly, "Yeah, you caught me." She reached into her pocket and handed him a coin, "Here's another for the swear jar."

"Right," Sho laughed, hurrying off to put the coin in the jar.

Aoi and Priss had set up the 'swear jar' to try to cut down on Priss' bad language, however so far it wasn't working too well. Priss could restrain herself, sometimes, but her natural tendency was to swear like a dock worker. Well, at least Sho was getting some extra allowance with the jar money...

Aoi smiled wryly as her son ran off, then looked across the table at Priss. "What happened?" she asked quietly.

"You know how I'm doing bodyguard work for Stingray," Priss said quietly, "well, one of the guys we think is targeting her got killed."

Aoi's eyes widened, "Is that good or bad?"

"I dunno," Priss admitted, "I think I'd better ask Sylia." They both dropped the subject when Sho returned, the group finishing breakfast then Priss taking the boy out to a nearby park to play.

A few hours later and Priss was on her way through town, riding her motorbike just below the speed limit. If it was later in the day or somewhere more remote she would have gunned the engine, but in traffic she wasn't willing to take that chance.

'I must be getting old,' Priss mused as she pulled up to the security gate at Genom.

"May I see your pass?" one gate guard asked, the boomer looking at her calmly. Just behind him the human guard had his hand on his stun gun, as per regulations.

Priss unzipped her riding gear, revealing a dip of cleavage that instantly drew the one guard's eyes. 'Men,' she thought, amused, as she drew out her ID card. "Priss Asagiri, contract employee," she said, letting the card be scanned.

"Identity confirmed," the boomer nodded, "also, Ms. Stingray left a request for you to report to her office."

"Like that's a surprise," Priss pocketed her card as the security gate lifted. "Have fun boys," she said as she revved the cycle up and took off.

The Genom tower loomed over the city like someone giving a giant finger to the world. Priss could admire that kind of arrogance, in a way, but she sure as hell didn't trust them. There was way too damn much power concentrated here, and no checks on that power she could see.

'Well, other than Sylia,' Priss admitted, parking her bike in the garage. Walking between the cars she stopped at Sylia's to check for any bombs, then headed for the elevator.

"Good morning, Ms Asagiri," the boomer running the elevator said politely.

"What did I tell you about greeting me?" Priss asked as she stood in the small booth, her riding leathers clinging to her body.

"You would beat me to death with a crowbar," the boomer noted as the elevator rose.

"Too bad I don't have time today," Priss growled as they reached the executive level and Priss got out.

"Have a nice day," the boomer called, making Priss growl.

Priss walked past various offices, seeing the secretarial boomers watching her pass like cybernetic guard dogs. Worse, each was a potential attacker, considering that several standard types of boomer had been hacked to attack Sylia.

'Wonder if we can get the floor cleared of boomers?' Priss wondered.

"Hey," Linna Yamazaki nodded as Priss opened the door to Sylia's office with her access card, the brown haired woman dressed in a sleek green suit.

"Hey," Priss nodded back then headed for where Sylia sat. "Boss," she said respectfully.

"Priss," Sylia flashed a slight smile, then sat back in her chair with a sigh. "You know about Mason?" she asked.

"Just a vague news report," Priss said as she warily looked out the window.

"Supposedly Mason was killed in a drug deal gone bad," Reika Chang said briskly, the woman getting herself and Linna a coffee from the maker in the room, "it seems he was hiding a growing drug habit from the company."

Priss raised a eyebrow, "Supposedly?"

Nene Romanova was leaning on one of the chairs, the younger woman drinking a can of soda. "I don't buy it," the slim blond said honestly, "it's too damn neat. He just happens to be in a drug deal gone bad, the crooks abandon drugs and money on his body, and the police find poorly hidden drug paraphernalia in his home?"

Reika nodded, "I dealt with Mason a few times in my job over in music management, he was too smart not to effectively hide his habit, assuming he had one."

"And he had the money to get what he needed directly, not dealing with street level dealers," Linna noted flatly, "the whole thing stinks."

"But is it any of our business?" Priss had to ask. Everyone looked at her and she shrugged, "From what little I know, he's a scum bag. Right?"

"Yes," Reika shrugged, even as Linna and Sylia looked mildly offended. "No offense Sylia, but the man was scum. If even half of what was hinted about him was true, he got what he deserved."

"But does that justify someone murdering him?" Sylia asked mildly.

"I'd rather see him busted for something he actually did," Nene noted. She frowned a bit, "Do you think he was knocked off to cover someone's tracks?"

"Think he was involved in targeting Sylia?" Linna asked, frowning slightly.

"They might have assumed we were on to him," Reika mused thoughtfully, "or... had some other reason to hit him."

"We'll have to look into him deeper," Sylia decided, "Nene?"

Nene hopped to her feet, the little cyberpunk looking eager to begin. "You want me to raid Mason's systems?" she asked.

"Home and office," Sylia confirmed, "but do so from a disposable, untraceable computer. We know he had formidable defenses in place."

"Will do," Nene nodded, "I'll get right to it."

"Mind if I go change?" Priss asked, gesturing to the riding leathers she was still in as Nene hurried from the room.

"Your suit's in the closet, along with the new armor undersuit," Sylia nodded.

"Do I have to wear it?" Priss complained mildly.

"Everyone else is," Linna shrugged.

Grumbling Priss went into the bathroom. Stripping out of her riding gear she revealed she wasn't wearing anything under it, and used a hand towel to wipe the sweat away. Once she was satisfied she was clean Priss pulled on the light white and blue body stocking, wincing a bit as the tight material passed over old scars. After that she casually pulled on the still blue suit, glad that Sylia had gotten them tailored rather than off the rack.

"There," she emerged, dressed but still wearing her biker boots as Priss continued, "happy?"

"You could use the right shoes," Sylia noted mildly, shaking her head. "Everyone, best behavior," she ordered, "the police are on their way up."

A few moments later and the door chimed open, a familiar looking police officer entering. Priss blinked, realizing she had seen him before, somewhere. 'McKenzie?' she thought, then decided that wasn't right.

"Ms Stingray?" the tall young man nodded, "I'm Leon McNichol, with Tokyo PD. I'm here to ask some questions about the Mason case."

"Of course, I'm always pleased to assist the police," Sylia said smoothly. "However, I must confess to not knowing Mr. Mason very long."

"You only took over the presidency of Genom a few weeks ago," Leon confirmed. He looked around at Linna, Reika and Priss as he added, "I'd prefer interviewing you in private, ma'am."

"I'm sorry to say I can't do that," Sylia said firmly, "my security staff must remain."

That made Leon raise his eyebrows, "You're in that much danger?"

"There's been several attacks on Ms. Stingray," Linna looked surprised as she asked, "you haven't heard about it?"

"Not a peep," Leon said flatly. "Is it being handled by the ADP for some reason?" he asked.

"My understanding is that it was a joint investigation," Sylia noted calmly.

"I assume with the murder of Mason I'd be informed of it," Leon frowned, his expression thoughtful. He visibly shook himself, "Ms. Stingray, did you see any indications that Mr. Mason might have a drug problem?"

"No, he seemed quite focused and efficient," Sylia said with a sigh.

"Did he appear to have financial problems?" Leon asked by rote.

"Not that I was aware of," Sylia answered dryly.

"And did Mr. Mason have enemies?" Leon concluded.

Sylia sighed at the stupidity of that question, "Of course he did, he was head of Genom's external security. Everyone who was cyberburned trying to break in, every punk with a issue, heck many corporate rivals probably all hated his guts."

"Any personal enemies?" Leon clarified, gritting his teeth.

"Again, not that I know of," Sylia fell back on the simplest answer.

As Priss watched the interview she tried to decide if Leon was a idiot or just stuck with a hard job. In all honesty she thought it was the later, and she didn't envy his job interviewing Genom staff. At least half the people here had grudges with Mason, not to mention people outside the company. If the police were seriously looking into this as a murder, they had their work cut out for them.

Leon sighed as he checked his notebook, then looked over at Reika. "Ms. Chang?" he asked. When she nodded he continued, "You're on my list too, can I interview you?"

"Go ahead," Reika agreed, "but I don't know what I can offer that will help."

To be continued...