Fraudulent Death, Draft 01, CH 23 (Patreon)

“Good morning, Hela’han,” Marlot greeted the elephant as he stepped into the lobby, smiling. He’d thought of something to try with his tracking program, which should help collate the data he had and hopefully find common points. The weather also helped his mood. It had warmed to the point he was back to his usual suit jacket.

“Good morning, sir.”

“You’re looking particularly luminous today.” He sniffed the air. “Spent the night with Jesdan?”

Her ears fluttered and turned pink. She grabbed her trunk before it moved the keyboard. She stammered. “I, he.”

“It’s okay. I’m glad you’re happy with him.”

“Thank you,” she whispered.

Marlot headed for the door to the office and turned. “Oh, I need to—”

“There was a call in the buffer,” Hela’han said at the same time. “I sent it to your desk.”

“Who was it?”

“A woman, she mentioned her name, but I didn’t note it down. Something about her husband.”

“Thanks. I’ll get back to her.” He entered the office and started his computer, setting his pad to link to it. Once it was connected, he listen to the message.

“Mister Blackclaw, it’s Mirden, you asked me questions a few days ago about my deceased husband, Hardir. Well, something strange just happened. I got home this evening, and I had a package waiting for me; from Hardir. It looks like it was mailed recently. You mentioned you thought he might not have died when I though the had, so this is making me think that maybe you were right. Because of that, I haven’t opened it. I figure it’s something you should do in case it’s important to your case. I’m going to be home all day tomorrow, so feel free to come by at any time.”

He called her back and received an automated message.

“The number you are calling has been put on hold due to the ID linked to it having been recorded as deceased, and the tax is being processed. If you are the owner of this number and you wish to contest the classification of deceased, please press one. If you are a relative and looking to inquire about survivor—” Marlot disconnected.

What were the odds it was a coincidence she’d been killed the night she’d received the package? Even if she’d implied her son fed the family, she was a predator. Her appearance matched her middle-level rating, so she wouldn’t be a cheap kill.

He called the revenue department and navigated the menu until he spoke to someone in the right department. He gave her his ID.

“How can I help you, RI Blackclaw?”

“I need to confirm a death, Mirden Mixcoat. She would have died during the night. I don’t have her ID, but I have her pad number, if that can help you.”

“Certainly.”

He gave it.

“Yes. Mirden Mixcoat’s tax was paid at ten forty-three last night.”

“Who paid it?”

“Can I have the case number this relates to?”

Marlot hesitated.

“Mister BlackClaw,” she said in the silence. “You know I can’t release that information without a case number.”

“I know. I’m just trying to decide if I can officially link her to it.”

“So she isn’t relevant to the case?”

“I’m certain she is, but it’s complicated. The body I’m investigating is her husband, only officially he died a few years ago. So I can’t name the body as such, the system keeps sending an error flag in response. Without giving my body her husband’s name and ID number, I’m not sure if any internal investigation will come back against me.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do anything about that.” She sounded as confident as Marlot felt.

“I understand. I’ll see what I can do to fix this and call back.” He disconnected and called the department again, this time going directly to Vlein.

“RI Blackclaw, such a pleasure to speak with you again, if it’s to tell me you’ve filled out the form, mailing it would have been enough.”

“That’s not why.” Right, the form. He needed to deal with that, too. “I’m hoping you can help me pull information on a kill. Hardir Mixcoat’s mate was killed last night. I can’t officially get the details about who paid her tax since I can’t name my body yet. How did the other RIs deal with the fact the body they were investigating had already died?”

“They filled out the form, found who had killed them, and we charged them. The system isn’t particular about who the body was, just that the tax is paid.”

“So it was paid as what, unidentified?”

“Yeah, we borrow the classification from the Missing Person Bureau.”

“Hasn’t anyone investigated the fact they died twice?”

“The details were sent to the enforcers, that’s their department.”

Marlot knew who he was going to call next. “Can you get me the details surrounding Mirden Mixcoat’s death? You said those walking dead cases probably have a link to organized crime, so I want to see if her death was linked to her husband dying again.”

“I can pull the information. I can have it for you later today.”

“Thank you.” He disconnected and called his contact within the enforcers.

“Hey Wolf,” Bahamel said in greeting, “tell me you aren’t calling because your lion is in trouble again and you’re freaking out.”

“I wasn’t freaking out that last time.”

“If you say so. How can I help you?”

“What do you know about cases of bodies dying twice?”

“It’s science fiction,” she replied flatly.

“I’m talking about fraud, Ba.”

“That’s more your department than mine.”

“The financial side of it has been dealt with, or so I’m told, so the investigation into who’s behind them has been sent your way.”

“When you say ‘who’s behind them’, you’re talking organized crime.”

“That’s what I’m told, although the Bureau agent who’s handling them doesn’t have evidence. It’s just the kind of thing he sees criminals doing.”

“I won’t disagree, but I haven’t heard anything about investigations on people dying twice. Are you sure they were sent to us? Organized crime comes through my department.”

“My understanding is that they don’t happen often. Can they have been resolved without needing to escalate to you?”

“Sure, if it’s a rare thing I’d expect stories to make the rounds.”

“Can you look into it and let me know?”

“Of course, anything for you, Wolf.”

“Thanks.” He disconnected and grabbed his jacket. Now he needed to confront a grieving family to get that package.