Price of a Bounty (Reliance on Citizens Makes Us Great!) Read Online Free PDF Page A

didn’t agree with
most of the time, but given the circumstances, I couldn’t really
think of a better option.
    Those
who enlisted were given special tests. The doctors were pleased with
my results. They said I would be an asset to the realm and
registered me for the special operations regiment.
    I
left home with high hopes. I would have a job. I would be able to
contribute to society. Better yet, I would be able to help my
family. Members of the SOR received extra provisions. I’d
immediately requested that my extras be sent home to help my sisters
who always had so little.

    ***

    A
few weeks ago, Mrs. Elaine Ramsey requested a meeting with the
Lieutenant General. She also requested that I sit in as a witness.
It was a common practice, though why she requested me specifically, I
had no idea, and I didn’t ask. No one ever questioned the head of
Ramsey Corps, a tall and thin yet foreboding elderly woman. Near
the end of the meeting she shared a personal concern.
    “General,
I’m embarrassed to say that I was recently robbed.”
    The
general glanced at me and seemed to consider his words carefully
before he spoke. “I hope whatever was taken
wasn’t…invaluable.”
    “No,
but it was a lot of money, and I would like it back. I was thinking
maybe we could send in some of the soldiers, discreetly.”
    “If
our office gets involved, I’ll have to report it as part of the
public record. Would you still like our help?”
    “No,
thank you,” she replied as she shook his hand. “I’ll
find another way.”
    “Right
this way, Mrs. Ramsey.” I held open the door for her. “I’ll
be happy to escort you to your car.”
    After
we’d left the building but before we reached her car, I continued
quietly, “I know someone who is in the business of solving
problems discreetly and off the record.”
    “I’m
interested.” She smiled.
    “There
would be a cost for her services.”
    “Cost
is not an issue, soldier, if the work is of good quality.”
    So
I gave her Keira’s alias and told her she should expect to hear from
Madeline within the next few days. I’d never approved of my sister’s
choice of occupation, yet I tried to help her out whenever an
opportunity presented itself.

-Keira-
    Getting
Out

    “Richard,
retrieving the money was only part of the job, and there is no way
Ramsey would have convinced Rose to kill you, not someone like her –
that’s my job. We need to make it look like I killed Oren Johnson.
It’s the only way you’ll be safe.”
    “No,
we’re talking about your safety. However, I believe we can come to
an agreement. If Elaine Ramsey believes Oren Johnson is dead, she
may leave us both alone.”
    I
nodded. All right then, we understood each other. “By the
way, what do you want me to call you?”
    “Most
people call me Richard. My friends call me Rick.”
    “And
you prefer Guy but only with people who know your secret.” I
paused for a beat, and then asked, “What does Scott call you?”
    “That’s
a good question, and one that you should ask him. What would Scott
say about you, I wonder? Would he tell me to trust you?”
    “Well,
I’m no longer planning on killing you, so that’s a plus.” I
smiled. “I’ll check in with Scott. If he thinks you’re worth
it, then you’ll have nothing to worry about, at least not from me.”
    Just
then, Eberhardt opened the door and walked in with coffee and
muffins. He looked at the gun on the table and then at both of us.
    I
turned back to Richard. “Do you have a contact on the police
force?”
    “Of
course I do.” He walked briskly to his desk and reached for
his transceiver. He placed a call but kept the vidscreen turned off.
Instead, he gave a numerical code, which must have clearly
identified him to the party on the other end, before he explained the
reason for his call.
    “What
did I miss?” Eberhardt set breakfast on the table and picked up
his gun.
    I
reached for a raspberry muffin and a cup of coffee, black.