Sons of Abraham: J-17's Trial Read Online Free PDF Page A

screen of the Agent’s pad sprang to life, a long list of data rolling down the center of the screen. Calloway frowned as the data was not a list of items were taken, but rather a message from a Yomiel Koranth from Mesa. It seemed that the man was able to pay off a debt he owed to Lord Elsmere and had hoped to have his collateral returned to him. The letter was exceptionally formal, full of words that Nathan had to skip over rather than look up the definitions. An odd sensation was forming in his stomach, telling him that this was not going to be as simple as stolen property.
    “Alright, the orders I received was over stolen property,” he started. “I’m not seeing the property listed here. All I’m seeing is some guy owing you money who wants to pay it back with interest to get his collateral back. You mind filling in the blanks here?”
    Nathan looked from the tablet, waiting for the lord to offer a reply. The lord, it seemed, was far too interested in gazing upon the backside of the three girls to his left to be bothered with such things as speaking. Realizing that his master’s mind was trailing off, the tiny, whiny voiced man from earlier stepped forth and took over.
    “Mr. Koranth owed a debt of nearly two hundred thousand credits,” Terrance announced, adjusting the red glasses upon his nose. “As a sign of good faith, Mr. Koranth had to give collateral to Lord Elsmere for the money to be borrowed. Lord Elsmere, however, found himself to be in a generous mood and allowed for Mr. Koranth to pass on the debt. It seems that this did not please the man from Mesa, as he hired thugs to try to persuade Lord Elsmere to reconsider. I do assure you, though, the property of Lord Elsmere’s was taken. Property that must be found and returned or Mr. Koranth will be subject to Parasus law and punishment. You are here to prevent this from happening Agent Calloway. Find the thugs, and return the property. Lord Elsmere, in his kindness, has agreed to waive the charges if they do so.”
    The odd sensation in Nathan’s stomach slowly churned. The agent only needed one guess to know what the missing property, and the collateral, involved. This incident was looking to be sent before the Council. Too many common laws were being broken for investigators to ignore.
    “Alright,” he moaned, forcing his eyes shut in anticipation. “What property and what is the collateral?”
    “The fourth sister is the missing property,” MA Joseph injected. “The collateral is the group of sisters you see before you. It can be deducted that the missing sister is the oldest of the four.”
    Calloway wasn’t sure which he hated more; that they were considering human beings as property and collateral, or that the MA was able to make the deduction long before he was. Nathan had gathered that the girls were the collateral, but even in the darkest portions of his mind, he never would have allowed the thought of a fourth to enter the fray.
    It seemed that Terrance had done his part. The tiny man nodded, turned, and ushered the three girls out the open door. Lord Elsmere waited until the door was closed before speaking.
    “The property is not of concern to me,” he started. “What does concern me is that my generous offer was met with vulgarity. My father always said that to be kind to those lesser than you is to show them your weakness. I always thought to disagree with the man, especially in my younger years. Now, however, it seems that my father was right all along. I want my property returned to me, Agent Calloway. Not because I miss her as the flower had already withered, but rather for the principle of the matter. Situations, such as this, tend to have a snowball effect. I have never seen snow, but I know what the saying means. Today, one man from Mesa rejects my generosity. Tomorrow, another man believes he can negotiate with me, rather than accept what I offer. A year from now, a revolution. You know the history of your world, Agent