45. Investigations

 

The servant guided Daniel through the tube and into the main house. Huajo was behind the desk in his conservatory again.

"Mr. Zacharias, what an unexpected surprise," the fat man said. "Tea please, for Mr. Zacharias."

"No, thank you," Daniel said, "I might not stay here that long."

Huajo looked at the visitor. "This sounds somewhat alarming, or pressed for time at least, sir. How can I help you?"

"Last time I was here, Seigner Dogom ko Tzuy," Daniel said, "I told you about Rayko Dandra ko Galem. That she went missing. Yesterday someone tried to murder me."

"Oh..." Huajo looked genuinely surprised. "That is very bad news. Are you unharmed, sir?"

"I am, yes."

"And, if I may ask of you, why does this attempt on your life bring you to me?" The man either knew absolutely nothing, or he was a perfect actor.

"The man who tried to kill me, Seigner, had a tattoo on his arm. It was a ship, and beneath it was written 'Tzuy'." Daniel threw the words at the man, who actually leaned back a bit.

"I am truly sorry, Mr. Zacharias," Huajo said, "but I am confident that people who sail on my ships are not the kind that go around killing people as they please."

"Perhaps not as they please, Seigner," said Daniel as he leaned on the desk, looming over the man. "But perhaps as someone else pleases."

"Sir, I beg of you... are you implying that I would have my hand in some filthy business? I am strongly opposed to matters like that, I hope you can believe this, Mr. Zacharias."

Daniel got up and reached into his pocket. "Maybe this means something to you. Seigner..." He unfolded a piece of paper on the man's desk. On it was the print of a ship. And the word 'Tzuy'. Then Daniel slowly put a broken glass capsule on the paper. "In this capsule, in case you don't know, were drugs. Drugs served on a paper with the name of your ships."

Huajo stared at the paper and the capsule as if they were about to bite him. "What is this, Mr. Zacharias? Where did you get this?"

"So you know what this is?" Daniel asked.

"It is some scrap of paper from an insolent who uses the mark and name of my ships. And what is this glass thing, I would like to know." Huajo picked it up carefully and examined it.

Daniel's initial feeling of victory dwindled a bit. The man behind the desk seemed really not aware of what the broken vial had contained. "Don't tell me, Seigner, that you have never seen a vial that contained liquid drugs."

Huajo almost dropped the vial. "Drugs? Are you meddling with drugs, Mr. Zacharias? I must say I am shocked!"

"I am not. You are," Daniel said, although he was less convinced now.

"Sir, I try to remember you are not from our planet, so I shall take that as a reason for this. You are deeply offending me, Mr. Zacharias. The house of Dogomo ko Tzuy is not dealing with drugs and other substances of that kind. I am sorry to admit that there are rumours of other ship owner's houses that deal in that shady area, but my house is not one of them." Huajo put the vial on his desk and got up. "You should believe me, Mr. Zacharias. If you do, you are welcome to stay. If you do not, I must ask you to leave."

Daniel wasn't sure, but he decided that this all was circumstantial evidence.

"You are not too well versed in our language, Mr. Zacharias," Huajo said. "The word Tzuy means 'going to the sea'. My great-grandfather added that to our name long ago, as we have always been ship owners. Tzuy is therefore a common word in any town that has a harbour, as you probably understand."

Daniel nodded. "I can see reason in that, sir. But there still is the attack. And the tattoo on the arm of the man who did that clearly showed one of your ships. The design is unmistakable, and under that also was the name Tzuy. That is hardly a coincidence."

"Allow me a moment, Mr. Zacharias." Huajo took a hydger from the desk and called someone. Daniel noticed that the device was the size of his own. Huajo's stubby fingers would have a problem handling anything smaller.

"My administrator for personnel will be here in a short while, Mr. Zacharias," Huajo said as he sat down again. "If you could wait, and please have a seat... If you can describe the man who attacked you, I am sure my administrator will be able to identify the man."

Daniel calmed down slightly and sat in the chair behind him. Huajo called for some tea, which was accompanied by pieces of fresh fruit pie. The situation was very awkward, but Huajo did not seem to have a big problem with it: he chatted about business things, commented on the weather and ideas for a new boat he was working on. That made time pass quickly.

"Seigner," a servant announced, "Mr. Confrey is here."

"Ah, good, show him in, show him in."

Mr. Confrey was an average sized man. He had blond hair, blue eyes and a very calm disposition. He also had a big bag with him which contained loads and loads of papers. Files on everyone who was working for his employer, or who had worked for him.

Daniel was asked to describe the man who had attacked him. That proved to be hard work, as the man had not struck him as a particular person. Also, during the fight, Daniel had not taken much time to admire his looks. It helped that all the faces of all the sailors had been sketched on their 'personnel file'. After wading through papers for about an hour, Mr. Confrey held one sheet of paper in his hand.

"This is, or rather was Daro Jinkel. He joined the company eight years ago and left two years ago. The captains of the Tzuy Two and Tzuy Five that Jinkel has worked on both complained about his lack of respect towards them and the other crew," Mr. Confrey read out loud.

Daniel read the page also. There was no denying it: the man who had attacked him was no employee of Huajo's firm anymore. Mr. Confrey could not have tampered with this paper, he was certain, as the other papers all were made the same way.

Mr. Confrey got his papers together, put them in the bag and bid them a good day.

"Seigner Dogom ko Tzuy," Daniel said as they were alone again. "Thank you for your patience. There is one more thing I have to ask you."

"Please ask, Mr. Zacharias."

"Where is Rayko Dandra ko Galem?"

Huajo looked surprised. "Wasn't it your job to find that out? Why do you ask me?"

"I have done some investigating, Seigner. And I have a strong reason to believe you are involved in her disappearing. I have found evidence that she was held prisoner in one of the sheds behind your warehouses."

Huajo grew pale. "What do you say, sir? I am not sure what sheds you mean, but... this is a serious allegation."

"Kidnapping, sir, is a serious crime," Daniel retorted. "As is having crates with what could be drugs in the same sheds."

"I agree. And I want this all resolved as much as you do, Mr. Zacharias. Would you please show me these sheds?"

An hour later, Daniel and Huajo were at the sheds. Huajo himself had called for two policemen and a few of his own people. One of the men was opening the lock on the second shed. Huajo looked at Daniel, wonder on his face, but holding back the evident question.

The inside of the shed had not been touched. Whoever it was that had kept Rayko there, had not seen the need to do anything about it. The policemen agreed that the substances and pills on the floor looked suspiciously like drugs. As Daniel pointed out the sack, with the imprint of a body still on it, the two police officers got to work and discovered a few ropes that had blood on them as well.

Things were not looking well. Huajo claimed he knew nothing of this all. Daniel watched the man from a bit of a distance and somehow he concluded for himself that Huajo was indeed innocent of what had been going on here.

"It is clear that someone has been held here, against their will," one of the officers said. "It is not possible to tell who, of course."

Daniel thought of the evidence he had in his apartment and considered bringing that up, but for some reason he did not fully understand he held it back, knowing he would be obstructing the proceedings. He could do that afterwards. First he needed these things for something else.

The next step was an overwhelming amount of paperwork that had to be dealt with at the police station. Daniel almost felt sorry for bringing up the whole thing. Now he was suffering this as much as Huajo was. Most difficult was the part where he had to invent something when the police officer asked him how he had found out about the shed.

Finally they were free to leave again. Once outside the police station, Huajo turned to Daniel. "Mr. Zacharias... at first your visit appeared very aggressive and hostile. But I must say that I am now very grateful that you came to my house and brought this whole affair to my attention. I will alert some of the people who work for me and do a thorough investigation on what may have happened in that shed. I hope, really, that it was not little Rayko who has been kept there. It is not a place for such a fine lady." The big man shook his head.

"I must admit, Seigner, that this all turned out rather differently than what I had expected. But something good seems to come from it. I hope you do not feel offended by my rude behaviour earlier." Daniel offered his hand.

Huajo shook it. "Not at all sir. Not anymore, I should say. And if you feel the need to see me, do call again. You know how to reach me."

Daniel waited until the man and his people had left in the carriage they had summoned. Then he took his hydger and looked for the identification to call Warlem. Suddenly an idea grabbed him and he found the small black triangle. He called it. There was no response. It did not surprise him. He called Warlem, told the young man he had something to show him and they arranged a time to meet.

After a trip home and a quick bite to eat, Daniel called for a carriage to take him to Maliser Park, the same place where the cloaked figure had stunned him. Warlem had asked him for a good place to meet, and this park was the first thing that had come to mind.

Daniel had found a bench that gave him a good overview of the park. He'd come early, to make sure things were 'normal'. As far as normal would go lately, anyway.

Warlem leisurely strolled through the entrance, looked around and saw Daniel. He walked over and sat down. "Hello, Daniel. I've been worried since you contacted me." He eyed the strange, rough sack that Daniel did not take his hand off.

"I hope I am wrong, Warlem. I really do. Please brace yourself. This is not going to be a pretty sight." Daniel observed the poetic young man, whose pale face seemed to become even whiter.

"Let's get this behind us, my friend," Warlem said. He got hold of the bench and kept holding it as if he could fall off at any moment.

Daniel nodded and reached into the bag. "I am going to show you a shoe, Warlem. Maybe you know it. Maybe not. Just so you know."

Warlem nodded and watched Daniel pull something from the sack. As he saw the shoe, his eyes almost popped out of his head. "Oh no..." Immediately sweat appeared on the man's brow, which told Daniel enough.

"It's one of Rayko's, right?"

Warlem nodded. "Is she..." He could not finish his question.

"This is just her shoe, Warlem. I don't know how she is. Or where. As far as I know, she is still alive. I have another thing here. Maybe you recognise that also." He pulled the bloody rag from the sack.

"What's that?" Warlem asked. "I've never seen that before, Daniel." He stared for a moment. "What is that reddish colour?" Awareness seemed to kick in right after asking it. "It's blood, isn't it?"

"Yes. It is blood." Daniel put the rag away again. It was obvious that this was too much for Warlem, who was already depositing his lunch next to his shoes.

"I do apologise, Daniel," said Warlem as he was able to speak again. He tossed his now thoroughly soiled handkerchief in a basket next to the bench. "I was not prepared for this."

"I understand, Warlem." Daniel was certain that there was no way Warlem could have been prepared for this. The man just had no stomach for such things.