Search and Seizure

June 4 to 5, Hale's Moon

The sound of my boots on the gravel sounded especially crisp in the cool, night air.

I was on Hale's Moon with one purpose: to search Cody Winterwolf's ship.

It took little to convince a judge to issue a search warrant as recently Winterwolf had been reported shooting a Federal Marshall on Persephone.

Not that I planned to bring him in. That was a job that fell to others.

No, I was looking for a piece of evidence that supported another case I was building.

I wanted the gun he used to shoot Svetlana Pleides.

It was late. But that was on purpose. There had been a gathering at the local bar. Specialist Gage Macarthur had been there keeping an eye on numbers.

I waited outside of town until the crowd had thinned out. No need to upset the locals with things that didn't concern them.

-----

We met near the landing pad.

Macarthur saluted as I approached, "Ma'am."

I returned the salute, "Trooper. I've just touched base with the local law."

A quick meeting with the Mayor. Paperwork.

"Are we a green?" asked Gage.

"Everything in order," I replied, "Where is this ship?"

"This way."

A short distance away the sleek, black craft squatted on the tarmac.

"Small stealth ship," reported the trooper.

"Looks pretty straight forward," I remarked. "Watch for improvised security devices..."

Gage nodded, "I'm on it."

"...and document everything," I reminded him, "Let's get started."

The trooper pulled out his small scanning device and checked the reads. "No power. Engines are cold."

"Why would he leave his ship?" I asked out loud.

"Good question. No one on board by the reads," he said as he continued the scan.

"Okay," I said, "let's pop this door."

Macarthur touched the panel then entered a bypass for the security code. He turned and nodded to me.

I examined the seals for anything unusual. Seeing nothing I nodded to Gage.

He popped the hatch.

It was a good sized cargo bay. Crates clustered amidships. A long roll of gold foil laying diagonally on the deck.

"Motion detectors?" I asked.

Macarthur adjusted his equipment then slowly scanned the bay. He shook his head. Negative.

"Okay," I said, "we're in."

---

Some of the crates were open. Some were closed. A bottle of alcohol stood guard.

Gage frowned as he carefully examined one of the open containers. Bright, red sticks of dynamite there for all to see.

"Can we get some interior lights?" I asked.

"Uh, Major? You might want to see this. Wow... Look at the explosives."

There was indeed a substantial amount.

"Hmm.. well," I observed, "It is a mining colony."

"And the ammo?"

"Bag and tag any weapons," I instructed.

"There's caseless in here too," he observed, ".306, .45 and 9mm."

"The dynamite we will catalogue, take a sample and leave the rest with the local law."

He nodded.

"I want the shells," I added.

Gage carefully removed one wrapped TNT pack, exposing C4 below.

"Our boy likes a big bang, " I smiled.

"I'd say," he nodded, "There's enough fireworks in here to blow a crater."

---

As Macarthur finished bagging the dynamite and began to seal the boxes of ammunition, I moved deeper into the craft.

Down a short passage on the starboard side, I came to a cabin that likely served as a galley.

A table littered with rocks, photographs, another bottle. Two chairs. A locker along the forward wall.

As Gage joined me, his foot struck an object on the floor.

"Holy..." he uttered as he looked down and bent over to pick it up.


"What did you find?"

"If I'm not mistaken.. that is a ruby..."

The stone was uncut. It was the size of a small peach.

"Take a picture of it where you found it. We are only here for weapons."

Our search warrant had its limits. And there was nothing to suggest that the ruby had been obtained in the commission of a crime. This would be done strictly by the book. It was critical that there was nothing in our procedure that a quick defense attorney could seize upon and move to throw out the evidence.

Gage nodded and put the stone back on the floor. He took a picture of the ruby next to his boot to indicate size.

"We will notify the local authorities," I added.

----

In the cockpit, Macarthur poured over the console, checking the systems.

"Looks like he hasn't clocked any flight time in a while now. Since around the time of the incident on Persephone."

"Then he came here and switched ships," I speculated.

"Maybe."

"...or he is still on the Moon."

Gage spied something unusual. "Hmm.. what's this?"

Tucked away on the port side of the ship's controls was a small metal disk.

"Some sort of coin," he remarked.

"Let's take a look."

Macarthur grimaced, "Now, who would stamp their own face on a coin?"

He offered the token to me. I took it with a frown, "How odd..."

Indeed it was. Stamped clearly on the surface was the image of Cody Winterwolf.

"Is he some sort of narcissist?" asked Macarthur.

"No," I replied, "This is something else. I'm not sure what.. but ID maybe?"

Or a lucky talisman? If so, he needed to get his money back.

----

The bunks were tucked into a small chamber squeezed between the midship cabin and the rear cargo hold.

"Damn it's dark in here," swore Macarthur.

As the light flickered on I could see my prize resting next to another bottle of alcohol.

"Ah, there we go..." I said with a smile.

"Rifle on the bunk. Pistol on the locker," Gage called out.

"9 millimeter," I purred.

"I'll get a photo," offered Gage.

Pictures taken, Macarthur took out a bag, then reached for the pistol. He checked the chamber then removed the magazine.

"Now here's the rub. Why leave this out?" asked Macarthur as he bagged the weapon.

"Either in a big rush to leave..." I began.

"Or drunk," suggested Gage, "by the look of all the alcohol.

"Or....." I suddenly had a thought.

"Check for signs of recent occupancy," I said.

Gage Macarthur looked around and found a small stuffed animal. "A toy?"

"Hmm, babysitting on the side?"

Macarthur gave up on reason. "Alright, this man is strange," he declared.

"...and a sword by the bed," I observed.

"How many weapons are in here?" he asked. Three as it turned out.

"Check the bunks for signs that someone may have slept here recently," I ordered.

Macarthur checked the bunks carefully. No signs of recent use.

----

Back in the midship cabin I started looking through the lockers. It was one of the less glamorous sides to the job. Sifting through personal effects.

It could take all night. And there was always the chance to miss something crucial.

"We will take this armour," I announced.

In one locker was personal armour, damaged from taking several hits. Ballistics will have a field day with this.

"Recognize those blue crystals?" I asked.

"They look familiar," he replied.

He grabbed a larger bag from his kit and put the ruined armor into it.

"Do we take those?" he asked.

"The crystals?"

He nodded. "Leave them?"

"Take a sample and bag the rest for local law."

Gage continued the collection, bagging and tagging, while I examined the pictures from the table.

"We have photos here of the suspect and a mutant?" he asked.

I nodded slowly. "Log them as evidence ... this could point to motive. He wouldn't be the first man to shoot at a law officer because of a broken heart..."

"It's still not legal," declared Macarthur, "He shot someone. With intent.

"He may have been trying to get himself killed..."

"Suicidal?" asked the trooper.

"From what I know of the man he is reckless, not suicidal," I admitted.

Gage nodded, "Then there must be more to the shooting."

"He will have his chance to tell his side to the story," I said generously, "He's just lucky it was non-fatal."

"Wait Major...."

I looked up, "Yes?"

"Isn't he wanted for questioning in numerous shootings?"

"Yes," I admitted, "there is an older warrant but it looks a lot like accidental homicide."

I sighed. It was a shame really. He could have beaten that earlier charge with a good lawyer. Now, after shooting a Marshall, his days of freedom were numbered.

"He'll still need to be questioned for his side," declared Gage.

I agreed.

"I am still wondering about that coin," I remarked.

"What's so special about a coin?"

"We will test the metal."

-----

I knelt down to get a good look at the shiny, yellow rock just sitting on the floor.

"Is this gold?" I asked incredulously. Who leaves gold and gemstones lying on the floor?

"It looks like it," Gage replied, "I can take a scraping."

He crouched and pulled out a small tool scraping along the flattened rough surface.

He checked the scratches. "It's gold," he reported, "I can't tell you the carat quality, but it's gold."

"We will deal with it like the ruby."

Macarthur placed the sample into a bag, then marked it as well.

-----

Back in the rear cargo hold Specialist Gage Macarthur crouched down checking the foil. He bent it back and forth with his fingers.

"Gold foil?" I asked.

"Yes," he replied.

"Whatever for?"

"It's very thin," he reported, "Looks like it was made in a hurry though. Not sure. There's paint on the other side."

He turned it to reveal the concrete looking paint on the reverse. Neither of us could make any sense of it.

"The overall value is pretty intense Major."

"We will need the Lab people to look at this."

Macarthur hefted it. It looked slightly on the heavy side.

I could almost see gold foil being present as a transport item. It was the paint on the back that threw me off. It was a puzzle all its own.

"What about the ship?" he asked, "Do we confiscate it?"

"We will have it sealed."

"I can pull the nav module out of it," he offered.

"Do it."

Gage nodded and headed forward.

I took a long last look around the cabin trying to get a sense of the man that lived here.

Her photos spread out on the table. Precious stones and metals discarded on the floor. He valued Her more than gold.

Follow Lily and you find the Wolf.

"Alright got it," reported Macarthur. He was holding the navigation module, already bagged, and slipping his multitool back into a pocket of his uniform.

"Take the weapons too?" he asked.

"Yes."

He nodded, "I'll place it with the other evidence."

"Okay, let's finish here and seal the ship."

---

"Major?" Macarthur called to get my attention.

Standing outside the craft was a familiar figure.

"Well, well, Captain Rhea," I began.

Macarthur went into police mode, "Is there something we can help you with, citizen?"

"I was just looking for some of my equipment," she said giving us both a smile. "There something wrong with this ship?"

"It's okay, Trooper... we know Captain Rhea."

Macarthur nodded and turned back to the craft and its contents, "I'll start moving this to the mobile container."

"Yes please," I said.

"It was involved in a crime, Brooke," I answered her. "Did Matthew contact you yet?"

She blinked. "A crime?" she asked frowning a bit. "Exactly what kind of crime? And who was responsible?"

"Why do you ask Brooke? Are you looking to join SIU?"

Macarthur looked up from folding the roll of gold foil for a moment, to see what was going on.

Brooke smiled. "Just like to find out what's happening around me. You going to arrest anyone?"

"It's Cody Winterwolf's ship," I explained, "He shot a Federal Marshall. If you see him, have him turn himself in."

"I see," she frowned, "How'd the Marshall make out?"

"He's alive ... thankfully."

"Good to hear," she said then nodded. "I'd like the cargo if possible. It's mine, and it would put AT&S under quite a bit if you take off with it."

"Sorry, Brooke this is evidence now."

She sighed. "Pepper, really. Just once.... I need this stuff ... It's food and water to some of the ridge worlds. You really want kids to go hungry so it can sit in evidence?"

"Actually, it is a ship full of dynamite and C4."

And I dare you to ask for it again, I thought.

"I did find one large crate of food rations," said Macarthur helpfully, "It's sealed. Locking labels still intact."

Brooke let out a cough. "Must be his mining hull ...... alright. Can I at least take that food? We are talking about starving kids..."

"It will be left with the local authorities," I said plainly, "You will have to file a claim with them."

"Everything's in the container," reported Macarthur.

"we have to seal the ship now Brooke," I announced.

She moved off the ramp. I thanked her.

Macarthur locked down the ship with the bypass. His fingers danced across the keypad as he changed the codes.

"Locked down Ma'am."

"Thank you Trooper," I replied.

"I can have the crew come for it in the morning after the locals take the rest of the evidence," he added.

"When did you become such a ha_rdass, Pepper?" muttered Brooke folding her arms. "Very well," she continued, "I'll file the claim. Not that it'll do any good. All that's good will disappear. You don't know the local authorities very well."

"Send me a carbon copy Brooke," I offered, "I'll make sure you get your food or full compensation for it."

It was the best I could do.

"Right ..." she said sighing. "Very well. As for Cody, I'm sure he'll turn himself in when the time is right." She shook her head. "Is there anyone on my crew you aren't going after?"

Stop hiring crooks, I thought.

Instead I answered with a question, "Did Sentry talk with you?"

Gage interrupted, "I noticed the man in question had his foot in a cast. Was at the bar tonight."

"His foot in a cast? He was injured?"

I felt a flash of panic. We were duty bound to protect him. Already he was hurt.

"I heard he sprained it during a fire," explained Macarthur, "I read about it. It was the fire at the Gregory house. He and a few others went to help."

"Thank heavens," I breathed.

I turned to Brooke.

"Shooting a Federal Marshall is serious business, Brooke."

She stood listening. "Alright," she said, "I guess I should leave you two to take away the 'evidence'. But stay away from my ship. You try to take it for 'evidence' and I promise I will pull a Sanders on you, Pepper."

"Is this your ship, Captain?" Macarthur challenged her again.

"Trooper... it's okay," I said.

He nodded. Brooke stormed off.

"Brooke," I called out, "you can't possibly expect me to look the other way anytime a friend of yours breaks the law."

I do not know if she heard my last comment. She did not reply.

"I'll take care of the details Ma'am." I heard Macarthur say.

"Thank you Trooper," I replied as Brooke marched further and further away.

----


Items

Class A - Kept and held for forensics.
Rifle
Sword
9 mm pistol
Damaged Personal armour
Unusual coin bearing the image of Cody Winterwolf
Gold foil, concrete paint on one side
Navigation module

Class B - Cataloged, photographed. Samples taken for forensics. Remainder given to local authorities.
Ammunition - .306, .45 and 9mm
Explosives - TNT, C4
Unknown blue crystals

Class C - Photographed, cataloged and returned via local authorities.
Sealed Box of Foodstuffs
Uncut Ruby
Gold Nugget
Child's toy
Photographs