Marshal pressed his back to brick as another squad car floated past.
The hell was going on?
ASA was never this on top of things in District B, and certainly not for an all-too-common thug pick-up. He didn't want to risk being taken in for questioning. He had a job to do first—a friend who trusted him, and another's birthday to celebrate.
The glamorous life of a young vigilante: grocery errands and hiding in alleys like the jerkoffs he was supposed to hunt. Angst? Maybe a little. But Marshal was happy for something to do, a mission all his own, even if it was in his de facto backyard—the turf was certainly dangerous enough.
Far down the alley, a quartet of burly types puffed their chests. He pulled down the brim of his hat and stumbled back into the street, a drunkard's stroll. The ASA car had since vanished overhead. One more block.
Three-thirty PM—he was expected home before five. Marshal broke into a jog.
***
Mindy's Shop-Shop stood as a lone pink box on the five corners of Phlegethon, Ninety-forth, and three other minor streets. Besides a closed bakery and a hole-in-the-wall bar, Mindy's was the only building that resembled commerce among the area's square-mile of vacant storefronts.
Anatali Station, land of milk-and-honey.
But it was a cheerful pink box, two stories tall with a fresh coat of blush. Not a line of graffiti, nor a bullet-hole in the cinderblocks or steel bar on it's many windows. A large group of school kids surrounded the front doors, most sipping from brand-name cans or nibbling imported sweets. Two light-years removed, the tastes of home likely cost two days' lunch money for a single drink or candy bar.
Marshal tipped his chin up and crossed the street. A pair of girls whispered at his approach before melting into giggles. He squared his shoulders and forced a smile. "Brenda, Ellen, whatcha get?"
"Juice," said Brenda, the skinny post-pubescent one. "Fatty got a—"
Ellen slugged her friend in the shoulder, "Shut. Up. It's my first chocolate this month!"
"It's July Second—"
"Ladies," he said, "might want to get moving along. The streets seem a bit busy today."
"Yeah, we were just talking about that." Brenda nodded to the dozen-plus group at their back. "I guess Suzi Colbert's missing."
The name didn't ring a bell. Same girl? Even odds it was. Good—not so good—it was hard to feel good about a day like this. "What's she look like?"
Ellen looked to the pavement. "We don't really know her. She's a grade seven. I guess she's like, cute: pretty brown hair, snow-pale?"
"Sorry, Marshal," Brenda said. "But it's ok, the cops are already on it. The Justice is looking for her too. Where's Raph?"
"It's his birthday. Sacha's making him a cake." Off-handed at best. The Justice were already in on this? He scanned the students for middle schoolers, but all these kids went to Driver C High from the uniforms. Still, maybe a relative or friend of a friend. "Hey guys! Anyone know Suzi?"
Conversations cut off. Smiles went blank. The dozen plus students shrugged, most of them staring at the pavement. A couple more 'sorry, Marshal's' later and they were back to chatting, slowly meandering towards the bus stop.
"Well, thanks girls. The Knights will look into it." They nodded and smiled. It really sucked they had to accept this crap as common, desensitized to girl-talk and snacks when someone their age became a victim. Fuck District B—bless everyone who lives in it. As the bus pulled up, the girls said goodbye and again shared giggles. He had the presence of mind to ask, "How'd you hear about the Justice?"
Brenda spun in place, a crease on her forehead, "That Cassie bitch is the one who chased us out. She's in there alone, but be careful, ok?"
"No worries. Neutral turf," Marshal said with a wave. It might not be the truth, but it was all the girls needed to hear. Ellen blew a kiss before sharing high-pitched squeals with her friend. The bus doors closed behind them.
Marshal turned towards Mindy's double doors. While indeed barless, all the windows were day-tinted and impossible to see through. Cassie, eh? He smirked and strutted up the sidewalk. The doors opened for him with a digital jingle.
***
The scent of fresh-baked bread and the light sweet of ripe melons greeted his first steps into Mindy's Shop-Shop. Reaching distance from the door, a rack of breads invited him to the deli, and a short cantaloupe pyramid sat a vigilant sphinx before the produce aisle. Just what did a cantaloupe taste like? Pineapple and citrus he'd enjoyed on Earth. Melon? Never. The odd moon-pockmarked-texture was enough of a turn off, but he wondered what Sacha would do if presented one.
Straight ahead in the peace-symbol 'Y' was the dairy and sweets, complete with dine-in sundae bar. The scope of the store looked at once bigger than it should, and jam-packed tiny. The Kettle's only real-and-rare grocery held its reputation in the freshness of its FTLS imported product, and the competitive rates to any District A counterpart. How the store operated at budget, let alone a profit, would be an absolute mystery if not for the volume of sales over price.
Marshal pulled out the list, one eye on the paper, one on Mindy's stock, and a mental third looking out for Cassie. A hover-basket intercepted him, heeling a pace behind. Produce, dairy, then meat, he'd walk the loop.
Onions, eggs, buttermilk—check. Forty-eight credits at a glance and not even to the pricey part.
Around the dry spice aisle, he eyed the meat counter. Two women leaned from opposite sides, engaged. Behind the refrigerated glass case, the pint-sized blond listened with wide-eyed attentiveness. Mindy was possibly the galaxy's best or worst businesswoman, depending on the definition. Across from her was Anatali's worst gang-member, by any definition. Cassie Fitzgerald, the spunky Latino that offered nothing to her comrades but starting trouble where none existed.
She suited the Justice, but the Knights had made a group decision to avoid her, if possible.
Marshal crept closer, hat tipped down, browsing god-knows-what nutmeg was. Curry, eh?
"So if you hear anything, call me ok?" Cassie said, accepting a tiny pink canvas sack.
"Right on. Little Suzi stops by every Friday. She's a sweetie. I get the peanut clusters for her especially!" Mindy raised a clenched fist, eyes to the ceiling. After Cassie turned her back, the woman's shoulders slumped. By the time the Justice member looked back, Mindy's smile had returned with a 'thanks for your business.'
Marshal replaced the nutmeg and marched towards the counter, waving. As he crested the aisle's threshold to open floor, he locked eyes with Cassie walking back the way she left. The girl's hand was just out of her purse, a blue-stick in hand. The disposable media chip dropped back into her handbag. If not for the fish-out-of-water fear in her eyes, her smile would be striking. "I-It's nothing."
Cassie swiveled and power-walked her way to the front before Marshal could stammer a reply.
Oh no.
"Psst. Marshal!" Mindy whispered, beckoning. There were the only two people left in the shop from what he could tell. " Where's Raphael?"
Damn it, damn it, damn it.
He dug for his gloves. "It's his birthday. Why's everyone keep asking stuff like that?"
"You're alone?" Her eyes bugged out of her head. Her voiced dropped back to hushed. "Are they out looking for Suzi too?"
"No. I only just heard about it. What did Cassie want?"
"Looking for Suzi! Duh. You have to find her!" Tears welled in Mindy's eyes. Marshal's jaw fell a bit slack--beyond his control.
"Listen, calm down. Who is Suzi? What's she look like?"
"A little blond black girl"—a what?—"Dan Colbert's daughter."
"She's a pale brunette." Marshal heard the swish-swish of the front doors. New customer?
"Who told you that? She's famous near the Staples. I trade with Colbert Pharmacy. Dan's in a panic!"
Which Suzi was missing? Was anyone missing? Definitely time to call home. "We might have already found her. I got a lead."
"Oh, that's great news!" she said, over-the-top or out-of-her-mind. Sometimes he wondered. "Ready to check out?"
"Yeah…can I get ten pounds of ground chuck?"
"My pleasure!" The meat was weighed and sealed in moments, the tally from the hover-basket added to the grand total: Eighty-five credits. Account verified, the goods were packaged in a larger pink canvas baggie. As Marshal reassured her and turned to leave, Mindy's expression fell. She jerked a thumb behind the counter. "Might want to hit the back door."
"Eh?"
"Cassie didn't come alone. This may be Knights' turf, and thank God for that, but one of you alone is tempting prey. Got it?" Hard to argue with lucid-Mindy. Marshal nodded and followed her though storage towards the Shop-Shop's rear.