Heas said nothing, contemplating all his options. If the originators of this message discovered somehow, the ease with which he surrenders the communication device, Heas could lose his life. But he did not want to lose his leg either. He knew Anna 7 never bluffed. “Do you understand my command? “Anna spoke calmly, steadily moving forward . With his reasoning over, Heas answered, “Yes.” Heas carefully pushed the small device out into the open for her to see.

Her black fingerless gloved hands gracefully positioned with palms exposed forward, allowed all to see the surface structure of the pitiless disruptors, with their dull baleful, machine-like finish. Her exposed fingers and thumb enabled her to express what variations of fire power Anna chose to emit from this weapon, by exact movements of her digits, whether it was laser, pulses, waves or blast. Walking calmly to the bank of the creek, Anna 7 glanced down eying a certain genes of grasses thriving in abundance. She reached down and with firm conviction released the plants from their earthly home. Anna 7 stepped into the fast moving current of the creek and without pause she promptly rinsed off the prizes right there in the middle of the water, just a few paces from the nearest antagonist. Shaking the vegetation vigorously in the air, Anna gingerly placed the grasses into a pocket within the front of her waist belt.

Heas gave Sehcta some instruction, “Sehcta. Move over toward me. We don’t want Anna to get distracted and kill you too.” “Great advice Heas”, Anna 7 picked up the communicator, slipping it into a pocket behind her back. “I do not want to kill you and you do not want to die. Do what I ask you to do,” speaking with grime conviction, Anna moved closer to each man. “Put on the cuffs, “snarled Anna, throwing the restraints to the ground at each remaining criminals feet. “All I want. Is for you two offenders. To behave,” Anna 7 paused for effect. “I know the cuff restraints and shackles are very painful. So act right!” demanded Anna 7. Pointing to Sehecta to move over farther away from she and Heas, Sehcta slide up against the boulder within direct eyesight of Anna, a few paces away.

“Is this the interrogation?, asked Heas trying to move even farther away from Sehcta, just in case the conversation became a little dicey. Anna felt Heas’s obvious concern and moved back even more. “No. This is no interrogation. Just conversation.” Scratching his head then running his hands through his glossy hair, Heas nodded his head for the action to begin.

Anna started to speak, with her arms moving about vigorously, using her left hand to express her points, as that palm disruptor showed prominently - making both criminals very, very nervous. Soon, without all the arm waving, Anna spoke quietly, “We know you were headed to the Lillion resort for vacation. But, yesterday two bombs were delivered to an upscale hotel and other one to a well- known publishing company, in the city. The bombs were all detonated on site. The one thing in common besides the type of explosive used, was the suspect; we believed delivered each device at the different locations. His image is here.” Anna simply produced a likeness, showing it to Heas. “What can you tell me about this man? We found his body at an amusement park with half his head blown off.”

“That’s it. As soon as I escape from prison, I’m getting out of this end of the business. Operations. Operations is just too damn dangerous. I’m too old for this. I am running out of patience to do this much longer.” Anna tried not to be surprised to hear Heas speak so honestly. Escape? Get out of the business? “Do you know this person? He is bundled up so tightly we could not get a positive ID,” Anna paused before speaking further, giving Heas a chance to respond. Heas felt she was fabricating a lie. The Marshall Department rarely does not know who they are dealing with or who their suspects are. But he decided to answer her anyway. Speaking even more quietly, Heas replied, “I’ll tell you later,” adjusting his trousers’ in the crotch area. “I have got to get out of operations. Go into receivership. Moving the products. Get the money without all that violence. You see?” “You mean fencing?” “Yes, I am too old for this.” “How old are you,” asked Anna. “105,” said Heas. “You really look good for your age, “quipped Anna 7. “I am Rebmec. We don’t crack,” responded Heas proudly.

Anna just kept on listening. “I got into the business when I was 75. I saw my cousin making big money in slavery. The next thing I know I want the money too. For the wife and kids,” Heas spoke on. “Now look at me.” Shaking his head, Heas became quiet quickly. Anna did not want the conversation to die, “What did you do before all this slavery and extortion mess?” “I was in food distribution management for a large star system concern. “ “Easy adjustment uh?” uttered Anna moving about to obtain a better look at Sehcta leaning on a scraggly little tree near the creek bank Then she picked up the conversation. They spoke more as Anna garnered more information from Heas. Anna 7 found out from Heas, the suspect delivery bomber’s name was Gaver Zauger. A famous defense lawyer. Some of information Anna discreetly wormed out of Heas or he chose to give it up, proved pertinent and some of it was thought to be irrelevant - or so she thought!

Anna’s gut feelings told her, she had a 25% chance of using Heas as a valued informant. She figured she could get it done.
Quizzing his own score, in his latest game of “making you like me and I make you think, I like you” with Anna 7, Heas figured she would try to make him an informant. So he figured he had a 75% chance of fooling her —- at this point. It could get higher. “She’ll be back.”

Read Chapter Four