The Colonel's Last Meal

PHILADELPHIA ,2041-

It was an overcast afternoon during one of the hottest summer's to date...It was about 97 degrees in the city and cloudy, overcast....

My wife , Detective Monica Nellis and I, Detective Nate Nellis were relaxing in our Central air conditioned duplex...

Kissing passionately...

"Okay...we are going to have to cool it before we get over excited and either get my skirt wrinkled or we wind up in bed and are late for our meeting with your friend.."said Monica..

"Colonel Mars is not actually a Friend " in that sense of the word..." I said.

"He was your C.I. (Confidential Informant) said Monica ,smiling...She had read my mind...

"I hate you!" I joked..

"No you don't...You love me to pieces.."she jokingly retorted...

"Can't argue that....but yeah, he was my C.I. when I was in Narcotics and when I was in Vice...He really knew the streets....He gave me invaluable information and it was always good.."I said.

"And you turned your back to what HE was into!" said Monica..

I grimaced....

"Yeah...I did...more times than I ought to have.."I said.

"Baby....Bae!  I wasn't always Murder Police...I worked in Narcotics and Vice too! and I had C.I.'s... C.I.'s I knew were working girls...and drug addicts and dealers....You don't think I turned my back to them?  It's all part of the game...I understand.." she said and smiled..

''Colonel Mars was a low level drug dealer.....At one time he may have had no more than three corners..Then he became the kind of guy who put people together...He was never a big time playa...He was always on the fringes...but he knew the playas and his information was always good..
He was playing in an all night floating crap game....Two guys stuck em up...And shot and killed everybody playing...Except the Colonel...The colonel survived his wounds and identified both shooters... They were arrested and tried and executed....After that, the Colonel got out of the game...Or so he says...He went to the Moon.....That was a few years ago...before you and I met..."I said.

"Now he's back in town and wants to meet with you...?" asked Monica..

"Yeah...He says I was always square with him...." I said...

''Well partner...We'd better get going...I'm hungry!" said Monica..

I pulled her to me and kissed her passionately...

"I'm Horny too!" I said..

"Horndog...I said I'm Hungry...Not Horny!....Come on before we wind up in bed!" she laughed..

II-

It was hot and hazy and overcast and starting to get darker as Monica and I ventured out..but we found the Tony Restaurant that the Colonel said he wanted to meet us at and he was already there waiting for us..
To my surprise Colonel Mars invited Monica and me to one of the newest bistros in town...

A very brightly lit bistro called Illumination~!

''Nate ,this place is gorgeous!" said Monica..

"It is...I'm going to bring you back here....I promise...Just you and me.." I said..

"I know what you make Babe, I mean I'm in the same boat...Isn't this above our pay grade?" asked Monica..

"We'll certainly see tonight..."I said smiling and softly rubbing her hands....I wanted to do the best for Monica...I wanted to take her to the best places..She knew that...She knew my heart..
"Nate!  I mean, Detective Nellis...How long has it been?" came the voice... Colonel Mars...That was his real name was a year older than me, about my height...Thin, Brown skinned...and a snazzy dresser....He had on a tailor made suit and a nice fresh cologne...

"Too Long and Not Long Enough Colonel....How you been?" I asked..

He smiled and shook my hand...but I could tell that something was bothering him... Yet he looked at Monica and smiled...

"And who is this?" he asked...

"I'm Nate's partner...In Homicide...Detective Monica Nellis.." said Monica..

He smiled..

"Oh ,so you're in Homicide now...Murder Police...Good...You've got a pretty partner...Wait...You said your name is Monica Nellis..??? Like his last name???....You two related or somethin...?" he asked.

"You could say that!"I laughed..

''We are husband and wife..We've been married almost two years now!"said Monica, gushing...

His eyes got as wide as saucers...

"Married!  AND PARTNERS?? They let you guys do that?" he asked..

"They do now!" said Monica...

He shook his head...

"Niceeeee...Nattttttttttttttttttttttte.....You old hound dog you...You married your partner...Can't say that I blame you....She's a looker...I wouldn't want her out of my sight either.." he said...

We sat down and had a nice  dinner...

''So what's bothering you?" asked Monica...She had scanned his mind, but I could already tell that something was on his mind..

He looked out the window..

"I'm that obvious huh?" he said..

''Yeah man...you are..." I said.

He passed me a key....

"This is for you...It's a safe deposit box in Lemuria, the Underwater City...Ever been there?" he asked.

"Yeah once or twice.." I said.

"Nate I'm in trouble..."he said.

"I gathered..."I said..

"You're the only person I can trust...I was getting death threats when I was on the moon and I had a close call...So I bounced ,came back to Philly...but the same person that has been calling me has been calling me here..Says I can't escape..." he said..

"Still in the game huh?" I said shaking my head..

"Nate , I was straight for a long while...Then I got involved with these people....At first I was just putting people together....You know...Then things got deeper...Too deep...They were treacherous and paranoid...People started getting whacked...People like me...I uh took some insurance...Insurance for my future...You might say..." he said.

 "And that insurance is in Lemuria...?" said Monica..

Colonel Mars smiled..

"Ohhhhhhhhh I like her Nate, she's a good partner...Smart.." he said..

"She is...I can put you someplace you'll be safe...What is this all about?" I asked..

"I'll tell you...but not here..not tonight..Meet me at this address tomorrow..It's where I'm staying...And come alone..Well, you can bring her...I like beauty!" he said and smiled at Monica..

Monica smiled at him....

He looked afraid...

"Okay Colonel...I'll meet you tomorrow.."I said.. Just then the waiter came out with our order...

Three Orders of New York Strip Steaks....

And a vintage wine...

"Nate, Mr. Mars...The food is incredible...Ummmmmmmmmm..."said Monica..

"Oh My God...This steak is cooked just right..." I said..

"Glad you enjoy the cuisine...Please visit my two other restaurants.." came the voice of someone Colonel Mars seemed to know..

"Ginger..!!! Ginger Baby is this your joint??" he asked..

"Hello Colonel, yes it is...I own two more just like it...Well not quite as bright..but pretty nice and I own a fourth one in Lemuria, the underwater city..." she said..

"I hope you don't mind me telling my friends here that I knew you back in the day , when you was a Madam." said Colonel Mars..

"That was a long time ago." said Ginger Larue... "I went straight...I parlayed my money into one restaurant and it grew to four.." she said..

Neither I nor Monica could imagine her making that much money from managing hookers...In fact Monica stared at her funny...

Then sent me a telepathic message...

"She's Lying.." 

I smiled...I figured it..

"So Colonel, I heard you were in Luna City for awhile..."said Ginger Larue..

"Yeah ,I was...Now I'm back." he said.

''Where you stayin?" she asked..

He told her his address...

"You should come around...Maybe we can have some drinks, Talk about old times." he said.

"Remember when is the most boring of conversations...Besides...You're still in the game somewhat...I'm a legitimate businesswoman... I don't need the kind of headache you bring....But it was nice seeing you again...You and your friends....Enjoy your meal.." she said...

"Maybe you shouldn't let on to too many people where you're staying." I said..

"You're right Nate...But me and Ginger Larue...We go way back..." he said.

"Things end bad between you two?  She didn't seem to want any parts of you.." said Monica.

Colonel Mars grimaced...

"Yeah Kind of ....I'm happy to see that she's doing good for herself.. Come on let's enjoy this good meal"he said...

We finished off our strip steaks...

and our wine...

Yes finish of a good meal because tomorrow, we could be dead, as the saying goes..

We spoke no more about it...We just enjoyed our meal..




III-

The next day....Monica and I wet to the hotel room near the waterfront where the Colonel was staying...

"Partner...I can't hear any thoughts...Are you sure he's here?" asked Monica..

"This is where he said to meet." I said...

"You know, you told me he was a low level guy....but that suit he had on was tailor made....very expensive and his shoes was like a week's pay....and this area.....Aint cheap..Not to mention ,he paid for all three of our meals and that wine last night...at that tony bistro.."mused Monica..

Of course she was right......

The door was open.....We stepped in.....

"Yo Colonel!  It's Nate...and Monica...You here?" I said..

"Partner, come in here....I've found your friend..."said Monica...who was in the next room!

Colonel Mars was in his living room....his hands tied to the kitchen table and both of his feet ,bound also...and two shots in the back of his head...one had exited out his left eye..... A puddle of blood on the floor beside him....He was dead!

I heard the sound of a motorized vehicle taking off.....

Monica looked out the window....

"Nate come here quick..." she said..

A man dressed in all black was getting on a supercycle and taking off...He had a gun in a holster, with a silencer...

I used my cyber eye to get the license plate off the cycle...

''Let's get him!!!" I said.

''Way ahead of you partner.." she said.

We boarded my flying car......and were in hot pursuit of the man....

In the Supercycle ,he could move at wicked speed....at nearly 300 miles an hour ,with a computerized object sensor that kept him from colliding or crashing into anything...

Flying up above him....I could follow him and not have to worry about the people below...

He took us on quite a ride...before I caught up with him and got in front of him...

He fired three shots at us...

"He's shooting at us partner.." said Monica..

"Yeah....I see...."I said...

I didn't want to shoot him at the speed he was going and risk hitting someone below...

He was his own worst enemy...He overshot the peir and splashed into the river....

His Cycle floated topside...So did his lifeless body......I didn't understand him being dead...But he appeared to be...

My wife's identical twin sister, Monique or rather, Dr. Monique Talbert-Cotton...The County Coroner was there within thirty minutes...She watched as the body was brought out of the water..

"Never a dull moment with you two..." She laughed..

''We have another body back by the riverfront on the other side of here sis."I said..

"Murdered by this guy...We think."said Monica..

"Oh Myyyyyy."said Monique, who smiled...She kneeled down, put on her latex gloves and examined the body....

She unzippered the leather jacket her was wearing and felt the body....

"No bones broken....No trauma to the body...."she said and turned the body over as Monica and I observed...

 "No Gunshot wounds...We didn't shoot at him!" said Monica..

"We didn't!"I added...

"I believe you...Calm down.."said Monique still observing the body....

"I can't determine a cause of death.....I need to take him to the morgue,open him up...."said Monique...

'Go ahead...release the body..."said Monica...

"But come back with us and take a look at our other body..."I said..

"Okay... said Monique...

Monique was stunned when we got back to the hotel room where Colonel Mars was...

Colonel Mars's body  was still in his living room, where we'd left him....His hands tied to the kitchen table and both of his feet ,bound also...and two shots in the back of his head...one had exited out his left eye..... A puddle of blood on the floor beside him....He was dead!

"Oh My God....No mystery to his cause of death....Two GSW's to the head...Wow! "said Monique..

''Where is your husband?" asked Monica..

"Right here.." said her husband and our boss..Lieuteant Frankie Cotton, Homicide...

''What a mess..." he said picking up shell casings off of the floor and depositing them in a plastic bag..He had on Latex gloves also..

"We think we have the shooter..."I said.

"Yeah?" he said, smiling...

"Nate and I chased a guy ,leaving from here on a Super Cycle....He overshot the pier and wound up in the river..."said Monica..

"Bet he felt salty...No pun intended..."laughed Lt. Cotton...

"He's not feeling much of nothing....He's dead sir...and we don't know the reason why...We pulled a gun off of him and a silencer....Ballistics will have to match the slugs in Colonel Mars here with his gun..I'm sure they are a match!" I said..

"And you guys got a closed case......I love it...Nice...Wrapped up nice and neat....And you two have some vacation time coming...Kylie will be back tomorrow...You could start taking it right now.." he said..

"But Lou..."I said..

Monica shushed me..

"That's a great idea  Lou...." she said...She pulled me to the side...

"I know you think there is more to this....I do too....But you tell him you want to go to Lemuria to further investigate this case, a case he thinks is down and you know what he's going to say...Let's go on vacation sweetie...To Lemuria and find out what was in that Safe Deposit box ..." said Monica..

"You know something girl...I love you to pieces.."I said...

"Of course you do...That's why you married me.."she laughed....and winked at me...

 I kissed her passionately in the doorway.....

"I love you to pieces." I said in between kisses....

She giggled...

The rain had stopped......There was a beautiful rainbow on the horizon....Too bad I had a very deadly feeling of foreboding in the pit of my stomach...

(TO BE CONTINUED)