Redwood: Servant of the State by Jaxon Reed Read Free Book Online Page B

none of this is allowed, is it?
    About this time, a house cat strolled out the door. It was a big one. Black, with white feet, and a white-tipped tail.
    “Mr. Fluffy!” Connie reached down and scooped him up.
    “Come on, Dee Dee. Help me show him the rest of the station.”
    -+-
    We saw only a handful of other people as we walked around. They mostly waved and went back to what they were doing, or headed toward the large building in the center. A few were interested enough in a fresh face to come over and meet me.
    I made a comment on the lack of people for such a large place.
    “There’s only about three dozen people here,” Dee Dee said.
    “That’s right,” Connie said. “Fourteen families: The Cruzes, the Patels, the Ngs, the Rustins …” She went down the list, counting them off on her fingers.
    “But, I thought human presence was strictly regulated out here. I mean, Jenkins said Rangers are allowed to bring their wives, but your dad is a Professor. What’s he doing out here, and how are you all here?”
    “We’re not really here legally,” Dee Dee said. “The Rangers’ wives are a loophole, and it’s been exploited over the years. But there’s no record of most of the rest of us being here.”
    “I see.”
    But again, I didn’t see. I filed it away for future thought.
    “Come on,” Connie said, grabbing my hand. “Let’s go back to Daddy.”
    -+-
    When we entered the large building, it looked like the entire population of three dozen people was present. Facing me from a table in the center were Professor and Mrs. Cruz, along with Ranger Jenkins and Eleanor. The rest were seated around the room. Everybody stared at me.
    “Have a seat, Mr. Savitch.”
    I sat, facing Professor Cruz and the rest. So … another tribunal. Only, with more than three people. And half of them are women. And everybody else is present, too.
    “We’ve been researching your case, Mr. Savitch. Colt, read to him a synopsis of what you’ve found.”
    Jenkins nodded, pulled a bit of vid paper out of his pocket and unfolded it. He held it out at arms length and started reading.
    “Galactic Police, System-wide All Points Bulletin. Wanted: Marcus Savitch of Redwood, Servant of the State. Responsible for two murders. Should be considered armed and dangerous. Current whereabouts unknown. Detain or destroy upon contact. Suspect is confirmed hematophagous.”
    When he stopped, all were silent, holding their breath. The last word seemed to echo around the room.
    The Professor cleared his throat.
    “Talk to us, Marcus. Is any of this true?”
    I looked around the room. Everybody stared at me. Connie, still absent-mindedly stroking Mr. Fluffy in her lap, had a look of horror on her face, as if she couldn’t believe she’d been walking around with a bloodsucker just a few minutes ago. Dee Dee had a look of concern in her eyes. The triplets were staring at me in wide-eyed wonder. One of them mouthed, “Wow!”
    Well, this is it, I thought. Honesty is the best policy. If they’re going to kill me, there’s nothing I can do about it.
    “Yes, I am hematophagous. I have been for about three years now. Yes, I did kill two men, but one was more of an accident and they were both in self defense.”
    This brought a gleeful explosion of excitement from the triplets.
    “Awesome!”
    “Wicked!”
    “Dude, you are bad ass !”
    “Have you killed more than two people?”
    “How much blood do you need to drink?”
    The Professor slammed his hand on the table.
    “Boys! If you cannot contain yourself I will ask you to leave. Please remain silent for the rest of the proceedings.”
    They murmured, “Yes, sir,” and appeared to be dutifully cowed. But, when the Professor looked away, one of them gave me a thumbs up, another winked, and the other mouthed, “Bad ass!” and pointed at me.
    “Why don’t you tell us your story, Marcus. Go back to how you became hematophagous and proceed through the deaths and how you came to Professor