Read Daisy Wong, Space Marshal: The Case of the Runaway Concubine for Free Online

Novi Sochi until two days
ago.
    At that time, she and her baby had boarded a flight for Los
Angeles, Mars.
    #
    Daisy and Muffy took a taxi directly from the Himalayan
offices to the spaceport.  On the way, Daisy commed Snakeskin.
    "Meizhen left New Ganges two days ago," Daisy
said.  "She's headed your way.  Look, Uncle, when she gets there, don't
let her or her baby anywhere near you."
    "Why not?  Their return has been my goal from the
start."
    "I don't care about your goals.  I care about you. 
Listen, I'll explain it all when I get there.  Trust me.  She's out for
blood."
    #
    Daisy and Muffy were waiting for their flight to Mars when
Jimmy Fingers commed.
    "I've chartered a fast shuttle for you," he said. 
"It's waiting at Gate G26-A."
    That was fast work, even for a tong with the reach and
influence of the Association.  Daisy's warning must have lit a fire.
    "Thanks," Daisy said.  "Jimmy, do me favor.  Do him a favor.  Stall him.  Lock him in his office if you have to, but don't
let him go to her.  And don't you dare let her worm her way in to see
him."
    #
    Despite clearances, bribes, and threats, their charter from
New Ganges to Mars could not overtake Meizhen's flight.  Indeed, Meizhen landed
a full six hours ahead of them.
    Yes, they had closed the gap to six hours, but those were
six hours that Meizhen had to position herself and her baby close to Snakeskin.
    And yet, Meizhen had gone nowhere near Snakeskin.  She and
her baby had taken a taxi into town and had registered at a hotel.  She'd sent
out a batch of cleaning and had ordered room service.
    According to Jimmy Fingers, one of the Association's
"contacts" had spotted her, and he'd sent some "people" to
keep an eye on her.
    "Don't approach her," Daisy said.  "We don't
dare spook her.  If she runs and we lose her, we'll have hell to pay."
    Jimmy Finger chuckled.  "Remember who taught you."
    "My father taught me," Daisy said.
    "Who do you think taught him?"
    When their charter finally braked into planetary approach,
Daisy commed the Los Angeles space-marshal station and ordered up a cruiser.
    It was waiting for them when they came out of the terminal.
    The "outside" air was hot and muggy and made
Daisy's skin itch.  She could already feel the grit grinding into the back of
her neck.
    "Where to?" the driver asked.
    Meizhen's hotel would be the logical choice.  It would allow
Daisy to catch the murdering bitch before she did any more damage, especially
to Snakeskin's baby.  But Daisy was tired of being one step behind.  It was
time for her to steal a march on her uncle's runaway concubine.
    "Take us to the Celestial Cybernetics and Robotics
building."
    "Yes, ma'am," the driver said, and pulled away
from the curb.
    They were halfway across town when Jimmy Fingers commed.  "She's
here," he said.
    #
    The elevator ride up to the offices of the Celestial
Fraternal Benevolent and Protective Association was a swift, stomach-lurching glide. 
The air in the elevator shaft made a low whisper as the car sped through it.
    Daisy watched the numbers light up in succession.  She
silently counted off the floors.
    They'd left the driver with the car.  If Meizhen bolted and
made it out of the building, he'd at least be able to track her.
    But now Daisy was having second thoughts.  It might have
been better to have brought him along.  In a firefight three police blasters
might prove to be handier than two.  Still, Jimmy Fingers was bound to have
people on hand.
    As comforting as it was, that thought didn't help much.
    The elevator car stopped.  The doors slid open.
    Jimmy Fingers was standing in the elevator lobby.
    "Where is she?" Daisy asked.
    "In the anteroom.  A couple of the boys are keeping an
eye on her."
    "Rudy and Trudy?"
    "Nah.  Bitsy and Ralph."
    "Is Snakeskin in his office?"
    "Safe and sound.  He's cooperating."  Jimmy held
out his hands, palms up.  "You know the drill."
    "Not this time," Daisy said.
    Jimmy Fingers gave her a long, hard