“I am like a fine wine in a paper cup.” Ben.

Heaven followed Ben onto the upper-tier balcony. “Come back in,” she said.

“Look!” said Ben pointing over the railing. He turned and raced down the stairs.

Trumo sat on a pool chair at wit’s end, his friends unable to console him. Ben ran up to him with a smile. “Trumo,” he called happily.

“Huh?” asked Trumo in surprise. He stood and faced his benefactor. “Aren’t you the guy who handed me the winning ticket?”

Ben nodded. “I hope it helped,” said he.

Trumo, embarrassed, turned and rubbed the back of his neck, unwilling to admit that all of the creds were gone. He turned back and looked hard at the friendly stranger. “I never got the name.”

Ben stuck out his hand for a handshake. “Ben Shuller,” he said.

Trumo’s mouth dropped open. It had to be him? Turner immediately lunged. Ben leaped easily to the side. Both Nab and Turner rushed in only to see the mark somersault backward and land like an athlete. Trumo watched his friends stumble into one another. It felt wrong, but Trumo jumped into the fray.

The mark leaped this way and that. Wild swings were easily deflected. Trumo managed, at last, to get his hands on the mark’s shirt. “Come here, you!” Trumo was frustrated and angry. His friends circled the smiling mark, then two loud pops were heard, and Trumo saw Nab and Turner fall beside him.

He looked beyond Ben and saw a female Constable wielding a palm stunner. “Step back,” she said in a commanding tone.

Heaven whistled, and two pool cleaners walked uncertainly from their labors. Heaven said to them, “Put those two in chairs.” She turned to Trumo who dropped his hands. She spoke to both Trumo and Ben. “You two with me.”

Heaven closed the apartment door, took Trumo by the scruff of the neck, and pushed him into the sofa. She stood above him with a menacing scowl and demanded, “I. D.”

Having fumbled his card into her possession, Trumo kept a wary eye on the weapon still in her hand. Ben sat beside him and smiled as he watched. Heaven scanned the card with her wrist comm and tossed it back at him.

She read from her information, “Trumo Nikan. Thief, hustler, and all-around lowlife. Unimpressive arrest record.”

That was harsh, thought Trumo. Unimpressive? He looked between the Mark and the Constable; he couldn’t afford to be arrested. He had to come up with something, anything, and quick.

Heaven spoke first. “I see you barely know how to fight. I am a Constable with confirmed kills under my belt, and I’m not beyond breaking your knobby little head. This young man,” she said indicating Ben, “is under my jurisdiction. I will tell you plainly, I am authorized to use deadly force.”

Trumo sat straight and screwed on his blameless face. “It was just a misunderstanding. Honest.”

Heaven replied deadpan, “Not buying it. I know a grab when I see it. Tell me who you’re working for and I’ll go light on you.”

Trumo twisted in his seat. She was tough as walnuts. Now, what could he do? On the one hand, Perfekto had him over a barrel. On the other hand, the Constable had him over a barrel. He could feel his eyes burning but was not ready to cry. His sister needed him, and he was an absolute screw-up. Trumo turned from the Constable in shame.

Ben said, “Whatever it is, Heaven can help.”

Trumo turned to look at the mark. He had never known such a genuine character. They had to be about the same age, but Ben came off like a child, innocent and earnest. Suddenly, the Constable crouched before him, and Trumo was trapped between the glare of the law and the wide eyes of a cherub.

“Just say it,” said Heaven.

Trumo lowered his face; the tear he fought was gaining ground. His veneer was cracking and his desperation was spilling out. He said, “They got my sister.”

Having locked Trumo and his friends in the janitor’s apartment, Heaven locked Ben inside his bedroom with a hasty apology. It’s for your own good. Her authority in Ashpall meant nothing until she registered with the Ashpall Police Department. She hurried to the skid.

Having put in the paperwork, all she could do was wait the obligatory twelve hours. She returned through crowded streets not really seeing the people around her. She had taken on the protection of the younger Ben, not knowing the full extent of the matter, and knowing not the first thing about the High Legion Mordorains. There had already been an attempt on Ben’s life; now, she would have to pad security.

Heaven stopped at a local market slash diner to buy toiletries. As she turned from the register to leave, she heard familiar voices. She peeked into the diner, and yes, there in a corner booth sat the Berg twins, Affe and Aggi. Heaven walked to the booth, and the laughing twins looked up in surprise.

Sitting straight, the twins hailed her in unison. “Corporal.”

Heaven sat across from the twins with an easy smile. “I’m not your Corporal any longer. I am a Constable in the Royal Constabulary of Pendragon.”

“Constable Langley,” hailed the twins in unison. Then with a laugh, Aggi asked, “What brings you to Ashpall?”

“Raised here,” answered Heaven. “I’ve just come from the APD. Had to register. What about you two?”

“We’re on disciplinary leave,” said Affe.

Aggi continued. “We’re waiting for our marriage license.”

Confused, Heaven asked, “Wait, aren’t you siblings?”

“Oh,” said Affe. “Ashpall allows it. We just need a certificate of sterility.” Aggi concluded, “All good.”

With a shake of her head, Heaven said, “Never mind. Say, would you two be up for a little babysitting work?” encouraged by an immediate nod, Heaven asked, “Do you remember the wizard of HP954?”

Affe grinned. “He was cool!” Aggi said, “We’re in.”

“I have to tell you,” said Heaven, “things have changed. What I’m about to tell you stays between us.” She leaned across the table, and the twins drew close in eager anticipation.

Heaven sat the twins on the sofa and made introductions. “Ben, this is Aggi and Affe Berg. They will keep you company while I run some errands.” She turned at the lift and added, “I suppose I should set the thug free.”

The lift door closed, Ben stood and looked at the twins. “Swedish?” he asked.

Affe and Aggi looked at one another and laughed. Aggi turned to Ben and said, “So, you’ve changed.”

Ben sat beside Aggi, an earnest crease above his brow. “Did you know me when I was old?” he asked.

“I thought you were cool,” answered Affe.

“Before you ask,” said Aggi, “Constable Langley said we can’t tell you about your past.”

“So, you’re just here to babysit,” said Ben.

“We’re here to keep you company,” said Affe. “The Constable promised us a meal.”

Ben smiled. “I recommend the spaghetti.”

They played War on the coffee table. Ben smiled at a random win. Then came a knock at the door. The twins looked up in alarm, but Ben ran to the door and threw it open. Standing behind Ben, they saw a swarthy young man with sad eyes.

“Trumo, come in,” said Ben drawing him inside by the arm. “This is Aggi and Affe. They’re like Swedish babysitters.”

Trumo glanced at the twins as Ben closed the door. He turned back to Ben. “I just wanted to apologize, and say your Constable is really scary.” He attempted a smile.

Ben drew him to the couch. “I want to be like her. You want something to drink?”

Affe said, “There’s beer in the cooler.”

Ben replied, “Official use only.”

“I got to go,” said Trumo. “I need to find a way to save my sister.” He sighed and slumped. “I don’t even know where she is.”

Ben sat beside Trumo, concern on his face. “Heaven can help.”

Affe crouched to look directly into Trumo’s eyes. “Your sister. Is she in trouble?”

Trumo nodded. “Perfekto is holding her hostage.” Trumo stared at his clenched fists. “I’m some kind of lousy brother!”

Ben put his arm across Trumo’s shoulders. “We’re all on your side. How can we help?”

Aggi said, “I bet she’s scared.”

Pained, Trumo confessed to Ben. “I only do what I do to raise my little sister. She’s innocent. I never wanted to get her involved. I wanted her to finish school. I swear, if I can get her back, I’ll take her off world.”

Aggi said, “I can tell you love her.” She sat on the other side of Trumo. “Tell us about her. What’s her name?”

Trumo straightened and answered. “Cora,” he said with burning eyes. “I had just bought her a wrist comm for her birthday.” He turned to Aggi and tried to smile. “She’s sixteen.”

“I know,” said Ben. He jumped to his feet and ran to his bedroom. Puzzled, the twins waited with a shrug. Ben ran back to the couch and held out his hand to Trumo.

Ben said, “I just bought this. When you get your sister back, you can give her this from all of us. Then, she’ll have a spare.”

Trumo took the pink wrist comm and looked at Ben with unbelieving eyes. “I gave her a pink wrist comm.” He opened the band and looked at the back. The words, To Cora, were engraved in the metal. “This is the one I bought for Cora,” he said to Ben. “Where did you get it?”

Taken aback, Ben answered, “Downtown, at a store.”

Trumo rolled the comm over in his hand; he rubbed the engraving with his thumb. “I bought this because it has a built-in tracker. That way I could find her in an emergency. I lost her signal. I thought it was broken.” He looked around himself from face to face. “Now I’m really screwed.”

Ben was quick to say, “Don’t give up. We’ll show it to Heaven when she returns.”

Affe stood and held out his hand to Trumo. “Let me see that,” he said. Aggi jumped to her brother’s side and added with a smile, “Affe knows trackers.”