and attacked the bar.
He downed a double shot of single malt to get the ball rolling, then headed for the balcony with a cold Coopers Red. Jen and Richie were admiring the view and also drinking Coopers so, suitably reinforced, Conan joined them.
‘Do you come here often?’ he asked, and grinned at his own clumsy question.
‘We don’t go anywhere often,’ said Jen. ‘We spend so much time in the middle of nowhere it’s a relief to meet other humans.’
‘Not least as she spends most of her time trying to talk to aliens,’ added Richie.
‘Aliens?’
‘Have you heard of the Giant Array?’ she asked.
‘No. Oh … yes. The telescopes down south?’
‘Correct.’
‘Right … you guys are astronomers?’
Yet a third kind of jealousy seeped into Conan’s soul as he regarded the two beautiful people who, not only looked somehow superhuman with their glowing good health and spectacular looks, they were also engaged in fabulous careers! It was just ridiculously unfair that some people got the looks and the brains. And the money no doubt.
‘I am,’ said Jen. ‘Richie’s the local director of the NBN. We’re only twenty ks apart which out here makes us close neighbours.’
Conan gave Richie another look and this time recognised him from certain files he’d been researching around the time of his fuck up back in Sydney. He’d been wearing a suit and tie in the official photographs.
‘But the Giant Array,’ mused Conan, trying to rise above his jealousy, ‘… didn’t I read that you guys have made some big discovery?’
Before she could answer Conan swore with surprise at the vast holographic display that flashed into life above the pitch – a slow motion replay of the last game’s highlights.
‘You’ve never been to a football match before?’ asked Richie.
‘I’ve never seen the holos so huge and live,’ admitted Conan. ‘I don’t often go to sporting events … well, never really. Obviously I’ve seen holos a million times, but not like that.’
‘What do you for a living,’ asked Jen, and Conan hesitated. In social situations, he usually gave the old vague public servant answer, but Ronny Kwai knew he was an AFP investigator so, in case it came up later, he admitted the truth.
‘AFP?’ queried Richie. ‘I’ve always wondered exactly how the police jurisdiction works up here.’
‘Well … it’s a bit confused,’ admitted Conan. ‘This is Western Australia, which is normally policed by both state and feds, depending on the nature of the offence, but because Ord City has special status under the Immigration Act … and the Ord River Zonal Citizenship Act of 2023 … us feds have additional powers. Just about everyone here is a migrant so, the way it works … most crime is covered by federal law, with a few exceptions like traffic and the like. Oh fuck!’
Conan had briefly turned and saw Ronny Kwai greeting Major Lammas, with whom was Captain Melodie Roberts, staring coldly at Conan.
‘Friends of yours?’ asked Richie.
‘They’re no friends of mine,’ muttered Jen.
Conan turned back to the stadium to collect his thoughts. The gates opened at six o’clock and very shortly the yellow tide would start to rise. Already from outside he could hear the buzz and announcements from external tannoys advising that the evening’s game against Sydney FC was a sell-out.
‘It’s always a sell-out,’ boomed Ronny, arriving in their midst, with yet another Chinese girl.
‘This is Dr Ming,’ said Ronny, introducing her. ‘She’s a scientist like you lot … well, except for you, Agent Tooley.’
‘Call me Tools,’ said Conan. ‘But what makes you think I’m not a scientist?’
‘Surely criminal investigation is an art more than a science,’ said Ronny. ‘But please excuse me.’
He hurried back inside, haranguing his wait staff in loud Cantonese and pointing at the table.
‘Hello! How are we all?’ asked Ming, all breathless, sparky enthusiasm like a C-list celebrity.
‘Have you been on TV?’ asked Conan.
‘TV?’ echoed Ming, with a dazzling smile. ‘I hope not.’
She looked oddly familiar but Conan dismissed the notion and shrugged.
‘You must have one of those faces,’ he said.
‘Yes, I suppose all we Chinese girls look the same to you,’ said Ming, but she laughed at his embarrassment and the conversation moved on safely.
‘What sort of doctor?’ asked Richie.
‘Oh … medical,’ said Ming. ‘Paediatrics.’
‘You must be busy,’ said Jen.
‘You’d think so,’ said Ming, ‘But you’re Jen Khataten … from the Giant Array?’
‘I am,’ smiled Jen, as Ming started gushing her excitement about Jen’s work.
‘Anyone after a drink?’ asked Conan, but his was the only empty glass so he went in search of a top up.
Inside, Ronny Kwai was speaking with Major Lammas and Captain Roberts, plus another large woman in the Army of God uniform, and yet another woman whom Conan recognised as Joan Chard, Chief Administrator of the Temporary Citizenship Zone.
As he approached, Melodie peeled away to examine the bar, and so Conan found himself shoulder to shoulder with her.
‘Long time no see, Captain Roberts.’
Her head snapped around and she gave him a look that would have frozen the nuts off Errol Flynn.
‘Hello, Agent Tooley.’
She accepted the mineral water that had been poured for her.
‘And goodbye,’ she added, leaving him in her wake.
‘Lovely to chat,’ he called after her, and once again found himself face to face with a grinning Ronny Kwai, this time with Joan Chard at his elbow.
‘Have you met our esteemed Chief Administrator?’ asked Ronny. ‘Colonel Chard … allow me to introduce Agent Tooley of the AFP.’
‘Call me Tools,’ said Conan, shaking her hand.
‘You’re the fellow sent up from Sydney,’ she said. ‘Any luck with that?’
Conan stared at her, sensing more unfriendly fire, and said, ‘No. In fact I’ve been told to wrap it up and come home.’
‘Bit
