The Lost Destroyer (Lost Starship Series Book 3) Read Online Free

Strength alone couldn’t break the neck with a punch.”
    “Someone with a crank bat could have possibly done it with normal strength,” Riker said, “or with some other suitable implement like a steel bar.”
    “I didn’t attack and kill Sten Gorgon,” Maddox said. “You have a bionic arm and are trained in close combat of an extremely dirty variety. But your loyalty to Star Watch is impeccable. Thus, you didn’t kill the man, either.”
    “That leaves two people who could have murdered Gorgon like this,” Riker said. “The obvious person is Per Lomax.”
    “If the New Man did it, why was Gorgon carrying the shock collar?”
    “Because Per Lomax put it there,” Riker said. “What could be easier to explain?”
    “Let me see if I understand your reasoning,” Maddox said. “During the magnetic storm, Per Lomax slipped from the holding cell and unlocked the shock collar, which he then carried with him. He surprised Gorgon and lashed out viciously, snapping the man’s neck with a blow, killing the trapper. Per Lomax knew his time was limited—that the AI and ship-monitoring systems were only temporarily down. The New Man paused long enough, however, to unbutton the dead man’s shirt, tucked the shock collar there, buttoned the shirt closed and even stuffed the ends of the shirt under the trousers. Is that what you’re suggesting?”
    “I suppose not.” Riker eyed the captain. “But if I didn’t do it, you didn’t do it and neither did Per Lomax… There is one other possibility. Meta.”
    “Yes. I’ve already been considering that.”
    “If you’ll allow me to speak, sir,” Riker said.
    “Go ahead.”
    “I wish I could put this delicately, but Meta was with Kane for quite some time.”
    For just a moment, Maddox’s features tightened.
    Kane had been a spy for the New Men sent to Earth. The spy had kidnapped Meta from New York City and taken her into space. Using an ancient device known as the Nexus, Kane had jumped to Wolf Prime ahead of them. There, in planetary orbit, Kane had taken Meta to Per Lomax aboard one of the enemy star cruisers. Per Lomax had sent Meta to someone the New Men referred to as “the teacher”. The teacher had modified her mind in some manner. It was why the professor no longer trusted Meta.
    “I would appreciate it if you got to the point,” Maddox told the sergeant.
    “Could Meta have…listened to a hidden compulsion to free Per Lomax from confinement?” Riker asked.
    “Yes,” Maddox said, exhaling. “The possibility exists.” He hated admitting this to himself or aloud.
    “Gorgon found out what she was doing and tried to stop her. Meta bashed him. In her panic, she hit Gorgon hard enough to snap his neck.”
    “Would she pause long enough to put the shock collar under the dead man’s shirt?” Maddox asked.
    “I think she might, sir. Meta used to be an assassin. She might have paused long enough to plant a distracting clue knowing that later you would find it.”
    The idea had a ring of plausibility. Meta had helped repair the ancient starship the first time. Could she have secretly caused the vessel to appear out of a star drive jump near the spatial anomaly?
    “Galyan,” Maddox called. “I have to ask you a question.”
    The holoimage reappeared before them.
    “I am working swiftly, Captain,” Galyan said. “I have already checked twenty-eight percent of the hidden locations. Obviously, I haven’t yet discovered Per Lomax or I would have informed you.”
    “Where’s Meta?” Maddox asked.
    “In her sleeping compartment,” Galyan said.
    “Is she alone?”
    “Yes, Captain.”
    “Thank you,” Maddox said. “You may continue your search.”
    A second later, Galyan vanished again.
    Riker rubbed his chin. “I’m not sure I like having an ancient computer entity watching me while I’m in my room.”
    “It has its drawbacks,” Maddox admitted. “Now, unlimber your stunner, Sergeant, and remain alert. We will work under the assumption