Spacestastic Mysteries

Who Killed Ben? Episode 12 - The Showdown

Federal Agent and seasoned SpaceVessel Commander, Jessa Strazzer, emerges from the wreckage of a devastating accident that claimed the life of her beloved husband, Ben. Returning to her duties with a heavy heart, she grapples with grief and unanswered questions, determined to uncover the truth behind the tragedy that shattered her world.

As Jessa sifts through the remnants of her past life, she stumbles upon a mysterious box of items left behind by Ben. Within its depths lies a chilling revelation: the accident that claimed Ben's life was no mere mishap, but a deliberate act of sabotage.

As they follow a trail of clues that leads them ever closer to the truth, Jessa and Nate find themselves confronting dark secrets and powerful adversaries hell-bent on keeping the truth buried. With danger lurking around every corner and time running out, they must race against the clock to expose the sinister forces at play before they become the next targets.

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Federal Agent and seasoned SpaceVessel Commander, Jessa Strazzer, emerges from the wreckage of a devastating accident that claimed the life of her beloved husband, Ben. Returning to her duties with a heavy heart, she grapples with grief and unanswered questions, determined to uncover the truth behind the tragedy that shattered her world.

As Jessa sifts through the remnants of her past life, she stumbles upon a mysterious box of items left behind by Ben. Within its depths lies a chilling revelation: the accident that claimed Ben's life was no mere mishap, but a deliberate act of sabotage.

As they follow a trail of clues that leads them ever closer to the truth, Jessa and Nate find themselves confronting dark secrets and powerful adversaries hell-bent on keeping the truth buried. With danger lurking around every corner and time running out, they must race against the clock to expose the sinister forces at play before they become the next targets.

Federal Agent and seasoned SpaceVessel Commander, Jessa Strazzer, emerges from the wreckage of a devastating accident that claimed the life of her beloved husband, Ben. Returning to her duties with a heavy heart, she grapples with grief and unanswered questions, determined to uncover the truth behind the tragedy that shattered her world.

As Jessa sifts through the remnants of her past life, she stumbles upon a mysterious box of items left behind by Ben. Within its depths lies a chilling revelation: the accident that claimed Ben's life was no mere mishap, but a deliberate act of sabotage.

As they follow a trail of clues that leads them ever closer to the truth, Jessa and Nate find themselves confronting dark secrets and powerful adversaries hell-bent on keeping the truth buried. With danger lurking around every corner and time running out, they must race against the clock to expose the sinister forces at play before they become the next targets.

Federal Agent and seasoned SpaceVessel Commander, Jessa Strazzer, emerges from the wreckage of a devastating accident that claimed the life of her beloved husband, Ben. Returning to her duties with a heavy heart, she grapples with grief and unanswered questions, determined to uncover the truth behind the tragedy that shattered her world.

As Jessa sifts through the remnants of her past life, she stumbles upon a mysterious box of items left behind by Ben. Within its depths lies a chilling revelation: the accident that claimed Ben's life was no mere mishap, but a deliberate act of sabotage.

As they follow a trail of clues that leads them ever closer to the truth, Jessa and Nate find themselves confronting dark secrets and powerful adversaries hell-bent on keeping the truth buried. With danger lurking around every corner and time running out, they must race against the clock to expose the sinister forces at play before they become the next targets.

"I believe you," I told Natasha who lay on her bed, reading a book. The old-fashioned kind with pages and a spine. The kind you could actually hold in your hands. I noticed that it was Holmes and Watson, a Sherlock Holmes' novel, that held Natasha's attention. "I believe you that you didn't kill Ben. You may have tried to lure my husband away from me, fooled me and Ben into thinking you were on the Freedom Alliance's side, but you are no murderer."

Natasha peered at me over the book. "But I did steal your husband away, Jessa. Just for one night–May 8, 2150. It was a wonderful night. He was the most gentle..."

He couldn't have. There was no way. Not on that date.

As I glanced at my ring, May 8–that was Ben and my anniversary. That was the week that Ben surprised me by taking me to his father's cabin in Northern Arizona. Yavapai County had a late unexpected snow storm that trapped us inside the cabin the entire week. Not that we minded. Somehow we found activities to keep us occupied. I smiled to myself, briefly reliving the events of that trip in my mind. That was the week we conceived Joshua. "Do you know what Ben's last assignment was, Natasha?" I paced back and forth in front of the cell. Not out of nervousness but to annoy Natasha.

"Jessa, our last assignment was–"

I shook my head, stopping in front of the cell. "Ben's last assignment was to investigate his partner. General Graham suspected that she was a double agent," I informed Natasha, whose face turned hot and pinched with resentment.

Before Natasha could say anything, I added, "You see, Ben started investigating you. When it was evident that you were working for the Crimson Fleet, Ben called me home. One well-placed call from me confirmed you were taking money from the enemy."

"You're lying," she thundered, putting down the book. Her eyes blazed murderously.

"The way I see it, you didn't kill Ben, but you know who did," I speculated, pacing again. For some reason, I thought better when I paced.

"But I didn't kill Benji," Natasha shrieked, moving to the edge of the bed. "I swear I didn't. You have to believe me, Jessa."

When she realized we weren't buying her Lieutenant Colonel Polk act any longer, she referred to me as Jessa instead of Colonel. Although I found her shift in attitude quite intriguing, I knew I still couldn't trust her to tell us the truth.

"Then, my husband was murdered," I concluded; my breath became raw in my throat. I bunched my fists tightly. I wanted to do Natasha bodily harm. Again, I took a deep breath and resumed, "I have a source who says you have been exchanging our information for Crimson Fleet money."

Natasha steepled her fingers, staring at them. "Maybe I have. Maybe I haven't."

"You had the motive and the means to kill my brother," Nate ground out his words between clenched teeth. "Now if you don't tell us who killed Ben and why, you will be going to prison for his murder."

"CHIP, play disk," I instructed the computer.

When I saw Ben's face, I unconsciously ripped my hand away from Nate.

"Agent Benjamin Masters' Log, January 8, 2150...Agent Austin and I have infiltrated Bravo Ait without incident. We are in search of the crew of the Washington. So far we haven't been able to locate them. We, however, have happened upon a compound. It was pretty easy to make it past the guards. We entered the TravelTram, but before we pressed any buttons, the TravelTram plummeted ten or more floors," Ben told his computer, sitting in a large chair in the landing craft again.

Each log we viewed took place in that vessel. I deduced that Austin and Ben must have set it up as a Command Post.

Ben continued, "When we exited the TravelTram, we found ourselves in what appeared to be a deserted basement. Two men approached us. Austin pulled me into a nearby closet. From there, we watched the men enter what looked like a laboratory. It had test tubes, bunts and burners and a locked cabinet. Labeled bottles with a different colored solution in each filled the shelves upon shelves that lined the lab. After we were sure they were in the laboratory, we peeked through the window and eavesdropped on their conversation. They hovered over a set of plans."

Ben looked around as if he thought someone might be listening to his log. He had black circles under his red eyes. What had been keeping him up nights? The plans for the biological weapon? Or something else?

"'Once we finish this weapon, we will fill it with RY-987. We will put one of our agents on every Freedom Alliance StarVessel. Then poof! Every member aboard will be dead,' one of them–a fair-skinned, white-haired man with a British accent– told the two men we saw going in the room. Austin and I will continue to search for the missing Washington officers. Masters out."

Nate and I looked at each other.

"Now we know how Ben stumbled upon–" Something on the computer screen caught my attention.

"Benji," a dark-haired woman purred, draping herself on the arm of the chair Ben was sitting in. The date across the bottom of the screen read September 2, 2150.

"CHIP, stop disk," Nate charged the computer, grasping my hand again.

This is the Spacestastic Mysteries Podcast. We are continuing science fiction, mystery author Annagail Lynes’ first novel in the science fictions series Jaguar and Peacock Series, Who Killed Ben?

Federal Agent and seasoned SpaceVessel Commander, Jessa Strazzer, emerges from the wreckage of a devastating accident that claimed the life of her beloved husband, Ben. Returning to her duties with a heavy heart, she grapples with grief and unanswered questions, determined to uncover the truth behind the tragedy that shattered her world.

As Jessa sifts through the remnants of her past life, she stumbles upon a mysterious box of items left behind by Ben. Within its depths lies a chilling revelation: the accident that claimed Ben's life was no mere mishap, but a deliberate act of sabotage.

This is Episode 5 – Was There A Moment? If you have not subscribed, hit the bell to be notified of new episodes.

Transcript: https://annagaillynes803633422.wordpress.com/2024/06/15/who-killed-ben-episode-5-was-there-a-moment/

If you sign up for updates at https://tinyurl.com/lcsnovel, you will receive a free digital copy of Annagail's novel, The Last Chance Station, which is set in the same universe as The Jaguar and Peacock Series, but which follows the cases Colonel Alexandra Madrid solves with her partner, Tony Ashton, on a SpaceBase on the edge of space explored by the Freedom Alliance.

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We ate in silence for the next few minutes.

"How are you handling all this stuff with Ben?" Nate picked up the pitcher of lemonade, pouring some into his glass.

"I'm fine." I handed my glass out to him. My hand--visibly trembled.

"No, you are definitely shaken." He filled my glass, then replaced the pitcher. He stared at me a moment before he added, "I don't remember the last time I saw your hand shake like that." His eyes narrowed in concern.

"You can be in trouble anywhere in the universe, and I would know it," I began, loading a forkful of spaghetti into my mouth. After I chewed it thoroughly, I continued, "Why didn't I have that same sense about my husband? Why didn't I know he was in trouble?" I picked up another forkful of spaghetti.

He scrutinized me for a moment before saying anything, sipping his lemonade. "He didn't give you any clues when you saw him before the accident?"

"He was very upset when I arrived home. He had an altercation with his partner earlier in the day, which led him to believe that she was working for the Crimson Fleet." I raised my hand to glance at the wedding ring Ben bought me. I couldn't seem to bring myself to remove it. For me, slipping off my wedding ring symbolized the death of my marriage to Ben. I quickly hid my hand under the table.Then I lowered my voice and confided, "I called Morgan Kramer, our agent in the Crimson Fleet Underground. I showed her the picture of Ben's partner. Kramer told me that three years ago, the Crimson Fleet started paying Austin for Freedom Alliance information."

A comfortable silence ensued for a few minutes as we worked on our spaghetti. Nate was the first to break the silence by asking, "How did Ben react to that?"

"How do you think he reacted? He was furious." I put my glass of lemonade to my lips, then set the glass down. "I only saw him that angry once before...when my father..." I reached behind my hair to finger the long scar on the side of my neck for the second time today. I kept the scar hidden. Every time I caught a glimpse of it, my stomach threatened to turn over. Not because of the abuse but because I didn't stop it. I let that man intimidate me, cut me down with his words and hurt me with his fists and knives.

"The Washington was a vessel similar to this one. At least three-hundred people should have been on board," Nate noted, giving me a look of uneasy puzzlement. "Three-hundred people can't just disappear. Maybe the Crimson Fleet took them as prisoners."

"Perhaps," I consented, steepled my fingers and leaned back in my chair. "But the Crimson Fleet's philosophy is the survival of the fittest," I went on, trying to explain my position. "So if the Washington had been in a battle. One that crippled them. Don't you think that the Crimson Fleet would have left the injured and dead crew members?"

"And if the Washington was badly injured, there must have been casualties." He folded his hands behind his head, narrowing his eyes speculatively. "If that's the case, where are they?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't know." I intertwined my fingers and rested them on my lap. "I do think, however, that we should go through the remaining logs before jumping to any conclusions."

Nate slowly nodded his head. "Ben could have already found the bodies," Nate concluded, giving me a leisurely once-over. "In any case, it's going to be a long night."