GrowingOlderHopeWiser

She began comparing Mr. Moritz and Diane LaStrange, both of whom were relatively wealthy patrons of the Gallery. Mr. Moritz was in his early 60s, a widower with two grown children who had stayed on Earth and had families of their own. He was a grandfather 5 times over. Originally, he had come to the Martian colony with his wife, who was also a scientist, and they were both Martian geologists. Martha passed away from ovarian cancer at an early age. With all the scientific advances, people still die of cancer, thought Zoe to herself. 

Diane LaStrange was in her mid-thirties, very athletic, and active in swimming. She studied the Dolphins that had been brought to the colonies and were kept in the rather large scientific aquatic facility on WD2, where a number of Earth sea creatures were being carefully studied by hundreds of marine biologists. She was single, never married, and had come to the colony 5 years ago on a University Grant. 

That was it. There was no other connection between the two, except for the Gallery. It could be said that about 80 percent of the scientists, scholars, and government employees were connected to the Gallery in some way. 

Zoe went alone to meet Inspector Frank at PD3. His offices, piled with files and boxes, looked chaotic and disheveled, not unlike Frank himself. A few plants dotted the rooms. He had a secretary/assistant, Nano 2, a robot, who was very efficient even amid the office’s chaos. A large hangar that warehoused the Security 1 Nano Robots was attached to his offices. Nano 2 robots kept them polished and ready for service. A couple of humans also worked at PD3; Brian Malarkey and Stephen Judd were his detectives. Both were rather young and inexperienced, unlike Inspector Frank. 

Zoe explained how she knew both Diane and Mr. Moritz through the Gallery, but she did not really know them on a personal level. She explained that Gregorio just recently joined them from Earth and was to be the New Gallery21 Director. He was not acquainted with either of them. 

Maybe, as a courtesy or because he genuinely could use the extra help, he shared the results of the investigation so far with Zoe, which did not amount to very much. No DNA, no prints, alcohol was consumed in a small amount before death, and no weapon was found.

Inspector Frank popped a couple of aspirin and told Zoe he would be in touch. He was visibly in pain, his brow was furrowed, and his eyes were glassy.

Zoe returned to the Gallery, not feeling very confident that this investigation was proceeding as it should. It was just a nagging feeling about something she could not put her finger on.

To be continued