Ugon did not respond to my accusation of murder. In fact, he sat perfectly motionless.

“We found a piece of your clothing on Keepe Style’s body.” I held up a small clear plastic evidence pouch.

Ugon reached for the bag. After a quick perusal, he said, “Yes that does look like my clothing.”

We sat in silence for a few more moments. I’d hoped Ugon would feel the need to fill the gap with further comments, but no such luck.

Finally, Jack asked, “Ugon, you confessed to damaging the bowling balls. Why don’t you admit you used a bowling ball to kill the bowler Keepe Style?”

Seeing Ugon put his hands together backwards still unnerved me.

“You are correct. I killed Keepe Style. Now let me return to my people.” He started to stand up.

I shook my head. “You’re not going anywhere. You’ll be charged with murder, and processed into our legal system. Most likely there will be a trial.”

“What do you mean? What is a trial?” Ugon looked as confused as a Rheinon could.

“A trial is where the evidence is heard, and if you’re found guilty of murder you go to jail—for a long time.”

Ugon appeared to be processing my words. I knew the translator worked, but how did my comments relate to his society.

“You do not have a reason for this thing called trial. I do not have a problem. I killed Keepe Style to make it look like a human was the murderer—like I pointed to humans melting the bowling balls. That is excusable on our world, so there should not be any charges.”

Ugon’s response perplexed me. How could killing someone have no consequences? I suspected the diplomatic community would have some say in the situation. I should have waited for Dino before accusing Ugon.

“Harrison, you and Jack take Ugon back to the station. I have something I need to do.”

“I protest. I have done nothing wrong. Take me to the Rheinon Embassy,” said Ugon, clasping his neck.

“We’ll let the diplomatic officials decide what to do with you. Now go quietly with Harrison and Jack, or we’ll have to tie your hands together.” And considering how often his hands fluttered about, I knew that would make him behave. The look on his face confirmed his understanding.

The boys took Ugon away, and I went to have a quick chat with Smith. “Is Twin Park around?” I asked.

“No. She stepped out to run some errands for me. Why?” He avoided eye contact.

“You need to talk to her about discretion. Ugon has just confessed to the murder of the Tristorian, Keepe Style. Reinforce the notion that her actions regarding the locker room code probably made him more aggressive, so that he went from melting bowling balls to committing murder.” A bit out on a limb, I pushed the point home.

“Oh, for heaven’s sake! Okay, I’ll talk to her, and perhaps be a little more tactful than you would’ve been.” He sighed. “Sorry. She’s a bit flighty but, otherwise, a good employee.”

“Good. I didn’t want to think you hired imbeciles.”

From Smith’s face, I gathered he didn’t appreciate my statement.

“I need to get back to the office. I’ll talk to you later.” Perhaps I hadn’t been the most diplomatic with Smith.

Back at the detachment, Ugon waited for my return. I asked Jack to take him to a holding cell, and then I broke the news to Inspector Hayden.

After he heard my story, Thomas said, “What a mess. I’ll have to get hold of the diplomats, and officials, and…. Actually, I’m going to throw this problem upstairs to the assistant commissioner. There’s no precedent for Ugon’s action.”

“What do you mean no precedent? He confessed to murder.” My mind boggled at the thought.

“I understand, but I don’t know the legal aspects of the BRITE Alliance. Maybe Ugon’s correct, and he can simply leave.”

“Surely the Alliance has rules against murder?” My scalp started to itch.

“Probably, but I don’t know anything about Alliance legalities. In the meantime, keep Ugon in a nice cell.”

Thomas continued, “Oh, and by the way, you need to step up security ten-fold for the rest of the competition.”

“How am I supposed to do that?” Ten-fold? My heart began to pound.

“Borrow from some other detachments, like Vancouver and Surrey. You can do it; you’re resourceful.” Thomas rang off.

Nice cell? Ten-fold? Inspector Hayden, obviously concerned about the situation, didn’t have a clue what to do, and dumped everything possible in my lap.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

You’re over-reacting, my conscience said. And I had to agree. So I took some calming breaths before I brought our afternoon meeting to order.

“Feeling better?” I asked Brian, noticing he occupied his desk.

“Yes. I’m not sure what was going on this morning. Perhaps I had a little sympathy morning sickness.”

“Oh well, that only lasts for a few months.”

He didn’t laugh.

“Brian, Inspector Hayden is on my back about security. He wants it increased significantly. So I need you to contact Vancouver and Surrey and whichever detachments you think are appropriate and borrow some manpower. We’ll need to beef up security at the bowling alleys, the embassies, restaurants, hotels, wherever anyone associated with the competition could be found. Make this a priority.”

“Should I get some help from the alien security people?”

“Good question. Maybe just confer with them, but keep the actual staff limited to Mounties. We don’t know who’s involved with Skitem-Carry’s murder.”

Brian nodded, and got out his com to start making some calls.

Pleasantly surprised, I turned back to my notes. I had half-expected him to protest the added workload. Then I brought everyone up to date on Ugon’s confession to Keepe Style’s murder.

“Now, who do we have for the murder at The Peak?” I looked forward to the theories.

“I’m thinking Ugon did that one too,” said Harrison. “Think about it. He was at the banquet, and he wasn’t supposed to be—I checked with Dino.”

“That is correct.” Dino had shown up a few moments ago after calling first to find my location.

“Ambassador, shouldn’t you be conferring with someone about Ugon?” I said.

“I am letting the other officials make the decisions since he is a Rheinon and I am involved with our investigation.” I found it interesting he used the words our investigation.

“Actually, Ambassador, I have a question for you,” said Harrison.

Dino said, “Of course.”

“Why did Ugon think there wouldn’t be consequences as a result of the murder of Keepe Style?”

That’s my boy! Harrison had beaten me to the punch.

“That is a complicated subject. However, to give a simple answer, Rheinon do not kill other Rheinon. We have never had wars on our own planet. However, each time we met a new race, there was a skirmish and death resulted, but there were no consequences for the individuals that were killed.”

“You killed humans?” I asked.

“No. Our experience with Earth is unique. Perhaps it was because of your mother being involved. I do not know.”

“So why aren’t the Rheinon killing everyone here?” asked Harrison.

Abnormally confrontational for Harrison, I thought.

“I had not finished,” rebuked Dino.

Harrison shrugged his shoulders in apology.

“To be allowed off-planet, a person must be tested. If they are found to consider any type of action equivalent to war, they are not allowed to leave Rheine.” Dino put one hand on the top of his head, but spoke no further.

“So, somehow Ugon considers a bowling competition a war and got past your censors,” I said.

“Yes,” said Dino.

I could only imagine the uproar in Rheinon diplomatic circles. I nodded at Harrison.

Harrison continued. “I’m pretty convinced Ugon is our man for Skitem-Carry since he’s confessed to killing Keepe Style. Yes, I know that’s reasoning without data, but we also found Ugon on the cameras going into the washroom. I think he likes washrooms, and I’m going to stay out of them.”

We all laughed at his somewhat humorous deductions. “Also, we found samples of his clothing in the washroom. Again circumstantial, because he did go in there, but I think it’s enough to at least confront him about the second murder.”

“Good plan. Jack, would you bring Ugon up to Conference Room A?” I pointed the room out to him, as this wasn’t Jack’s normal habitat.

“Ma’am, may I sit in on your interrogation?” said Dino. “This will further my education and I need to get a clearer understanding of what is happening.”

I agreed and, after I told the rest of the squad room to return to Revolutions, we settled in the conference room.

“Ugon, you really are on a murdering spree,” I said, to start off the conversation.

“What do you mean spree?” Perhaps the universal translator had a word lapse.

“We now have evidence you murdered Skitem-Carry during the banquet at The Peak.” I still wasn’t ready to charge him with Skitem-Carry’s murder, but I wanted to study his reaction to it.

“Although Bremen speech is annoying, I did not murder Skitem-Carry. I was there, because I felt it was my right to be included—no matter what anyone else said.” He glanced at Dino.

Ugon hadn’t hesitated proclaiming his innocence when I accused him of Skitem-Carry’s murder—unlike the previous time regarding Keepe Style. “Then why were you in the washroom around the time of the murder?”

“I needed to use the washroom.” Ugon made a motion with his head which seemed to indicate obviousness.

“According to your earlier reasoning, it would be all right to kill someone. So why don’t you confess to this murder?” I asked again.

“Because I did not murder Skitem-Carry.” He put his head in his hands.

We weren’t getting anywhere. “Take him back to his cell,” I said to Jack.

Dino and I watched them walk away. We waited in silence until Jack returned.

“I do not think he murdered Skitem-Carry,” said Dino.

“And why is that?” asked Jack.

“Rheinon do not normally use things like cutters or knives. Only religious people are actually allowed to carry anything that cuts.”

A curious answer. “I talked to the medical examiner. He confirmed a cutter had burned the edges of the wound,” I said.

“Perhaps Ugon stole one,” said Jack.

Dino’s head wobbled. “Well, I think he…” and the argument continued.

I interrupted. “That’s enough.” I had reached my limit of Rheinon citizens and uppity Vancouver detectives for the day. “We need to find more evidence—something that concretely points to the murderer. Let’s get back to the bowling alley and watch the final rounds.”

Neither Dino nor Jack responded to my snippiness. They knew better. Having heard them argue for the first time did make me curious as to their motives, and I decided I’d also have to watch my crankiness.

At Revolutions, I sat in a corner with Dino while the rest of the crew wandered about the three floors.

Smith came over to our table. “How are things going? Solved any of your problems yet?”

“Actually we have,” I said. “Two down, one to go. How’s it been here?” My positive statement cheered me up.

“Very busy, but good for business. We definitely needed your extra security.” Smith didn’t sound displeased. Then he put a small box on the table.

“What is that?” asked Dino.

“It’s a game I got from Takka. Apparently, he enjoyed game night so much he wanted to introduce me to an Itlan game—although he didn’t call it a game. I’m a little confused about what he thinks games are but, anyway, we played a few rounds earlier today.”

Dino picked up the box, and dumped the contents on our table. “Will you show me?” he asked Smith.

“Of course,” Smith said. “Tari, are you in?”

“In a half-assed way, but not really. I need to keep an eye on things.”

It turned out to be a strange game where the rules changed constantly—at least I think they did. Perhaps that’s why Takka thought our games were trivial, but I wasn’t convinced about the elegance of his game.

Shortly, a Tristorian Intergalactic Bowling Congress member came up to our table. Not one of the officials assigned to administer bowling rules; I’d not previously encountered him.

“Detective Sergeant, we have a problem. A human has been accused of having an illegal bowling ball.”