“It’s in Ethan’s pack,” Velda said.
“Give me your comms unit.” The man who’d opened the door held out his hand.
“She can’t exactly use it, Brayden.” Neena flicked a look his way.
“No, but as soon as she’s away from the dead zone, she can. And we have enough on the line without that worry.” Brayden flicked his fingers, a hurry up gesture. “We’re going to let them go eventually, might as well give ourselves as much time as possible to clear out.”
Velda took her wrist unit off and handed it over. It had been turned off anyway, so she hadn’t realized they’d set up a deadzone here, but that would make sense. It would be so much harder to spot the mine if there was no electronic activity.
Also, she didn’t know whether to believe him about letting her and Ethan go. She didn’t think Ridgeman was planning on that. And he seemed to be in charge.
“It’s not even on.” Brayden looked down at it.
“It died. I forgot to bring a charge.” Velda shrugged.
Brayden shoved it into his back pocket as Vang and Nyler came in, carrying Ethan between them.
They dropped him on the floor, and Velda shot them a vicious look before sliding off the couch to kneel beside him.
He was still out, but breathing steadily, and his pulse was strong. She shivered, unable to control her relief.
“You look puffed out,” Neena said to Vang, and there was a slightly mocking quality to the comment.
“He’s solid.” Vang shot her an annoyed look.
Nyler was already backing out. “Ridgeman says we need to load.”
Everyone in the room suddenly seemed to remember there was a ship outside, and filed out after him, leaving her and Ethan alone with Neena.
The woman swept her gaze around the room, shoved all the papers on the trestle table into a lockable cupboard to one side, slid the key into her pocket, and gave a nod. “Toilet’s through there. The water from the tap is drinkable. Don’t cause trouble, or Ridgeman will end you.” Then she moved out, closed the door, and Velda heard a key turn in the lock.
As soon as the click sounded, Ethan opened his eyes.
Velda stared at him, and he sent her a wink.
“Well played,” she murmured, leaning forward to kiss him. “You had me fooled.”
“Thought I might hear a bit more chatter between Vang and Nyler if they thought I was out of it.”
“And did you?” she asked.
“I did.” He sat up, and rubbed at his chest, which is where she assumed he’d taken the laz hit.
She got up, went through to the tiny bathroom at the back, found a tiny glass on the edge of the sink, and filled it, brought it back to Ethan.
He downed it in a single swallow.
“Where’s your pack?” she asked.
“Good question.” He tilted his head. “Back at the cliff face, I think. It was leaning against the rock.”
“They just left it?” Velda hoped that was true. “They took my comms unit, but yours might still be in your pack.”
“Unless they specifically took it out, it is.”
They smiled at each other.
“So, what did they say?” she asked.
