Velda had got it exactly right when she’d called Linao’s bluff about outing her.
The Cores knew her name meant something to the Caruso and they were being careful not to use it.
“Not until we’re behind cover,” the Caruso holding Ethan said. “We will let her go when we’re protected.”
“That wasn’t the deal.” The soldier slid out from cover himself, laz up. “Two prisoners for two prisoners.”
“You’ll get her,” the Caruso waved back toward Linao, “but after we’re safe.”
“Then no deal.” The soldier hesitated, because Velda was halfway between him and the Caruso, and he didn’t want to move too far down the corridor and expose himself with no cover.
“That’s fine. We know you value this one.” The Caruso holding Linao shook her a little. He began to move back, dragging Linao with him.
“No. Wait. We accept, but if you don’t keep your word, we won’t let you leave without a fight.” The soldier caved almost instantly.
Ritter had been right. Linao was definitely not your standard Cores employee.
Velda reached them, and the Caruso holding Ethan didn’t even bother grabbing her, just jerked his head toward the back, and she passed them, giving Ethan the hint of a smile as she did.
They underestimated her. He’d noticed it when she was talking to them about the silver balls as well.
They could use that.
Then he was being dragged back, and they were all in a huddle around the corner, with the bay doors a few steps away.
The doors opened as soon as he noticed them, and the Caruson soldier who’d questioned them about the silver balls stepped through.
“Who is she?” he asked Velda, pointing to Linao.
Velda hesitated, and Ethan guessed she was calculating whether to tell the truth. He didn’t know whether it was better to lie or not, either. “Her name is Linao.”
“Linao.” The Caruso turned, obviously shocked, and stared at her. “I thought she died in the explosion.”
That had taken a turn.
Ethan tried to work out which explosion they were talking about, then settled on the explosion of the Caruson Raptor that had sparked this ore-run in the first place.
They thought Linao had been on that ship when it had been blown up?
“Don’t know what you’re talking about. And I’m not Linao.” Linao pretended she was still woozy from the laz hit, but giventhat she was lying, and doing a good job of it, Ethan guessed she was fully recovered.
“Get in the bay.” The soldier held the doors, and when they were all in, the doors snapped closed.
“They want her back badly,” one of the other Caruson said. “She could be Linao.”
The leader turned away, spoke into his comms unit and then studied an image that came up. Then he shoved it at Velda. “Who is this?”
Velda stared at it, and the shock on her face was unmistakeable. “That looks a bit like Wren.”
“Let me see.” Ethan pushed forward and after a moment’s resistance, the soldier released him.
Itdidlook a little like Wren Thorakis, inside a ship, with pallets containing misshapen sacks all around her. There were Caruson visible in the background, and none of them looked happy about her presence.
“You also say this is not Linao?” the leader asked.
“I might not be completely sure it’s Wren, but it’s definitely not Linao,” Ethan said. He shared a look with Velda.
“Where’s this image from?” Velda asked.
