Ethan agreed with her, but wondered why she thought so. “What makes you say that?” he asked.
“They push and pull you, they show absolute dislike for me, but she gets space and they don’t hover over her with a laz close to her head. They think she’s safe.” Linao glanced at him. “You must have noticed.”
“Maybe.” He hoped so. Otherwise he would lose his mind a little at what could be happening to her.
“What did they do to Ritter back on the ore runner? They dragged him out of the mess and when he came back in with you, he looked shaken.” Linao was sitting a little straighter now, and Ethan lowered himself onto the bunk.
“They made him put a silver ball in his palm and then take it out.” He couldn’t think of a reason not to tell her.
“They have the silver balls.” She seemed shocked. “They knew about them?”
“They did. They pulled us out of our cell to question us about them, then called Ritter in.” Ethan realized the Carusomay actually not have known specifically about them until they’d gone to the med bay, but he didn’t correct himself.
“They would have found them in the med bay,” Linao said at last. “Of course they would have searched the ship.” She shook her head. “What did Ritter tell them, other than Sylvester wanted them brought to him?”
“That he didn’t think they worked.” Ethan could see she was still furious at Ritter for speaking about Sylvester. The scientist had better hope he never came face to face with her again.
“That’s something, at least.” She blew out a breath and shook her head. “Did they take the silver balls with them when they stole the runner? I was pretty out of it in the loading bay.”
Ethan had seen them carrying the box with the balls in it onto the runner, but whether it had survived the ramming, or whatever had happened, he had no idea. He made a non-committal noise and lay down on the bunk, hands behind his head.
“The Caruso have invested a lot in us. In partnering with us.” Linao spoke almost to herself, and Ethan wondered if she even realized she was speaking aloud. “They’ll be careful with me.”
Ethan wasn’t so sure, but he kept quiet. He hoped for her sake she was right.
The door suddenly opened, and Velda stepped back inside.
He shot to his feet, and the Caruso guard lifted his laz.
“Stay.” He pointed at Ethan, then made a come-here gesture to Linao. “You next.”
Linao stumbled to the doorway, still pretending to be off-center after being shot, although Ethan thought that play might be wearing a little thin.
The door closed behind her and he turned to focus all his attention on Velda. “All right?”
She stepped into his arms, murmured into his ear. “Fine. No problem.” She glanced at the door. “I hope Linao has it as easy.”
“But you don’t think so?” Ethan asked.
She shook her head. “The bulk of their questions were about her, with a few thrown in about the silver balls. They’ll use us in some deal with Aponi, I’m pretty sure, but I don’t think they plan to harm us.”
But she thought there was a chance they’d harm Linao.
The door opened again.
The Caruso guard pointed at Velda, although Ethan had assumed it was his turn, and had stepped forward.
“Her.” The guard jabbed his finger.
Velda sidled around him, her hand brushing his back in a soothing gesture that did not soothe him at all.
Danger, the voices in his head said.
And what can I do about it?he asked back.
They were silent as Velda turned to him as she reached the door, sent him a worried look.
Then the door whisked shut and he turned toward the wall, thinking very seriously about hitting it.
