“Except, as you’ve just said, the secret’s out. There will be no Class 5 built in hiding, and you lot were stupid enough to kidnap Leader Baruke, making it clear to the UC that the people of Balco aren’t behind this invitation to the Garmman. You come off as a special interest group at best, and one without public backing.” Fee leaned back in her chair.
“Leader Baruke hasn’t been kidnapped,” Nukolo said, shaking his head. He looked between Kilmar and Vira, and when they wouldn’t meet his eye, he took a step back. “Hehasbeen kidnapped?”
“He wouldn’t cooperate,” Kilmar said eventually.
“First, you tried to poison him, then you abducted him.” Fee tilted her head. “He’s here, isn’t he?”
She was guessing, but they were being squirrelly about someone being here, and they very definitely didn’t want her to know who.
From the shocked look on Vira and Kilmar’s faces, she’d hit a bulls-eye.
“Why would we have him here?” Vira needed to work on her poker face.
“Kilmar,” Nukolo breathed. “We abducted Leader Baruke?”
Nukolo seemed to be genuinely shocked, but given he was the technical whiz, Fee wasn’t that surprised he was out of the loop on the dirtier side of putting this Class 5 together.
“It was Halarian Bost’s call, nothing to do with me.” Kilmar shrugged. “And he’s not here.”
“Is he lying?” Eazi whispered in her ear.
“I think so,” she said in English. She said it like she was swearing, hoping no one realized she was conversing with Eazi. Then she switched back to Balcoan. “I think the courts might beg to differ. Also, at last the mysterious Halarian Bost enters the equation. He lured Baruke out and then grabbed him?”
“You’ve heard Bost’s name?” Vira asked.
“Baruke told me he’d been approached by him.”
“Anyone else part of that conversation?” Kilmar asked.
“The head of Grihan Battle Center HQ on Balco, as well as a few others.” Fee smiled sweetly.
“Shit.” Vira shook her head. “Maybe that’s why we haven’t heard a word from Bost since yesterday.”
“You think they’ve arrested him?” Kilmar finally looked worried.
Nukolo lifted a hand to his ear again. “I’m needed to help hitch the cables back to the runners.” He took a step back. “Where does this lead, Kilmar?”
He jogged out of the room, and Kilmar watched him go.
“Is it over?” Vira asked.
“No. It’s not over until there’s proof it’s over. I refuse to assume, or take innuendo as fact. Bost could be unable to send out a message because he’s under surveillance, or because he’s being a prick, which is actually in character.” Kilmar sent Fee a hard look. “And we still have the Garmman military in our corner,andthe thinking system itself.”
Fee shrugged. Stood with her plate and moved back into the kitchen to set it in the dishwasher.
“What do we do with her?” Vira asked.
Fee turned to face them.
“Nukolo can make do with getting the technical answers he needs by contacting the Tecran or the Garmman,” Kilmar said. “We don’t need to keep her around, and she’s been nothing but trouble.”
“I’m not killing her,” Vira said. “Not when things could swing around on us. That’s a black mark on my name I really don’t need.”
Kilmar gave a slow nod. “Drop her in the desert and let her walk.” He shot Vira a glance. “Didn’t you say frien anti venom doesn’t work on her?”
Vira gave a nod.
“Do it yourself. Bart’s developed an attitude.” Kilmar lifted a hand to his own ear. “Coming,” he replied to whoever was speaking into his ear piece. He walked backward toward the door. “I’m needed, but it’ll take half an hour for the runners to get back to theUnhiland reattached the cables. Then we’ll need your help.”
