Page 4
Chapter 2
Karn sat back in hisseat in the dining hall. The furry face of a Rolon glared at him.
“All I’m saying, Beau, is that if you want me to finish this job, you need to pay extra.”
“For the agreed fee.” Beau thumped a furry gray fist on the table. “You can’t increase it now. It’s not like the job is difficult.”
“You’re paying for the quality of my work. Ask around. You know I’m the best in the business.”
“I have been asking. People say you’re difficult to work with. I knew you were an arrogant son of a bitch. I didn’t know you were also a cheat.” The Rolon’s words were a growled slur.
“I’m cheating you out of nothing. You want me to follow your beta. That’s risky. If he sees me, he could rip out my throat.”
“Then he needs to join the queue. You can’t change the terms now.”
“If you want to know if your mate is cheating with your beta, then that’s exactly what I can do.” Karn kicked a foot onto the chair opposite him.
“This is easy work. You don’t even need to make contact. All I’ve asked you to do is follow them for a week to see if Tover is making moves on my female. Take some pictures, make notes of when it happens. That’s all I need.”
“My risk assessment says otherwise.”
Beau snorted. “Risk assessment. As if you do that. I can go elsewhere. Find someone else to do this job. You might consider yourself the best in the business, but there are others snapping at your heels. They charge less and give me less lip.”
Karn shrugged and glanced around the dining hall. It was late in the evening, so there weren’t many aliens about. A few Draxdans ate dinner in one corner, and three Lillips chatted over coffee. The sweet smell of cinnamon buns drifted in the air.
He had no concerns about upping his fee to this Rolon. He was great at what he did. Forka were known for their covert abilities to sneak in and out of places, gathering intelligence or snooping on those doing wrong. Karn didn’t care who he worked for, so long as they paid him and paid him well.
Beau sighed. “Listen, how about I pay you an additional ten percent? No extra work, but I need this done quickly. I have a bad feeling my leadership is about to be challenged. I have to stop it before it happens. My beta should know better. He is not ready to take over.”
“That’s not my concern. You know the price. If you’re not prepared to pay it, then go ahead and find somebody else. I can guarantee you their work will not be as good.”
Beau growled and shoved his chair back. “That’s my final offer.”
“I’ll leave it,” Karn said. “Good luck with finding someone as good as me.”
Beau bared his teeth before stamping away.
Karn grinned and took a sip of his coffee. Beau would be back. He wouldn’t want to waste time finding somebody else reliable to do the job.
He glanced over his shoulder, half expecting to see Beau returning, his head hanging as he admitted defeat. Instead, Beau stood in the doorway, talking to two huge Dackins.
Karn grimaced and sat up straight. He knew these aliens. They were not friends.
“Hey, Karn.”
He jumped. He hadn’t even noticed Billy arrive. “You know, I’m sure you have some Forka in you. You sneak up on me all the time.”
Billy grinned. “I’m always telling you, you should train me.” His green eyes went to Karn’s half-finished burger as he flopped into the seat next to him.
Karn glanced down at his food. “What underhanded activities have you been up to today?” He wasn’t sure how it had happened, but Billy had latched onto Karn the day he’d arrived on Prodigy. Despite only having one arm, he’d offered to carry Karn’s bags, for a price.
Karn had admired the human kid’s pluck, paid him a coin, and made him do all the heavy lifting. Ever since then, every time Karn needed something doing, Billy would pop up. The kid was irritating, but he kind of liked him.
“Oh, you know, making sure people behave themselves.” Billy rubbed the attempt at stubble on his chin. He was only fifteen but acted older. “Have you done any spying recently?”
Karn glanced at the Dackins still talking to Beau. “You know I don’t spy. I gather information, so people can make decisions about important things.”
“Yeah, that’s what I said. You spy on people.” Billy’s gaze went back to the food.
