I take a sip of coffee. They all know I’ve been working on this for the last two days. I’ve been in constant contact with my editor, passing it back and forth, polishing this article within an inch of its life. She’s disappointed I’m not giving her the interview article first, but I promised it was next. She agreed to publish the exposé and also send it right away to the other big news organizations so they could spread it around the four sectors. A story like this, about the mines at Timbur will be a hot topic.
“This story is the best piece of investigative journalism I’ve ever written,” I say, because it really is. “It connects Kryzon to the attack on me, to the old evidence Scar’s been gathering, to his pattern of visits to the Royal Pigment district. It names him and makes the case. Once it transmits, it goes live across thefour sectors and Kryzon is finished. It will lay everything out for the peacekeepers to easily make a case against him and put him under arrest. He won’t be able to wiggle out of this.”
“And tonight?”
“I’m staying.”
“Ines, we have most of the other women and offspring at employee housing.”
“Chief.” I set down the cup. “If I’m not here, it won’t look real. He has to believe I’m about to send that story. I have to be the bait.”
He studies me for a long moment. I’ve seen him do this to his brothers. It’s the look that precedes either a yes or an argument I will definitely lose.
Finally, he nods. “Texon won’t like it.”
“Texon already doesn’t like it. We had a whole conversation about it last night. He lost. And the children?” I ask, looking around. “It’s awfully quiet around here.”
He smiles. “Moved this morning. Argylia, Zora, and Rux are at Hook and Leah’s place. Naomi and Lila went with them. We’re calling it a sleepover.”
“A sleepover.”
“Leah thought it sounded normal. The neighbors just see cousins visiting.”
“Smart.”
He sighs. “Roxy and Jana wanted to stay too.”
“I figured.”
“Scar tried to tell them to leave. None of us like the idea of any of you remaining at the compound during this fight.”
“How’d that go?”
“Roxy told him she wasn’t going to let that arrogant bastard get away with anything and she was staying right here.” Chief’s mouth twitches.
I have to admit Roxy might be my favorite.
The word goes out fastthrough the mining town about my exposé. Kryzon must have spies everywhere, and the brothers know exactly which mouths to speak into. By lunch, half of Timbur has heard that the off-planet journalist is transmitting her big exposé at dawn tomorrow and it will be a takedown of someone big in mining administration. By dinner, I’d be willing to bet Kryzon knows too.
Roxy and Jana say that everyone on the planet is eagerly awaiting to see who is being exposed and are placing bets on who they think it is.
By late afternoon, my tablet chimes with a priority message from Grytel of Thirty-Six, CEO of Timbur Minecorp.
Oh boy.
I open it.
Ms. Vieira. It has come to my attention that your work on Timbur has strayed significantly from the purpose for which your credentials were approved. You arrived here to write a human interest piece on the human females who have mated with Xylan miners. That was the entirety of the agreement under which you were granted planetary access. Instead, I am now hearing that you intend to transmit an investigative piece accusing a member of my administration of crimes. Allow me to be very clear. Timbur is a restricted mining colony. Press access is a privilege, not a right. You are a guest, and your behavior as a guest has been unacceptable. Effective immediately, your press credentials are revoked. Consider this your notification that you are required to depart Timbur on the next available transporter. If you refuse, you will be removed. Should you publish your story after leaving, you will be barred from returning to Timbur for the remainder of your lifespan, and I will personally see to it that every Xylan-administered colony in the four sectors receives a copy of your access revocation. Your career in this sector will be over. I suggest youreconsider your priorities. —Grytel of Thirty-Six, CEO, Timbur Minecorp.
I read it twice. Then I let out a long, slow breath. “Well, he’s mad,” I mutter.
Texon is across the room, checking his blasting gear. He looks up. “Who’s mad?”
“Grytel.”
His whole body goes still. “What did he say?”
I turn the tablet around and let him read it. His face does not change, but I can feel the temperature in the room drop about ten degrees.
