Page 135 of Alien Burn

“I intend to.”

He ended the call and brought his lead closer to the plan.

The cell block lay apart from the guest rooms, connected through the working corridors. There was no reason for a volunteer to go there by accident.

“The next rotation,” he said. “I want an interval outside Burk's door.”

The male looked at him.

“An interval?”

“Long enough to notice. And use.”

His lead studied the approach.

“Roemary.”

“Perhaps. I want to see whether she'll go to him when she thinks she can.”

“And if she brings a weapon?”

“We stay close enough to stop her using it.”

He marked where the guards would wait beyond sight. The guest corridor remained guarded. His lead would release the cell lock remotely once Roemary reached it, leaving her to mistake a supervised opening for a careless guard rotation. The approach and the release would both be recorded.

The housing desk had already passed on Roemary's request to see the detained Alliance staff member. Dhomhes had the clerk give her the block and cell number, with instructions to wait outside for the incoming guard before asking about a visit. She would have a reason to approach the door, and a change of guard to watch. Whether she waited as instructed was up to her.

His lead regarded the plan for another moment.

“You'll watch it yourself.”

“Yes.”

There was no point pretending otherwise.

He reached Sereya's room before the arranged change of guard.

She opened the door in her gray dress, without shoes. Her hair was loose. It took him an instant to get past that to the cup in her hand.

“They brought tea,” she said. “I asked for another cup.”

“An optimist.”

“You said you'd come.”

She stepped back to let him in.

The room was small, but the bed was made and the lamp gave a warmer light than the refinery corridors. Someone had put a chair by the window. Sereya had moved it close to the table and found another.

He set his comm where he could see it, then sat.

For the first time since the landing, no one immediately asked him to decide anything.

Sereya poured the tea.

“I warned her,” she said.

He looked up.