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“Fine.” Ulrek had other ways to make them talk. Lips got loose when people thought they were going to die. “But I’m going to tell them you released them to me for messing with my ship yesterday. And I’m going to make them think I can do whatever I want.”
“You have two galactic minutes.” He pressed a button to talk to Holden, calling him out of the room.
Holden, the more bloodthirsty of the two, was thrilled with the idea. “Why couldn’twedo that? I hate all this playing nice.”
“Because we don’t know if they are guilty yet, and until we do, we still have a reputation to uphold.”
Holden made a face like he could care less about his reputation. Ryek had always been the more diplomatic one. It hid a fierce protector, and Ulrek knew that when it came down to it, Ryek was the more dangerous.
He hadn’t needed two minutes. The two idiots spilled everything in one.
They’d been paid to follow her by two Talleans who were visiting the colony. They didn’t explain much, except that it was something about the captain of a ship and a bounty. After they were caught yesterday, the Talleans hired two others to replace them. The humans had no idea Delaney had gone missing.
Ulrek didn’t sense they were lying. He stomped out of the room, frustrated at not being any closer to Delaney. They let the two males go, since it wasn’t a crime to simply follow someone around.
“Fuck!” Ulrek pounded his fist on the table.
Those two were here for him, and Delaney had gotten caught in the crossfire.
“Don’t break the furniture, Captain Uzzar,” Ryek said dryly. He didn’t look particularly angry. “I have one of my males looking through all the security feed from cameras on the route from the NCH building to the tribunal hall right now. They’ll find something eventually.”
Ulrek’s comm buzzed on his belt. He picked up without looking at the screen, expecting it to be Tuhror or one of his crew with information.
“Ulrek, so we meet again.”
He stiffened at the male voice speaking in the Tallean dialect used most often on the inner Dominion planets. “This is Uzzar of theNew Horizon. You must have the wrong contact.”
“That’s not what the female we have here says.”
He checked the comm. Delaney’s contact stared back at him on the screen. Had Delaney really given up his identity? Delaney might claim to hate him, but she hated the Dominion more. He doubted she’d give him up to them. These guys were relying on him giving himself away.
He would too, but not now. They’d know who he was, all right…right before they stopped breathing. And if they’d hurt Delaney in any way, he’d make sure they died very slowly.
“You must be mistaken. Release my greenroom technician. She’s late reporting to work.” He hoped that came across as nonchalant. It was best if they thought he didn’t care about her as anything more than a ship asset.
“We could, but she’d probably get eaten by a coilbeast trying to find her way back. We have a better idea: come get her yourself. Alone. And don’t think you can secretly bring your crew; we have the area monitored. If we see more than a single ground transport, your female is dead.”
“Myfemale? Is that what she told you?” Ulrek highly doubted that. “She’s my greenroom technician.”
“We don’t care. Come for her if you want to see her again.”
The male disconnected the call, and a message with map coordinates popped up on the screen.
Holden stood with his arms crossed. He’d heard the call right through the speakers, as had Ryek. Angie was the only one who looked confused.
“One transport, huh? They underestimate how many can fit inside one vehicle.” Holden was clearly itching for a fight.
“No. This is my problem. They are here for me. It is best if the colony does not get involved in any official capacity.”
“He is correct. There will be other fights where you can stretch your fangs.” Ryek put a hand affectionately on Holden’s shoulder. “The wilds of Reka 5 are a dangerous place. It is truly a shame when those who choose to land there in secret and unprepared meet their doom at the claws of the beasts that roam there.”
Ulrek grinned. “Indeed. Lots of dangerous beasts that leave no trace of their prey, save for their shuttles, which the authorities will find too late.”
The director smiled right back. “A real shame.”
It was a good trade. They stayed out of Ulrek’s business while he cleaned up his mess, and in return, the bounty hunter’s shuttles and transport would become part of the colony’s fleet. It was a win-win for everyone.
He started out the door, sending Tuhror the new information.
