Authors: James Cox
Stone Blade (46 page)
"Were they yours?"
"Yes." Imminent death finally loosened her tongue. "I didn't want to but he made me. He made me! I didn't have a choice! If I didn't he... he..."
Icy-eyes stared hard at her. Then he nodded.
"Slib. I believe you. For now. Don't give me cause to regret it."
Relief washed through her as Icy-eyes sheathed his blaster. Number Two crushed Aaron's comm, pulled the powerclip from his blaster and unplugged and smashed the terminal's datajack.
"I suggest you stay here," said Icy-eyes.
Robin sat motionless. She shook but she didn't leave the chair. The two intruders stayed gone a long time. At first she heard them outside in the hallway but the sound faded and she hadn't heard anything for a long time. She jumped when the door opened and Icy-eyes strode through.
"You say you're not here willingly," he said, "You may just have a chance to prove that. My friend and I are looking for an associate of ours. He was so tall," he indicated a height less than his own, "black hair, brown eyes, slightly overweight. He was a burner too."
Thomas! thought Robin.
"I... Yes. No. He's in the basement." She took a breath. "H-he was... a friend of yours?"
"He did some work for us. The signature of his last message matches this terminal. It took us a long time to trace it." Then after a moment, "We searched the basement. Thoroughly."
"T-there was a hidden room. In the corner. I c-can..."
Icy-eyes nodded.
Robin walked steadily. That she could surprised her. She should be shaking too hard to move but she kept an even stride. She barely flinched when they crossed the main hallway and she spied four figures sprawled on the floor.
By the time Robin found the right corner Number Two had joined them.
"It's back there. I... I don't know how to open it."
Number Two pulled out a scanner and ran it around the walls.
"Heh. Not really meant to be hidden. Except from a baby."
Number Two did something and the corner split apart.
Robin saw a brief motion before a hard shove sent her stumbling down. A sizzling bolt split the air where she'd stood and then Icy-eyes had his blaster out with Number Two's a microsecond behind it. Another shot emerged from the darkness and Icy-eyes fired. The two of them exchanged glances and pulled Robin to her feet.
The dim light revealed Barkeley, quite dead.
"Any more surprises," demanded Icy-eyes.
"I... I... I d-don't know..."
Icy-eyes walked in first, blaster ready. Robin followed him and Number Two came behind, scanner out but blaster ready.
Thomas didn't move when Robin called his name. Still, she hadn't spoken loud. She walked to him, heedless now of the filth and stench, and shook his shoulder gently.
Though his body was warm no life gazed from his eyes.
The warm wetness flowing down her cheeks surprised Robin. She thought her tears long gone. When she turned and tried to speak Icy-eyes nodded and let her move away. Then he reached down and closed Thomas' eyes.
Table of Contents
Chapter 5. Old Journey, New Friends
Chapter 6. Truth Without Beauty
Chapter 7. The Eyes Now Closed
Chapter 8. Civilian Casualties
Chapter 9. Navy Liaison, Protocol Division
Chapter 10. The First Assignment
Chapter 11. The Seedy Side of Triumph
Chapter 12. An Aggressive Move
Chapter 13. The Silken Sledgehammer
Chapter 14. The Price of Virtue
Chapter 17. Forging Friendships
Chapter 18. Old Friends and New Problems
