“access to the library” included data privileges. If it did, she was set.
She flipped on the terminal, opting to use the manual interface, and checked into the ’net. There was the library all right. She took a moment to look it over, surprised to see that it went far beyond the standard titles one might expect on a station of this size.
There were the most recent vids and lits, far more than she’d seen in the data shops on Transit Three. Whatever else Josiah was, he must be an educated man. He and his people had an impressive library.
She chose an Imperial space opera at random and flicked it on to the large vid screen. Hopefully that would distract anyone who might be watching her. Of course, if they were monitoring her data terminal it wouldn’t do her much good, but it would provide minimal cover against the casual observer. She flicked through data screens, wishing she’d had more interest in the ’nets as a child. She knew there were ways to hack into them, to move around so that nobody could see what she was doing.
Unfortunately, she didn’t have a clue as to how one even tried something like that.
She flicked back out of the library, discovering that the station’s public ‘net was open to her. She started by calling up a map. It wasn’t as detailed as she might like, but it did give her some general idea of how big the station was. She looked in the directory for a brig or jail, but nothing was listed.
She sighed—that would have been too easy.
Instead, she took a moment to look over the station. It seemed to be built along the lines of a giant cylinder, spinning on its axis to provide gravity. She winced. It was an ancient design, the kind usually reserved for habitats around planets.
She sat back and tried to think.
If the station was based on the habitat design, the exterior should be fairly uniform.
Sure, there would be protrusions and hatches and such, but still, it was hardly likely that there were giant holes in it. That just didn’t fit in with the design. In the map she’d found online there were several large, dark spaces that really should have been filled.
She decided they probably were filled, but just filled with things that weren’t available to anyone who happened to access the general ’net. She’d bet her last credit Jerred was hidden there. There were four of them, two at each end of the station. Given that the whole thing had to be six or seven miles long, she decided it made sense to work on the assumption that he would be in one of the closer areas. It seemed to make sense that all prisoners would be held in the same general area. She probably wouldn’t be able to travel the length of station without being caught, anyway.
Of the two holes in the map on this end, one of them seemed to be larger than the other. It was near several of the largest hangars, and also seemed to be centered in the middle of the barracks area. It would be a good, safe place to keep a prisoner, she thought, but perhaps an even better place to store weapons. And would they really keep a prisoner so close to potential escape? There seemed to be hundreds of small vehicles in those hangars…
The second hole looked more promising. As far as she could tell, their little banquet had taken place in or near it, and she decided that it was most likely Josiah’s private
“compound” within the station. In fact, her little room was either in it or very, very close to it. She thought about Josiah for a moment, wondering if he would be the kind of man to keep his prisoners close to him. He’d been playing with her and Jerred at dinner like a big, hungry zarna. The more she thought about it, the more it made sense. Zarnas enjoyed toying with their prey before killing it, just like Josiah.
If she was right, Jerred wasn’t far from her at all.
She looked at the map one last time, then flicked back to the library. The less time spent accessing such dangerous data, the better. She spent another hour scrolling through the titles and watching snippets of different vids, then settled on a drama centered on a Saurellian priestess.
To her surprise, it turned out to be engrossing. The woman was torn, because her entire family wanted her to take some man as her “life mate,” whatever that was.
Giselle assumed some kind of marital bond. But the priestess didn’t want a mate, she wanted to stay single and free at the temple. Finally, toward the end, the scorned life mate kidnapped her and took her to his estate in the mountains. Josiah chose that moment to walk in on her, and the vid fell silent. Giselle stood up and frowned at him.
“I was watching that,” she exclaimed in disgust. “I want to see how it ended.”
The normally stone-faced guards seemed surprised by her outburst. Reality hit her.
This man held her life in his hands; she had no business berating him over a vid.
But the corners of his mouth twitched in amusement.
“Saurellian vids always end the same way,” he said softly. “They fall in love and live happily ever after as life mates. It’s their genetic heritage, did you know that?”
She didn’t know, but she wasn’t about to admit that. Jerred was only the second or third Saurellian she’d ever met; her entire life had been spent in Imperial space. But she’d be damned if she was going to ask him what he meant. He walked toward her, every step graceful and filled with that languid strength one saw in predators. She met his gaze as he came closer, until they were standing eye to eye. Or rather, eye to chest…
He was far too tall for her to meet his gaze head on.
“Have you been enjoying our library?” he asked softly. “Did you find anything of interest in it?”
“It’s pretty good,” she said. “Is everything on your station as well-stocked as this?”
“Yes,” he said softly. “I’m a man who likes his material comforts, and so do my people.”
Having him so close was unnerving. She took a deep breath, then turned and strolled casually away from him. She had no idea if it would fool him or not, but she couldn’t handle the intensity of being so close any longer.
“I’ve been thinking,” she said as she walked. “About your offer.”
“And?”
“I’ve made a decision,” she replied, turning to stand behind a chair. She braced her hands on the top of it, grateful for the support, and leaned toward him. “I’ve decided that sticking with Jerred at this point is a losing proposition. I’d rather join forces with you, so to speak.”
She forced herself to look up at him through her eyelashes, hoping that it came off flirtatious, rather than simply desperate. Fortunately she’d had years of practice.
Customers tended to tip barmaids who flirted…
He gave her a cool smile, with just a hint of polite surprise in his expression.
“I thought you’d stick by him,” he said softly. “I guess I misjudged you, Giselle.”
Her stomach twisted, but she didn’t let anything show on her face. Prick.
“I’m very pragmatic in my affairs,” she replied softly. “I believe that a woman owes it to herself to make the most of what comes her way. Jerred was the best at the time, but he’s no good to me now. Something tells me you could be very good… Whatever is it you want me for? Correct me if I’m wrong, but sex doesn’t have anything to do with this, does it?”
He started laughing, and she thought for a moment there was genuine amusement on his face. It was hard to tell.
“No, I’m not interested in sex with you,” he said. “Please don’t be offended, you’re a lovely woman. I prefer not to take Jerred’s leavings, however. I want something else from you.”