A beep came from Trouble's pocket. He pulled out a reader, scanned it, and shook his head. ''Don't these folks know that you don't cause Trouble trouble unless you want big trouble.''
''Trouble?'' Kris asked.
''Seems they've settled on a job for you and they're too cowardly to say it to your face… so they've deputized me for the job. They're going to pay for that.''
''Where to now?'' Kris asked, keeping her expectations low.
''You like shopping?''
That was not one Kris expected. ''I hate shopping.''
''You'll love this. They've got a job for you about as far from the Rim as they can go. Your next assignment is to the Wardhaven Naval Purchasing detachment on New Eden.''
''The first colony ever!'' Jack frowned at Kris.
''The very same. With all it's industry, gun control laws, police, and, oh, decadence and wild parties.''
''I'll be buying laser cannons and electronic gizmos?'' Kris said, insisting that hope spring eternal.
Grampa shook his head. ''Nope, paperclips, general office supplies, that sort of stuff.''
Kris pushed back from the table. ''They're joking.''
''Nope. Jack, you go along as her personal liaison with embassy security and the local cops. Penny, you're tagged to work with intel. I'll let you guess where all of you fit into keeping Kris safe from Peterwald's vengeance.''
Kris pulled herself back up to the table and picked up her glass. It was truly empty; she watched the last drip roll around in the bottom. They had her. Trapped and worthless as the dregs of this shake. Or maybe not. ''Tell them I'll go if they throw in Chief Beni for product quality control.''
''For paper clips?'' Penny asked, giving Kris a raised eyebrow that says volumes without a word.
''Or whatever,'' Kris said, wrapping herself in all the injured innocence she could find handy. It wasn't much.
''You folks have fun,'' Abby said. ''New Eden is one place I have been and one place in human space I am not going back to.''
''Oh,'' said Kris. ''But you are. You have a new employer. One you can't refuse. Salary to be negotiated, but you are most definitely working for me now, lady. You've shown that you have a price. You're mine for as much of you as money will buy.''
''This I want to see,'' said Jack.
About the Author
Mike Shepherd grew up Navy. It taught him early about change and the chain of command. He's worked as a bartender and cab driver, personnel advisor and labor negotiator. Now retired from building databases about the endangered critters of the Pacific Northwest, he's looking forward to some serious writing.
Mike lives in Vancouver, Washington, with his wife, Ellen, and her mother. He enjoys reading, writing, watching grandchildren for story ideas, and upgrading his computer—all are never ending.
Oh, and working on Kris's next book, Kris Longknife: Audacious.
You may reach him at Mike_Shepherd@comcast.net.