“I can’t shoot a man in cold blood,” said Nate. He was watching the man in black’s exit. “My moral compass isn’t that flexible. I need … a real good reason.”
“Like what?” said Grace.
The man in black had made it to one of the fallen thugs. He reached down, grabbing a fallen sidearm. Nate could see it all play out, the spin, the shot, either getting him, or Kohl, or — and here, he felt a peculiar twinge — Grace, or some poor fool bystander outside. Hell. “Like that,” said Nate, leveling his blaster. He fired, plasma bolts tearing the man apart, sending his body backwards in a rain of burning chum. “Let’s get moving. But first…” He moved towards the fallen body, searching the remains.
“Where to, Cap?” said Kohl. “Could try and blend in outside.”
“I think we need Harlow,” said Nate. A few good Republic coins on the body, a small comm device, and not much else.
“But he’s dead,” said Grace.
“Harlow?” said Nate. “Nah. Harlow’s not dead.”
“But the … guy,” said Grace. “He said.”
“The guy was Republic black ops,” said Nate. “They lie. It’s like their default setting.”
“How do you know?” said Kohl.
“You don’t hire black ops people to broadcast the truth,” said Nate.
“No,” said Kohl. “I mean how you know he’s black ops?”
“No ID,” said Nate. “Let’s go find Harlow.” He wiped his hands on the man in black’s suit, standing up, his metal leg giving another creak. He held a hand out — that way — offering Grace a smile. “After you.”
• • •
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Table of Contents
Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
An Easy Mark
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Glossary
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Acknowledgements
About the Author
EXCERPT: TYCHE’S DECEIT
One Good Lead
CHAPTER ONE