Dragon and Liberator

The Brummga did as instructed. Pulling out one of his multitool's special blades, Jack touched it to one of the thicker wires. The indicator light remained dark, confirming that there was no current flowing there at the moment. He checked two other wires, then replaced the sensor and pulled out a slender knife.

The operation took less than a minute. "Okay, I think I got it," he announced as he began screwing the cover plate back into place. "But don't let go until I tell you."

He finished with the plate and stood up, vigorously rubbing his forehead to again block any view of his face. "Thanks," he told the Brummga as he turned and strode back to the door, bowing his head as if he were checking on his multitool as he put it back into his pocket. "I'll let you get back to your exciting guard duty."

Jack left the room and headed back down the corridor. That went well, he thought toward Draycos, his skin itching as it always did when he had his back to people he'd just conned. What now?

Now we get under cover, Draycos said. Take the second door to the right.

Right. Jack chewed at his lower lip. On the other hand, what's the hurry? They're going to be on to us soon enough. It seems to me we should squeeze everything we can out of this time of blissful ignorance.

If we do, we run the risk of being caught in the open when the alarm is given, Draycos warned.

It's still worth a shot, Jack said. Where's the next nearest weapon?

A few rooms forward in the Number One weapons bay, Draycos said. From the camera image, I believe this one's mounted in the bay's main control room, instead of in auxiliary control. That room is right up against the hull, and we'll need to use a different door to reach it.

Then let's do it, Jack decided. Just show me where to go.

Very well, Draycos said. Take the next turn to the left.

CHAPTER 13

Neverlin had told Frost to search the man calling himself Virgil Morgan before allowing him aboard the Advocatus Diaboli. Frost had apparently taken that order very seriously, because Taneem ended up crouching by the grille overlooking Neverlin's office for nearly half an hour before the man finally arrived.

When he did, he wasn't at all what Taneem had expected. For one thing, he didn't look or smell anything like Jack, as she would assume a relative should. He was a large man, slightly bigger even than Frost, who was walking closely and watchfully behind him. He had broad shoulders and a way of moving that somehow brought the best Phooka dancers to Taneem's mind.

His clothing was another surprise. Instead of Jack's casual jeans, shirt, and jacket, he was wearing a distinguished-looking white uniform.

A moment later, she realized it was the same uniform she'd seen earlier on the Advocatus Diaboli's bridge crew. Apparently, Frost had decided not to let the man even keep his own clothes but had pulled a spare uniform from the ship's stores for him to wear.

But all of this Taneem noticed only secondarily. Her main attention was focused on Neverlin.

And on Neverlin's sudden and violent reaction to the man's entrance. "What the hell?" he all but gasped, twitching back from his desk. "Frost!"

"Hold it," Frost snapped, grabbing the man's right wrist.

Or rather, he tried to grab the man's wrist. Before he could get a solid grip, the other twisted his arm smoothly out of the mercenary's grip.

Neverlin twitched again, shoving himself even farther back from his desk as if expecting an attack. But the newcomer simply stood where he was, making no attempt to do anything at all. "Hello, Mr. Neverlin," he said calmly. "Nice to see you again."

Snarling a curse, Frost got another grip on the man's wrist. "You know him?" he demanded.

"Oh yes, I know him," Neverlin bit out. "His name's Harper. He's one of Cornelius Braxton's bodyguards."

Frost's shoulder twitched, and suddenly his other hand was pressing a gun against Harper's side. "Big mistake, friend," Frost said softly.

"Actually, the mistakes are all on your side," Harper said, his voice still calm. "What Mr. Neverlin failed to mention—because Mr. Neverlin doesn't know—is that I'm not actually working for Braxton anymore."

"Meaning?" Frost asked.