Page 56 of Enthraller

They moved like the military unit they were, and Laschka, at least, picked that up.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“Banks and Juller attacked us,” Ed told her. “We’re clearing the station of threats.”

Laschka lifted both hands and wiggled her fingers. “No threat here.”

He didn’t believe that. At all.

He flicked his gaze to the comms unit and Bailey moved over to it and tried to patch in.

With luck, Banks had disabled the comms in the control room to stop them reaching headquarters, but he wouldn’t want the whole obs station out of the loop.

Bailey evidently got through, because she spoke for a minute in low tones to someone, then stepped back.

“Protection is on their way,” she said.

“You weren’t joking?” Cora blinked at them. Her initial lack of reaction had stirred Ed’s suspicions, but now he wondered if she was really just that oblivious.

“What’s happened to Banks and Juller?” Laschka asked.

“They’re safe where we put them,” Ed said. “Ready for Protection to scoop them up.”

“And Trish?” Cora asked.

“Have you seen her?” Wren’s tone with Cora was friendly, and Ed realized she must have spent some time chatting to Laschka’s assistant.

“In that big room they use for repairing the equipment,” Cora said. “She was there when we walked over to the canteen.”

“Thanks.” Bailey took point again, standing by the door.

“What about us?” Laschka asked.

“Stay here, out of the way, and you’re good,” Ed said.

She stared at him for a moment, tipping her head back a little to meet his eyes. “That’s not completely true, now is it?”

“I can’t help you with whatever you’ve got yourself involved with,” Ed told her. “But whatever you’ve done, physically attacking us will just make things worse.”

Cora looked over at Laschka, as if finally understanding there was a lot more going on here than she realized, and the look Laschka sent her back was pitying.

Laschka raised her hands again. “I never do anything that might break a nail,” she said. “You’re safe from me.”

Again, Ed didn’t believe it for a moment, but he jerked his head at Bailey to keep going, and they left without another word.

The corridor was silent, but there was definitely someone in the work room. Bailey and Hatch flowed through the door, timing and movements fluid and confident.

“Did you—?” Trish was working on something, but she broke off when she looked up and saw who had come through the entrance.

“Did they get us?” Bailey asked. “No.”

Trish dropped what she was holding and reached back to grab something at her lower back.

Bailey shot her with her laz.

She collapsed, falling sideways and disappearing from view.

Ed walked over, saw it was indeed a laz Trish had been going for.

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