Page 18 of Stealing the Star Stone
“Saw the whole thing go down, Sarg,” Newman said, his tone casual.“She touched it, and the colors vanished.It’s now worthless shards of glass.”
“Pieces?No gluing it back together?”Sarg harumphed then settled a sad gaze on her.“Mm, the way Orien’s so gung-ho researching this thing, I’d hazard a guess you’re his next guinea pig.”
She swallowed past the lump in her throat.No words came to mind.
“I thought so too when his goons loomed, ready to kidnap her.”Newman puffed out his chest.“She broke the stone, and justice will be served.”
Sarg confirmed her identity, as provided by the docking system.She tapped the edges of the metallic counter, then took a moment to sanitize her hands while shifting from foot to foot.
“Can I call my captain, please?”she asked.“This is a misunderstanding.Why wouldmytouch break the stone?Thorne was touching it, too.”
Sarg nudged his head at the comm device mounted to the wall.“Get your things in order, miss.You could be staying here for a time.”
She weaved through the masses, pressed her thumb to the screen, then when it flickered her identity number, she mumbled Captain’s full name.
He answered within two rings.“Nova, sweetheart, you okay?”
“Got arrested,” she said, her tone devoid of emotion.More like stunned disbelief.An hour ago, she’d been drinking tea.
“What?You didn’t kill Eli, did you?”
Oh, she wanted to.Fury curled her fingers into fists, and she pressed them to the cool wall on either side of the device.“It’s…worse.”
Captain huffed.“There’s no sin more abominable than—”
“Some lord is claiming I destroyed his artefact.”She snorted.
Silence met her statement.By that, she had to assume Captain had heard of the incident.
“Has bail been set?”he finally asked, his voice strained.
She arched a brow at Newman hovering beside her.He shook his head.
“No,” she said.
“Shit,” Captain said, and that man never cursed.“I’ll talk to Thorne—”
“I’d rather rot here than accept any help from that asshole,” she spat.
“Now, now, Nova.He’s the richest man we know.”
“I don’t care.He denied knowing me, told Orien I was just another groupie.”Her face flushed, and she pressed her temple to the screen’s cool surface.“Take the ship, head to Artivar.On your return voyage, you can fetch me.This…bullshit should be sorted out by then.”
“I’m not—”
“Marco,” she said, going serious with the use of his name.“They could do a full investigation.It was years ago, but they might just make you pay for it again.”
Silence stretched on, so long that she checked the call was still connected.
“Yes, you’re right.My…past might complicate things for you.”
“Take theHonor, too.We can’t afford to replace it.”She heaved a deep breath.“Docking bay Bravo Vector Two.”
“Gotcha.Need any of your things?”
“No,” she said.“They’re safer with you.I’ll get these charges dropped.The gallery has to have security footage.That should clear my name.”Oh, Lord, she hoped so.When credits were involved, a not-so-decent judge could be bought.
“What about Thorne?”
