Page 28 of Mongrels United
“That’s…them?” Westcott said, sitting down once more. She sounded winded.
“That’s it,” he confirmed. “Rim is timid, but he’s good at his job and he has a history with the stuff. I have to believe him when he says it’s Bellish. You’ve got the resources of the whole ship to draw from. You can confirm it for yourself.” He paused. “Rim said it’s not exactly like the pre-Raid Bellish.”
“He told us that, too,” Grady said. She reached out a hand and drew the bag toward her with her fingertips. She let it sit there. “Thank you, Hyson. We’ll test again and confirm it is Bellish.” She got to her feet. “But I can only give you twenty-four hours. Then I’m afraid I really will have to have your full and honest answer about where you acquired this.”
Nash rose, too.
Westcott was already on her feet, her weight evenly distributed, ready to move in whatever direction the danger would come from. “That’s it?” she breathed to Grady.
“Not now, Jack,” Grady murmured back. She skirted Nash and headed for the door.
“Jack…” Nash repeated, old memories stirring. He smiled. “Jackalyn.NowI know where I know you from.” He considered her. “You’ve changed.”
Jackalyn Westcott crossed her arms. “On the other hand, you haven’t changed. Not a single iota.”
Grady opened the door. “Hyson.”
Nash gave Westcott a parting smile. “You need to relax, Lieutenant.”
“Not while you’re around,” Westcott shot back. “Not for a second, Hyson.”
Chapter Twelve
Grady waited for Hyson to move through the door. As he stepped into the corridor beyond, she told him; “I’ll escort you to the gates.”
“Don’t you have a flunky who could do that?” Hyson asked, his voice rumbling in his chest.
“Everyone has work to do, here.”
“I’m work, then. Ah, well….” He fell in beside her. “I do know the way to the gate, by the way.”
Having him walk beside her reminded her yet again of how large he really was. “Three arrests, and no charges. Yes, I know,” Grady told him. “If I don’t escort you to the gate, you wouldn’t make it there on your own.”
“Youhavebeen checking up on me.” He seemed pleased by that.
“That wasn’t my point.” She hid her irritation.
“Your point was that security measures have been upgraded since I was here last. I didn’t miss the point, Chief Read.”
“Good,” she muttered.
They moved out into the main corridor. The gates were at the far end, closer to the admin section and the actual Bridge, which had always struck her as bad planning on the part of the ship designers. While it gave the Captain quick access to his offices, it meant the people who guarded the bridge were farther from the gates they protected.
Still, the Guards were good enough to make it work and had for centuries.
Hyson said, “Thank you for giving me the time I asked for.”
“It was an equitable deal,” Grady told him. “You gave me the Bellish.”
“It still might be simple analgesics,” he replied.
She glanced at him. There had been an odd note in that. “You really wish it was…” she breathed. It was an insight into the man. She didn’t know what it might mean just yet. Only that it would require thinking about.
“All the wishing in the world won’t change where I found it,” he replied. And this time, the regret wasn’t hidden. “And where I found it means it isn’t simple pain killers.”
She wondered if he was aware of the very large clue he’d just given her. He’dfound it. He hadn’t bought it, or been given it by someone. He hadn’t acquired it via some subchannel on the ship.
Grady’s relief was so strong, it shocked her. She drew in a shaky breath and hoped Hyson didn’t hear it.
