Page 66 of Mongrels United
Siran pushed the three pads on his desk around in meaningless motions, his gaze on them. Then he lifted his head to meet her gaze. “You’ve been seen in the company of Nash Hyson.”
“He’s helping me with a project. A major one that, once I get to the bottom of—”
Siran shook his head. “Don’t reason this away. Just…don’t.” He pushed at one of the pads with his fingertip. “You’re seeing him?”
“It’s hard to define what I’m doing with him,” Grady said flatly. “He’s a complicated man. But it’s more than just the work we’re doing for the Bridge, yes.”
Siran sighed. “You’re my Chief of Staff. I hired you because you’re smarter than any ten people I know put together. How could you be so reckless?”
“I don’t think I have been reckless.” Grady kept her tone cool, even though her middle was jumping about with guilt and worry.
Siran pointed to the screen emitter in the center of his desk. There was no screen formed at the moment. “I pulled his Forum entry, just to remind myself of what I’ve heard over the years about him. He runs a tavern, and that’s about the only real, legitimate business he owns.”
“Owning the Dreamhawks isn’t legitimate?” Grady asked.
Siran’s eyes widened. “He does? I didn’t get that far into his business affairs. I didn’t want to make my mouth taste worse than it was already. There’s rumors of gambling in the back rooms of his tavern. More. The parties in the Field of Mars are legendary—”
“Because he gives away drinks for free,” Grady said. “Everyone loves free alcohol.”
“There’s hints of even shadier partnerships, all across the ship, with less than savory people. He’s the last person on the ship you should be seen with, Grady.”
“Nash Hyson isn’t his reputation,” Grady said flatly. “Not anymore.”
Siran stared at her. Then he rolled his eyes, and gave a groan. “You think you’ve reformed him. Stars and planets, Grady! How could you fall for such an archaic illusion as that? Did he promise you he would be a better man for you? Was it that simple?”
Grady could feel her cheeks burning, for the response that wanted to burst from her was a cliché.But it wasn’t like that!
Jackalyn Westcott always laughed about gullible people who had been conned so perfectly that even when they were presented with absolute proof that they’d been conned, they still insisted thatitwasn’t like that.
At the same time, anger stirred in Grady’s chest, making it feel thick and heavy and making her throat tighten. Her pulse beat in her temples. She straightened her shoulders. “Siran, there are a great many responsibilities and actions I take for the sake of theEndurance, that I do not inform you about. You’ve never asked me about those. Why are you questioning my judgement now? Do you think I’ve suddenly grown incompetent?”
Siran looked taken aback. And so he should, for Grady could not ever remember speaking to him in this way. “The man is—”
“You don’t know what he is doing for theEndurance.”
“Explain it to me, then.”
“No.” She shook her head. “This is not something you can know about.”
“I am the captain of the ship.” His tone was mild. “I am entitled to know anything I want to know.”
“You can’t know about this.”
Siran’s jaw rippled. He was holding back his own anger. “Why not?” His tone was still even and without emotion. But Siran was superb at dissembling. It was a measure of how much Grady had surprised him that he’d let this much of his true feelings show.
“Because it would be dangerous for you to know anything about what I am doing with Nash.”
Siran sat down. Suddenly. “Dangerous,” he repeated flatly. “Our jobs have always come with risks. Public enmity, resentment…”
“You’re not hearing me,” Grady said. “I said ‘dangerous’, as in you might find yourself on the outside of an airlock, if the wrong people think you know about them.”
Siran’s eyes grew bigger.
Grady smiled grimly. “Because I can’t tell you anything just yet, I can’t explain how vital it is that I complete this work. Nash Hyson is deep in the middle of it. And I will overlook your questioning of my judgement, Siran, and assure you that Hysonison our side. You don’t know him at all.”
“I don’t have to know him. Perception is everything, Grady.”
“Then the ship will just have to be shocked by what they perceive for a little longer,” she said coolly. “And you will have to trust me.” She paused. “If you don’t think you can trust me anymore, Siran, I will resign right now.”
