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"I just thought it ht be more convenient," he said "In case you want to bribe anybody in cabin seventeen"
"I want to inti shit out of cabin seventeen," I said "Hoould that be?"
He gave me a slow, evil smile "You only love me for my ability to terrify"
"And your ability to produce money out of thin air That’s ilad I’m well-rounded"
"In oh so many ways"
Mr Trent Cole, aka Cabin Seventeen, decided that he wasn’t going to sub any questions, no matter how nicely we asked In fact, Mr Cole wouldn’t even open his door
Yeah, like that was going to keep us i outside
"We’re not Housekeeping," I called through the door "Open it or we’re co in anyway"
"Like hell you are! I know hts!" Mr Personality screamed back at me
David moved me out of the way - er on the surface of the glossy wooden door When he pushed, the lock snapped and shattered like glass
Nice I liked the economy of his violence
He stepped over the threshold, and Trent Cole fired three bullets into his chest, point-blank He did it like a guy who’d had practice, but when David didn’t fall down - didn’t even flinch - Cole’s expression turned from murderous to completely confused
David stepped forward, took the gun (Aldonza was right, it was a big black semiautomatic), and handed it toers on the barrel If David was bothered in the least by so to kill him, he didn’t let it show in his cool smile, or the absolute ease hich he stiff-armed Mr Cole toward the sofa
Cole met the cushions at speed, and toppled like a tortoise onto his back, an aard position at best He was dressed in one of the ship’s fluffy robes, his big feet shoved into slippers that flopped around hilariously as he tried to right hi position as David shut the door behind us and repaired the lock with a minor pulse of power
There was a bottle of Perrier-Jouet cha with two full flutes of sparkling liquid
"I see we’re in time for happy hour," I said, and settled myself in the tapestry ar flute and then appropriated the second one for David We sipped Mr Cole, a bulky sort, grabbed at the flapping he his feet to the floor David settled hi poses the Djinn had perfected severalmy back
Cole, uncertain what to do, leaned back on the sofa Slowly "You can’t just barge in here," he said "I’ve got rights, whoever you think you are" The chahts include shooting anyone alks through your door?" I asked him I cranedof that, you okay, honey?"
"I’m fine," he said He held out a fist I opened my palm, and he dumped three perfect bullets into it "Souvenirs"
"For ot a slow, hot smile We both loved this part I focused back on Cole, as staring at us like ere straight out of a big-budget special-effects movie "You need these back? Maybe you recycle?" He shook his head I put them in the pocket of ood bullet
"Now," I said "Thanks for seeing us, Mr Cole We’ll only be a o all Wild West Show on friendly visitors? Bonus question: Why are you still on this ship? Because I think anybody who doesn’t have to be here "
Trent Cole was not accusto questions of any kind, much less from a plebeian liketo do with hedge funds or stocks or porn Someone who had a lot of cash and was tre ad looks at David I was fa it in aot rattled" While he was speaking, I allowed myself to drift just a bit out of ht His aura was uy, no surprise there - and bloody around the edges with guilt and nerves
"Rattled?" I repeated "You looked pretty cal on your shots"
"Center mass," David supplied "Very well aimed"
Cole looked from one of us to the other, then fixed on David His whole body relaxed
"You’re wearing a vest, right? Of course"
For answer, David unbuttoned his shirt and displayed part of his bare chest
"David, stop teasing the man," I said And reat pleasure, and I deepened et a better look at the inner Trent
Not a terribly good experience
"You’re protecting yourself," I said aloud "That’s why you didn’t leave the ship You know you’re an obvious target if you do You’re running fro" He flinched, but he didn’tabout?"
"Do you know a anine?" This was theroil of anxiety and fury He didn’t know Bad Bob, at least not by name
David took his cue "He looks like this" And he transformed himself into a perfect replica of Bad Bob, fro-Irish nose to his bowlegs In fact, it was so good that I pulled in a startled breath and clenched ers on the arms of the chair, then deliberately relaxed It was just an i ers when Trent Cole shook his head
"Okay," I said, and tried to slon the fast beat of my heart "Who’s after you?"
"None of your business," Cole barked
"It is if you plan to go around shooting anybody who looks at you funny on this ship," I said
"Let us help you There’s no need to be afraid Not now" Cole stared at me with a perplexed look on his face Clearly, I wasn’t fitting the pigeonholes he was trying to stuff me into I was used to that, actually
"Who are you?" His gaze leaped froovernment?"
"Yes," I said In fact, that was sort of true And sort of not