Page 41 (1/2)

The galley was nearly eht, and only a few officers lurked at their tables watching the civilians as they passed The terot to use the officers’the navy crews for civilians like her and her team She would have resented itexample of why their suspicions were justified Soledad and Stanni were already at a table, drinking coffee froonnaone of the rolls up “Best cook flying can’t bake right without thrust How long you think we’re going to be on the float?”

“As long as it takes,” Melba said “They’re planning for two ,” Soledad said, but her voice and the grayness of her face were clear Two

“Yeah,” Stanni said “Any word on Bob?”

The fifth of the team—fourth noas still back on the Cerisier It turned out he and Ren had both been having a relationship with aup the usual suspects Most ti, it was do yet,” she said “They’ll clear hi”

“Yeah,” Soledad said “Bob wouldn’t hurt anyone He’s a good , and he loved Ren”

“Could stop the passato,” Stanni said “We don’t know he’s dead”

“With esse coisa out there, dead’s the best thing he could be,” Soledad said “I’ve been having bad drea it back fro like that won’t help,” Stanni said

A woed, thick red hair pulled into a severe-looking bun that competed with her smile Melba looked at her to try not to be at the table, then looked away

“Whatever happened to Ren,” she said, “we’ve got our job to do And we’ll do it”

“Daain with a catch in his voice “Daether quietly for a moment while the olderbreath slowed He nodded, sed He looked like an icon of grief and courage He looked noble It struck Melba for the first tie, and she had never seen her father weep for anyone

“I’m sorry,” she said She hadn’t planned to speak the words, but there they were, coughed up on the table They seeht Here, boss, have a roll”

Melba reached out, fighting herself not to weep again Not to speak She didn’t knohat she’d say, and she was afraid of herself The alert chinostic was finished It only took a second to see that the spike was still there Stanni said soed

“No rest for the wicked, no peace for the good,” he said, standing

“Go ahead,” Melba said “I’ll catch up”

“Pas probleot to drink your coffee, sa sa?”