She looked away.
“Very good, Mr. Stein,” said Landerman. “It looks like you have our Danuta worked out to the finest detail.”
Jack lifted his hand, slowly.
“Yeah, well, not so fast. It’s your turn now. Why do you want this thing so badly? And you must want it pretty badly. What is it? It’s a lump of metal. How can it be worth that much to you, Landerman?”
Again the older man chuckled. It was really beginning to get on Jack’s nerves. But then Landerman’s expression quickly sobered.
“I cannot expect you to understand, Mr. Stein.”
Jack planted his elbows on the desk. “Try me.”
“Humanity must advance, Mr. Stein. It must move forward. Those who are weak, perish. We have a duty to drive our species forward. This thing, as you call it, represents one chance to do that driving. Can you not imagine it? Alien technology. The chance to move above and beyond what we are. You must see that. The wealth of knowledge. Knowledge is how we move forward. Knowledge is what we become. That is what this thing is.” There was a fire in his eyes and a fervent conviction in his voice. Jack found himself leaning back away from it.
“There is no value to be put on such an opportunity. Vast power. Vast resources. Technology we can hardly imagine. All in the right hands. We have the chance to stop our species from sliding down that path to stagnation that’s inevitable if we continue in our current ways. There is no value to be put on that, Mr. Stein. And, Mr. Stein, we know whose are the right hands to do that guidance, don’t we?”
“If you say so, Mr. Landerman.”
He gave a low chuckle. “Oh, I do, Mr. Stein. I most certainly do.”
“And I suppose that you will get absolutely nothing out of this apart from your high ideals.”
Landerman steepled his fingers. “Well, of course, there will be other rewards.”
“Uh-huh.”
Jack glanced at Danuta Galvin. She was propped on the edge of her chair, the cool exterior no longer cool. She wore an expression of both expectation and slight fear at the same time. One hand hovered near the edge of the chair. The other was held flat on her abdomen, just above her stomach. He did a quick check on Larkin, but the little man hadn’t moved. Okay, it was time to play this out.
He reached down and behind him, opened the concealed cabinet, and grasped the edge of the bundle with one hand. Damn Laduce, taking the weapon. He felt exceedingly exposed right then, his back half turned to the room, hunched back over his chair, but he had to rely on the circumstance to keep him safe. Larkin, for one, was bound to be carrying, but he just had to hope Landerman would keep him in check. Lifting the bundle out of the cabinet, Jack kept it below desk level, drawing the moment out. Landerman and Galvin both were leaning forward expectantly. Her lips were slightly parted, the tip of her tongue resting lightly on the upper one. In one motion, he hefted the bundle above the desk and dropped it. It fell in the desk’s center and lay there, barely making a sound. Landerman sucked air through his teeth.
“Be careful, Mr. Stein.”
“Why?” said Jack. “This thing’s virtually indestructible, isn’t it? Unlike some of the people who’ve been carrying it.”
Jack withdrew his hands and sat back.
“So,” he said. “There it is. There’s what all the fuss is about. Who’s first?”
Danuta Galvin reached out, but Landerman waved her back. “No, this is mine, I think,” he said. He adjusted his position, leaning forward still further, and reached out with both hands to drag the bundle toward him, but Jack’s hand shot out, keeping it in place.
“It stays there,” he said. “Right in the middle where we all can see it.”
Landerman gave his annoying chuckle. “Very well, Mr. Stein.” He had to stretch, but using both hands, one by one, he unwrapped the concealing folds of cloth. With the last one, he gave a sharp intake of breath and then a sigh. Tentatively, he reached out, tracing his fingers across the surface. “Oh, yes,” he breathed. He sat back, staring at the object, and folded his hands in front of him.
“Well, there it is,” said Jack. “I think our business is just about done, Mr. Landerman. Apart, of course, from one or two problems.”
Danuta Galvin shot to her feet. “No,” she said. “It’s not that simple, either of you. I worked for this. I worked hard for this. You don’t just hand it over. No!”
In her hand she held a nasty-looking energy weapon, small, but powerful enough to take them all out. It looked like it was capable of some very ugly damage. That’s why her hand had been hovering near the edge of her chair. She had her bag down there. The gun wavered between Jack and Landerman as if she wasn’t sure who she should shoot first. Jack lifted his hands slowly, palms held out, showing he had nothing in them. Landerman sat where he was, chuckling.
“Ah, Danuta. Still trying to get what you can out of everything, aren’t you? Don’t you think it’s a little late for that?”
“I worked for this. I’m not leaving empty-handed.”
There was a slight click, the cocking of a weapon. Larkin was behind her, the muzzle of his gun pressed up against the back of her skull. She stiffened.
“Now, Danuta,” said Landerman. “I suggest you put that down. You know how eager Larkin is to use his little toys. I personally have never understood the fascination, but he takes great pleasure from it, and he has so little pleasure in his life.”
Jack stayed where he was, saying nothing, not moving.
Slowly, slowly, Danuta Galvin lowered the hand holding her own weapon. She placed it carefully on the desk.
“There,” said Landerman. “That’s better. Now I suggest you sit down.” He waved Larkin back. The little man took a step backward, still with his gun trained on the woman. Slowly Danuta sat, perching on the edge of the chair, folding her hands in her lap, her gaze downcast.
“You cannot do this to me, Christian,” she said quietly.
“Oh, but I can, my dear. And it seems I have.” He turned back to Jack. “Now, Mr. Stein, shall we conclude our business?”
Jack leaned forward, keeping one watchful eye on Larkin. “Not quite yet, Mr. Landerman. I said we had a couple of problems.”
“And what might they be?”
“Well, you see, over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been a matter of interest for the local law enforcement authorities. That’s not very good for me or for my business. Last night, I wind up with a corpse in my living room and once again, the attention of the police is focused here on me, in my place of work. That’s not very good for business either. Now, sooner or later, no matter how slow they are, they’re going to put two and two together and tie this whole thing in a neat little package. It wouldn’t surprise me if we’re all being watched.”
Landerman waved his hand. “And what’s that to me, Mr. Stein?”
Jack put his elbows on the desk and linked his fingers in front of him. “Don’t you see? If you want to get this thing away from here, then we’re going to have to give them something, or at least someone. We’ve got two bodies and a couple of nosy investigators who aren’t going to let it drop. Do you see what I’m saying?”
Landerman’s face flickered with a frown. “I see.”
“So, we have to give them something. You walk out of here carrying that, and the final piece of the puzzle is going to be there in front of them.” He glanced at Danuta Galvin and then at Larkin. “Now, we need to do the sums. What’s the most expendable part of this equation?”
Larkin still hadn’t made the connection, but Landerman clearly had. So, too, had Galvin. She had unfolded her hands and one was drifting toward the desk. Jack’s hand shot out and he swept her gun from the desk so that it clattered against the wall, well out of her reach. Her face had become visibly paler.
Jack stood. He walked casually around the side of the desk, Landerman’s gaze tracking him. Danuta was staring fixedly at the opposite wall, barely daring to move. Larkin’s gaze flitted from one to the other of them, a slight frown
creasing his forehead. He still held his gun, but his aim was starting to become uncertain.
Jack kept talking, casually. “Now, if I were you, Mr. Landerman, I know what I would think was the greatest liability, where you’re going to have the most trouble. What’s going to cost you the least out of this whole affair? Who is the most replaceable?”
Landerman was looking at Danuta. He shifted his gaze to Larkin, then back again. Jack kept his gaze fixed on Landerman as he took another step. Landerman’s eyes narrowed.
And Jack spun. The edge of his hand came down hard on Larkin’s wrist, knocking the gun to the floor. Larkin’s eyes flew wide, his expression turning from nervousness to panic as Jack grabbed a handful of jacket and pushed him up against the wall. With one foot, Jack kicked the gun out of the way. He pressed hard against Larkin’s chest, forcing him farther against the wall, leaning his face up close. “Who is the most expendable here, Mr. Landerman?” He locked gazes with the little man, watching the fury build. “Someone here killed the captain of the Alan Dean, and I have a fair bet I know who it is. Had a bit of a struggle, did we, Larkin? Put up a bit of a fight, did he?” He subjected Larkin’s face to scrutiny, looking at the marked chin, the bruised eye. “He did all right for an old guy, didn’t he? But then it wouldn’t take much, would it? You just didn’t count on him lasting long enough to make it here. Our Captain Gourley was a tough old spacer.”
Jack gave him one last shove and stooped to retrieve the gun. Larkin launched himself from the wall, but Jack was ready. One quick upthrust and Jack’s fist connected with Larkin’s chin. He fell back against the wall, his progress halted. He slumped there, looking like a frightened deer, looking for a way out.
“So, what do you say, Landerman?”
Keeping one eye on Landerman, Jack kept Larkin’s own gun trained on him.
Landerman cleared his throat and shifted uncomfortably on the chair. “I understand what you’re saying, Mr. Stein, but I don’t think there’s any need for this. Larkin may get a little enthusiastic from time to time, but sometimes that’s a worthwhile attribute in someone who works for you. No, I’m afraid I can’t agree. Larkin is far too useful to me. He does what he’s told, unlike some others.” He shot a quick meaningful look in Galvin’s direction.
“Yeah, well, that’s as may be,” said Jack. “But I’ve still got the police breathing down my neck. I’m afraid we have to do something.”
Landerman looked pointedly at Galvin then. She returned the look with an expression of horror on her face. “You are not serious,” she said.
Landerman looked back at Jack, raising his eyebrows.
“Yeah, well, it just might work,” said Jack.
“I did not kill Captain Gourley,” said Danuta, sitting straight up in her chair. “I will not take the blame.”
“No, you didn’t.” He looked at Larkin, then down at the gun he still had in his hand. “But I’m pretty sure you know Larkin did it too, Mr. Landerman.” He looked back at Larkin. “Isn’t that right, Larkin? This is your gun, isn’t it? And if this is the weapon that did it, then we have everything we need to pull this off.”
Landerman smiled. “Then it is settled,” he said. “Shall we proceed?”
Twenty-Four
Galvin leaped to her feet. “No, I will not have this,” she said. “I will tell them everything. You’re not going to get away with this.”
She made a move toward her own weapon that still lay over on the floor. Jack hadn’t forgotten it. He glanced quickly at Larkin, but the little man was in the process of struggling to his feet.
“I wouldn’t do that,” said Jack to Galvin, waving her down with the gun. Tentatively she retook her seat, glaring at him. Jack narrowed his eyes, giving her the tiniest shake of his head. She seemed to catch his meaning, for she relaxed ever so slightly. Oh, yeah, she was quick. Still holding the gun, he crossed back around behind the desk and retook his seat.
“Okay,” he said to Landerman. “Let’s do business.”
Damn, he hadn’t thought everything through. He couldn’t use the home system from here in the office. Not now. Still, that was minor. He could use his handipad.
“Very well.” Landerman reached for the artifact.
“Not quite yet, Mr. Landerman,” said Jack, waving the gun meaningfully in his direction.
Landerman nodded and smiled. “Of course, Mr. Stein. Of course.”
He reached into his jacket and pulled out an ornate handipad. “So,” he said. “The agreed fee was double what Danuta was going to pay you. One hundred thousand, I believe.”
“Plus my daily rate and expenses.”
“Well, let us make it one hundred and fifty, shall we?” He opened the handipad and punched a couple of commands. Looking around, he frowned, obviously expecting the home system to be primed.
“No, wait a moment,” said Jack. He dug into his own pocket with his free hand and withdrew his own more simple device and thumbed it on. “I’d prefer this not to go through the home system just yet.”
“Wait,” said Danuta. “You bastard, Christian. You know what you were going to pay.”
Landerman chuckled. “Business is business, I’m afraid,” he said. “And you seem to have taken yourself out of the transaction, my dear.”
Again Jack gave her the slightest shake of his head and she sat back, clamping her lips shut.
Jack looked down at his handipad and watched as the transfer was made. One hundred and fifty thousand. Jesus. He and Billie would be eating for a while on that. Maybe more. How many Molly’s meals would that buy?
“Satisfied, Mr. Stein?”
Jack snapped his handipad shut and slipped it away. “Perfectly, Mr. Landerman.” He made sure not to let his expression reveal what he was feeling.
“In that case, I think Larkin and I will be leaving. It’s been a pleasure doing business with you. And of course you will look after Ms. Galvin here.”
“Yep. Of course.”
Landerman reached down and rewrapped the artifact in the same greasy cloth it had come in, cradling it affectionately. “Get up,” he said to Larkin. “Come here.” He handed the bundle over, and straightening his clothing, he stood.
Jack pocketed the gun. “I’ll see you out.” He turned to Danuta. “You stay here.” At a thought, he scooped the other weapon from the floor and slipped that away as well. He ignored Larkin’s look, brushing past him to show Landerman out of the office and back out to the front door. “Good-bye, Mr. Landerman. I don’t think we’ll be seeing each other again.”
“No, probably not, Stein, but if ever I’m in the area, I will remember you.”
“Don’t worry,” said Jack. “That won’t be necessary.”
Landerman chuckled and stepped out of the apartment, Larkin hot on his heels, and Jack shut the door.
He leaned against the inside of the door, waiting a couple of seconds before going back inside. He hoped to hell Billie’s fix had worked. If it hadn’t, they were screwed. Still, with one hundred and fifty credits hot in his handipad, that might not be so much of an issue anymore.
Now to deal with Danuta Galvin. He headed back toward the office, fingering the gun in his pocket as he took those few remaining steps.
She was sitting where he’d left her. She looked up as he entered, her jaw set, a look of accusation on her face.
“What have you done, Jack?” she said. “Five hundred thousand. You’ve thrown away five hundred thousand credits.”
“And what?” said Jack with a sigh. “We’ve gotten rid of that damned thing and you’re still here in one piece. I’ve got a sizeable chunk sitting on my handipad. If I’d pushed for anything higher, Landerman would have become suspicious, suspected that I was working with you. Well, I thought you wanted a partnership, Danuta. You don’t know what you’ve gotten away with. Landerman’s got a surprise or two coming his way.”
He sat in his chair and leaned back studying her. “What do you think Landerman would have done when he discovered that yo
u’d delivered him a fake? And he will find out sooner or later.”
“What are you talking about?” she said, a peevish tone in her voice.
“The damned thing’s a fake,” he said. “I expect it’s going to break down eventually, but by then it will be too late. I somehow suspect your days of working for Landerman are over. You’ve got to look at other options.”
“What do you mean, a fake?” Her eyes were wide now.
“Just what I say. I don’t know what’s happened to the original. For all I know it’s back where it started, or someone else has taken it.”
She shook her head. “But that’s impossible.”
“Oh, no,” said Jack. “Not impossible at all. It’s about time you woke up.”
She bowed her head slightly and tapped a rapid staccato on her forehead with her fingertips before looking up at him again. “How do you know it’s not the real thing?”
“That doesn’t matter,” he said, shaking his head. “All you need to know is that I do.”
Her demeanor suddenly changed. Back was the Danuta Galvin he had first met, all poised and glossed innocence. “So what do you suggest, Jack?”
“Well . . . ,” he said slowly. “I thought you were talking about throwing our lot in together.” He paused, waiting for a reaction. When there was none, he continued. “But you see, Danuta, I have a problem there.”
A flicker of a frown.
“I don’t know how far I can trust you. You used to have a partner, didn’t you? What happened to him?”
“I don’t know, Jack. You know that.”
He stood. “Oh, come on. You should know by now that I’m not an idiot. You’re very smart, Danuta, but don’t underestimate me. What happened? Five hundred thousand . . . was that it?” He leaned across the desk toward her. “Too much to throw away, and when it looked like he was going to cut you out of the deal, you got rid of him. Decided to run it on your own. Was that how it was?” He raised his voice a little then, snarling the words for emphasis. “And you found poor sap Jack Stein to take his place. Is that it? Needed a bit of muscle. Someone who could look after himself. Hey?”
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