by Cyna Kade
“Damn,” she muttered. Sitting back on the floor of the cage, she examined the bars.
They looked and felt like torenus. Even with her go-bag, she didn’t have any tools that would cut through torenus. The bars were solid, as if the cage had been molded in one piece. No solders that might be weakened. Even the door fit without a millimeter of space. She was being held in a very expensive prison.
Chapter Three
Tamara forced herself to scan the rest of the room. The dim lighting hid most of the implements she’d seen earlier. She could barely make out some kind of chair and table.
Tamara liked her freedom. She didn’t like this room. It was designed for restraint and torture. Despite her fears, she trusted Gage when he said the implements didn’t suit him. Gage might want her, but silly or not, she trusted him not to hurt her. What a mess. She had never thought he’d come after her. She had never thought he cared that much. She’d seen enough evidence to believe he’d just cut his losses.
She should have told Gage about Randall. Instead panic had overwhelmed her and
she’d run. She’d left him to face imprisonment. Would he ever forgive her if he knew the truth? She hadn’t stolen anything from him. She had betrayed him though. Losing the stash was one thing but leaving him to lose his freedom was unforgivable.
She’d originally had every intention of robbing him but somehow when she was
around him she lost her way. She bought into his philosophy instead of staying true to her own. Gage always said it was the excitement of the con, not the money that drove him. Their last con had proven that she’d lost her way. He was the first mark she’d left untouched. He was the first mark who had become something more important than money. She still didn’t understand what had happened. She should have taken the
score, especially if she was going to be blamed for it anyway. She thought back to their first meeting, the first and last time she’d agreed to work with a partner.
She’d been in the Zoomer Bar on the planet Noess. She’d just finished scamming a
mark out of a very large credit chip and she’d taken a quiet moment to celebrate her victory. The score was big enough that she could take a month off to plan her next move. Or she could increase her stash by buying a grestone. She didn’t have one yet and it would make a nice addition to her retirement fund. She had time to consider all
options. She hadn’t felt so confident and mellow in a long time as she sat at a corner table and sipped her drink.
Then he’d approached her. If she’d known how much turmoil he’d create, would
she have spoken to him? Yes, she decided. Their time together had been magic despite the way it ended. She remembered his approach…
~
A tall man boldly walked up to her table and said, “My name is Gage Lightgo. I’m a
pirate.”
Tamara’s first impression of Gage was of a large, gorgeous, dangerous and fun man
all rolled into one dynamite package. But what kind of criminal boldly declared his profession? He was either very good or very stupid and he didn’t seem stupid. She remained silent, just stared up at him.
He smiled and continued, “I’ve been told that you’re one of the best scammers in
this galaxy.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m just a paying customer trying to relax.
Goodbye.” She looked down and took a sip of her drink.
He ignored her brush-off. He pulled out a chair and sat across the table from her.
He persisted. “I have a score but I need a woman to help. I can’t do it myself.”
“I’m sure you don’t have trouble finding women.” She smiled at him.
“But I need a special woman. A woman who isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. A
woman who wants to make some money.”
Tamara eyed the man sitting across from her. In the dim light it wasn’t easy to
make out his features but he looked too clean and too righteous to be a criminal. But hadn’t people said the same about her? What was his game? “Not interested,” she said.
“Not even for an opportunity to increase your gem stash with three grestones,
including the Dialor Gem?“
Tamara’s eyes widened. The Dialor Gem was the largest grestone in existence. With
it, she could find a nice safe place to retire. But how did this man know she was in the market for grestones? It wasn’t a secret that she collected gems but she didn’t know this man. How much research had he done and what else did he know? Tamara looked at him. He leaned over the table. The tables were small and his movement put him very
close.
“Who pointed you toward me?”
Gage nodded back toward the bar. “The bartender.”
Tamara looked over at the red-haired man behind the bar. He’d sent her a couple of
jobs in the past. Tamara always rewarded him with a percentage of her take from the jobs he sent her. It wasn’t that he was trustworthy but he was a good source of information. Of course, even as he sold information to this man about her, he’d sell anything to anyone. But he wouldn’t have sent Gage her way without a good reason.
“That’s a large score. What makes you think you can do it?”
“I’ve information about a drug deal going down. I need a way into it.”
“I don’t do drugs and how do grestones come out of a drug deal?”
“The drugs are medications, not stoner drugs and the deal is a little complicated.”
“Tell me.”
“Not until you agree to help me.”
Tamara shook her head. “I’m not going to agree to anything without knowing what
I’m getting into. Besides, I don’t work with partners.”
Gage frowned and starred at her for a long moment.
She met his eyes with a steely gaze of her own.
He smiled and shrugged. “The deal involves drugs, jewels and artwork. It’s
partially set up by a couple of pirates. I just want to expand the deal a little and intercept the valuables as they change hands.”
“You’re robbing pirates?”
“They’re a lot less likely to go to the cops. Don’t you agree?” he asked with a cocky grin.
“They’re a lot more likely to kill us.”
“Well, darling, they’d have to catch us first and they won’t catch us.”
Tamara shook her head. “This doesn’t sound like a gig that needs my talent.”
“Oh but it does and here’s why.” Gage proceeded to tell her about the scam and
why he needed her.
She was still reluctant. She didn’t know Gage and she certainly didn’t trust him. But he kept throwing out concessions until she let him believe that he’d finally convinced her to go along with him. After all, she was between jobs. She didn’t have a better plan and the wine had mellowed her good judgment.
She let Gage believe that he appealed to her greed and impulsive nature. The art
would be his. The jewel would be hers. They’d split the proceeds from the drugs.
They’d be stealing from other criminals. Specifically from the pirate Crooked Jack, a notorious criminal who wouldn’t be able to go to the police. Of course, he might come after them after the scam but Gage assured her that wouldn’t happen. Why he was so confident she had no idea but she decided to accept his statement.
She had to admit the plan was sound. She’d pose as a wealthy, bored socialite who
owned a valuable holovas—artwork that looked like a sculpture yet moved. It was
painted on canvas using an expensive holographic technique. They’d allow the piece to be stolen from her and used in the drug deal. She’d play the part of a slightly silly and definitely harmless flake. Meanwhile, Gage would follow her and protect her. When the three-way deal went down, he’d be there to scoop up the art, the jewels and the drugs.
They planned and practiced for month
s and in that time Tamara watched a few of
Gage’s other plans come to fruition. She came to admire Gage’s intellect and sheer
audacity.
She was always cautious in her scams. Gage had no such restraint. He planned big
and complex. It was nearly impossible to imagine all the strands he’d pull together to
complete his sting. Only with a deep analysis after the fact could anyone begin to
understand how he’d woven the sting. Being part of one helped Tamara see the
individual threads of the weave. She knew she’d never have the skill to plan the way Gage did…
~
And she couldn’t help wondering what he had planned now. She wasn’t vain
enough to think she was the only reason he’d robbed the luxury ship Luxor Astra.
There was something else going on but she couldn’t see enough of the weave to even
begin to guess at the end game.
Gage thought she had stolen the score. And he claimed he had robbed the luxury
liner to capture her? That didn’t make sense and Gage never did anything that wasn’t logical. She just had to find out what logic he was using this time and what else he had planned because he always had more than one reason. There were always wheels within wheels and that was why he was so hard to catch or scam or understand. Where was he going with this plan?
She lifted her head. “Fakzi, do you know Gage’s plan for me?”
“Of course. I know many of Gage’s plans. There is not just one.”
“What is it?”
“You have asked me two questions. Do you wish to continue?”
Tamara paused. The creature’s speech pattern was so formal. She sensed something
else behind the creature’s question. Damn, it figured that Gage would take up with
something—no, someone—every bit as complex as he. She bit her lip to keep from
asking more questions, and then shook her head. At least Fakzi had confirmed there
were multiple plans going on. What were they? She sighed. No sense in speculating.
She’d find out soon enough.
Much as it grated, she’d have to throw herself on Gage’s mercy. He had a big heart
and a rigid sense of honor. Time to beg. She didn’t see any other options. She lay on her
back with her knees bent and closed her eyes. Gage was right, she should get some
sleep. She couldn’t do anything else.
But instead of sleep, Gage’s words echoed in her head. You stole from me.
She hadn’t though. She’d had the opportunity and she’d ignored it. Who had had
the chance? The cop. He was the only one she’d seen near the loot. Had he stolen it? He certainly hadn’t captured Gage. Of course he couldn’t capture Gage and then keep the loot. Tamara was convinced that Fells had stolen it. It was the only scenario that made sense. Could she convince Gage of that? And if she did, would Gage want to work with Fells? After all, what could be better than getting information from a crooked cop?
Would Gage want that information enough to give Tamara to Fells? Could she take that risk?
Before she could figure out her next move, Tamara felt the ship shudder as if it had been hit by something large. Had the authorities finally shown up? Was that why Gage had been called away? She had mixed feelings about that possibility. If the ship took damage, she’d be trapped here in this cage.
“Damn,” she muttered. Could her situation get any worse? She sat up and reached
an arm through the bars of her cage but no matter how she stretched, she couldn’t reach her clothes. She knew it was silly but she’d feel better if she was dressed. It wasn’t going to happen though. Gage had left her clothes just out of reach.
Another thud echoed through the ship. Why hadn’t the fools taken off yet? The
Mercury could probably outfly almost any space craft. It should be trivial for them to escape. What were they waiting for?
As if in answer to her question, she felt the thrum of the engines rev. The vibration echoed through her body and she quickly lay down as the ship seemed primed to explode. She knew what was coming. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. A
bright flash and wrenching jerk announced the hyperdrive kicking in at full power. It wasn’t a pleasant jump but it was fast.
She lay stunned for a moment before she remembered how to breathe. The shift into
hyperdrive was usually announced, leaving plenty of time for passengers and crew to find drive stations with cushioned recliners and protective helmets. The human body wasn’t designed to handle sudden jumps and Tamara wondered how many of the crew had been injured by the blast into hyperspace. But the quick move had apparently lost the attackers. The ship was quiet now.
Tamara groaned as she sat up. Then she remembered the liock. “Fakzi, are you
okay?”
“You worry about me?”
“Hyperdrive shifts aren’t ever a smooth ride.”
“I am fine. I do not hurt easily. Thank you for your concern.”
Tamara scooted back so she could stretch her legs. She bent and reached for her
toes, the cold metal of the cage pressed against her bare behind. The sensation was uncomfortable only because of its strangeness. She couldn’t ever remember lying naked on metal. Wasn’t Gage wonderful to give her this new experience? She snorted. She’d have to watch the sarcasm. He liked it as long as it wasn’t aimed at him. She didn’t want to make him any angrier.
She forced a deeper stretch. The small cage and the sudden jump made her legs
ache. She was too young for this. Damn Gage for leaving her here.
The door opened. Tamara knew there was no way to hide her nakedness so instead
of cringing, she sat straight. Her body was good even though she’d rather not display it to the man who entered the room. David was Gage’s best friend and oldest companion.
They’d been a team three years ago and it looked as though that hadn’t changed.
“Hello, lassie. The captain sent me to check on you. I told him you were too
experienced a spacer to get hurt and I see I was right. You look just fine.”
“David, would you please hand me my clothes?”
“Ah no, lassie. I’ll not go against the captain’s wishes. I’m sure he’s got you naked for a reason. He always has a reason. You know that.”
“He won’t listen to me. I’ll apologize but he won’t let me. There is an explanation.
Please—”
“Lassie, you know his moods. When you left, he went on a rampage that nearly got
us all killed. Then he went to his cold place where no one can reach him. When he got this ship, he smiled and do you know what he named it?”
“How would I know the ship’s name?”
“Thought maybe you’d heard of it on your travels. He named it Tamara’s Future.”
“He didn’t know my real name then. Must be another Tamara.”
“No, I asked him who Tamara was. He told me it was your real name. And when he
christened the ship, he said that one day he’d have you back. You put a real dent in him. That wasn’t nice. He needs to do what he needs to do to make himself whole again. So, lassie, you can see why Gage won’t listen to explanations.”
Tamara wanted to scream but David had always been warmly obstinate. Gage was
the only one who could move him. Begging wouldn’t get her anywhere. She sighed.
“I’m cold. At least give me a blanket.”
“I’m not sure you deserve that much consideration. Why did you have to steal from
him? Wasn’t it enough that you left him?”
“I didn’t steal from him! I wouldn’t do that to him. The loot was still there when I left.”
“Well, lassie, it was gone when we got there, as you were gone. You took it. That’s the only explanation. You’re a truly great con artist, lassie. We all be
lieved you cared about us.”
“I do care about you. I had no choice. I had to leave. Please listen to me.”
“Why should I listen or care about you now?” He paused and then shook his head.
“I shouldn’t,” he muttered. He walked over to a panel and pushed a couple of buttons.
“There, that’ll give you a little more heat. You’ll survive, just as you always have.
Maybe someday, after the captain is done with you, we can grab a bite to eat and catch up.”
“I’m hungry and thirsty. Why don’t we catch up now?”
David snorted then he walked over to a cupboard. He pulled out a couple of items
and set them outside her cage. “Food and drink and a pot to piss in after. Bye, lassie,”
he said before turning and walking toward the door.
“What about me?” Fakzi purred.
David looked at the liock. “I didn’t realize Gage left you here. Just a minute.” David walked back to the food dispenser and pulled out a large steak. “Here you go. Enjoy.”
Tamara reached for the field rations. The cage was a nightmare. Her legs ached. Her back ached and more than anything she longed to stretch out—not just one half at a time but her whole body. At least she was short. She sighed and settled herself with her back to the door so she wouldn’t be immediately exposed if someone else walked into the room.
Chapter Four
“Did you really think David would betray me?”
Tamara turned her head and looked over her shoulder. She hadn’t heard Gage
come into the room but then he’d always been able to move silently. “I didn’t ask him to betray you. I know he wouldn’t do that.” She wished she knew someone she could trust that way.
“You asked for clothes when I left you naked.”
Tamara shrugged and turned away from Gage.