reveal a uniformed guard with an Empire Marines-issue blaster in his hands. The man stared at each of them for a moment before stepping aside.
The office they entered was significantly larger than Hern Jarnett’s, and much richer. The walls were paneled in what appeared to be real wood, and displayed tasteful artwork. Seated behind the real wood desk sat a rather fat man whose florid countenance was framed by a mass of salt-and-paper hair. His expression was dour and harried, but when he saw Dee, it softened into a professional smile. He hurried around the desk to greet her.
“A good day to you, Mistress,” he said. “Rumor told me of your presence, but it failed to describe your beauty. I am Res Selton, and I understand you have some gems to sell.”
He opened his mouth to continue, but Zant interrupted him by clearing this throat noisily. “I am Zant Jenfu, and I represent the Lady Delilah Raum of Faith,” he said in a superior tone. “My lady is traveling this sector, and finds herself running short of cash. She does not wish to sell anything. A lady of her social status does not engage in business, of course. On her behalf, I would like to convert a substantial collection of unmounted diamonds into Alliance credits.”
Selton bowed to Dee. “My apologies, mistress. In this backwater, one rarely encounters a lady of such… breeding. Also, I was given to understand that Faith was quite a… uh… conservative society.”
“It is,” Dee replied haughtily. “Dreadfully boring. I haven’t actually been there in several years. My father, the Supreme Archbishop, agreed with me that I am better suited to a more civilized environment.” Her smile was cold.
“Of course, my lady, of course,” Selton fawned, totally convinced. He turned to Zant. “And precisely how many stones did your lady wish to convert?” He looked somewhat disappointed as he moved back around the desk. Obviously, this rich bitch just needed spending money, and he’d waste his time buying a dozen or so stones.
Zant slid the receipt and the crystal from Shorty’s across the desk. Selton picked up the receipt. He glanced at it, started to look away, and then jerked his eyes back to it as its contents registered. “Two thousand carats?” he asked in surprise. His suddenly wide eyes devoured the receipt as he muttered to himself. “Flawless” Zant heard, and “white’. Selton snatched the crystal and placed it into a scanner. He spent several minutes examining the detailed list of stones. Finally, he sat back, with a stunned look on his face.
“My lady, my congratulations. I have never before been offered such a magnificent collection. May I ask how you came by it?”
Dee shrugged carelessly. “In his position, my father has quite an interest in assuring that I do not return to Faith for some time. Actually, our agreement says I may return for his funeral. In the meantime, he will provide me with the means to support my lifestyle. He has decided that diamonds are the most compact and negotiable way to provide that support.”
A last bit of tension slipped from Selton’s shoulders. He could easily understand the most powerful churchman on Faith ridding himself of a spoiled, rebellious playgirl of a child. Actually, he was slightly surprised that her father hadn’t simply arranged an ‘accident’. But then, maybe the man really cared for this spoiled brat, though Selton couldn’t see why. Moreover, diamonds really were probably the most compact and universally convertible form of wealth. At any rate, that old drunk Tenkin had really come through, and the deal really was legitimate. That would add several hundred thousand credits to his eventual profit.
He turned to Zant. “I can give the lady one thousand Alliance credits per carat,” he said as though he were conveying a favor.
Zant simply looked at him for a long moment. Then he stood and sighed. “My lady, I’m sorry. Rin told me we would be dealing with a legitimate gem dealer. I’m sure we can find a reputable gem factor on Freehold.” He started to help Dee from her chair.
Selton looked wounded. “I am a reputable gem factor. I… “
Zant waved dismissively. “The amount you offer is an insult. Retail on Angeles for flawless stones of such color is 2000 per carat, wholesale is 1750. Now, we do not expect Angeles prices here, but we certainly did not expect to be robbed. We would accept 1750.”
Selton looked scandalized. “Impossible! As you noted, that is the wholesale value on one planet. Out of respect for the lady I could perhaps go to 1250.”
“Ridiculous!” Zant retorted in apparent anger. “The lady could not possibly accept less than, say, 1500?”
Selton frowned. “Done. 1500 per carat for two thousand carats.” He consulted his wrist comp. “That will be over three million Alliance credits. A sizable amount indeed.”
As Hern Jarnett had predicted, Selton and two burly, armed bodyguards accompanied them to Shorty’s. Selton carefully examined the stones themselves before signing an authorization for Jernett to disburse three million, fifty-four thousand Alliance credits to “The lady Delilah Raum of Faith or her representative.” Cradling the bag of stones in his arms as though they were a baby, he and his bodyguards hurried out without a further word to either Zant or Dee.
More than three million Alliance credits in cash turned out to be quite bulky. Leaving the cash in Shorty's office with Dee, Zant, and Cale went to the shopping district of Freehold, where they purchased two identical suitcases. They also purchased a small roll of plas packaging and padding. Returning to Shorty’s, Cale called for a bodyguard escort while Zant packed one of the suitcases full of bills. The other he filled with packing and padding until it weighed virtually the same as the money case. When the bodyguards appeared, Cale carried the money case while Zant carried the decoy. One of the hired bodyguards led the procession. He was followed by Dee walking alone as befitted ‘lady Delilah’, hand on blaster. She, in turn, was followed by Cale and Zant side by side, and the other hired bodyguard bringing up the rear. They garnered a lot of attention, but the well-armed procession apparently didn’t tempt any criminals.
At Cheetah ’s ramp, Zant waited with the bodyguards while Cale escorted Dee and the money aboard, and then returned to dismiss the bodyguards and escort Zant up the ramp with the decoy bag. As soon as they were aboard, Tess sealed the entry lock.
They stared at each other for a long moment before simultaneously dissolving in uncontrolled laughter, collapsing into the lounge’s luxurious chairs. Dee’s arm got tangled in her gaudy cape, and she struggled to free it. She unclipped the cape from her shoulders and threw it across the lounge.
“I hate that thing,” she said between giggles. “It’s the most uncomfortable, terrible garment since… well… since this horrible thing!” She stood and ripped off the detachable skirt she had been fighting all day. She dropped back into her chair as the laughter continued.
“Now, now,” Cale said in a patronizing tone, “is that any way for Lady Delilah to act?”
Dee put on a threatening expression and took her blaster from her bag. “The next person to call me ‘Lady Delilah’ will regret it!” The threat was somewhat spoiled by the giggles following it.
Finally, though, the hilarity tapered off. “Tess,” Cale asked, “Have you been monitoring station comm traffic?”
“Of course, Captain,” Tess replied in a prim tone. “At first you were a frequent subject of discussion. That tapered off for a while, but now it is beginning to pick up again. The early traffic mostly concerned your remarkable appearance, but now there is quite a bit of discussion about a deal you may have made with Res Selton, and how much you may have made from it.”
Zant nodded. “I expected that. I’d suggest we depart as quickly as possible, before some of the rougher citizens decide to satisfy their curiosity.”
“Yes,” Cale replied. “Tess, get us exit clearance as quickly as possible, and let’s get out of here.”
“Exit clearance has been received, Captain,” came the crisp reply. “Ready to detach on your order.”
Cale hid a smile. He knew very well that Tess had requested departure clearance as soon as they were aboard. However, Zant did not know of Tess’s sentience, and she was an expert at concealing it. “Detach and set course for the jump point for Rama,” he ordered.
Rama was a busy shipping center one short jump from Freehold. There, Zant would catch a tramp for Vishnu.
As they boosted for the jump point, Zant was in an expansive mood. “Three million!” he exulted, “ Three million!” He turned to Dee. “I’d have taken the 1250, or even the thousand,” he said, “but as the representative of the ‘Lady Delilah’, it would have been out of character not to haggle. So we got an extra million!”
Dee was less impressed. “But will that be enough to hire a crew of ten or twelve ship techs for a month, and a ship to transport them? Will you have to deal with shady thugs in big hats in dark alleys?”
Zant sobered. “I guess you haven’t heard about Vishnu. For almost two years, now, they’ve been in a
