"Out of the question. An interplanetary flight is—"
"Expensive?" guessed Harriet.
"—not scheduled for another three days," finished Bernie.
Alice nudged her. "Teresa can fly us back tomorrow. She said so earlier."
Harriet didn't think Teresa would be flying anywhere, but it gave her an idea. "Bernie, how about a hotel room? Will you spring for that at least?"
"Well …"
"Oh, go on. We just busted Smith, and we're both exhausted. Just a room, and dinner, and … breakfast. A real one."
"Anything else?" demanded the robot acidly. "A spa treatment perhaps, or—"
"That's great, Bernie. Thanks! We'll stick it on the account. See you tomorrow!"
"No, wait. I must ask you about something."
"What is it?" asked Harriet warily.
"Agatha Foster has been calling. She insists on a meeting with my superior officer, and I do not know how to proceed."
Harriet frowned as she remembered the cold, emotionless old woman from the traffic stop. "Put her off."
"I have done so, but she is persistent. Please suggest a method by which I may be rid of her."
Harriet's eyebrows rose. That was most un-Bernie-like, and it seemed Foster was really becoming a problem. She was going to tease the robot by suggesting a large bribe, but it seemed a little unfair after she'd managed to wangle the hotel room. "Let me sleep on it, Bernie. I'll think of something."
"Please do, as I fear we are running out of time."
"Relax. She can't shut us down."
"She's the head of the Dismolle Residents' Association. She has limitless power."
"All right, I'll deal with it. Promise." Harriet hung up, then found a hotel on the screen. "Five stars okay with you?" she asked Alice.
"I'm not fussed."
"Okay, booked." By now they'd reached the terminal, and after crossing the concourse they emerged on the other side, where a line of cabs was waiting. Harriet gestured to the nearest, and she and Alice slumped in the back, barely able to keep their eyes open.
— ♦ —
After a quick meal, Alice and Harriet retired to their room. Harriet had considered booking two rooms, but the price was astronomical and she knew Bernie would never forgive her. So, they took it in turns to use the shower, then wrapped themselves in snowy white dressing gowns and collapsed on the twin beds.
As she lay there in the darkness, Harriet replayed, over and over, the moment Alice had pointed the gun at her … and fired. Not just once, but twice. So what if it was only a stunner? It was cold and callous, and a side of Alice she never knew existed.
She'd meant to have it out back on Dismolle, with Bernie acting as a moderator — or a referee, more like — but she knew she wouldn't sleep unless she said something. Harriet opened her mouth, ready to broach the subject, but before she could speak Alice got in first.
"I'm really sorry about today, Harriet. I don't have any excuses, I'm just … really sorry."
Harriet's lips thinned. Sorry didn't cut it. "If you ever go off the rails like that again, I'll personally see you run out of the Peace Force."
"Harriet, Smith killed my uncle! Surely you—"
"Never again, Alice," said Harriet coldly. "I don't need that sort of crazy in my life. Got it?"
Alice was distraught. "I promise I'll never do anything like that again. I mean it!"
"You won't do it to me, I guarantee that." Harriet rolled over to go to sleep. In the darkness, she thought she heard a muffled sob. Well, let her, she thought grimly. Better a good cry now, than wild gunfire some time in the future.
Chapter 24
Next morning, Harriet and Alice were sitting in the hotel dining room, tucking into a large breakfast. Alice looked tired, but they chatted normally and neither of them mentioned Harriet's outburst of the previous night.
"I love crusty rolls," said Harriet, spreading butter and jam all over the steaming hot bread. She pointed with the knife. "You should try the apricot, it's much better than the strawberry."
Alice obeyed, taking a bite before shaking her head. "Yeah, not for me. I like crunching the little pips."
"They'll get stuck in your teeth." Harriet reached for her coffee, then paused with the mug halfway to her mouth. Teresa had just walked in, one arm in a sling, her face pale and haggard. "What's she doing? She's supposed to be in hospital!"
"She must be damned tough," said Alice admiringly. She pushed her chair back and made room, seating Teresa at the table between them. "Try the rolls," she said, offering the last one. "They're great with the apricot jam. And let me get you a mug!"
After Alice left, Harriet glanced at Teresa. "Shouldn't you be resting?"
"It's not that bad. I'll manage."
"So … what are you doing here?"
"I heard you two stayed over. I figured you'd be needing a ride home."
"You're not flying anything in that condition."
"Pfft." Teresa held up a small square device. "With this I can handle my ship with one arm tied behind my back." She looked down. "Or tied in front of my chest. Whichever."
"It doesn't sound very safe." Despite herself, Harriet was tempted. It might be hours — or days — before they could find a ship to drop them home. And Teresa did seem pretty confident.
"Relax, it's fully automatic. I could wiggle my eyebrows and still land on a ten-credit tile."
Alice returned with an empty mug, which she filled to the brim with coffee before offering it to Teresa. "How are you feeling? Did they fix you up properly?"
"Yeah, I'm good. I was just telling Harriet I'd fly you both home, but she's not convinced."
"Are you kidding? Of course we'll go!" Alice turned to Harriet. "Her ship is amazing. You'll feel like you've been bundled into a cement mixer full of rocks."
"Amazing," repeated Harriet drily. "I can't wait."
They finished breakfast, settled the bill using the Peace Force expense account, then took a cab to the spaceport. As they drove onto the landing field they heard
