"Let me start at what I believe is the beginning," Lowell said. "Three years ago, the head of the Berrilian Syndicate was attacked in a takeover bid. The rumors said it was his groomed successor, tired of waiting. He was killed in the fight, but rumors also spoke of a shadow man, the real source of the takeover. He disappeared. A year ago he was spotted in the Cygnus sector, here as a matter of fact. He's reported to have a criminal organization headquartered on Kiju, small stuff mostly. Petty theft, minor drug smuggling, nothing serious. Yet. He's building his power. Brun Daviessbrowun is the major power in the Cygnus sector, Arramiya's father. His wife was murdered quite a few years ago by another Syndicate trying to move into this territory. Daviessbrowun used his money and influence to keep them out. He put his daughter into hiding to prevent a kidnapping or worse."

"And when they saw Dace, they assumed it was Arramiya Daviessbrowun," Clark said, understanding the photos.

Lowell anticipated Jasyn's questions and pushed the photos across the table towards her. "She bears a very close resemblance to the real Arramiya Daviessbrowun."

"Who has her? What's the man's name?" Jasyn said in a voice icier than the winter wind outside the ship.

"He calls himself Luke Verity. He has a large estate on Burundia. He usually spends little time there, preferring to be closer to his center of activity. He moved in three weeks ago and hasn't left since."

"Why haven't you arrested him?" Jasyn asked.

"We have no solid proof," Lowell admitted. "Three of my agents have died in the last six months. They were close to his organization. He is ruthless, suspicious, and very, very good at what he does."

"You think Dace is still alive?"

"Luke Verity is still demanding ransom from Hom Daviessbrowun. He's made contact three times now. The Gentle Hom is on his way to Burundia right now in his private yacht with as many credits as he could liquidate."

"And what do you want from us?" Jasyn asked, including Clark in her question.

Lowell didn't miss the aborted gesture Clark made towards Jasyn. Her hands were still knotted in fists, her knuckles white. Clark wanted to smooth away the tension. He tucked his own hands together, lacing his fingers loosely.

"I want your ship," Lowell said baldly.

"You can't have it." Jasyn stood up. "This is over. Get out."

"I need your help," Lowell continued. "You will be well paid."

"And if I refuse, you'll take what you want anyway." Jasyn dropped back into the chair. "Why the ship? What do you want me to do?"

"As I was explaining to Clark, your ship can land on Burundia without drawing undue attention. I want you to take passengers, masquerading as crew."

"Who?"

"Myself, Sector Chief Querran, and as many Enforcers as you have room for." He looked beyond her, where Juen and Ilod were busy stowing gear. "Juen and Ilod as well."

"You knew I'd agree, didn't you," Jasyn said. "That's why they're moving things in already, isn't it."

"There isn't time to spare, Jasyn." Lowell patted her hand. She pulled it away.

"We can take no more than twelve, and that's squeezing it." Jasyn looked around the ship, watching the men tramping through carrying large packages.

"They've stowed gear in your holds," Lowell said.

Jasyn bit off whatever she was going to say, accepting the inevitable.

"There isn't time to argue. We need to be moving as soon as possible," Lowell said.

"Give me a few minutes toa" Jasyn swallowed hard. "To rearrange some things." She stood, crossing the few steps to Dace's door. She stopped, her hand on the control plate, and looked back at Lowell. "She's alive? You're certain?"

"There aren't any guarantees, but, yes, reasonably certain."

Jasyn nodded and went into Dace's cabin.

"Twelve men aren't going to be enough," Clark said. "Unless you've got a whole fleet of traders lined up, it's hopeless."

"There's no official Patrol base on Burundia. There is, however, a full research expedition from Planetary Survey. I've arranged for them to do a population study on carnivores in the area of Luke Verity's estate. Of course, the request requires a much larger presence."

"I could almost admire your deviousness," Clark said. "Jasyn was right about you."

"Oh?"

"She said you didn't have a heart. She was right."

Lowell studied the younger man, his silver eyes opaque. "I do what is necessary," he said quietly.

Clark looked away, unable to meet Lowell's eyes. "I'm very glad I don't really work for you."

"The price can be quite high," Lowell's smooth voice was rough on the edges, a tinge of regret the only emotion he let through.

The hatch opened again. Cold air smelling of snow swirled through the room. The lounge filled with men in black uniforms and one older woman in the silver of regular Patrol. Lowell stood, smiling a bland greeting.

"Sector Chief Querran," Lowell said. "I trust your trip here was pleasant?"

"On a cruiser filled to capacity with Enforcers?" Querran snorted. "Not hardly."

Clark decided he could like Sector Chief Querran, maybe. She was slender, her iron-gray hair cut short. She wore a no nonsense expression, but her eyes were kind. He stood, wondering if he should salute or not. He was not wearing a uniform. He didn't know if he was officially still a Patrol officer or not. Lowell hadn't been very clear on that issue. Clark hadn't thought to ask.

"You are Major Clark?" Querran said and held out her hand, making the issue moot. "Sorry for inconveniencing you this way."

Clark took her hand. It was firm, warm and solid as she gripped his. She broke it off, turning to look around the ship.

"Cozy," she commented. "Which cabin?" She waved her hand at the row of doors.

"We'll leave that up to the owner," Lowell said. "Let's review the plans." He drew Querran into a chair and spread papers over the table.

Clark was dismissed, he could sense it. The ship was full of Enforcers, stowing gear, wiring up new systems in the cockpit. Ilod shouted at someone in the engines. The ship was too full, too noisy. Clark went to Dace's cabin, knocking before opening the door and entering.

Jasyn sat on Dace's bunk, staring at nothing, holding the lute she had bought on impulse. She shifted her look to Clark, ready to protest until she saw who it was. "What now?"

"What cabin arrangements do you want?" Clark asked.

"They can sleep in the holds, in vacuum." She bent her head, her hair sweeping over her face, escaped from the tight braid. She plucked a single string of the instrument. "Do you really think Lowell's telling the truth?"

"That Dace is alive? Yes. The rest? Who knows?"

"There isn't much in here. Dace didn't own much. We'll have to let them use it." She stood, the lute cradled in her arm. "I'm not sharing my cabin, though. I don't care what Lowell's paying."

"I don't blame you, Jasyn."

She stood in front of him, close enough that he could smell the faint scent of her hair.

"I'm sorry about what I said earlier," she said. "You aren't bad, for a Patrol agent." She gave him a half smile, a quirk of her lips.

"You aren't bad yourself," he answered.

She searched his face, her smile fading.

"We'll get her back," Clark promised.

"I'm sure Lowell will see to that," she said. "The trick will be getting Lowell to let her go."

Chapter Nineteen.

I must have really pleased Luke. Breakfast was twice as big as normal. There were new files in the reader and more news clippings. I ate, browsing through the news while I stood at the table. Nothing much had changed. My supposed father was still distraught, unwilling to give comment. Rumors were flying that he had liquidated assets, collecting the ransom money.

I moved in front of the window, thinking about the news and chewing a last bit of pastry. The forest drank in the bright sunlight and gave back only dark green. The bird soared in the sky, circling slowly over the vast stretch of trees. I doubted that Hom Daviessbrowun was going to pay ransom for a complete stranger. The rumors meant that Lowell was most likely arranging something. I wondered what. And if I'd survive whatever he had planned. I thought back over the encounters I'd had with Lowell. He was involved, very high up, in the undercover division of the Enforcers. He was Tayvis' commanding officer. Lowell wanted me in the Patrol, under his command. He wanted me as an agent. He had tried several times to recruit me. I wasn't willing to give up my freedom, not for the Patrol and most definitely not for Lowell.

I grimaced. I had no freedom, not now. I watched the flyer wistfully. My prison was very comfortable, but it was still a prison. I leaned against the window, pressing my nose hard against it. My breath fogged it up. I turned away.

The furniture had been moved back into place. I pushed it all to the edges as far as it would go, clearing the floor in front of the window. I sat down and started in on the stretches and exercises I'd been neglecting.

I lost myself in the familiar routine. It was easy to forget time when I had nothing to fill it with.

"What are you doing?"

I lost my balance and tumbled onto the soft carpet. Luke stood at the top of the smaller set of stairs. He looked elegant, as usual, wearing his preferred flowing shirt and tight pants. This shirt was pale silver to match the stripes in his blue hair.

"Exercising," I answered, rolling over and sitting up.

"What an odd pastime."

"There isn't much else to do," I said, hating the whine that crept into my voice.

"You wish more freedom? You crave something more than quiet?" He leaned against the railing on one side. "Would you like to walk in my gardens?"

I stood slowly, suspecting a trap in his words.

He laughed, a full throated laugh that boomed in the room. "I promise to keep my pets locked up."

"Why?" I studied him suspiciously.

"Because you pleased me. Rewards, Miya. Much more pleasant than punishment." He looked me over, up and down, his eyes lingering where sweat had glued the thin tunic to my body. "Knock when you are ready. Rinth will guide you." He met my eyes, and smiled. "You please me, Miya. Very much." His eyes swept over me again. I resisted the urge to cover myself with something. "I regret that I must spend the day taking care of business matters. Perhaps you will consent to walk with me tonight?"

I made myself smile and nod. Inside I was shivering and sick. I wanted to scrub away the slimy feeling his look left behind.

He gave me a last lingering appraisal then left. The door closed behind him with the now-too-familiar sound of locks clicking into place.

I showered and changed.

The gardens were nothing special that I could tell. Plants clipped and pruned severely into artificial shapes lined walkways of stone and sand. I wandered the grounds, touching flowers, pretending to be surprised by statues in unexpected places. Rinth followed me, giving no sign that he noticed any of it.

The air smelled of pine trees, their sharp scent stirring memories of other times. I paused at the top of a small rise and looked out over the high stone wall at the forbidding darkness of the wild forest.

"You will not go there," Rinth said in his high voice. "There is danger. You will stay here in the gardens. you will come back now." He closed his stubby hand around my arm. It was useless to resist him. He led me back to the mansion.

I expected to go back to my rooms. Instead, Rinth took me across the wide stone patio and through a clear sliding door into the dining room. The table was set for one. Rinth took me to the table and waited until I sat. He went back to the door, a pane of the window that slid aside, and moved to close it.

"Please," I said impulsively, stopping him. "I like the fresh air. Leave it open."

Rinth stood absolutely still. I waited, holding my breath. Rinth finally lifted his hand from the door and stepped away. The faint scent of pines drifted in, mixed with the smell of sunbaked stone. I felt a slight thrill of victory. I was gaining Luke's trust, maybe.

After lunch, Rinth took my arm again. He led me back to my rooms, his steps implacable. I tried briefly to talk him into letting me walk outside. He paid no attention to me.

I paced my rooms, unable to sit still longer. I thumbed through the reader but found nothing I wanted to read. I stared out the windows in the bedroom. The scene remained the same. Endless miles of forest stretched to a distant horizon. The sky above was empty.

The windows would not open. I found no controls, no break in the smooth panels as far up as I could reach. I was locked in a cage with the only way out through a furry xeno. I had no idea what Rinth was. I did know it was impossible to get past him. Even if I did manage to pick the lock on the door, which I couldn't, I'd checked, I wouldn't be able to escape Rinth.

I paced the rooms, my feet silent and bare on the thick carpet. Fifty steps from the door to the back of the closet. Thirty around the outside of the sitting room. Twenty across the bedroom. I paced and circled, restless after the taste of free air Luke had allowed me. I wondered if it was just another ploy, another cruel tactic, another way of asserting his control over me.

Rinth took me to dinner. I ate alone. I let my surprise show, but it got me no information. Rinth ignored me. The thin woman serving the food said nothing. She didn't even look at me. She may have been an android except I doubted they'd make one so unattractive.

The next day was a repeat, minus Luke's visit. Rinth took me walking again, carefully steering me away from the walls, keeping me to a central portion of the garden. He stepped in front of me when I tried to choose a different path or even leave the path. I got the message and stuck to the paths he approved of. I had no doubt that if I pushed the issue, my privilege of walking outside would be removed.

I ate lunch alone in the dining room, breathing the fresh scent of outside air as long as I possibly could. I'd heard that many spacers preferred only filtered air. I could never get my fill of fresh air. I found the smells of a planet were like spices, something to be relished, even if sometimes unpleasant.

I spent another afternoon pacing, watching a storm build. Clouds piled up on each other, dark gray and purple. They drifted off to one side. The mansion remained in sunshine.

Dinner was brought to me in my room. I spent a restless evening watching the distant storm and browsing the reader. I finally gave up and went to sleep.

Another day, the same routine. And another. I began to wonder what business of Luke's kept him away. I saw no one except for Rinth and the thin serving woman. I tried staying out in the garden longer, lingering over flowers. Rinth had some kind of internal clock. When it was time, he would take my arm and drag me into the dining room.

Halfway through the endless fifth day, the routine changed. Luke breezed into the dining room as I lingered over my food, taking as much time as I could possibly manage. He strode across the room and shut the sliding door.

"Why is the door open?" he demanded of Rinth.

"Because I asked him to leave it open," I spoke up.

Luke's glare transferred to me. "You will not interfere with my orders. Ever." His voice was cold steel.

I shivered and dropped my fork.