In the Black (19 page)

Bianca swallowed loudly as his hand moved off her shoulder. He wrapped his fingers around hers, taking control of the blade.

More murmuring. Soft, gentle words.

Another hand moved to land on her waist, holding her still.

Bianca sobbed as the knife moved away from her neck and down to her side in a slow, controlled motion.

He took it from her, then stepped out from behind her.

Daniel looked like hell.

Streaks of black oil stained his snow-white hair, his jeans torn in spots and the white T-shirt stained with unknown substances.

Whatever magic this man had, he’d made good use of it—she’d seen enough death for a lifetime and didn’t need to see another. She had no idea how he’d gotten out of the shaft and managed to sneak up on Bianca with his mag-boots activated. She could barely manage to not sound like a stampeding elephant and that was with years of usage.

Daniel turned Bianca to face him, the tanto safe at his side.

“You’ve had a bad time of it. You need to lie down and rest. Please go to your quarters,” he whispered to her with more than a hint of authority in his voice. She stared at him, then at Sam, then back at the marshal with a childlike expression of fear before swimming toward the hallway door.

Bianca didn’t look at Jenny. The mechanic stayed curled up in a ball as the courtesan paused at the hatch.

“Belle, let her out.” The door unlocked on Sam’s command and swung open, letting the stunned escort leave.

Sam watched the young woman float down the corridor to her quarters, the door opening automatically courtesy of Belle again. Bianca slipped inside and the hatch swung shut.

“Lock her down, Belle,” Sam said. “All doors, please.”

She couldn’t hear the snick of Bianca’s door locking but she heard the galley hatch close.

“She’ll be fine. I’ve instructed your computer to pump a bit of knock-out gas into her cabin air for the next few hours, keep her calm and asleep.” Daniel motioned toward the closed door. “She’s still stoned on something. Probably got another dose from Harrison and got herself all riled up. A good nap will help her get this out of her system.”

He turned toward Sam, passing the short sword back and forth between his hands. It danced in the air, the thin yet deadly blade hovering in zero-g.

His tone changed from professional to anger, the steel edge slicing the air as cleanly between them as the sword could. “What the hell is this doing on board?”

“The Guild allows personal weapons on board for protection. In case a client gets into a situation where she can’t call on Belle for help.” The words burned on her tongue.

“Left that bit out of their briefings. I’ll make a note for future reference.” He eyed her. “You got anything more than your sidearm?”

“None of your business.”

It was bitchy but she was too wired up to be tactful.

Jenny uncurled herself and dogpaddled toward the hatch. “I’m going to go lie down.” She swallowed loudly. “I don’t feel too good.”

“Belle, let her out.” Sam caught Jenny’s eye as she swam by. “Head back to your quarters. Stay there—I’m serious this time. No maintenance, no nothing until we get this resolved.”

Jenny nodded before heading through the open hatch.

Daniel studied the weapon. “Wonder what other surprises your crew has hidden away. Maybe I should search all of their quarters, see what other goodies they’ve got under the mattresses.”

Sam’s vision narrowed into a crimson tunnel.

She was pissed at Daniel, Bianca, Jenny, the
Bonnie Belle
, the Guild and everyone who had ever crossed her path or would in the future.

She was most ticked off at herself for failing her squad. Again.

A few steps and she was nose-to-nose with the marshal, the words coming in short pants as she tried to control her rage. “How did you get through the ship? Belle had her locked down. And what the hell are you doing, interfering with my business, my crew?”

“You’re welcome.” He crossed his arms, annoyingly calm. “When you ran off I tapped into Belle’s conversation with you and assessed the situation. I overrode the lockdown and came in through the undercarriage.” Daniel pointed downward. “The same way Jenny gets around, in the access and maintenance tubes. And my rank allows me to order Belle to do whatever I deem necessary for the continued safety of the crew and the customers.” He rubbed the top of his head, wincing at the sticky mess. “Hell of a tight fit.”

“No. This. Is. My. Ship.” Sam emphasized each word with a poke of her finger into his chest, making sure to punch through the dirty white shirt into hard, solid flesh. “You do not fuck with my ship, mister. Or my people. Or me.” She’d expected to butt heads with him over authority, but not so soon.

“Even if I pay the going rate?” The smile wasn’t infectious.

A black-lacquered scabbard floated nearby, within reach. She ignored it. “Not even if you paid double.”

Daniel grinned. “Maybe I’m so good you’ll end up paying me.”

Sam snorted. Right now she’d consider switching teams.

“Okay, I get it. You’re annoyed at losing face in front of your crew.” Daniel reached out and took hold of the scabbard. He reached into the front pocket of his jeans and pulled out a large evidence bag scrunched up in a ball.

The clear plastic packet unfolded slowly in the light gravity. “But you couldn’t have thought I’d sit back and let you deal with this on your own.” He tapped his chest, over his heart where an imaginary badge would sit. “This is what I get paid to do. This is my job.”

“And this is mine.” She sucked in her breath through clenched teeth. Technically he had a point but she’d be damned if she gave an inch. “You’re not in charge here. I’m in control.”

“Calm down,” Daniel said. “You look like you’re about to pop.” He smiled, that same damned smile she’d seen after they’d kissed up on the bridge. “Again.”

Sam glared at him. “Can we keep our minds on business or am I going to have to—” She paused, searching for some sort of phrase that couldn’t be taken sexually.

She couldn’t think of one.

Daniel chuckled and slipped the blade and scabbard into the evidence bag, obviously enjoying her discomfort. “Maybe we should both take a cold shower before continuing this conversation.” He raised an eyebrow. “I need to clean up anyway and wouldn’t mind the company.”

“Maybe you should do your job and stop teasing me,” she snapped. “All you’ve done since coming here is ogle me and paw me over. You’re no closer to finding who killed Halley and that’s what you’re here for, not to flirt with me or be cute or—” She stopped, unable to find any more words.

“Look.” Daniel took hold of her forearm. His tone shifted from playful to deadly serious. “I know you’re in a pissed-off place right now. I’d be the same if one of my men betrayed me. But that doesn’t mean you get to beat on me.” One edge of his mouth twisted up. “I’m not into that. At least not on the first date.”

She resisted the urge to pull free or better, kick him in the shins. A mag-boot in the right place hurt like hell, as she’d recently illustrated. Instead she glared at him, hoping he had enough common sense to see it her way.

“There’s more to this than you just being ticked at me. Does this go back to what you said about not protecting Halley?” He paused and she saw the sadness in his eyes. “Does it go back to the Hub?”

Sam jerked away. “What do you know about that?”

“Nothing.” She heard the truth in his words. “But if you want to tell me about it, I’m here and willing to listen.”

“This has nothing to do with the Hub.” Sam’s heart felt like it was about to burst out of her chest. “This has to do with a murdered woman.”

“I’d say. Two of them.” He moved closer, his steel blue eyes locking with hers. “You never let yourself come back from the Hub, did you?”

Sam opened her mouth but couldn’t find anything to say. She closed it with a snap and spun on one booted heel, taking long strides to get as far away from Marshal LeClair as fast as she could. “If you need me I’ll be on the bridge doing my job. Belle, restore all functions. We’re back open.” She resisted the urge to sigh. “Again.”

* * *

It wasn’t hard to nap in her command chair, the straps keeping her locked in place. She needed to rest and to eat and she could do both while keeping an eye on the monitors as they cycled around the
Belle
.

A handful of energy bar wrappers floated by her side. She could have gotten real food from the
Belle
, her daily ration, but it felt wrong sitting down and eating while a murderer was on the loose. Never mind that she couldn’t do anything about it, but she wasn’t going to get caught with a mouthful of rehydrated mashed potatoes if something happened.

She could think of better things to fill her mouth with.

Sam shifted in the chair, pushing away the sleepy daydreams. She didn’t have time for that.

She wasn’t sure what she was supposed to be doing but erotic thoughts about Daniel weren’t going to find Halley’s killer.

A light flashed on her panel, signaling an incoming call.

“Marshal LeClair is on the line. Shall I patch him through?” Belle asked.

“Sure.” Sam grabbed at the floating wrappers. “Go to visual.”

Daniel appeared on the monitor in front of her. “Am I interrupting anything?”

Not yet.

“No, nothing.” She jammed the wrappers down the disposal chute. “Any news?”

“Not yet. Base is on their night cycle so we’re all down for a few hours. Don’t worry, the killer isn’t going anywhere. The base is still locked down so no one’s getting out.” He yawned. “It won’t do anyone any good if we’re all too tapped out from sleep deprivation to figure out who the killer is. Thought I’d check in and see how you were doing before going down.”

She couldn’t help smiling at his choice of words.

Obviously she was already suffering from a lack of sleep.

His eyebrows rose as he watched her. “Something funny?”

“No, no.” She waved him off. “I’m fine, thank you.”

“You seemed pretty annoyed with me before. It’s not good for us to be at odds if we’re going to close this case.” He rubbed his chin. “Before—I didn’t mean to push any buttons.”

“I’ve heard worse.” It wasn’t a lie. The therapist hadn’t held back over their sessions. “It’s okay.”

“I just want you to know that if you want to talk about the Hub I’m here for you. It won’t go past these ears, promise.” He smiled. “Consider it part of our professional relationship.”

“Our relationship,” Sam repeated. “Do you have a lot of those?”

Daniel sat back. “We talking personal or professional?”

“Whatever.” Her pulse increased as she waited for the answer. She wasn’t sure why she was asking—after all, this was only going to be a temporary liaison. Nothing more, nothing less.

“I don’t have a girl in every port if that’s what you’re asking. I’m not that type of guy.”

“What type are you?” She felt comfortable talking to him, more than with almost anyone she’d met since leaving the military.

“Loyal, faithful—”

“Like a dog.”

“You got a thing for pets?” He laughed. “Maybe a leash and collar?”

Her imagination went into overdrive, enhanced by the lack of sleep and exhaustion from recent events.

Daniel picked up on her expression. “Ah. That’s what you like. Let me guess—you’re thinking of me bound and gagged?”

“No,” she croaked through a suddenly dry throat. “Not so much gagged.”

“You want me to talk to you?” He licked his lips. “What would you like to hear?”

“I want to hear you scream,” Sam whispered.

The sly smile almost pushed her over the edge. “And what, perchance, would make you scream?”

She paused, swamped by scenarios she’d read about in her detective novels. And other books she’d found in the virtual library, the courtesans’ choices.

“Let me guess.” Daniel leaned back, putting his fingertips together. “I’m a hard-boiled private dick and you’re my faithful partner. Not my Girl Friday, ’cause that’s just sexist, but my partner due to a case we ended up working together on and we clicked so well that we decided to make it official.”

Sam forced herself to speak. “You’ve been reading the books in my library.”

Daniel chuckled. “You think you’re the only one borrowing and trading books? Mystery novels are the hottest property around.” A touch of red dotted his cheeks. “Other than porn of course.”

“You read a lot of that?” She tried to sound nonchalant, hiding her curiosity.

“When I first started out I went through a lot of them.” Daniel nodded. “But as I got older I got more picky.” He gazed at her. “Go for quality, not quantity.”

“So how does a nice guy like you end up patrolling the backwaters?” Sam asked, not rising to the bait.

Might as well grab the tiger by the tail.

He tilted his head to one side. “That’s pretty personal.”

“We were talking about bondage a few minutes ago. That’s damned personal. Besides, you know a lot about me. Time to return the favor.” She tapped her fingers on the armrest. “I heard you were a golden boy, a hotshot. What happened?”

Daniel stared at her for a full minute.

She didn’t flinch. Even if she was only going to see him for one night of passion, she wanted to know more about him.

“I was assigned to help out on a raid. Homestead supposed to be making illegal drugs.” He ground his teeth together. “Turns out info was wrong. Civilian got hurt but they wanted to fix it to make it look like she resisted. I disagreed with their scenario.”

“Pissed off the wrong people,” she translated.

“You could say that.” He smiled. “I pissed them off good. A few reprimands, a payoff to the woman involved and I got a one-way ticket to the outer reaches.”

“And now you have all this.” She swept her hands around her narrow cabin. “Was it worth it?”

“Yes,” he said almost before she’d finished her sentence. “I wouldn’t have met you otherwise.”

She rubbed her face, putting up a barrier between them. “I think it’s time for bed.”

“Okay.” Daniel sat up straight. “Your place or mine?”

She scowled.