sharp words, there was no anger in her tone or e xpression. She never spoke to him in anger, but her calm could be much more intimidating.
"I met someone who overheard the thieves. She's in danger and needs my help," he blurted out.
"Who is this person?"
"I'd rather not say."
"Jon, what are you about to do?"
"If anyone asks, just say I went to Hathor on business."
"I don't want you to go." Estrella came to her feet, her hands balled into fists. "We'll find your father, I'm certain of it. It's not safe for you there."
"Why not? You were born there. It'll be like going back home." He smiled, ho ping to diffuse her fears. "Why don't you want me to go?"
"Just promise me you won't go."
"When I get there I'll go to company security and ask them to take over the investigation. Don't worry. I'll be back in a few days."
He gathered her into his arms. Usually his mother didn't like a lot of hugging and touching. She'd shown affection to him and his sisters in many ways, but physical closeness like this was rare for her.
"Please don't worry. I won't be in danger," he whispered. He couldn't lie to her. But he could tell her what he knew she needed to hear.
"Whatever happens, Jonathan, you must never tell anyone that I'm from Hathor. Do you promise? Say nothing."
"Why not?"
"Promise me." She gripped him, her fingers digging into his flesh.
"I promise, Mother. I won't tell anyone."
3 Thieves Like Us
Astarte -- Morning
Using his father's security clearance, it hadn't been difficult for Jonathan to get the shuttle passes for himself and Ilana. But just to be on the safe side, she suggested he use an alias when getting her passes. That way, no one would know she was on her way to Hathor.
Another advantage of using Brandon's clearance was that they didn't have to go through sec urity checkpoints. The shuttle to Hathor was usually filled with Novacorp managers and other company workers. Just the group of passengers to mix in with if you didn't want to be subjected to a lot of scrutiny.
Other than Estrella, the only person who knew Jonathan was leaving was his assistant at the club. Not only was she very capable, but she was good at keeping confidences. He'd only be gone for a week or so. She'd have no problem handling things until he got back.
Cat would be pissed if she checked the passenger lists and saw his name. Thinking of it made him smile. He didn't need her a pproval to look for his father.
Once they were onboard, Jonathan led the way to the private suites. An atte ndant showed them to their room and left them to settle in. Though it was compact, it included a bed large enough for them both. There was even room for a narrow table and two chairs.
Jon dropped his bag and settled down on the bed.
"Jonathan." Ilana plopped down next to him. "Aren't you glad you got one of the executive suites? I told you it would be more comfortable."
He rested against the pillows. "You were right."
Sure, it was comfortable. But one of the basic rooms would've been fine. Why had he let himself be talked into reserving this one? But, maybe she was right. At least they wouldn't be crammed into bunk beds with no room to move around.
"I wish I could've gone back to my place to get my clothing." Ilana pulled off her torn jacket and threw it on the bed. "I must look te rrible."
"I'll buy you clothing when we get in." Jon drew her into a kiss.
Ilana playfully bit his lip. "We have three days, Jon. I'm hungry. I've always wanted to try the gourmet menu."
The engines started up, sending a vibration through the bed, followed by the ding of a warning bell. The door was closing.
In a few moments they'd be shooting out into space. Now he could relax and enjoy three days with Ilana in a private suite. Things could definitely be worse.
*****
Hathor -- Late afternoon
It wasn't often that Nadira was called to her mentor, Zina's apartment for a private meeting. But Zina wanted to discuss the theft on
"I met someone who overheard the thieves. She's in danger and needs my help," he blurted out.
"Who is this person?"
"I'd rather not say."
"Jon, what are you about to do?"
"If anyone asks, just say I went to Hathor on business."
"I don't want you to go." Estrella came to her feet, her hands balled into fists. "We'll find your father, I'm certain of it. It's not safe for you there."
"Why not? You were born there. It'll be like going back home." He smiled, ho ping to diffuse her fears. "Why don't you want me to go?"
"Just promise me you won't go."
"When I get there I'll go to company security and ask them to take over the investigation. Don't worry. I'll be back in a few days."
He gathered her into his arms. Usually his mother didn't like a lot of hugging and touching. She'd shown affection to him and his sisters in many ways, but physical closeness like this was rare for her.
"Please don't worry. I won't be in danger," he whispered. He couldn't lie to her. But he could tell her what he knew she needed to hear.
"Whatever happens, Jonathan, you must never tell anyone that I'm from Hathor. Do you promise? Say nothing."
"Why not?"
"Promise me." She gripped him, her fingers digging into his flesh.
"I promise, Mother. I won't tell anyone."
3 Thieves Like Us
Astarte -- Morning
Using his father's security clearance, it hadn't been difficult for Jonathan to get the shuttle passes for himself and Ilana. But just to be on the safe side, she suggested he use an alias when getting her passes. That way, no one would know she was on her way to Hathor.
Another advantage of using Brandon's clearance was that they didn't have to go through sec urity checkpoints. The shuttle to Hathor was usually filled with Novacorp managers and other company workers. Just the group of passengers to mix in with if you didn't want to be subjected to a lot of scrutiny.
Other than Estrella, the only person who knew Jonathan was leaving was his assistant at the club. Not only was she very capable, but she was good at keeping confidences. He'd only be gone for a week or so. She'd have no problem handling things until he got back.
Cat would be pissed if she checked the passenger lists and saw his name. Thinking of it made him smile. He didn't need her a pproval to look for his father.
Once they were onboard, Jonathan led the way to the private suites. An atte ndant showed them to their room and left them to settle in. Though it was compact, it included a bed large enough for them both. There was even room for a narrow table and two chairs.
Jon dropped his bag and settled down on the bed.
"Jonathan." Ilana plopped down next to him. "Aren't you glad you got one of the executive suites? I told you it would be more comfortable."
He rested against the pillows. "You were right."
Sure, it was comfortable. But one of the basic rooms would've been fine. Why had he let himself be talked into reserving this one? But, maybe she was right. At least they wouldn't be crammed into bunk beds with no room to move around.
"I wish I could've gone back to my place to get my clothing." Ilana pulled off her torn jacket and threw it on the bed. "I must look te rrible."
"I'll buy you clothing when we get in." Jon drew her into a kiss.
Ilana playfully bit his lip. "We have three days, Jon. I'm hungry. I've always wanted to try the gourmet menu."
The engines started up, sending a vibration through the bed, followed by the ding of a warning bell. The door was closing.
In a few moments they'd be shooting out into space. Now he could relax and enjoy three days with Ilana in a private suite. Things could definitely be worse.
*****
Hathor -- Late afternoon
It wasn't often that Nadira was called to her mentor, Zina's apartment for a private meeting. But Zina wanted to discuss the theft on
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