Mutiny on Outstation Zori Read Free Page B

Deep red hair cascaded down the right side of her head, hiding one eye; the left side was completely bald and smoothly polished. "I certainly hope you can help us, Mr. Clamber."
    "Jamie will do fine, thanks." Clamber tried not to stare at the top of her head. The baldness was attractive.
    The woman's observable eye blinked. "Do what?"
    Jamie laughed. She certainly had a way of putting you on the defensive. "I'm not quite sure," he hesitated, turning back to address Werch. "Why did you want to see me?"
    The exec went back to his desk, searching for a moment through the piles of plastexts, picking one up, studying it, placing it back, until he located what seemed to please him and held it up. "We understand that you once worked with Cast Janssen."
    The woman stared deeply at Jamie.
    "Yes. You could almost say that he was my partner, before he died."
    "Are you certain he did die?" the red-head asked.
    She gets right to the point, Jamie thought. "No, as a matter of fact, I'm not sure. His body was never found, but that's not unusual when your ship is gutted by raiders."
    Werch shot a glance at Bright Law, who nodded.
    "What the hell's going on here?" Jamie demanded. "Is she scanning my mind?"
    "Take it easy, Mr. Clamber," the woman said. "We want to determine whether or not you're in on the theft."
    "What theft?"
    Werch stretched an open palm at an empty chair. "Would you care to sit down, Mr.—"
    "No thanks. I'll take this standing up. Now what do you know about Cast?"
    "The question is," Werch responded, "and the reason I'm paying triple premiums is to find out what you about him."
    Jamie relaxed, surveying the other two, curiously. He knew no one was forcing him to be here. He could walk out at any time. But then he'd never learn if Cast was alive, or dead, or what. Perhaps, if he played along, he could find out, and make a few deits at the same time.
    "He was a friend; a little pushy and irritable at times, taken to bouts of depression, but the best freighter jockey in the business. And he was responsible. I mean, you could trust him—"
    "Truthfully?" The woman leaned forward slightly.
    "Well, usually. I worked with him for almost ten years. He helped get me my own ship. What's this all about anyway?"
    "Where was he from?" Bright Law asked.
    "Look, if you want to know all this, why don't just read my mind?
    "I'm afraid," Werch said, "my associate's telepathic powers are limited to impressions of honesty and falsehood, Mr. Clamber. Besides, we are principled people. We have respect for your inner thoughts."
    "So," the half-redhead continued, "we still need to know what you can tell us about Janssen's background, from your perspective."
    "And again, I ask, why? What's this all about?"
    Werch sighed from behind his desk. "Tell him, Bright."
    She cast eyes to the ceiling and began to recite. "Our company has been contracted by the Calaban Corp to locate and retrieve twelve single-passenger FTL ships stolen last month while they were being transported to Cavon Province."
    She paused, and Jamie questioned. "I take it these were not your normal pleasure crafts?"
    Bright nodded reluctantly. "They were a new design, rated at over thirty max FTL displacement. The manufacturers of the Esper Shadows are not happy about the loss; they can and will build more, but they want the dozen missing ships back, and with no questions asked."
    Jamie caught on. "So, they're in a panic. What's that got to do with me or Cast?"
    Werch rubbed the back of his neck. "Your friend's gene-type was discovered in the cargo hold of the ship used to transport the Esper Shadows."
    "What?" Jamie breathed. "You mean he's alive?"
    "We think so," Bright answered. "We can't be sure; the genetic impression was contaminated. But if he is, you can help us learn more about him and maybe lead us to...the missing ships."
    Jamie thought it through. Supposing Cast was alive: why would he be involved with corporate crime, instead of returning to FZ5 and his transport