Too Close to the Sun (The Sun 1) Read Free

finishing “business” negotiations with a potential client. Angel had to admire the older woman’s stamina. This was probably her tenth customer tonight. Other patrons sat around gaming tables, wagering and drinking ale. It was the same scene as a hundred times before, right down to the outsider sitting in the corner.
    He looked out of place drinking coffee, but he was minding his own business. Angel could respect that.
    She gave a mental shrug and continued into the room. She had her own problems to worry about. The door to Dugan’s office was closed and she knew better than to knock. Martin had no doubt pressed the button under the counter alerting Dugan to her arrival, so she headed over to the bar to wait.
    “How ya doin,’ Angel?” Martin’s smile was warm and friendly while her own no doubt came across looking more like a grimace. Tucking the toe of her boot under the bottom rung of a stool to pull it out, she hiked one hip onto the seat, leaving her other foot on the floor for balance. With effort, she lifted the satchel off her shoulder and onto the countertop.
    “Jeez girl, what happened to you?”
    Angel looked up and saw Martin staring at where her jacket gaped open revealing a shirt stained with more blood than the last time she'd checked. She quickly pulled it closed. “Nothing.”
    “Don’t give me that. You run into trouble on Felinea?”
    “Nothing I couldn’t handle. You should see the other guy.” She smiled at the lame joke while Martin continued to frown.
    “Yeah?” He sounded skeptical. “Maybe I should take a look at it. Clean it up. Do a little sewing?”
    “No thanks.”
    Martin didn’t press her further, but instead reached under the bar to pull out a double-shot glass, which he filled with an iridescent sky-blue liquid.
    He pushed the glass toward her. She downed the icy cool liquid in a single swallow. Martian Ale went down cold, but arrived hot. As the warmth spread throughout her body, the pain in her side eased.
    Angel pushed the empty shot glass across the counter, indicating with her hand that Martin should fill it again.
    He gave her a questioning look. “You never drink more than one. That side of yours must be hurting.”
    “I’m celebrating,” she said, watching him fill the glass again.
    “Really? Care to share the good news?”
    “As of tonight, I am the proud owner of one Falcon XLT space craft.”
    Tonight, for the first time in my life, I’m free.
    “And at such a young age, too.” Martin smiled. “Well, I guess congratulations are in order.” He pushed the refilled shot glass toward her, then poured a smaller one for himself. They raised their glasses in a silent toast and downed the contents. This time the icy burn wasn’t as startling to her system.
    “Tell me about the stiff in the corner?”
    “Don’t know," Martin said. "He doesn’t talk much, just sits and drinks coffee. Every now and then, he’ll look at his watch and go outside. I followed him once, just to see where he went.”
    “And?” Angel prompted when he paused.
    “And nothing. He walks over to that sleek little number on the field, you know the one I mean, and just stands there for a minute like he’s waiting for someone. Then he comes back here and orders more coffee.”
    Angel lazily pondered what the man was up to. Thanks to the Martian Ale, she felt almost as good as new. Her hands absently played with the empty shot glass as her attention wandered down the bar.
    “I miss something?” She nodded toward the images flitting across the vid-screen.
    “Harvester attack, not far from here. West Beach.”
    “You're kidding? How'd I miss that?” Angel absorbed the news in shock. She’d just flown over that area not an hour ago.
    “Yeah.” Martin nodded. “It’s getting so decent folk aren’t safe going out at night.”
    Angel shot him a look, eyebrows raised. How long had it been since either of them had been considered “decent folk”?
    “Point is, no one is safe