Vicky Peterwald: Survivor (Vicky Peterwald Series Book 2) Read Free

was a grinding noise, but the nose began to rise from the water. There was more grinding as the main gear engaged and pushed the lander from the water and up the ramp.
    At least, they did for a moment.
    “Help me with the wheel. The left main wheel motor has dropped out.”
    Vicky grabbed the control wheel that she’d been careful not to touch and helped Gerrit haul the nose wheel off to the right. The yaw to the left damped down, but it was clear the shuttle could not make it all the way up the ramp.
    “Engage the brake,” the commander ordered. “Let’s get out of here before this wreck drifts back down the ramp and heads out to sea.”
    Vicky popped her harness. Three of the five restraint points broke loose. The ones around her waist and between her legs stayed locked in place.
    She hit the release again, and nothing happened.
    Beside her, the commander was wiggling out of his harness. The top two of his restraint points hadn’t popped. She tried to do some wiggling up, but she really had gotten the harness tight.
    The brakes groaned.
    Gerrit freed himself and came over to feel around between her legs. On another day, that would have been fun. “Get me out of this, and you can feel all you want between my legs tonight,” Vicky offered.
    “Promises, promises,” he said, working on the release.
    “I’ve kept my promises,” she pointed out.
    There was a snap.
    “Ouch,” Vicky said. “That pinched.”
    “I’ll kiss it and make it all better later. Let’s get out of here before we have to swim for it.
    They exited the forward hatch. There were chocks slung beside the door. Vicky grabbed one, the commander grabbed the other, and they each raced for a different one of the main landing gears.
    They got the chocks in place about two seconds before the brake gave up the ghost, and the lander slid back. Back onto the chocks rather than into the bay.
    A pickup truck drove up, with a tug not far behind. Three men in coveralls got out of the truck. The senior of the three held a life buoy with a long length of rope attached.
    He seemed disappointed that he hadn’t gotten a chance to use it.
    Tossing the buoy in the back of the truck, he ordered the other two to hitch the lander’s nose to the tug. They did.
    The foreman approached Vicky. “We’ll tow the lander to a parking spot on the ramp. You got a credit chit to pay for the tow and ramp rental?”
    Vicky was about to open her mouth, but the commander got there first. “Nope. No credit chit that hasn’t been canceled. Guess you’ll have to throw it back.”
    “Don’t you think I wouldn’t,” the man grumbled, “but I got my orders to deliver you two to City Hall, so hop in. Maybe while I’m there, I can get someone to impound the lander for lack of payment.”
    “I doubt if that wreck is worth enough to pay your charges,” the commander said, and opened the passenger door for Vicky. She settled in the middle slot, with the gearshift nearly in her lap.
    When the commander settled in beside her, she cuddled up close to him with her legs well away from the gearshift.
    The foreman chuckled softly as he got in, started the engine, and reached for the stick.
    It was a very quiet drive to City Hall.

CHAPTER 4
    T HE man in coveralls deposited them at the curb in front of a new and gleaming glass high-rise.
    “You been here before?” the commander asked.
    “Nope. City Hall was a mite bit smaller last time I visited.”
    Many people hurried by them on the street. Many more crossed the gray cobblestoned courtyard as they entered or exited the building.
    None so much as glanced at the two Imperial Greenfeld Navy officers in green shipsuits.
    With a slight bow, the commander directed Vicky to head inside. He even opened the door for her when they got there.
    The ground floor was a marbled foyer full of potted plants and busy people going about their business. None offered to help two Navy officers.
    There was an information desk.
    No one sat behind it.
    No