Avalon

The smugness receded from Renford’s expression. “I’m afraid it’s not so simple. The ship is lost. You’re meant to find it, not steal it.”

Jeth frowned, his confusion returning. They were thieves not salvagers. “Why us? We don’t do that sort of thing, and like she said”—he inclined his head toward Celeste—“you’re the ITA. Why not send your own people to find it?”

Renford adjusted his grip on the gun, the black hole of its mouth leering at Jeth. “Because the ship went missing inside the Belgrave Quadrant.”

Immediate understanding clicked inside Jeth, followed at once by a swell of dread. The Belgrave. That’s where it happened. Whatever it was that had led his parents down the path toward inexplicable treason and death had started in that strange area of space. It was known across the galaxy as the Devil’s Boneyard. Lots of ships had disappeared inside of it, never to be seen again. Equipment tended to malfunction within its borders, particularly navigational systems. The ITA had declared it completely off limits; even flying through it was illegal. Some people said the place was haunted or cursed.

Jeth didn’t know what to believe. All he could say for sure was that his parents had spent more time in the Belgrave than anyone else. It was one of their primary areas of exploration. Over the years they’d made unique configuration changes to Avalon’s systems in order to make her resistant to the Belgrave’s strange energy fluxes. Avalon was the only ship that could navigate the area with any hope of success.

Jeth unclenched his jaw, working past his surprise. “And you need Avalon to find it. That’s why you’re here talking to a bunch of criminals.”

Renford nodded.

Lizzie cleared her throat, the sound mocking. “So why not confiscate that ship?”

Jeth glared at her, wishing she would keep her mouth shut. Didn’t she know what kind of damage a gun like that could do?

The first hint of annoyance flashed in Renford’s eyes. “There’s no time for such things, little girl. Despite your belief that the ITA merely takes at whim, such actions must be justified, documented, and approved by the Confederation Board. But I wouldn’t expect you to understand the complexity of government.”

Lizzie looked ready to argue, but Renford ignored her, addressing Jeth once again. “Hammer plans to send you to find it as soon as you finish here.” He motioned toward the Montrose’s bridge. “The ITA has learned that two days ago one of his men intercepted a distress beacon from the missing ship’s flight recorder.”

A dozen questions occurred to Jeth. He settled on the first one. “Why does Hammer want the ship?”

“Why does Hammer want anything?”

Profit, Jeth thought, although he had a feeling this was about more than a metadrive. They were valuable, sure, but Jeth didn’t think Hammer would risk sending the Shades into the Belgrave only for that. Besides, why had his men been close enough to the Belgrave to intercept the beacon? Jeth supposed it was possible they’d been just flying by and caught it by chance, but given Renford’s interest in the ship, he doubted it. Too coincidental. Most likely, Hammer had been monitoring the area on purpose. Which meant that something extremely valuable must be on that missing ship.

So valuable I might earn enough to finally buy Avalon if I find it for Hammer.

The idea sent an automatic grin to Jeth’s lips, but he suppressed it before it could surface. He had to get out of this mess first. And if they didn’t make a break for it soon, they were never getting out of here. Someone might notice those unconscious sentries any moment. It was time to press.

He folded his arms across his chest, the position placing his hand within centimeters of the stunner’s hilt. “This has been real interesting, but I’m afraid we’ll have to pass.”

Renford shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “But you haven’t heard what I’m willing to pay yet.”

Jeth rolled his eyes. “Yeah, and what’s that?”

Renford reached a hand into his inside pocket and withdrew a thumb-sized object that Jeth recognized as a personal calling card. The card worked like a homing device, one that would allow them to contact Renford no matter where he might be in the galaxy. Renford held it out to him. “Bring the ship directly to me, and in return, I will give you Avalon.”

A noise of surprise threatened to escape Jeth’s throat, and he clamped his mouth shut. This man knew far too much. A trickle of cold sweat slid between Jeth’s shoulder blades and down his spine.

“I know you’re working to buy the ship back from Hammer,” said Renford. “I can expedite your ownership.”

Still, Jeth said nothing, his breath shallow. He didn’t want to believe this guy, but the promise of finally achieving what he’d been working toward for so long made his nerve endings tingle with hope. Even if they couldn’t confiscate the ship immediately, the ITA would likely be capable of wresting it from Hammer’s grasp without too much trouble.

They executed my parents.

“No thanks.” Jeth forced the words through gritted teeth. “I’ve no reason to trust the ITA.” He didn’t care what his parents might’ve done. They didn’t deserve to die like that, and he wasn’t about to either.

Renford scoffed. “Oh, and I suppose you have reason to trust Hammer? Come on now, Jeth. You can’t really believe he’ll let you have your ship, no matter how many jobs you pull off. Seems to me your little gang of thieves is too valuable for him to give you that kind of freedom. You might stop working for him, which would cut into his bottom line. That doesn’t sound like the Hammer I know. He never gives up his toys.”