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"We appreciate this, Mr. Briggs," Lara said, "really. But all we want is to
get back to Earth, try to put all this behind us."
Briggs nodded, smiling even wider, and for the first time since he'd come
aboard, Jess saw the thread of steel buried beneath the layers of plastic.
Will the real Lucas Briggs, please stand up . . .
"Whatever you want. I'll make the arrangements tonight." The grin sharpened,
glittering as brightly as Ms
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eyes. "Although there are a few final details that I need to get confirmation
on, before we conclude our business. Specifically, there was a ship's log that
was supposed to be downloaded to the
Nemesis, from a Company transport on board the DS station. The
Trader?"
Lara had this one nailed. He's good, but not as good as he thinks.
Lara nodded slowly. "We downloaded it."
Briggs was dancing inside, Jess could see it. He shot a glance at Ellis, but
the kid didn't seem to be tuned in, he was watching the bodyguards. Or maybe
the Max.
"To
Nemesis?"
Briggs asked, too quickly.
Lara shook her head. "No. Well, originally to the
Nemesis, but there were some problems with the initial transfer, so we backed
it up. I sent a locked copy to one of Pop's Commander Izzard's personal
channels. He had a few accounts that weren't on Company file."
She smiled weakly before pushing on, a sheepish look on her face. Jess was
impressed.
"I know it's not reg, but he seemed to think it was important to have
duplicate and it a was an order.
And since the
Nemesis was destroyed ..."
Briggs tried to put on a look of admonishment, but couldn't quite pull it off.
"You're right, it wasn't regula-tion. Personal transfers of Company
information is not only unethical, it's illegal." A pause, a conspiratorial
look that made Jess grind his teeth. "But, since you've admitted it openly and
you were following his orders, I see no reason for any disciplinary action . .
."
He smiled, the all-forgiving suit once again. ". . . and to be honest, that
log is important to
Wey-land/Yutani. I'm just glad it survived the, ah, tragedy." "
You used that one already, Briggs, how
'bout "catastro-phe," or maybe "misadventure"?
Jess hated him and what he stood for, he was a liar and a front man for
li-ars, for murderers, keep it together, Jess, don't give in
Another shark's smile, and a nod to one of his guards. "So . . . account
number?"
Lara met his gaze evenly. "I'd like some insurance first, Mr. Briggs. That
we'll have safe passage back to
Earth. In fact, I'd like to get to Earth before we turn that information over
to you."
Briggs frowned, still smiling. "Ms. Lara, you have my word."
That was it. Before he could stop himself, Jess opened his mouth.
"We all know what that's worth, don't we?" Jess sneered. "Come off it, we know
what you're trying to cover up, so stop already with your fuckin' song and
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dance!"
Silence, and everyone was looking at him, and Jess was too pissed to care, the
man was a goddamn liar, if he was going to bribe them, at least let him be up
front about it, about something.
Jess didn't give a shit if Briggs killed him, there was a redness in front of
his eyes that pounded at him, heat and fury, making him clench his fists and
step toward the lying murderer
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 and the resignation and sorrow on Lara's face stopped him. It wasn't just his
life. Jess closed his eyes for a second, forcing the red haze away, forcing
some measure of control back.
Fix it, gotta fix it
"Jess " Lara said, but Briggs cut her off, fixing his now not-so-warm gaze on
Jess's. The guards didn't move away from the back wall, but they unfolded
their arms, watching closely.
"And just what am I trying to 'cover up'?" Briggs asked.
Jess took a deep breath, exhaled it sharply. He hadn't screwed it for them,
not yet, he could still sal-vage
Lara's plan.
If I'm careful, very fucking careful.
"What the Company did to those people," he said, working his anger, watching
Briggs's eyes for any hint that the suit wasn't buying it. Briggs didn't
twitch one way or the other, play it through
"You want the log, you're going to have to give us a little more than new
contract negotiations," he snapped. "Lara and Ellis and I want to be the hell
away from you before we give it up and we're looking for bigger money than a
goddamn H/K bonus."
There was another silence, long enough for Jess to realize that the impassive
Briggs knew he was faking.
It was over, he'd just committed suicide and dragged Lara and the kid along
for the ride. His temper, his goddamn temper, Lara, Ellis, I'm so sorry
Briggs grinned then laughed, shaking his head. When he spoke again, his voice
had dropped half an octave, becoming as cold and hard as only a heartless [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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