“If I can help you in any way while you’re here, let me know. It would be an honor to help his ward. I’m Gorga, by the way.”
“Gorga, it’s a pleasure to know you.” And it was. She’d dreaded introducing herself to a stranger, but once again, Auvi had taken care of her without even trying. It made the next request much simpler. “There is one thing I could use your help with.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m looking of another transport job.”
“Hmm.” Gorga wiped the bar top and moved away, checking on the other customers at the bar. Slowly they worked their way back. “There’s an auction happening today. One of the big muckity-muck factory owners died. I assume you transport the same things as Auvi.”
“I do.”
“There are supposed to be some biologics that are going to be on the block. Not every buyer will be on-planet.”
Cyra’s heart raced. Could it be that easy? “Here’s my comm connection.” She held out her device for the data transmission. Gorga held theirs up, and a ping signaled success. “I would appreciate anything you could send my way.”
“You got it, Cyra. Let me know if you want another one of those.” They pointed at the drink before moving away again.
Cyra still didn’t know what was in the drink, but she finished it in honor of Auvi who she missed terribly. He seemed to be taking care of her, even in death.
The next cycle, Cyra’s phone chimed at breakfast. The buyer—he offered to pay less than ten percent of the balance due. A balance that was woefully low. Auvi had received payments that were more than half of the entire contract. “I can’t believe this.”
“What?” Veda asked, setting her spoon in her bowl.
Cyra held out her comm. “The buyer is trying to short us big time.”
“We barely have any income from this contract as it is.” Rhysa had reviewed the documents with the others and been upset.
Not as upset as Blaize when she realized who had the contract money—Varik. “Don’t respond. It’s the best tactic. At least that’s what they taught us in contract negotiation class. I took all the notes, but I was never very good at that part. But my professor said the best way to get someone to recognize an unreasonable offer is to remain quiet, especially if you have something they want. And we do the spiders.”
Veda chuckled. “You didn’t do well during that class?”
Blaize turned bright red. “Just that test. I did better with the written part, but the professor said I gave up too easily. I don’t like being greedy.”
“It’s not greed. At least not onourpart. We did the damn job. He should pay us. I’d be happy to talk to him.” Rhysa’s pink eyes flared almost as red as Blaize’s cheeks.
Cyra’s phone pinged again. Gorga from the bar. “I think I’ll let the buyer wait. Let’s see if Blaize’s professor was right.” Cyra dropped her spoon in the muck that was supposed to be grain cereal and stood. “I have to make a call.”
Chapter14
“Hey Cyra.”Gorga’s greeting was warm and optimistic. “I have a lead on a job for you. How do you feel about thuringies?”
“Thuringies?” Cyra froze mid-step.
“Yeah, a pack of them,” Gorga’s teasing tone let Cyra’s legs move again. “A broker picked them up at the auction. Needs to get him to Kolben over in the Heychsix solar system.”
“I’m familiar with Kolben.” And headed that way. The contract could be the bit of luck she’d been looking for but… “What are thuringies?”
“Specialized guard dogs. Well, dog-ish.”
“Wow, he came a long way to get pets.”
“These aren’t pets. They’re big, well-trained, and vicious. But between the special handling and the distance, it could be a very lucrative contract.”
“Why would anyone auction off specialty guard dogs?”
Gorga chortled. “Not by choice. The owner recently went to prison for fraud, blackmail, and racketeering.”
“Nice.”
