Page 113 of Throwing Fire

Payton raises her head. “I assisted Father in running the Blue Water plant for three years before its closure.”

“How’d you feel about takin’ over ops in Jielt?”

She shrugs a silk-covered shoulder. “I anticipate that B would resent my presence a great deal. He’s run the plant since its inception.”

“One way or another, I don’t think B’s gonna be running anythin’ after today.”

Payton controls her expression, but her neatly arched eyebrows lift a few centimeters. “May I ask why?”

“Cause I don’t like his politics.”

“What politics?” Payton looks genuinely puzzled.

“His anti-Mod politics.”

“Ah,” Payton says. “I don’t believe that’s politics. It is purely personal prejudice.”

“He was happy to play nice at the Gold Ball-Ball. Shook my hand and everythin’.” Fucking hypocrite.

Payton glances at Acker, who has his eyes closed and looks asleep, although it’s hard to tell. Her warm chocolate eyes return to mine. “Your modifications are subtle and... inoffensive.”

“He got somethin’ against rats?”

“Beasting, he calls heavy modification. He despises anyone who modifies themselves to be anything ...otherthan human.”

“Any modification’s something other than human, arguably,” Kez says. She snuffles and rubs her cheek against my shoulder.

“Thought you were nappin’,” I say.

“I was. Your man-stink woke me. Besides, this is more important.”

“Yeah? How’s that?” Nothing’s more important in my book than Kez’s well-being.

“Someone’s willing to pay a hundred CeeBees to see me dead. That’s more important than sleep.”

Fair enough.

Next to Payton, Exeter-the-Merc shifts on his uncomfortable-looking seat. “No one told us about a contract on Miz Kerryon,” he says.

I shrug.

Over the edge of his blue shades, Exeter’s thick brows draw together. “You know Mara Kawada wasn’t one of mine.”

I shrug again. I know what I heard, and I know how loyal Mike’s been, but I also know what I saw, and that was a merc with a bio-weapon thirty feet from Chiara’s office. “Nothin’ against you and yours but keepin’ Kez safe is my job. No one needs to know shit about where she is, what she’s doin’, or who’s gunnin’ for her except me.”

“If that’s the way you want it.” Exeter watches me for a moment through his blue shades, then tips his head. “I’ve been doing security for ten standard, you know. I might have something to offer.”

Good man. He could have gotten pissy and territorial, but he didn’t. I like him better all the time. As long as he doesn’t go kissing any more of Kez’s body parts.

“Hundred thou is a lot of credits for anyone,” I say.

“Agreed.” Exeter rubs his thumb and forefinger over his chin, ruffling his beard. “That should narrow the field.”

“Jielt has a budget you could lose hundred thou in. And B’s got a thing against Mods.”

Exeter turns his head a little. I can’t see his eyes behind his blue shades, but I’d guess he’s looking Kez up and down. That better be no more than professional interest.

“Miz Kerryon doesn’t look modified to me,” he says.