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working for someone like him. He’s abusive, demanding, and stupid — a dangerous combination.”
    “I should think so.” Kitty rose gracefully to her feet and crossed to the sideboard near the windows. “Would you like a drink, Keva?”
    “That would be lovely.”
    Kitty nodded at the tray of liquors. Gold, blue, green and crimson sparkled in cut-class bottles. “What would you like? I have the best scotch in this sector, imported directly from earth, along with Draven ice wine and a special vodka from Preill.”
    “The vodka please. On ice,” Keva said, trying to mask the surprise in her voice. Preill vodka was exceptionally hard to get, and a bottle was usually more expensive than the room she’d booked at this hotel. Keva couldn’t remember the last time she’d actually had a glass. Probably the day she’d left home ten years ago.
    Kitty dropped a small red sourfruit into the glass of spirits, then handed it to Keva.
    She took a sip of the cool liquid, letting it roll across her tongue and chill the back of her throat before she swallowed. Her eyes fluttered shut as the flavor slammed into her, memories of home rushing back.
    “Amazing, isn’t it?” Kitty asked, pouring herself a glass. “I have a contact in Preill city who smuggled me a bottle after the embargo.”
    “It’s been a long time. If I’m not mistaken, this is southern vodka? It has a bit of the grassy flavor of a Yizan pear.”
    “Nice catch. It’s Catalyst Vodka.” When Kitty turned to put the stopper back on the bottle, Keva leaned forward to set her glass down on the table beside her, conveniently pressing the pin-head sized bug to the dark metal leg where it wouldn’t be found.
    Kitty sank back onto the couch, cradling the glass between her hands. “So tell me a little more about yourself, Keva.”
    She nodded, running through the back story she and Viktis had crafted. They’d woven in just enough truth to make it feel authentic. “I joined the Preill military when I was seventeen. My parents were very proud, especially when I was promoted quite early. I was one of the best hand-to-hand experts in the organization. But on a mission to Treze, everything went south, and I was blamed for the failure and loss of life. Stripped of my rank. Kicked out. So I started my own business, hiring out my services. I’m skilled in Bumani fighting, can kill a man with a knife at fifty yards, and am deadly with a blaster. None of my clients have ever been injured on my watch.”
    “Impressive.” Kitty’s gray eyes narrowed She studied Keva as though she were under a microscope. The lieutenant fought the urge to shift away from the intense gaze that seemed to bore into her.
    “What about Zero is so bad, exactly?” Kitty finally asked.
    “You saw how he behaved today at the casino. No concern for his own safety, flaunting his money. It gets ever worse after a few drinks.” She leaned forward and dropped her voice. “Even I can’t handle him when he’s drunk. He lets his mouth overload his ass and tries to pick fights with both acquaintances and strangers. Doesn’t matter who they are, if they’re in his way, he’s going to go on the offensive. I’ve had to save his ass more than once from a pissed-off Trezian.” Keva shook her head. “And don’t even get me started on his business decisions.”
    Kitty frowned, tapping one crimson nail against the side of her crystal glass. “He seemed like a good business man to me.”
    “He puts on a good front. That’s how he gets investors. And then he takes their money and disappears. There are a dozen people out there with contracts for his head right now.” That bit was probably closer to the truth than Viktis would have liked, but at least if Kitty went searching, she’d find plenty of wanted comms, each with a different name. He was a very prolific pirate.
    “No wonder he needs an exceptional body guard.” Kitty set her glass off to the side and steepled her fingers together. Then