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known for? Clever solutions?
I ve never left a job unfinished. I ve never let down a client either. He let one shoulder rise just
slightly. It s really all about quality control, isn t it?
Vradoz laughed, the sound harsh and abrupt. How refreshing to see such confidence in a common
thief.
I d hardly use the term common. For that matter, you should check your rumors. My list of alleged
crimes is really slanted more towards electronic forgery and specified art restoration and recreation.
Kellen flashed a grin at Matriska as he shifted lightly on his feet, and she didn t return it. Her blast gun rose
from his chest to his head, but it was too late to worry about that. Vradoz watched him, head tipped to the
right, eyes glittering bright with consideration. I may not have installed this tech on purpose, but I know
exactly what to do with it, and I m creative in ways you won t find in most of your traditional system
breakers. There s a reason that almost all of my crimes are still alleged.
So what would your clever solution to this be, Mr. Frey? The feigned interest in his voice was
deliberately obvious, narrow-eyed expression dangerous.
Here was the sell, and Kellen forced himself to stay nonchalant. Send Cassie on her way, and drop
the warrants on those bounty hunters. I don t want their blood on my hands. I ll stay and offer you the use
of my skills.
Vradoz leaned forward, uncrossing his legs. I m puzzled. You seem to think you have a choice in
this matter.
Actually, I m implying that you have a choice. I know that you can bleed this tech out of me. I know
that I won t survive the process. That much I ve been informed of in no uncertain terms. He grimaced,
visions of Heston dancing through his head like some childhood boogeyman. But that would be a
decidedly shortsighted decision on your part.
You make some very good points about yourself, Mr. Frey, quite convincingly I must add. However,
the one thing that you ve left out is the fact that people could find out that Cassilia crossed me. I m sure
you understand how that s not good for me. He nodded in Cassie s direction, smile returning. And worse
for her. That does tend to make me less likely to accept all the aspects of your plan.
Kellen shrugged. You can get what you want, either way. I m just pointing out that if you consider
my way, you could get what you need too. Cassie s mistake was telling me about something I wanted, and
mine was not realizing that I was taking it from you. You could consider this a return with interest, if you
wanted to.
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The Slipstream Con
And the fair Cassilia walks away, while you remain. An interesting note of sacrifice there. The
gentleman-hoodlum part had been played by better men, but Vradoz infused it with a sense of conviction
that many couldn t manage, as though he truly believed that he was a simple man of virtue who
occasionally needed to shoot someone in the face to protect his veneer of gentility.
Matriska s feet shifted again, marking her as not quite military, and Kellen revised his opinion. No,
Vradoz had servants to shoot people in the face for him. Not particularly well-trained servants. On any
other day, he would ve taken that as a positive sign, one that he could use to his advantage, but today he
was giving himself up and it was wasted knowledge.
I don t know that I d go so far as to call it a sacrifice. More a matter of being gentlemanly.
Vradoz laughed, a sharp bark of sound. Indeed. And I want you to understand that I appreciate your
offer, Mr. Frey, I appreciate and admire it. But I m afraid I m going to have to turn it down. To his credit,
he did appear to be trying for a regretful expression.
You can both stop talking about me like I m some inanimate china doll, Cassie snapped, her
normally unruffled demeanor taking a decided turn towards perturbed. Kellen would have felt worse about
downplaying her competence if he hadn t been trading his freedom for her life, or, for that matter, if she
hadn t told Vradoz that he was doing more than carrying the tech now.
She s got a valid complaint, boys.
He would never have thought it possible, but Vanya looked hotter than Kellen had ever seen her.
Hotter than he d ever imagined her capable of being, but the fact that she was armed to the teeth probably
had something to do with that. That, and the fact that she d managed to slip into a wide-open, echoing
warehouse undetected by the five people already there. Second time in one day, and Kellen was starting to
worry about his powers of observation.
Vradoz. She inclined her head, smile easy. I didn t mean to eavesdrop, but I felt like I had to step
in when I heard Frey here trying to make a deal that he doesn t have the power to make.
Well, well, well. Vanya Reyes, as I live and breathe. Vradoz was good, but not good enough to
completely cover his surprise, knuckles going white on his legs before he caught himself and visibly
relaxed. I never imagined that Mr. Frey here would be found in such esteemed company. Where might
your husband be?
I like to slum it sometimes. Mr. Frey is a wanted felon, and it s my duty as a sworn agent of the
Ylendrian Empire to deliver him for trial. Vanya s voice was steady, her aim never wavering as she
pinned Vradoz with the sight on her blast gun. Your people outside are down, and your man on the
catwalk is out of play. Have your friend here drop her weapons, and we ll be on our way.
There was silence between them, and Kellen held his breath.
I don t think so, Vradoz said quietly, and Matriska fired, her shot taking Vanya in the chest. Vanya
jerked back, her gun dipping low for a second, and Kellen heard himself cry out her name, any pretense of
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