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A human-idomeni hybrid with a very bad reputation, former Captain Jani Kilian is out of hiding and officially a civilian. But peace is not an option. Suddenly an important player in the Commonwealth's delicate dealings with the alien idomeni, Jani has inadvertently incurred the wrath of top powers in politics, finance, diplomacy, and crime. Her war is not yet over, just moving to a higher plane. There's no truth to the timeworn adage that old soldiers never die; they do...and sometimes badly. Jani Kilian's come back to a new world that's not brave but definitely in peril. And "kill or be killed" is her only real choice...because now only one law remains.
E-Book Content
KRISTINE SMITH Contents Chapter 1 “Come look at these.” 1 Chapter 2 “Let’s walk out to the lake, where we can talk… 9 Chapter 3 The lift deposited Jani on the sixth floor. She walked… 21 Chapter 4 Derringer’s steel-blue double-length hugged the curb in front of the… 35 Chapter 5 “And with this bite of ground, of soil, I—” Tsecha… 48 Chapter 6 Tsecha stalked the halls, alert for the sounds of argument… 60 Chapter 7 Jani trudged up the access road that ran along the… 70 Chapter 8 Jani awoke with a start to find she had worked… 85 Chapter 9 Jani remained standing in the center of the room for… 95 Chapter 10 Jani wandered the mall to kill time, and surprised herself… 106 Chapter 11 Tsecha walked the embassy grounds, in the hope that exercise… 121 Chapter 12 Jani passed the tables of an award-winning holoVee actor, the… 133 Chapter 13 “NìRau? NìRau?” 145 Chapter 14 “Look at the light, Jani.” 155 Chapter 15 Jani picked up her duffel in Triage, and refused the… 167 Chapter 16 “And the plan fer the day is what, then?” Steve… 177 Chapter 17 Tsecha leafed through the latest Council reports transmitted from Shèrá,… 189 Chapter 18 Jani returned to her flat to find a great deal… 202 Chapter 19 As Jani negotiated the final turn leading to Lucien’s hospital… 211 Chapter 20 “Nervous?” 223 Chapter 21 Pullman proved his worth and wit by obtaining a skimmer… 235 Chapter 22 “Angevin, what’s going on? Angevin?” Jani hurried down the hall… 247 Chapter 23 Dathim left quietly, a reluctant Steve at his back. Angevin,… 257 Chapter 24 They adjourned to another laboratory in a different part of… 267 Chapter 25 Tsecha sat on the veranda of Dathim Naré’s house and… 277 Chapter 26 Tsecha walked back to the embassy the same way he… 285 Chapter 27 She stood in a hallway, or an alley. Dim light… 296 Chapter 28 When Jani emerged from the bathroom, she found Lucien standing… 304 Chapter 29 A harried-looking Neoclona staffer answered Jani’s call. No, Dr. Shroud… 316 Chapter 30 A cluster of couples entered the garage as Jani crossed… 328 Chapter 31 “And the worry, Janila. When we could not speak with… 341 Chapter 32 The ride down to the lobby proceeded without incident, if… 352 Chapter 33 Tsecha followed ná Feyó back into the meeting room. He… 368 Chapter 34 “Do you know who’s going to be at this thing,… 380 Acknowledgments 393 About the Author Praise Other Books by Kristine Smith Cover Copyright About the Publisher CHAPTER 1 “Come look at these.” Jani Kilian maneuvered through the morning workday crowd and joined Lucien Pascal at the shop window. The display proved typical for an establishment bordering Cabinet Row, qui