Free The Peyti Crisis: A Retrieval Artist Novel: Book Five of the Anniversary Day Saga (Retrieval Artist series 12) by Kristine Kathryn Rusch

she was, how frightened she was, that she was going to attack him.
    He had never seen her like this before.
    “Not exactly,” he said. “I told you about that Retrieval Artist.”
    “ He’s working with the authorities,” she said.
    “Yes,” Deshin said. “He wants my help with designer clones.”
    “What can you do?” She asked. “You never had any respect for people who used them. And you hated it the one time someone planted a clone in our…”
    Her voice trailed off. She was clearly beginning to understand.
    “These people, they saved our lives,” Deshin said. “They stopped the Peyti clones.”
    “Yes,” she said, head down.
    “But they have no idea how to investigate the designer clones, and honestly, if they tried, the makers would scatter like the insects that they are. But they won’t run from me.”
    “Won’t they know?” she asked. “Won’t they suspect you’re doing something with the government if you come asking about Peyti clones and PierLuigi Frémont?”
    “I won’t asked about Peyti clones,” he said. “That would tip them off.”
    Deshin was known for not using aliens in his business.
    “But,” he continued, “I can ask about Frémont, as long as I have the right kind of bank roll.”
    “You’d offer to buy…?” her voice trailed off again. “Luc, can’t you send some of your people to do this?”
    “Maybe,” he said. “I’m not sure. But as I was thinking about it, I realized that I would be worrying about you and Paavo the whole time. And I can’t, Gerda. I can’t be here for you. If something happens on the Moon, we could all die in an instant, even if we’re together.”
    “I’d rather die together,” she said softly.
    He waited until she looked at him, chin out defiantly.
    “You’d condemn Paavo to that?” he asked. “An early death? Or maybe outliving us, and having to survive in the wreckage that would be the Moon.”
    “Don’t put it like that, Luc,” Gerda said. “That’s not fair.”
    “The truth isn’t always fair,” he said.
    She glared at him. When she did that, he knew he had moved her. If he didn’t push, she would come around.
    “How long would we have to be gone?” she asked.
    “I don’t know,” he said.
    She swallowed hard, then crossed her arms.
    “Will you live through this?” she asked softly.
    “I hope so,” he said.
    “You have to promise me,” she said fiercely. “You have to promise me or we won’t go without you. I’ll make you stay with us. You have to promise me.”
    He hadn’t expected this level of vehemence. It told him just how terrified his wife was underneath her calm façade.
    “Gerda,” he said gently. “You know I don’t make promises I can’t keep.”
    She burst into tears.
    He got up and put his arms around her. She felt marvelous, all warm and soft and perfect, his familiar and very strong wife.
    He kissed the top of her head.
    “I can’t live without you,” she said into his shirt.
    “Of course you can,” he said, nuzzling her hair. It smelled of fresh bread. “You just don’t want to.”
    “Damn right,” she said. “Don’t make me, Luc.”
    “I don’t make you do anything,” he said, “except consider Paavo.”
    She stiffened in his arms. Then she leaned back so she could see his face.
    “Bastard,” she said, but the word wasn’t vehement. It was a capitulation.
    “Yeah,” he said. “And that’s exactly what the Moon needs right now. Bastards like me.”

 
     
     
     
    TWELVE
     
     
    AVA HUỲNH STALKED down the halls of the Earth Alliance Security Office. She really shouldn’t have left her department, Earth Alliance Security Headquarters for the Human Division, but she couldn’t remain there any longer.
    Someone was going to have to take care of this, and since no one was, she was going to step in. She had thought about it all night, and when she got up, she put on battle clothes.
    Not that anyone else would know what those were—her most comfortable