Free Gray Card by Cassandra Chandler Page B

anti-gravity field. He floated into the air, enabling them to easily transport him to their ship.
    “When you put him in the brig, make sure to turn off the intercom,” Adam said.
    He trusted his crew, but he didn’t want Todd to even try to turn any of them. Besides, Todd was a jackass. Adam wanted to spare the guards from having to listen to him.
    When the pair had left with the prisoner, Evelyn finally spoke up.
    “That was way too gentle for my tastes. Couldn’t they have knocked him down the ramp or something?”
    “I’m just glad to be rid of him,” Adam said.
    Khel cleared his throat, then said, “You might not be rid of him, yet.”
    “Explain.”
    “That skeelbat’s nest I mentioned? It turns out you were right about this liaison. Not only was he smuggling contraband off of this planet, he was selling to some pretty important people. People with resources. We haven’t run everything down yet, but already we’ve made a dozen arrests.”
    “Credits can’t protect them from the law. Contraband is illegal for a reason. Take this, for example.” Adam handed Khel the gun they had taken from Todd.
    “A projectile weapon?”
    “That fires balls of metal using an explosive powder.”
    “That’s barbaric. The damage this would do to someone’s flesh…”
    “Exactly,” Adam said.
    “I suppose you guys use ray guns and just instantly disintegrate people in a civilized fashion.” Evelyn flashed a brief, small smile.
    Her shoulders were hunched and she was standing against one of the walls, as if she was trying to disappear into the paneling. The idea of her disappearing from his life terrified Adam more than the thought of the entire Council gunning for him after this.
    He had watched enough of her sci-fi movies to understand what she was referencing with ray guns .
    “As a matter fact, we do.” Adam turned to Khel and said, “Forgive me, I haven’t introduced you to the woman who saved me.”
    One eyebrow hitched up Khel’s forehead. “That is a story I would like to hear.”
    Evelyn held up her branch. “Not much to tell. I just snuck up behind Todd and cracked this over the back of his head.”
    “A stick?” Khel said.
    “A heavy stick.” She wielded the branch with both hands as if it was a sword, swinging it through the air a few times. “I’m pretty good with wood.”
    She looked at Adam, a huge grin on her face. She didn’t have to explain the joke for him to get it. He let out a loud laugh.
    Adam didn’t miss how Khel jumped at the sound. He had never heard Adam laugh before. Adam wasn’t sure anyone had.
    Evelyn grinned back at Adam. “So is it over? Can we finally get on with our lives?”
    “I’ll still need to put in the official request, but maybe Khel can help with that now.”
    “What request is that?” Khel asked.
    “I’m staying. I want to relinquish my Coalition citizenship.”
    Khel looked as if Adam had struck him. Rather than explain with words, Adam walked over to Evelyn’s side and put his arm around her shoulders. Khel had the decency and good sense not to say anything, even though he gaped at them for a while.
    “With all due respect, I don’t think you understand how serious the situation is,” Khel said. “Those people filling our prisons have resources. They have peers. And they all blame you for their current circumstances.”
    Adam’s heart sank. Checking into Earth’s liaison should’ve been a simple inquiry. Before Evelyn, it would’ve been.
    Adam had never given much thought to making enemies. He’d never had anything to lose—nothing that really mattered to him, anyway. Now, the thought of Evelyn in danger turned his blood to ice in his veins.
    “If I leave, it won’t fix anything.” Adam was desperate for any reason, any excuse to justify staying. “Eventually, word will get out and they’ll know that they can use her against me.”
    “Not if both your memories are wiped. She’s not Coalition. She shouldn’t know about any of