Free The Cold Between by Elizabeth Bonesteel Page A

Danny—Danny excelled at losing money, and was popular at the gambling table—but Greg had not thought they were so close.
    It was a rare crack in Will’s armor, and Greg thought he could use it.
    â€œWith me,” he said stiffly, and walked out, trusting Will would follow him. There were too many people still milling about to risk having this discussion in public.
    Will trailed into Greg’s office after him and sat in his usual chair without asking. Greg leaned against the edge of the desk, arms crossed. Will met Greg’s eyes, already defensive.
    â€œI hate coincidence, Will,” Greg told him.
    â€œI don’t know what you mean.”
    â€œI’ll spell it out, then,” he said, still calm. “One of my men gets killed in the middle of a cargo mission you requested, right around the time I get my ass handed to me because you decide Shadow Ops has somehow given you the authority to keep me out of the loop on a general alert. Which coincidentally involves some fairy story MacBride is telling about being attacked by PSI. And here’s the most interesting thing about that. Do you know who Novanadyr is holding for Lancaster’s murder? Some PSI expat who just settled there. Who somehow manages to kill a trained fighter with an old-fashioned, low-tech blade.” Greg leaned forward, looming over Will’s chair. “Lancaster was nearly decapitated, did you know that? I didn’t tell the crew, but I’ve got that picture in my head. A thirty-five-year-old man, with a sister and four nieces, bleeding out in seven seconds on an alien planet.”
    He had not raised his voice, but Will had flinched. “So let me reiterate, Commander Valentis: I hate coincidence. Explain to me why I shouldn’t shut down your investigation right now and tear up the concrete on that rock down there until I find out what happened.”
    â€œYou don’t have the authority,” Will said, his voice dry.
    So much for sympathy. “We are ten days away from the closest Central hub, Commander,” he returned. “Five months away from Earth, if we take a straight shot. I can do whatever the fuck I want out here, and every soldier on this ship will back me up.” He leaned back. “Try again.”
    Will swallowed, and looked away. “I don’t believe Lancaster’s death is related to my work, sir,” he said.
    Greg stood up and circled behind his desk, parsing that. “Why not?”
    â€œSir, I—dammit, Captain, I’m under orders here. From people who outrank you.” He sounded desperate. “I can’t just give you this investigation. It’d be my career.”
    â€œIt always comes back to your career, doesn’t it, Will? It’s never about the crew, or even the mission. It’s always what’s in it for you.”
    Will had reddened. “That’s not fair, Captain. What I’m doing for S-O is important.”
    â€œYes,” Greg said icily. “I’m sure it is. So important you can’t tell a living soul, so now we’ve got a dead one.”
    â€œYou’re not putting Lancaster’s death on me.”
    â€œThen tell me who to put it on, Will.”
    Will exploded. “I’ve told you! I—” He looked away, then got to his feet, agitated, running his fingers through his short black hair. He was graying here and there; Greg had not noticed before. “Lancaster spoke a lot with the Demeter crew, yes.” He began to pace. “You know what he was like; he wanted everyone to get along, and most of our crew hasn’t exactly welcomed them with open arms.”
    Greg thought that went both ways, but he let it pass. “Would they have discussed anything proprietary with him?”
    Will had stopped at Greg’s window and was looking down at the planet. “They shouldn’t know anything proprietary,” he said at last.
    That had cost him, and Greg tried to