transmissions, both from Polliworld.”
“What do they say?”
“Not much. One’s just a deposit confirmation for our account on Espen. To the tune of fifty thousand galaxy credits. No depositor is listed.”
There were the usual gasps and whistles. I spent the time eating more sandworms.
So Longdaddy had some serious financial reserves. Good to know. I didn’t figure we’d drained his account, but I did figure he wanted us happy with him in case he needed us again. Plus I was sure he wanted to take care of Ciarissa.
“What’s the other message?” Roy asked.
“Copies of some contracts. I downloaded them to the dining room’s reader.”
Roy got up and looked at the screen on the wall that separated the galley from the dining room. “Huh. These are Monte’s contracts with the Underground and the Diamante Families.” He started to laugh.
“What?” Kyle asked. “Tell us.”
I swallowed my last sandworm. “Longdaddy’s people hacked Monte’s system ages ago, so they’ve seen these contracts…therefore, Bullfrog and I got to see them, too. There are Act of Galaxy, Act of Gods, and Act of Terrorism clauses in those contracts. Should all or part of Orion’s Light be destroyed or so damaged by any of those Acts, then all monies paid are forfeited. In other words, if the Diamante Families paid Monte a million credits for their part of Casino City, since Roman the Redeemer’s people destroyed Orion’s Light, those monies are forfeit. And Monte keeps them.”
“DeeDee’s right,” Roy said. “There’s a ten percent good faith return clause, which means Monte gives them ten percent back and pockets the rest.” He turned around. “We were always part of the scheme, weren’t we?”
“Yeah, I think so. You need three cards to play three card monte, after all. And Monte knows us well.”
“You took a real risk, though, little girl.” Willy looked worried. “Monte knows you’re a shifter now.”
“No,” Ciarissa said. “Monte now believes we call Roman the Redeemer an ally. He also believes the only reason he still lives is because we asked the Redeemer to spare him.”
We all looked at her. She shrugged. “I can talk in anyone’s mind, you know.” She cleared her throat. “I also told him that if we didn’t get twenty percent, then we were going to have to tell the Redeemer that Monte had reneged on his part of the deal.”
“We just got another deposit notice,” Doven shared. “Four hundred thousand credits, yet another anonymous donor.”
“But twenty percent of a million is two hundred thousand,” Roy said.
I finished my drink. “Yes, but Monte had a deal with the Underground, too. Now he can buy out their shares of the casinos as another goodwill gesture. He owns both casinos free and clear and he’s out from under both the Underground and the Diamante Families.”
We all sat there quietly for a few moments. “Well,” Roy said finally, “if we’re going to be used in someone else’s con, at least the payoff was worth it.”
I stood up and stretched. “Truly. Now, I’m really tired. Roy, take me to bed. And, Ciarissa, why don’t you keep Doven company, just in case he’s feeling sleepy.”
She smiled, back to her usual serene demeanor. “Absolutely, DeeDee. Willing to have some company, Doven?” she asked.
“Certainly,” Doven replied. “Turning intercom off now.”
“Good choice,” I said under my breath as Ciarissa headed for the cockpit, and Roy and I headed for the bedroom.
“What?”
I looked up at him. “I said I made a good choice when I met you, Roy.”
He smiled. “Then let me make sure you still think so.”
We went to bed a lot richer in money, knowledge, and secrets. It wasn’t enough to take down the Diamante Families yet, but every successful job got us closer—even jobs we didn’t know we were taking.
Roy slid under the sheet next to me. “Now, babe, let me show you how I play three card monte. I do it a little differently
“What do they say?”
“Not much. One’s just a deposit confirmation for our account on Espen. To the tune of fifty thousand galaxy credits. No depositor is listed.”
There were the usual gasps and whistles. I spent the time eating more sandworms.
So Longdaddy had some serious financial reserves. Good to know. I didn’t figure we’d drained his account, but I did figure he wanted us happy with him in case he needed us again. Plus I was sure he wanted to take care of Ciarissa.
“What’s the other message?” Roy asked.
“Copies of some contracts. I downloaded them to the dining room’s reader.”
Roy got up and looked at the screen on the wall that separated the galley from the dining room. “Huh. These are Monte’s contracts with the Underground and the Diamante Families.” He started to laugh.
“What?” Kyle asked. “Tell us.”
I swallowed my last sandworm. “Longdaddy’s people hacked Monte’s system ages ago, so they’ve seen these contracts…therefore, Bullfrog and I got to see them, too. There are Act of Galaxy, Act of Gods, and Act of Terrorism clauses in those contracts. Should all or part of Orion’s Light be destroyed or so damaged by any of those Acts, then all monies paid are forfeited. In other words, if the Diamante Families paid Monte a million credits for their part of Casino City, since Roman the Redeemer’s people destroyed Orion’s Light, those monies are forfeit. And Monte keeps them.”
“DeeDee’s right,” Roy said. “There’s a ten percent good faith return clause, which means Monte gives them ten percent back and pockets the rest.” He turned around. “We were always part of the scheme, weren’t we?”
“Yeah, I think so. You need three cards to play three card monte, after all. And Monte knows us well.”
“You took a real risk, though, little girl.” Willy looked worried. “Monte knows you’re a shifter now.”
“No,” Ciarissa said. “Monte now believes we call Roman the Redeemer an ally. He also believes the only reason he still lives is because we asked the Redeemer to spare him.”
We all looked at her. She shrugged. “I can talk in anyone’s mind, you know.” She cleared her throat. “I also told him that if we didn’t get twenty percent, then we were going to have to tell the Redeemer that Monte had reneged on his part of the deal.”
“We just got another deposit notice,” Doven shared. “Four hundred thousand credits, yet another anonymous donor.”
“But twenty percent of a million is two hundred thousand,” Roy said.
I finished my drink. “Yes, but Monte had a deal with the Underground, too. Now he can buy out their shares of the casinos as another goodwill gesture. He owns both casinos free and clear and he’s out from under both the Underground and the Diamante Families.”
We all sat there quietly for a few moments. “Well,” Roy said finally, “if we’re going to be used in someone else’s con, at least the payoff was worth it.”
I stood up and stretched. “Truly. Now, I’m really tired. Roy, take me to bed. And, Ciarissa, why don’t you keep Doven company, just in case he’s feeling sleepy.”
She smiled, back to her usual serene demeanor. “Absolutely, DeeDee. Willing to have some company, Doven?” she asked.
“Certainly,” Doven replied. “Turning intercom off now.”
“Good choice,” I said under my breath as Ciarissa headed for the cockpit, and Roy and I headed for the bedroom.
“What?”
I looked up at him. “I said I made a good choice when I met you, Roy.”
He smiled. “Then let me make sure you still think so.”
We went to bed a lot richer in money, knowledge, and secrets. It wasn’t enough to take down the Diamante Families yet, but every successful job got us closer—even jobs we didn’t know we were taking.
Roy slid under the sheet next to me. “Now, babe, let me show you how I play three card monte. I do it a little differently
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