Page 47

“You discarded two tracking devices into separate freight shipments.” I kept my voice flat, clinical. “Then you paid for passage using registered Zunatorian currency.”

Her mouth fell open, a soft, startled sound escaping before she could stop it.

I continued, relentless. “The first device is currently en route to an agricultural settlement in the western basin. The second is headed east toward the mineral flats. Your payment record placed you at Bren Station approximately fifty-two minutes ago.”

The color drained from her face, leaving her skin pale and tight across her cheekbones. “How do you know all that?” she whispered, her voice thin.

“I found you.”

Her eyes narrowed, frustration overriding fear. “That doesn’t answer the question.”

“It answers enough of it.”

She hugged the bag against her body while I moved toward the exit.

Behind me, she said, “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

I stopped and looked back. “You have a choice.”

Her eyes narrowed.

That word mattered to her.

I had already noticed.

“Do I?” she asked.

“Yes. You can remain here.”

She waited. “And?”

“The males searching for you will arrive within eleven minutes.”

Some of the anger disappeared from her face. “What males?”

“The ones who were sent after you when you failed to report.”

Her gaze searched mine. “How do you know they’re coming?”

Because I was not the only asset in motion.

Because ordinary retrieval procedures were happening at nearly the same time as the Veil’s order.

Because that detail had not been in the original briefing either.

I did not tell her any of that.

Instead, I opened the door. “Stay, or come with me.”

Her grip tightened around the bag. “Where are you taking me?”

“Somewhere we can speak without interruption.”

“That sounds like a murder location.”

I paused.

Perhaps she spoke constantly because silence allowed her imagination too much freedom.