Part 17 (1/2)
They shared a grin, and Steel sank back in his chair and sipped gingerly at his coffee. It was real coffee.
Where the h.e.l.l had she found real coffee? He decided not to ask. It would only embarra.s.s her. He sighed contentedly. He hadn't felt this good in ages. The crisis was over, he was still alive, and Mistport was safe. It had been a b.l.o.o.d.y close thing, but they'd come through, and that was all that mattered. He glanced about him, and smiled wryly. He hadn't come out of it entirely unscathed. His living room was a mess, with blood and gla.s.s everywhere. Someone was on the way to replace the shattered window, and he hated to think how much that was going to cost him. For the time being he kept the curtains closed and tried to pretend he couldn't feel the cold. Thinking about it, Steel was surprised to find he didn't really give much of a d.a.m.n. He was alive, and the port was safe . . . He'd been thinking about redecorating anyway.
The Watch had taken Mary away, still unconscious. The hospital would keep her safely sedated, until the port espers could work out some way to defuse her programming. She wasn't to blame for all the things she'd done; Mary was just another Empire victim. There were lots of those on Mistworld.
On the couch opposite Steel, a somewhat revived and repaired Cyder was sitting with her arm round Cat, who was cheerfully nursing the heavily bandaged right hand he'd broken on Mary's jaw. Steel studied the young burglar thoughtfully, and Topaz followed his gaze.
”Know anything about him. Steel?”
”Not a d.a.m.n thing. Roof runner by the look of him, but he hasn't said a word so far. Just appeared out of nowhere and saved all our lives by flattening Mary. I suppose he's ent.i.tled to the reward.”
”I'd forgotten about that.”
”I'll bet he hasn't.”
”Be that as it may, Steel; right now I'm rather more interested in what one of Mistport's most notorious fences was doing here in your apartment.”
Steel glanced briefly at Cyder, smiled weakly, and became very interested in his coffee. Topaz glared at him, and moved over to stand before the couch. Cat studied her warily, while Cyder smiled graciously and nodded a polite h.e.l.lo.
”How are you feeling, Cyder?”
”I'll live, Investigator. In the meantime, I am this young man's agent. When can he collect the reward?”
”He'll get it, but first I want a few answers from him. He looks remarkably like a burglar who once stole a memory crystal from me.”
Cat smiled innocently, and Cyder hugged him to her.
”I'm afraid we'll never know, Investigator. Unfortunately he's a deaf mute, and can't answer questions.”
Topaz turned away, shaking her head in disgust. Steel chuckled softly, caught Cat's eye, and dismissed him with a wave of his hand toward the door. Cat shook his head, grinning. He rose quickly to his feet, padded over to the shattered window, pushed back the curtains and disappeared out into the thick fog.
Steel raised an eyebrow, but Cyder just smiled back at him, unperturbed. Topaz decided not to ask.
”If it's all right with you, Gideon,” said Cyder, ”I'll be getting back to my tavern. I want to get these bloodstains out of my dress before they set.”
”Of course. I'm sure Topaz can find you an escort.”
”Thanks, that won't be necessary.”
Cyder got to her feet, wincing slightly as her cracked ribs protested. Steel levered himself out of his armchair and escorted her to the door. He wrapped her cloak about her shoulders, and opened the door for her. Cyder paused a moment in the doorway.
”Goodbye, Gideon. It would have been a lovely dinner, I'm sure.”
”Thanks for keeping me company.”
”Any time.”
Cyder blew him a kiss, and left. Steel shut the door quietly behind her. He went back to his chair and sank gratefully into it. Topaz plumped up his cus.h.i.+ons for him with a rough efficiency.
”Drink your coffee, Steel. It's getting cold.”
Steel picked up his mug again and sipped obediently at his coffee. He sighed appreciatively, and then looked round his ruined living room with an abstracted air.
”What's wrong, Steel?”
”Mary's sapphire; what happened to it?”
”Is that all you can think of? Don't you want to know what's happened to the Imperial Fleet?”
”I imagine they've realised by now that the esper s.h.i.+eld isn't going to fall, and they've all dropped quietly back into hypers.p.a.ce.”
Topaz nodded. ”They left one s.h.i.+p on sentry duty, but no doubt that'll be gone tomorrow. If it isn't, I'll let the Poltergeists play a few practical jokes on it.”
”So, we've weathered another storm. What were the final figures from the hospital?”
”More than twelve thousand brainburned; eight hundred and thirty dead.”
Steel sighed. ”Not much of a victory.”
”We stood off the Imperial Fleet and survived,” said Topaz calmly. ”I'll settle for that.”
”To h.e.l.l with the Empire; where's that d.a.m.ned sapphire? I put it on top of the desk, but that got knocked over when Mary sang. She didn't have it when they carried her out, and neither did any of the Watch. It's got to be here somewhere, but d.a.m.ned if I can find it.”
”Cyder; she must have taken it.”
Steel shook his head firmly. ”No. The sensors built into my door frame would have detected the jewel even if she'd swallowed it.”
”The roof runner?”
”I had his suit checked while the medics were treating him. No sapphire.”
”Then who's got it? That jewel's worth a small fortune.”
Steel shrugged, then relaxed suddenly and sank back in his chair. ”What the h.e.l.l; it's only a sapphire.”
Topaz looked at him. ”Are you sure you're feeling all right, Steel?”
Steel laughed. ”Perfectly all right, I a.s.sure you.”
”Good.” Topaz leaned forward suddenly to stare him straight in the eye. ”Because the next time we meet, Director, I'm going to find the evidence that will nail you once and for all.”
”You're welcome to try, Investigator. You're welcome to try.”
Topaz laughed, and left. Steel grinned, and sipped his coffee.