Dark Runner: LodeStar 3.5 Read Online Free PDF Page A

she’d forced herself onto the Arcturus , his fastest ship, to return here with his head of security and his brother Joran. She hated space flight, luxurious or not. And after the clean, dry spaciousness of Frontiera, she hated this wet, dirty, teeming city as well.
    She’d been forced to leave, but now she’d be happiest returning to Frontiera and never coming back to Earth II again.
    However, Joran and Bronc were both convinced Logan had returned to New Seattle. Now they all hoped against hope they would find him, well and whole. If Tal Darkrunner or one of the other millions of criminals in this hellhole didn’t get to him first.
    Behind her, Bronc Berenson, Joran Stark, Rak and Opal sat on Logan’s leather divans, sipping water and the fresh coffee Natan, Stark’s houseman and chef had just brought them. They’d gathered here for one of the chef’s gourmet breakfasts and to talk over their plan, which so far was to remove the worst risk to Logan—Tal Darkrunner—from New Seattle so they could search for him in relative peace.
    Kiri had been able to eat only a few bites of breakfast. Mingled shame and anger burned inside her at the thought of Tal. It was her fault the ganger hated Logan. When she chose Logan over him, Tal had gotten his revenge by spiriting her away from Logan. It had worked, too, driving a wedge between her and Logan that still hadn’t healed ... and then Logan had disappeared, for reasons as yet unknown.
    If only Tal was the one who’d vanished.
    “Darkrunner has apparently taken the bait,” Bronc said. “Now all we need is surveillance on his ship. Need to get a drone into his hangar and plant spybots. Make sure he stays out in space where we want him.”
    “No,” Joran argued. “I don’t think we dare try it. The man has only survived this long by being smart. He already suspects your motives in giving him the lead about Slidi. If he finds any spyware, he’ll come straight for LodeStar and you, Bronc. And then we’ll have to kill him.”
    “And that’s a bad thing why?” Bronc asked.
    Kiri winced. Okay, she might dislike Tal intensely after what he’d put her through, but the thought of him actually dead made the little breakfast she’d managed twist in her stomach. But if it came to a choice between him and Logan, she knew who she’d choose. Her heart had already chosen for her.
    Joran rose to walk over the windows beside Kiri. He addressed her as well as the others, compassion in his gaze.
    “Because, much as I hate to say it, I think Darkrunner may be the lesser of evils here. I’ve looked into a few of his rivals. Compared to them, he’s an angel—if a dark one. Of the beings he’s reputedly made disappear, several were pedophiles, a few were abusive pimps, others sold the worst kind of addictive drugs and one owned a tenement that burned with most of its tenants trapped inside.”
    He shook his head. “He’s as crooked as a ricocheting laser charge, but he’s not as bad as some of the other gangers here. He takes care of his own, and I was shocked by the sheer number of people who swear allegiance to him. He’s got as much, or more, power as the city council and mayor.”
    “Exactly,” Bronc rumbled. “Which is why I’d give my left nut to know where he is at all times.”  
    “And I’d add my right one,” Joran said wryly. “Too bad we can’t offer him a LodeStar cruiser, outfitted with our crew.”
    The leather divan creaked as Bronc rose. Kiri turned to see his hazel eyes narrowed intently on something only he could see. “That’s it,” he said. “Not that, but—we need to get someoneon his crew. A spy.”
    Joran snorted. “Right. Any idea how we do that?”
    “Well, no. He’d spot an agent or a LodeStar employee in a heartbeat.”
    “Sounds like you need someone who’s as crooked as he is,” Rak said, tapping his fingers on his mug. “Only trustworthy. And a pretty face wouldn’t hurt.”
    “He does like women,” Opal agreed