Page 53 of Escape Velocity

“Since when are you running this operation?” Max demanded.

She dragged in a breath and let it out. “I am sorry. Of course, I am not. But I think we need to go down there and find out if the . . . swamp rats would be willing to help someone get rid of him.”

Rafe jumped into the conversation. “You’d have to do that carefully, because if they’re not on your side, someone could turn you in. And then Tudor would have you where he wanted you.”

She swallowed hard. “You’re right. But I hope you’re willing to take the chance.”

“We can’t just show up there,” Max said. “What’s our reason for contacting them?”

“We have some choice goods to sell,” Rafe suggested.

“Like what?” Max asked.

“I told you I was delivering medical supplies to one of the colonies. While I was there, a group of the local ladies thought I might be able to make some money for them. They gave me a shipment of . . .” he waved his hand. “I guess you’d call them one of a kind clothing they’d made.”

Amber’s eyes lit up. “Women’s clothes?”

“Some. And men’s shirts.”

“Can I look at them?”

“You can have some,” Rafe said.

She gave him a broad grin that quickly turned into a more cautious smile.

“I’ll bring some over from my ship,” he said as he pushed himself away from the table.

As he stood, Amber did too. Her arm stretched out, then flopped by to her side. “I’m sorry I attacked you,” she said.

“I can understand why. I’m sorry I ever got involved with Tudor.”

“I imagine he’s the kind of man who goes around looking for opportunities to set up favors so he can have a hold over people.”

Rafe flushed. “Probably true. I would have been better off if I’d just accepted a short term in jail—in the first place.”

Amber’s face contorted. “Not many people would have done that.”

He shrugged. “Maybe we get the chance to wipe out my mistake once and for all.”

As he turned and walked toward the air lock, Max followed.

Rafe glanced over his shoulder, then at Max. “What do you think our chances are of pulling it off?”

“It depends on the swamp rats. If we tried it by ourselves, it would probably be a suicide mission.”

“It might be, anyway,” Rafe muttered.

“You don’t have to do it,” Max said.

“I think I do. I got us into this mess. But I’m not going to go through with any plan unless I think it has some chance of success.”

“Agreed,” Max said, although he was wondering what Amber would do if he put his foot down. And if he did, then what?

They waited for first one air lock to open, then the other. When they were inside Rafe’s ship, he led the way to the storage area, where he pulled out several crates of merchandise.

Max looked through the contents and held up several pieces of clothing. Mostly they were loose shirts and gauzy dresses handwoven of bright threads. “Yeah, these are appealing in a native culture sort of way. I think the women would like them.”

“I would, too,” a voice behind them said.

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