Page 57 of Mongrels United
“You might be on to something there,” Avan said thoughtfully, pulling at his bottom lip. “Tankball was always meant to be entertainment. Down time for ship’s residents, who had theoretically worked hard all day.”
“It’s been perverted since then,” Grady said sadly.
“Perhaps not your Mongrels, though, hmmm?”
“And most of the people with the time to spare to go to games are those who don’t work.”
He smiled. “Everyone loves an underdog. Especially those who feel they are without privileges themselves.”
His words had lingered, and she had ruminated over them as she travelled to the Palatine and slipped into Nash’s apartment. She was spending nearly every night there, and Kailash, in between games and practice, had noticed.
“You’ve got a new man in your life, and you didn’t tell me?” His tone was teasing.
“I can’t tell anyone, Kai. It’s not personal. There’s good reasons I’m staying low on this one.”
Kailash frowned. “Anything to do with that matter that was in the heavy zone, that you spoke about…weeks ago?”
“Yes,” Grady said flatly.
Kailash’s smile faded. “You’re staying safe, though, yes?”
Grady gave him her most assured smile. “Always.”
Kailash wasn’t fooled. He studied her for a long moment. “Well, you know where to find me. No matter what the hour, these days.”
“In the practice tank,” she said, with a soft laugh.
“Promise me, if you get in trouble, you’ll find me?”
Grady hesitated.
“Promiseme,” Kailash insisted.
She squeezed his forearm. “Thank you, Kai. Yes, if I need help, if I’m in too deep, I’ll scream at you for help.”
“Anyone on the team would drop everything to come and help you. You know that, don’t you?”
Grady blinked. “The team? Why would they think they’re obliged to help me?”
“Because they like you. And because you come to our games. People notice, Grady. And we’ve done well since you showed up. The team won’t let anything happen to their lucky charm.”
“I amnota lucky charm.” She was horrified at the thought. At the accountability it implied. What if they started losing the way they once had? What would the team think of her then?
Kailash tilted his head, looking suddenly wise. “Thendon’tcome to the game tomorrow night. And after we lose, look me in the eye and tell me we still would have lost if you had been there.”
“Stars, Kailash, theycan’tpin everything on me being in the stands. That’s too great a responsibility. I won’t always be at every game!”
Kailash had just grinned. “It’s a psychological prop, and we all know it. But they like you being there, so don’t disappoint them, if you can avoid it. And they’ll be there for you, too.”
His concern was touching, but while Nash was the one to go out and do all the talking and Grady stayed in her office, orchestrating his conversations, there was very little risk. But it did make her wonder just how dangerous Nash’s part in the investigations could be. What if he spoke to the person who made the Bellish, or Nason’s old supplier? It could be anyone, and whoever it was, they were very good at hiding their illegal and dangerous activities. What if they didn’t like the direction Nash took their conversation? What if they grew alarmed?
It wasn’t simply a matter of spotting lies. It could very well end up being a fight to survive. These people had to be utterly ruthless, to have kept their business secret for so long.
Kailash’s concern and her father’s thoughtful observations about the Mongrels were circling in her thoughts that morning, as she and Nash sat at the little table he’d printed so they could eat without balancing plates on their knees. They were going through the names on Grady’s list, figuring out who Nash should talk to today.
“All these conversations you’ve had should be giving us a better idea of Nason’s life. I thought choosing the next interviews would become easier,” Grady said, studying the list. “But no one jumps out as an obvious choice.”
“That’s because we haven’t built up a better picture about his life at all,” Nash said, his tone morose. “The man was a hermit.”
