Scent of Treachery by Smith, T.L. (free books to read txt) 📕

She wrapped her fingers in his, squeezing. “Don’t die. I’ll get us out of this!”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

When the drugs took effect, Jayda slipped her hand free. “There’s cushions in that far cabinet. Also some magnetic straps. Use them to secure him.” She turned around and stripped off the outer layer of her uniform, exposing the braces on her legs, the hard plastics cushioned by tight leggings.

She unstrapped the braces, seeing why they’d stopped working. She’d taken several hits to her legs, but the braces had protected her. “Carter!”

He jumped to help her back to her chair. Her screens came to life as her hands flowed over them. Two men stood in the main corridor. Hendrix had blown a hole in the outer door and was trying to cut his way into the lab. “Adams, you still aboard the GR?”

“Yes, but I don’t have weapons to get to the pilot.”

“Yes, you do. GR ship…hold!” Jayda looked over her shoulder. Nick was out, cushions prevented him from rolling, straps pinned him to the floor.

Jayda went back to her comm. “Adams, forget about the pilot. GR ships use explosives charges to dig out ore samples. They’ll be in the cargo bay, along with remote detonators. Use your imagination planting them, then get your ass and the detonator back to the station. We got a bot available for you.”

“Yes, ma’am. On it now.” She could almost hear a sinister laugh from the other side of the link. “Lewis, how’s the ship?”

“Set her free. The bots got her far enough around the bend they don’t have a clean shot at her. Got her up to the hull. Our guys are pissed to be out of the fight.”

“Well then, let’s give them something to do. Do they have oxygen packs?”

“Yes, ma’am, plenty.”

“Good. Strap them up with magnetic brackets, straps, whatever you have. They’re going for a ride. Send two of them on bots out to Platform EX2. Load up four barrels. They need to circle the station and come up where Snead can’t see them.”

“What are they going to do?”

“Give me a few minutes to finish that plan. Just do it.” Jayda’s hands flew over the computer terminals, getting scans of the enemy ship and doing her calculations. On a side monitor she watched the crewmen exit their portal, straddling bots. The bots were designed to transport materials, so they’d grab the barrels and return to the station.

When they returned, Lewis turned over control of the bots to the men. They skimmed the surface of the station, slowing down as they came up under the enemy ship. Jayda passed on the final instructions.

Only after the last man was aboard his bot and sliding back into safety did Jayda activate the station audio. “Intruders, this is Maldonado. What do you want?” Hendrix heard her and stopped his cutting efforts. “What do you want, asshole?

He tipped his head until he found the surveillance eye, grinning up at her as he had in the med lab. “Maldonado. You’ve made this much harder than it had to be.”

“Yeah, not even going to respond to that comment. What do you want?”

“You got something my boss wants.”

“Still a stupid answer. You’re attacking my station and my guests, but this was set up, not the actions of marauding bandits. Someone sent you here. Who? Why?”

Hendrix stepped closer to the lens, sneering. “You! Apparently my boss wants what you can do.”

“Is he insane? I… make… perfume!” She said it, but found irony that only days before she’d been offended when Taylor said the same thing to her.

“Come on, pretty. You don’t think I believe that.” Hendrix held up his fingers, rubbing them together. “They want this magic stuff, the medicine.”

Jayda sat back, staring at the man. He’d pocketed the gloves, getting some of the ointment on his fingers. She’d inadvertently proved she had it, so there was no point playing dumb. “He wants to steal medicine? I’d have handed it over if you’d asked, before you started trying to kill us. I’ll give it to you now, if you get off my station.”

“No, he wants how it’s made and the person who makes it.”

“WHY?” Jayda leaned closer to the monitor. “He can’t steal the process. It’s already in patents.”

“Your patents are delayed, contested. Time for him to get what he wants from you. What happens after that…” Hendrix grinned.

“Contested?” That explained not getting the messages she’d been waiting on. “Who? If he’s going to steal my secrets then kill me, I deserve to know who it is.”

Hendrix gave a bit of a frown, then shrugged. “Barron. Lou Barron.” He hoisted up the weapon. “The Dolan 4 just got in the way. Sorry.” He started cutting again and Jayda didn’t stop him, leaning back in her chair.

“Who’s Lou Barron?” Breeze spoke up when the silence went on a bit too long.

“No idea, but clearly he’s interested in pharmaceuticals. Interested enough to kill.” She leaned forward again and tried to open an interspace comm. She doubted she’d be able to. Snead would have hit the antennae array first. “Could be a fake name, but that doesn’t matter. Whoever contested my patents is behind this. If I’m not around to prove otherwise, and they get the process out of me, they win.”

“And since we’re witnesses... it must be pretty damn good drug to kill for it.”

“It’s not just a drug.” Jayda knew it was too hard to explain in a few words. “Used with nanotech, it will advance restorative medicine to… I don’t know… it was supposed to go into testing as soon as the patents cleared.”

“Restorative medicine?” Breeze looked around at the shredding wounds of her crew. “Could probably use some.”

“Yeah, probably.” Jayda pointed to the stash she’d piled on the counter. “The unmarked tubes, more than enough for these wounds. Use gloves.” She returned to her console, glaring at Hendrix, who seemed convinced he’d gain access.

“Adams to Lewis. Thanks for the bot. How about getting me aboard?”

“Got you covered.