“We’ll carry our bags, but I would appreciate it if your people would move the crates. The groceries need to go in a cooler. I can move them if you prefer.”

Torran shook his head. “There’s no need. Do you want everything chilled?”

I nodded. Luna’s snacks didn’t need to be refrigerated, but the cold wouldn’t hurt them, and it was easier to start with everything rather than explaining what to leave out.

My team grabbed their personal bags. Eli, Kee, Lexi, and I had all worked together long enough that we knew the drill. I took point, then Kee and Lexi were lookouts in the middle. Eli brought up the rear, and he waved Anja over beside him. Once he figured out her strengths, he would assign her a more permanent position.

We all had our comms on and set to a group channel. We had to stay within a kilometer of each other for devices to stay connected using their local mesh networking. Farther than that and we’d need to be able to tap into the Valovian communication networks.

I didn’t really expect an attack, but there was no harm in a little caution in enemy territory. Torran glanced at us. It had to be obvious what we were doing, but he did not comment.

As we approached the massive front door, it swung open on silent hinges. A Valoff wearing civilian clothes stepped out with a charming smile. He was handsome, with tan skin and straight black hair that was long enough to fall over his forehead. He moved like a soldier or fighter, lithe and light on his feet.

Behind me, Lexi sucked in a sharp breath.

Unaware of Lexi’s reaction, Torran introduced the newcomer. “Captain Zarola, this is Nilo Shoren, my second officer. He’s been continuing the investigation while I was away.”

“I’ll bet he was,” Lexi muttered just loud enough for the comm to pick up.

I caught the exact moment that Nilo saw Lexi. His smile died for a fraction of a second before coming back even brighter than before. The pieces connected. Twenty credits said this was the mystery man from the hotel that Lexi had told me about.

Clearly the universe still loved to vex me.

I introduced Eli, Kee, and Anja before turning to Lexi. “And this is Lexi Bowen, recovery specialist.”

I had to give it to Nilo: now that the shock had worn off and his mask was affixed, it didn’t budge. “It’s a pleasure,” he said with a charming grin.

Lexi gave him her emptiest smile. “Same, I’m sure,” she murmured. She looked perfectly relaxed, but I heard the murder in her saccharine tone. Nilo Shoren had better sleep with one eye open.

“No stabbing,” I warned her over the comm.

“No promises,” she replied just as quietly.

Chapter Seventeen