The intent focus by the First and Second irritated her as she said, “Look around you, IG. Take in each face, notice the expressions. The way these individuals interact. Each and every one of these people depends on every other person in this room. We’re all achingly aware that Whitey and five other quetzals attacked a bunch of marines out in the bush this morning. That’s never happened before. At any moment, IG, your life and safety might depend on someone in this room. I can tell you for a fact: When you’re out there, in the dark, standing over the half-eaten body of someone you knew, facing the cold realization that at any instant you might be next, position and titles really aren’t worth a smear of shit on your shoe.”

Soukup continued to give her that same flat-black stare.

With a humorless chuckle, Kalico told him, “All right, Inspector General. Starting tomorrow, I’m going to grant your every wish. I’ll leave it up to you and your Four to carry my nightmares back to the Board.” To emphasize the point, she stared hard into the First’s eyes, asking, “You got that down verbatim?”

But, of course, the First never answered.

Chapter 27

  27  

Having polished off a chamois steak cooked in red chili sauce accompanied by baked squash, Talina nursed her glass of stout. She sat on her usual stool in Inga’s, glancing back at the crowd. Of course, the place was packed. A ship had arrived—even if, so far, the shuttles had only landed the IG and his robot-like entourage, and then the fricking aristocracy. So everybody had come to Inga’s, hoping to learn the news. Not to mention that the town was on a quetzal alert.

She could feel Demon squirming around behind her liver. When he did that, it usually meant trouble.

For the moment, all eyes were on Kalico Aguila and the Board Appointed Inspector General and his Four. Word had run through town like wildfire. Speculation was rampant. What did the man’s presence mean for Kalico? For Corporate Mine and Donovan’s future?

Yeah, well, lot of that going around. The fact that he’d asked about Clemenceau right off the bat suggested that the sly sidewinder would eventually pick the scabs off a lot of old and somewhat healed wounds.

As she reflected on the day, her thoughts kept returning to Chad Grunnel and Dek’s sister Falise. Both were going to be trouble; she’d seen it in their eyes. There would be a reckoning. She’d never dealt with people like these. Entitled. Arrogant. Who had never been corrected by someone they considered a lowly menial.

She was musing on that when the normal volume dropped.

Turning, she saw Cinque Suharto as he descended the stairs. Every eye in the place fixed on him.