Allison leaned back, her hard blue eyes on the notebook. “So, there it is. A first, for real, hopefully defensible, economic agreement between Port Authority and The Corporation. Our butts are covered. The next IG they send, if they send one, can’t use that against us.”

“There will be more than enough irregularities to keep such an investigator occupied,” Cinque noted. “Donovan doesn’t fit into the Corporate mindset.”

Kalico ran a finger down the scar on her cheek. “I wonder how my people are going to deal with Corporate life? A little over a third of them are going back. Taking their plunder. It leaves the Board with an ever-increasing conundrum: What do we do with these rich contractees? I’m afraid half of my people will be in jail within weeks, especially when some Corporate officer tries to make them follow the rules.”

“Personal wealth is discouraged. I’m surprised Soukup didn’t charge you with allowing your people to own plunder.” Cinque studied her, interest in his dark gaze. “Was that true? Do you really only have two hundred and eighty-seven siddars in your stash?”

Shig watched Kalico’s weary smile as she said, “Had over four thousand once, but I bought a house.”

Allison cued on that. “But I thought . . .”

“Yeah,” Kalico told her. “Despite all the talk, you are the richest woman on the planet. I’m sure when that inquest record gets back to the Board, they’ll analyze it for every tell, and in the end, they’ll discover that it’s the truth. I only ‘manage’ the greatest wealth on the planet. As long as I’m the Board Supervisor, I will uphold my oath not to personally profit from my position.”

“No one actually does that, you know,” Cinque told her dismissively. “The only time people are prosecuted for using their offices to get rich is when The Corporation has to find an excuse to get rid of them.”

Kalico gave him a grin. “I know. I used to be that way. Then something changed. I had all of my plunder loaded into a crate marked ‘Corporate’ and shipped back on Ashanti.”

“You could go back,” Cinque told her. “Given everything we know, Turalon won’t suffer the same fate as Freelander. That seat on the Board? It’s there, waiting. Played right, with the support of Suharto and Taglioni factions, they couldn’t say no.”

Kalico shook her head. “I have a mine down at Southern Diggings to develop. Not to mention all these new contractees. Someone has to keep the soft meat alive long enough to learn how to survive on Donovan.” The smile grew more wistful. “And I don’t think I’d fit back there.”

“What about you, Temporary Supervisor Suharto?” Shig asked. “What are your plans?”