That reality settled home with effect as she passed the IG’s quarters where he and his Four resided. Falise paused, considered the locked door. Wondered what went on behind it. Soukup and his Four—the genetically and technically designed individuals who assisted his investigation—remained a mystery. A completely self-contained social unit.

The future of Capella III lay behind that closed portal. Everything hinged upon that one individual and the decisions made inside that single skull.

“I wonder,” she mused under her breath, “if dear old Derek figured on the vigor of the Board’s response?” Let alone what it might mean to him. Aguila wasn’t the only one subject to the IG’s judgement. Her brother, too, could be drawn into the IG’s net.

Depending upon what Derek’s game on Donovan was.

That he’d been cozy with Dan Wirth—a recognized scum—was bad enough. That he’d given him Taglioni protection? Didn’t matter that the family had been well-paid in the process, the very association was questionable, especially given the propaganda machines controlled by the other families.

Walking on, she passed the captain’s quarters, and then those of the first officers.

Rounding the bend to the observation blister, she slowed. The sounds coming from within were unmistakable. The rhythmic intakes of breath, the deep-throated moans.

“Oh, God, yes,” a female voice almost purred.

Then a male groan steeped in pleasure was followed by yipping female cries of delight.

Well, well, right on schedule. Falise cocked an eyebrow. Stepped back into the recessed doorway leading to an equipment closet.

Heavy panting and a deep sigh followed.

“That was marvelous,” the woman said.

Falise placed the voice: Charlotte.

Pus and ions, there was a distinct chance that all of her clever planning over the last nineteen months might work.

“How much time do you have?” the man asked.

With recognition of that deep baritone, Falise smiled. Cinque!

“I should be going.” Charlotte gave off a sigh. “He’ll probably sleep straight through, but the soporific I slipped into his sherry will be wearing off. He can’t know I’ve been gone.”

“Too bad.” A pause. “You’ll be free of him soon enough.”

Clothing rustled, bodies shifting.

Charlotte said, “I’ll hold you to that.”

Cinque’s soft laughter was followed by: “Oh, we’ll hold each other. Call it the first of Capella’s opportunities.”

“We dare not do this again,” Charlotte warned. “Not this close to the planet. Duty schedules will be changing. Too many uncertainties.”

“Of course.” A pause. “Makes the waiting even more delicious, don’t you think?”

“See you soon, love.”

Falise flattened herself in the recess as Cinque emerged, his black garments like a shadow in the dim lights. Then, as he vanished down the hall, Cinque’s soft utterance. “Ah, the sweet rewards of victory!”

Falise waited as Charlotte emerged, pulling a soffiber wrap tight around her lithe body, a satisfied smile on her face.