But they weren’t in control. This entire plan required that they put themselves in increasingly vulnerable positions and be convincing about it.

Slowly, Caledonia climbed to the bridge where she would be just as visible as Sledge. Close enough to hear what was said without getting in the way of Bullet procedure. The tug ship was approaching head-on with their captain mirroring Sledge’s position. He was a short man with years of battle written across a face as flat and broad as the sea itself. The scowl he wore was etched into his bones, as though it hadn’t moved in years.

Pine lifted a hand to press once at Caledonia’s elbow and directed her even closer to the railing. “We need them to get a good long look at you.”

If anyone was going to recognize Caledonia Styx, they wanted it to happen while they still had a fighting chance. Out here, on the open ocean, their chances of survival were significantly better than inside Slipmark. This meeting was the only dry run they would get.

“Not to mention him,” Triple added with a cutting look toward Sledge.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Caledonia asked, barely keeping her expression steady. When neither of them answered, she rounded on Pine, pushing her face into his. “Pine.”

A wince landed so briefly in his features that she wasn’t sure she’d seen it. “Sledge was Venn’s—”

“Right hand.”

Caledonia’s mind reeled.

Pine’s expression was placid.

“So tell me why it isn’t you up there instead of him?!” Caledonia was very near to losing her tenuous control. Furious both that they’d neglected to bring this up before the tow arrived and that she’d forgotten what Triple had shared with her so recently.

The tug was adjusting its heading now, preparing to come alongside port to port.

“Pine?” she asked, nervous and angry. “He’s hardly inconspicuous.”

“Exactly,” Pine answered with a nod. “He wasn’t the only hammerhead out there, and he was never stationed at Slipmark, but if they’re going to challenge him, we need to know now.”

“And you don’t think this is the sort of thing you should have mentioned ahead of time?”

He merely shrugged. “What would it have changed? Rig is a wanted defector. If his description is out there, we’ll know it soon.”

“That was his name? Rig?” Caledonia asked, trying to keep her blood from spinning her toward battle.

“A boy and a ship all at once. But never under his own sail.”

The tug’s nose was slipping just past their own now. Though Caledonia was still furious at being caught unawares, the time for discussion was past.

“That right there?” Pine ducked close to whisper. “Perfect Bullet face.” Her scowl deepened, which only won an approving nod from Pine. “Perfect,” he repeated.