Cut to the Bone by Zen DiPietro

Author:Zen DiPietro [DiPietro, Zen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Parallel Worlds Press
Published: 2018-09-18T16:00:00+00:00

When Fallon arrived at Minho’s quarters for lunch, Katheryn already sat at the table, sipping tea.

“Am I late?” Fallon checked the chronometer on her comport.

Katheryn bowed at the waist from her sitting position. Since they were in a casual setting and had agreed to be informal in the past, it wasn’t necessary to bow, but she probably did it out of habit.

“No, I was early,” Katheryn said. “I always plan extra time to get anywhere, because I expect to get stopped and asked about this or that.”

Minho walked over from the kitchenette and placed a cup in front of Fallon, then poured tea into it. “Ah, I bet as the lowest-ranking member of the command crew, you get all the questions that people can’t or don’t want to ask of the senior staff.”

“You’re right about that. I’ve gotten everything from, ‘Does the captain ever relax?’ to, ‘Is the security liaison single?’” She laughed.

“Well, Minho is kind of cute, in his own way,” Fallon said, chuckling with her.

“They weren’t talking about him,” Katheryn said.

“Oh.” Fallon had assumed that any personal interest would be directed toward him.

Minho found it quite amusing, judging by his grin.

“For the record,” Fallon said, “I’m not in a relationship, but I’m not available either. I have too much going on in my career to deal with dating right now.”

“I’ll just tell them you’re involved,” Katheryn decided. “That’s more likely to discourage them.”

It was also the truth, though Katheryn thought it wasn’t, which was a bit ironic.

Minho joined them at the table with his own cup of tea. “The food will be ready in a few minutes. It just needs to sit and cool a little. So what do you think of Lydecker, for real, off the record?”

“Hmm.” Katheryn looked down into her tea. “He’s methodical. Professional. A very by-the-book kind of guy. He’s a little…formal. But maybe that will relax a little once he feels like he’s established order here and ensured that the station runs well. Maybe after the admirals tour the station?” She shrugged. “Or maybe he doesn’t loosen up with crew at all. Either way, it seems like he’ll be okay to work for.”

“Have you heard of any issues between him and the crew?” Minho asked.

Though his tone was entirely casual, as if he’d just thought of the question, Katheryn straightened. “Why, have you heard something?”

Answering a question with a question indicated that maybe she had heard of something noteworthy.

Fallon wondered if Katheryn might be savvy enough to have used this get-together to do her own reconnaissance on the captain.

If so, that would certainly be interesting, and add a new facet to Fallon’s understanding of the woman.

Fallon looked to Minho.

“We’ve noticed a couple of odd things. But we don’t want to go poking around where we shouldn’t. Is there anything we should know?”

She pressed her lips together, as if preventing words from leaving of their own volition. Then she said, “He and the first officer seem very familiar. More than I’d have expected. And she arrives late on a regular basis, with no explanation.

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