Power Play - Anne McCaffrey [61]
“Yes?” Even Luzon was astonished at the snarl in his voice and moderated his tone. “Yes?”
“Torkel Fiske to see you,” said the sexy-voiced receptionist of this exclusive health resort.
“Ah, the very man.” Matthew’s ire settled almost as instantly as it had flared. “Enter. Enter. My dear Captain Fiske, how good of you to spare some time to visit the convalescent.”
Fiske came in, suavely dressed and smiling, with a touch of smug satisfaction that was visible to the shrewd eye of his observer. Matthew began to feel that his unexpected visitor was going to cheer him no end, and so he prolonged that pleasure until he had seen Fiske suitably supplied with the drink of his choice and some of the enticing tidbits that the resort offered its distinguished clientele.
“I came, Dr. Luzon, because I felt that you might not have heard the news,” Fiske said, still smiling unctuously. He took another sip, and accepted one of the little canapés.
“I fear the medics have required me to suspend my usual activities until my injuries are completely healed,” Luzon said, “so I’ve not kept up with general news. If anything is bad enough, someone always manages to inform the galaxy.” He smiled condescendingly over such a foible.
“Then I was right. You haven’t heard about the kidnapping.”
“Kidnapping?” Luzon leaned toward his guest, his heart pounding in suspense.
“Yes, kidnapping. And from Gal Three, where, as you may know, they have such a tight security system.” Fiske smiled at Luzon, a smile deprecating the machinations of a security system that failed to secure.
“Really? How very alarming.”
“Yes, and everyone is astounded. I mean, who would have thought that Marmion de Revers Algemeine had a single enemy in the galaxy.”
“Not her!” Luzon could scarcely contain his joy, though he expressed a horror that caused Fiske to grin more broadly.
“And . . . you’ll never guess who was kidnapped along with her?”
“No, indeed I cannot, so do tell me.” Luzon was all but bouncing about on the seat of his electronic mobility device.
“Colonel Yanaba Maddock-Shongili . . .”
“Not the doughty colonel?”
“And—”
“Oh, not more victims! How appalling!”
“Buneka Rourke and young Diego Etheridge-Metaxos, too.”
Luzon raised his eyes ceilingward. “There is justice in the universe. Truly, there is!” He bowed his head. Then he peered up at the grinning Fiske. “Who perpetrated this atrocity?”
“The infamous Captain Onidi Louchard!”
“Oh! Famous—I mean, infamous! I’ve heard the pirate was clever, but to breech Gal Three security I’m truly speechless. And?”
“And what?”
“Have the bodies been returned?”
“You are bloodthirsty, Doctor,” Fiske said, his glance tinged with censure. “The ransom has been set . . .”
“On Algemeine?” Luzon snorted with scorn. “It’ll never be paid.”
“What do you mean?” Fiske sat forward, concerned.
Luzon waved his hand at such folly. “My dear Fiske, Marmion Algemeine is one of the top financiers in the known galaxy. She would adhere to the Code out of principle, unlike the cravens on the Amber Unicorn.”
“What Code do you mean?” Fiske repeated, now seriously agitated.
“Why, the Anti-Extortion Code, also called the Gentleperson’s Agreement, of course. Surely you’re aware that the really rich have the most stringent laws against the payment of ransoms? To prevent wholesale kidnappings and the payment of vast sums of ransom monies? A wise move, and no one has tested the Code since the spectacular and highly publicized failure of the Amber Unicorn ploy over a hundred years ago.”
“But—but—Louchard is smart and ruthless. He’ll figure a way around it.”
“Not if he was fool enough to choose Marmion de Revers Algemeine, he won’t,” Luzon said, dismissing the matter with a snort. “Why, what’s the matter?”
For his handsome guest had turned quite pale under his tan. “Then Maddock and those kids will die, too?”
“Of course. They’ve no assets—unless . . .” Matthew rubbed the carved jade head of his cane against his lips. The coolness of jade was so soothing and helped him think.