Star Wars_ The New Rebellion - Kristine Kathryn Rusch [91]
“How do you know?” Han asked.
“Because I’ve seen them do this before,” Davis said. “They let their prey think they’re dying, and then they’ll go in for the kill. You’d have been fried consort if I hadn’t stepped in.”
“Or maybe I’d have been just a little bit wiser,” Han said. “Mighty convenient of you to kill Iisner at that moment. Who are you working for, Davis?”
“Myself, Solo.”
“Yourself and who else?” Han had turned so his blaster was on Davis.
Davis noted the move. He set his own blaster down. Slowly. Then he rose just as slowly, keeping his hand flat, showing that he was unarmed. “I don’t work for anyone.”
“Right,” Han said. “So what are you doing here?”
Davis swallowed. He had his hands up, just as he had when Iisner had the blaster on him. “A buddy of mine was killed on Skip 5. I’m trying to find out why.”
“Nice try.” The floor looked cool now. Han put a booted foot on it. It was cool. “In fact, excellent try. You knew I would be real sympathetic to that one. But it was a little too obvious. Try again.”
Davis shook his head. “I’m being straight with you, Solo. My friend died in an explosion on the bay just days before you got here.”
“And you’re a good guy, trying to solve the mystery, at no cost to yourself.” Han brought the other foot down. It felt good to be standing again.
“Just like you, Solo.”
“You seem to know a lot about me.”
Davis nodded. “I knew that you were coming here. Just like Nandreeson’s people. Everyone’s watching you, Solo. They expect you to betray the Run somehow.”
Han tightened his grip on his blaster. “This isn’t about me. We were discussing you. And what you’re doing here.”
“I—ah—I actually came here to meet you.”
“To Skip 5?”
“Yeah.”
“I thought your buddy was killed here.”
“He was,” Davis said. “But I already looked into that. It seemed like an accident, but there’ve been a lot of accidents like that. Too many, I think. And when I heard you were here to investigate a buddy’s death, then I thought maybe—”
“I’m not investigating anybody’s death,” Han said. “I’m here because Jarril asked me to come.”
“And where is he?” Davis asked.
Seluss chittered. Han looked over his shoulder. Seluss’s round head had bandages wrapped loosely around it. Chewie stood behind him, some of his fur matted down with burn cream.
“See?” Davis said. “Even your Sullustan friend says Jarril is dead, and he should know.”
“He doesn’t know,” Han said. “He’s working on supposition, just like the rest of us. Which reminds me, Seluss. How did you get into the Falcon? Better yet, how did Iisner get in?”
Seluss chittered, and as he did, he backed up, his paws raised in a defensive posture as if he believed Han would hit him. Chewie blocked Seluss’s backward movements.
“You came back against my orders,” Han said, “using codes from Jarril’s ship?” That meant Jarril still had the Spicy Lady. Han could put a trace on it, to see if Jarril was somewhere nearby.
Seluss chittered again, repeating that it wasn’t his fault.
“Sure,” Han said. “A Glottalphib just happened to follow you in.” He sighed. “This partnership isn’t working out, Seluss.”
Seluss chittered some more.
“When we get to Skip 1, you’re going to the infirmary, and I’m getting out of here.”
“Let’s not be so quick to decide that,” Davis said. “I would like your help.”
“Oh, yeah,” Han said. “You have a murder to solve.”
“I need a ship,” Davis said. “I want to hire yours.”
Han smiled. “I haven’t hired the Falcon out in years, kid. I’m not about to do it now. And you could find a less conspicuous ship.”
“I want the Falcon,” Davis said. “I need the New Republic’s support behind me. I need it if I’m going to take you to the supplier.”
Han studied him for a moment. Davis was young, but not too young. He’d clearly been around. And he was lying. Han could feel it.
“No,” Han said. “Now take your Glottalphib and get off my ship.”
“He’s not my Glottalphib,” Davis said.
“He is now. Door prize. Take