Kilroy Owns the Night: Day 30 (Deceit)
“They're stealing my payday!” Mercury shouted.
“Technically, it's their ship.” I said.
She gave me a look that could've stripped paint off a battleship. We raced toward the cargo hatch, Max close behind. The Tempting Fate's engines roared to life.
“Give me the Encyclopedia!” Max demanded, leveling his blaster.
“Seriously?” I huffed. “We're doing this again?”
“Now!”
I reached into my jacket and produced the alloy container.
“Fine. You win.”
Mercury stared at me. “Kilroy!”
“Kenny Rogers said sometimes you gotta know when to fold 'em.”
I tossed Max the container. He caught it, grinning like a game-show contestant who'd just won a refrigerator.
“Pleasure doing business,” I said.
The cargo hatch opened. Mercury lunged for the cockpit, but the ship's automated defenses slammed a bulkhead between her and the Herpezoids.
“GORPL! VREX! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!”
I grabbed her arm and dragged her toward the exit. We barely cleared the hatch before The Tempting Fate lifted off, scattering loose cargo across the docking bay. Mercury watched it disappear. Then she turned toward me.
“You gave him the Encyclopedia.”
“Did I?”
Max, meanwhile, had commandeered a maintenance shuttle and was accelerating toward open space. I could see him open the container through the shuttle’s viewport. Inside was a Fartillery Grenade. A familiar green filled his cockpit. I could see him gagging.
Mercury looked at me. “Where's the real one?”
I patted my pocket. “Deceit, baby. It's an art form.”
She cracked her knuckles. “Then you're about to become my masterpiece.”
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