Icarus by Stephen A. Fender Read Free Book Online

about being seen fraternizing with
the enemy?”
       She chuckled slightly. “Hardly. You’re far from dangerous…unless
you’re behind the control of that ship of yours. Only then are you a hazard to
yourself and your passengers.”
       “You couldn’t help yourself, could you?” Shawn laughed back. “You had
to knock my piloting again. That cuts me deep, you know.”
       “A big, strong man like yourself? I’m sure you’ve suffered worse.”
       Without warning, an image of his departed wife passed before Shawn’s
eyes.
       Melissa could tell something was amiss when his face hardened and he
pulled back slightly from the table. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—”
       “It’s okay.” He tried to dismiss his thoughts with a wave of his hand,
but found it impossible. “It’s…it’s okay. I’m glad I’m not the enemy to you.”
       “Well, my second point on your question is this: we’re already being
watched.”
       Shawn cocked his head inquisitively, to which Melissa responded with a
slight nod. “From whom? From where?”
       Melissa leaned toward the table, involuntarily causing Shawn to do the
same. “There are at least two of them, maybe more.”
       “Who are they?”
       Melissa shrugged. “Amateurs. They’re probably ship’s security,
assigned by Krif to keep an eye on us.”
       “Where?”
       “The waiter is one of them, for starters.”
       “How do you know?” They were talking in low whispers now.
       “I’ve been doing this long enough, Commander. I can see it in the way
he walks.”
       “You’ve been watching him walk? Can I ask, was it when he was coming
or when he was going?”
       She grinned a Cheshire smile. “Why? Are you jealous?”
       “I’m just curious about your methods, that’s all.”
       She gave him an approving nod, letting him off the hook gently.
“Coming, not going.”
       “Who else?”
       She leaned her head further toward Shawn, close enough now that he
could smell her jasmine perfume. “The man in the upper balcony, starboard corner,
near the bulkhead.”
       Shawn looked up, but could barely discern a shape in the dimly lit
space above. “How do you know about that one?”
       “Look into my eyes and I shall tell you no lies,” she said, causing
him to do just that. The color of her eyes was somewhat different. Even in the
dim light Shawn could see they were no longer the same brilliant green as
before, but were now slightly more olive.
       “Spectral lenses?”
       She winked at him slowly.
       “You OSI agents…you guys get all the cool toys.”
       “Play nicely and I may share someday.”
       “I thought those things were supposed to cause retinal damage after
prolonged exposure.”
       “You know, I’m beginning to like the sound of you being concerned
about me.”
       “Just your eyes.”
       “You’re only concerned about my eyes?” she teased.
       He smirked, beginning to enjoy the banter they shared. “Maybe I’m just
concerned about what they see when they’re looking at me.”
       She leveled her gaze at him and smiled. “If it were anything but good,
I wouldn’t be here talking to you.”
       “So…no more slapping, then?”
       Recalling when she’d struck Shawn before, she couldn’t help but
chuckle. “No promises, but I’ll see what I can do.”
       “I’d appreciate it.”
       Melissa looked back at Shawn and smiled. “Speaking of appreciation,
how did Trent take the news that you’d both be staying on board the Rhea for the time being?”
       Shawn leaned back in his chair thoughtfully. “As well as could be
expected.”
       “I’m sure it was colorful.”
       He snickered. “You could have painted a rainbow with all the remarks
he had on the subject. In the end, though, he took it well. It’ll give him all
the time and resources he needs to get D back to full operational
status. Once we’re finished here,