Page 47 of The Space Between Stars

“She said she’s already on your tab.” Claynard threw a thumb at Latouda.

“Of course she is.”

“And she got drinks for all her buddies last hour.”

“Of course she did.”

Claynard forced air from his nostrils. “Careful to be too good to your friends, eah? You’ll find it harder to keep straight who they are.”

“Nonsense. Everyone’s always been on my tab.”

“Suit yourself.”

Drinks were poured, and Niklaus made his way back to Latouda to set them on the bar in front of her.

he told her.

She gasped, seizing the paper the moment he pulled it from his breast pocket.

Niklaus sat on his hands to prevent himself from interjecting as Latouda read his article. Jironesh, oligarch and chairman of Aetech’s board, had been found dead in his home the week before. Murdered. The Shadewalker’s mark had been left in charcoal beside his corpse.

It was the buzz of the Skywalk, as homicide tended to be, especially as one hadn’t occurred in the upper city in years. But neither the coroner nor city officials had reported further on it—which was worth Niklaus’s report in its own right. Jironesh’s secrets and scandals had been copious. It might have proven more difficult to investigate what wouldn’t make someone want to leave call signs over his corpse. The article might have been one of Niklaus’s best pieces.

Latouda folded the paper, and her eyes settled on his lips.

“What do you think?” he asked.

His brows snapped together.

Latouda winced. She shrugged. Her eyes sparkled.

He suppressed an undignified chortle.

Latouda crossed her arms.

She pushed his stool away with her foot.

He leaned back in.

Latouda took his hand and placed it over his pocket.

Year: 749 Post Cataclysm: Present Day

Location: Jiradesh Desert

In Niklaus’s experience, there were only three degrees of separation between a man and a satisfactory drug dealer. In a tent not far off the merchants’ row, the dealer in question fit the standard: greasy hair, squinting eyes, pallid complexion, and a body too long and thin to be healthy. He slipped a small, cinched bag through the flap of the tent and into Niklaus’s hands.