"Jane Lindskold - Endpoint Insurance" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lindskold Jane)

Most of the time we can’t touch the pirates- AASU doesn’t maintain a private
military fleet…”
“But fences and money laundering are less violent crimes,” I said, just to show him I
was with him, “and you want me…”
“To help me trace this end of the pirate’s operation,” Spike replied promptly.
“AASU would hire you and everything.”
He grinned slyly. “We even can offer you a special insurance rate reserved for
employees in good standing.”
“That’s right.” I couldn’t help laughing, though the problem was serious. “Twist my
arm. Seriously, Spike, why me? AASU must have lots of people more qualified to
take on this job.”
“More people,” Spike agreed. “More qualified? That’s questionable. As much as I
hate to admit it, the pirates could have spies inside AASU. I didn’t go into the details
before, but there has been a small but significant upturn in the number of valuable
cargos being taken. One way the pirates could learn about these cargos is by having
a mole inside AASU. That’s why I wanted to meet you here rather than having you
come to my office.”
I frowned thoughtfully. Someone working with the pirates from inside an insurance
company did make sense.
“How about working with the local militia?” I asked.
Spike looked disgusted. “Remember, Endpoint’s system government is not yet
acknowledging that there is local pirate activity.”
“That seems impossible!” I protested.
“Not really,” Spike shrugged. “Nonviolent crime is always easier to overlook.”
“I see.” I kept my tone noncommittal
Spike’s voice took on a pleading note. “Allie, you know this system-everyone who
counts, both in legitimate business and otherwise.”
“Hardly,” I demurred dryly, but Spike did have a point. I’d been coming to
Endpoint since the original hundred settled. I knew the system pretty well.
Spike persisted. “You know the jump points the smugglers use, the likely places to
cache fuel or supplies. You even know the surrounding systems. Besides, you and I
get along.”
“What,” I asked frostily, “does that have to do with anything?”
“Why,” Spike beamed, glancing around the crowded confines of the singleship’s
cabin, “I’ll be coming with you. Certainly you don’t think I’m going to let you have
the fun of catching the pirates all by yourself!”
I gave in, of course. The salary AASU was offering was generous, especially when I
factored in company insurance rates. Even after taking out a much more
comprehensive policy, I was now making enough money to cover my expenses and
to put a substantial amount aside for the future.
The data disk containing our contract was hand-carried to AASU headquarters by a
private courier I personally selected for discretion and reliability. Thus, as far as
regional AASU was concerned, Captain Ah-Lee remained nothing more than a
freelance courier. Anyone on the inside of the company who might be working with
the pirates shouldn’t be able to discover my new involvement.
Next, my new partner went undercover. Allen “Spike” West took a liner out-system
to investigate a claim on heav-ily populated Fyolyn. He would slip back in-system a
few standards later on the ship of a smuggler who owed me more than a few favors.
While Spike was away, I hunted for signs of the pirates’ operations. Since I’d
carried a few cargoes of dubious legality in my time-mostly information rather than