"C. Sanford Lowe & G. David Nordley - The Small Pond" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lowe C Sanford)

David met Liz again the following evening. They listened to the recording of
Avonford’s noon encounter. DeRoot had walked right into it.
“What would Gunheim do for me if I did this?” Avonford had asked in a
totally playful and innocent voice.
“Let you run your project, most likely,” DeRoot had said.
“And if not?” She’d asked laughingly, but David noticed a hint of strain.
“Well, the converse, I would suppose. Will you take off your clothes, now?”
“Enough,” David said. He had what he needed. She could have walked out
right then, he told himself, and if she had not ... Well, he didn’t want to know.
****
All locked in, Liz told herself. They had the recording, and the evidence was
already on its way to both Earth and Campbell, encrypted, but in a way that would
be released if the AIs involved did not get positive instructions from her to not
release it. David had been very clever to come up with that insurance policy.
In the last twenty-four hours, she and David had developed a closeness she’d
never felt before. No man had gone to bat for her like this, and she allowed the pure
warm feeling to wash through her for a moment.
Still, she felt nervous as hell. David might not have anticipated everything. Judi
had declined to be a part of it. She still had too much at stake. DeRoot could get
back at her without anyone being the wiser, she’d said. David had reluctantly agreed.
Besides, they had enough without her, hopefully.
They walked into the Sphere One Commons. DeRoot, waiting for her,
frowned a bit. Not expecting David, Liz thought.
The captain recovered quickly. “Ms. Avonford, good to see you. Mr. Levi?”
“Captain,” David said, “I suggest that we sit down. We must discuss
something with you. I suggest you tell the AI to not record what we have to say. I
think you understand what this is about.”
DeRoot frowned and pursed his lips, then he looked at her. The threat was
silent, understood.
She looked back, just as cold. She hoped her refusal to back off was every bit
as clear.
At length, DeRoot nodded.
Without any further word, David produced a comm card and played back the
segment with the incriminating language. “We have taken the necessary and obvious
precautions, and have supporting evidence of other kinds concerning other events,
not involving anyone on this ship,” he said afterward.
The last was a complete lie, Liz knew, but one that might give Judi some
protection.
“You will understand the implications for both you and Mr. Gunheim,” David
said.
DeRoot stared coldly at her, ignoring David. “You goddamn whore.” His
voice rumbled in anger.
Liz stared, unable to help the start of a tear, but willing herself not to give an
inch in this contest of wills.
No one spoke. Each looked at the other. DeRoot’s face tinged pink. David
watched in amazement. Liz valiantly worked on a poker face, wondering if this was
the first time the captain’s persona and behavior had been questioned to such a
degree. He was a smart man; surely he would take this no further. Liz watched
quietly. Only when she thought the steam had gone out of DeRoot did she glance at
David.