Defying Mars (The Saving Mars Series) - By Cidney Swanson Page 0,48
ones, that sort of thing.”
Jess felt a flutter of alarm. “Won’t that be noticed?”
But Crusty shook his head. “Secretary gave everyone tomorrow off for the celebration, remember? Hangar’ll be empty ‘til it’s too late to matter. And I might’ve done something to the vid monitors just to make sure.” He grinned as he said this. “But you’re likely to get walked in on, if you try sleepin’ in your quarters.”
Jessamyn scowled, feeling very tired. She should have just stayed home.
“Hang on,” said Crusty. “You can bunk up in my tool locker.”
When Jess looked confused, Crusty added, “It’s cozy. Got a sleep mat, even. I slept in there plenty to give your brother a bit more room. Cavanaugh’s bunch won’t have any cause to go in there. Plus it locks.”
“That sounds perfect,” Jessamyn said, a profound yawn distorting her voice.
Crusty led her to the tiny room which did, indeed, appear perfect at the moment. Shutting herself inside, she set the latch and turned off the light. Within moments, she was fast asleep.
Only to be awakened again after two hours. This time, she knew exactly where she was, at least. What she didn’t know was why in Hades Cavanaugh’s crew had to pick the hall beside her to have their very heated argument.
She pulled a palm over one ear, burying the other in the crook of her elbow. But it was no good. The two—or three—were shouting at one another. Jess rose to give them a piece of her mind.
But then she stopped. Why were they discussing the Rations Storage fire?
She pressed an ear to the door and the conversation grew clearer.
“It opened the path for an unscheduled trip to Earth. Another fire could do the same,” said a woman’s voice.
Smith, thought Jess, shuddering at the thought of the woman she was supposed to share quarters with.
“No, you are not destroying the food supply again,” said a deep voice.
Cavanaugh, thought Jess.
“One fire looks like an accident. Two makes people start asking questions about arson. Questions that will lead straight to the Party’s doors. Our cause doesn’t need that. We’ve already got what we want. Eyes on the prize, Smith,” concluded Kipper’s brother.
“She was only suggesting—”
Cavanaugh swore, cutting Jones off. “It will not be repeated. Especially not when we’re this close to achieving everything the Party is working for.”
“Sir,” called a new voice. “That’s the last two loads. Will there be anything else?”
“No,” replied Cavanaugh.
“Did you bring the communications amplifier?” asked Jones.
“We didn’t know where to put it,” replied the voice Jess didn’t know.
“It needs to stay hidden,” said Smith. “I’m not keeping it in my quarters. The girl might ask questions.”
“Agreed,” said Cavanaugh.
“How about here?” asked Jones, slapping the door behind which Jess sheltered.
Jess clawed her way back from the door as someone rattled the handle.
“It’s locked,” said Jones.
“What do you think your thumb key is for?” said Smith, her voice exasperated. “Honestly.”
The door shook again and Jessamyn held her breath, praying the latch would hold.
“This room’s no good,” said Cavanaugh.
“It’s for equipment—” began Smith.
Cavanaugh interrupted. “It’s where that old fool mechanic stores things. I’ll lock it in my quarters.”
“I still say we arrange for a little accident to take the mechanic out of the picture,” said Smith. “He’ll side with the girl if it comes down to a … conflict.”
“No,” Cavanaugh said sharply. “We’ve got a long and dangerous journey. Who’s going to fix things that break down? You?”
Smith didn’t make any sort of response that Jess could hear, but Cavanaugh seemed satisfied he’d made his point.
“We’ve got a full day ahead of us,” Cavanaugh said. “Let’s go.”
Jessamyn’s heart hammered in the dark room and she felt a rage such as had not filled her since she’d stabbed Lucca Brezhnaya.
Those … creatures set fire to Mars’s food supply, she raged silently. She could not fathom the depravity. Not to mention one of them wanted to kill Crusty. The ungrateful wretches!
“It doesn’t matter,” she said, her voice gritty with determination. All that mattered was that she report this to Mei Lo at once. She crept from her hiding place. How did a person reach the Secretary General at this hour? Well, Jess knew where Mei Lo lived. She was halfway into her walk-out suit when she heard someone thundering up from below decks.
“Hades and Aphrodite,” she swore. She had nowhere to hide. With her walk-out suit, she was too bulky to fit back into the tools storage room. Then she sighed with relief—it was only Crusty.