“A girl needs at least two boyfriends. Life ain't cheap.” Michelle Adams.

Heaven said to Michelle, “Thanks. I know it's short notice.”

Michelle smiled. “Oh, girl! We're friends.”

Ben smiled at Heaven's attractive friend and got a wink for his effort. Heaven took Ben's arm and led him to the sofa. “Wait here,” she said. Turning to her friend, she asked, “Can we speak in the kitchen?”

Michelle stood by the cooling unit. She asked professionally, “Beer, wine, water?”

Seating herself at the Parsons-style table, Heaven answered. “Water.”

Water delivered in a crystal goblet, Michelle sat across from Heaven and extended her hands on the tabletop. When Heaven took her hands, she exclaimed, “You're always so serious. Lighten up. Take your coat off and let me call up a meal.”

Heaven answered, “I'd love to, but I'm on duty. I'm protecting that young man I have with me. We just escaped an attempt on his life and I really need a place to hide out. Can I borrow the key to your retreat?”

“Oh, hell yeah, girl!” Michelle stood. “I'll be right back. In the meantime, make yourself some sandwiches. Help yourself.”

Michelle skipped from the stairs, key in hand, and took a stealthy seat beside Ben. She leaned in close and whispered, “Heaven's your girlfriend. Right?”

“I wish,” answered Ben.

“I knew it,” said Michelle, jumping to her feet. She left Ben puzzled.

Michelle found Heaven making sandwiches. She placed the key on the counter beside Heaven and leaned against Heaven's shoulder. Her eyes bright and mischievous, Michelle said, “Make two for your boyfriend. He looks hungry.”

Heaven replied with a straight face. “He's not my boyfriend.”

Between the straight face of Heaven and the twinkle in Michelle's eyes, the doorbell chimed. Heaven turned and said, “That should be some friends with supplies and transportation.”

Michelle gasped. “Don't tell me you walked here.”

“I had to hide my skid in the woods,” said Heaven grabbing the key and following Michelle to the door.

The door opened and the Bergs stood grinning. They lifted four bags. “Told you,” said Affe with a brag in his smile.

“Come in,” said Heaven. “This is my best friend, Michelle.” She turned to Michelle and said, “We'll change and be on our way.”

Michelle closed the door and turned with a smile. “That's my Heaven.”

It was a station like a thousand other stations on a thousand other worlds. The smell of sweat and take-out mingled with a low continuous din. Officers and Detectives danced among the worn desks, synth sheets in hand, to the underlying tempo of station equipment. Beeping machines spit out synth sheets while screens around the walls whistled static, and wrist comms chimed.

Chief O'Leary watched the bedlam through his closed office door. His eyes strained not so much to see his station work like a Swiss watch but to map out the situation he found himself in. It was lucrative, yes, but it placed his reputation at risk. He recalled the hissing glottal voice of the Sharantta and shuddered. What kind of evil creatures the Sharantta were was beyond his imagination.

O'Leary's eyes narrowed in anticipation as Naijik entered the station. The swarthy Detective cut through the office in a direct line for the Chief's office. Closing the door behind himself, Naijik took a seat in front of the Chief's desk and tossed a folder across to him.

“What you asked for,” said Naijik in his thick accent.

The Chief set the folder to the side with gruff praise. “You did well. I have but one small question. Where is the Constable?”

“On the run,” said Naijik. “She knocked out the officers and got away.”

O'Leary rose to his feet. His eyes bulged and his face reddened; his hardened glance meant hell to come. Slamming the desk with the palm of his hand, O'Leary spat his exclamation. “Damn!”

The station paused apprehensively as the Chief filled his office door like a threatening storm. All present knew the Chief's moods; they knew when to keep their heads low; well-trained, they knew when to snap an official 'Yessir!' This was one of those times.

“Listen up!” bellowed the Chief. “I want an all-points on one Heaven Langley, a Constable from Pendragon. She travels with a young man by the name of Ben Shuller. They are to be considered armed and dangerous. I want all available officers and Detectives to coordinate under Detective Arman. Go! What the hell are you waiting for?”

Naijik followed the Chief from the office and immediately named his inner task leaders. “Trudeau, Spencer, Cassidy, I want all routes out of Ashpall monitored. I want an immediate face match from all traffic cams.”

Chief O'Leary watched with satisfaction as his station snapped to. He had trained Arman well. The heightened noise of the station filled him as officers and Detectives fell seamlessly into their roles. One way or another, alive or dead, he would deliver Ben Shuller and collect the bounty. With the metals he had been offered, he could easily retire to the planet of his choice.

O'Leary turned into his office and closed the door. He still had to choose a planet. He had always been partial to Collewar; its island resorts and beaches were like a wet dream. Drinks under the palm trees were right up his alley. He smiled to himself as he imagined the bright eyes of pretty young women dressed in beach wear, all their availability advertised in spades. Suddenly, O'Leary's eyes hardened. He was pinning a lot on his star Detective; he had better not screw it up!

With a brief moment to himself, Naijik connected to Michelle. She knew it was Naijik when a zither played. As the Detective's face wavered above her wrist comm, Michelle called out in a sweet tone. “Babe! You coming over?”

A thick voice answered. “Later, perhaps. I am heading a manhunt. Are you home?”

“How exciting!” replied Michelle. “Don't worry about me. I'm here with my Constable friend.”

“Oh?” asked Naijik. “Hold on.”

Heaven stood on the stairs behind Michelle. She heard the conversation in its entirety. When Michelle's comm image went dark, Heaven's skin contracted. She took Michelle's wrist and closed the connection.

“You just couldn't keep your mouth shut!” snapped Heaven.

Michelle was confused. “Huh?”

“I'm trying to save Ben. Remember? The police are in on it.” Heaven turned and threw up her hands.

“I'm sorry,” said Michelle. “I didn't think.”

Heaven turned and channeled her anger into a single word. “Yeah!” She turned and yelled up the stairs. “Ben. Affe. Aggi. We have to go. Now!”

The three raced down the stairs past Michelle, who tried to make sense of the situation. Heaven checked her weapons and opened the front door. Three police skids were settling into the front yard. Heaven cursed beneath her breath and slammed the door. She could not shoot police, and running through the woods behind the house was a loser's gamble. Ben and the twins peeked through the front window. Heaven peeked and saw police take up armed positions behind their skids while five more skids appeared over the trees.

She spoke softly to Ben, nodding to the twins. “Stand back from the window. In fact, it's safer for you upstairs.”

Aggi took Ben and her brother's arms and drew them away. Michelle hovered nearby stuttering and confused. Heaven gripped her friend's shoulders. “I'm sorry, but you've put me in an impossible situation. Go upstairs with the others.”

Heaven peeked outside; the front yard was overrun with armed police. Detective Arman held a bullhorn as he conferred with officers. Placing her back to the wall, Heaven grimaced. Her one way out was calling Sam. All this while, she had been trying to break up with him. Now, she had to ask for help.

She opened the connection with a sigh. “Sam?”

Sam answered with surprise in his voice. “Heaven? I'm over Aspall. Where are you?”

She had no other option. The strain was evident in her voice, “Sam, I need help.”

The comm image wavered. Sam turned and barked orders to his crew on the Co'Hwaul. Then, he faced Heaven. “Leave your comm on. I'll be right there.”

The voice of Detective Arman came through the bullhorn. Startled, Heaven peeked through the window. Naijik stood between the wooded home and the armed officers. “Constable Heaven Langley. You are surrounded. Surrender at once.”

Heaven cracked the door and called loudly, “Come in unarmed. We can talk.”

Naijik returned, “I will not be fooled. Throw out your weapons and exit with your hands visible.”

Heaven closed the door. She knew her options. She knew what she would do if she was in Detective Arman's position. Stalling for time required leverage; all she had was the Detective's girlfriend. She cracked the door.

Heaven called out, “Michelle is scared. Come in and speak with her.”

Naijik answered, “You may not hide behind the innocent. Come out; you and Ben Shuller. Surrender. If you think you can stall for time, I will not allow it. I give you five minutes.”

Heaven padded the conversation. “I just thought that before you start shooting the place up, you would want to ensure the safety of your girlfriend.”

“Constable,” said Naijik. “You are outmatched. There is no escape.”

Heaven knew she had to work the girlfriend angle; it was all she had. She called out, her voice cocky, “So shoot. Michelle is standing beside me.”

Heaven closed the door and peeked through the window. She knew the officers had heard her. They were aware that the Detective's girlfriend was inside the house. She watched Arman turn and confer with his men. They, in turn, ordered tactical officers into new positions. The obvious next move was to engage her in negotiations while the tactical officers breached the house.

Heaven cracked the door and called to the Detective. “Detective Arman.”

The Detective turned and placed the bullhorn to his lips. “Your time runs out, Constable Langley. How this ends is in your hands.”

Heaven answered, “Here's the deal. If you try to breach the house, my snipers will simply pick off your men. Did you think I was not prepared? Pull your men back. If you want to negotiate, come inside. Talk to me face to face. Michelle is beside herself. Come in, comfort her. Who knows? I might let you walk out with her.”

The relationship angle was dependable. Heaven was fairly certain Naijik would consider the safety of Michelle above his job. On the other hand, he would see an opportunity in the situation she presented him. He might attempt to overpower her; he might hide a small weapon over a shoe. Heaven peeked through the window to see Naijik consult with other Detectives. Tactical officers returned to base positions.

This was all Heaven could do. The rest was up to Sam. She watched Naijik hand over the bullhorn and approach the house with raised hands. His stride was confident. He stopped and opened his jacket, withdrew his weapon, and placed it on the lawn beside him.

“I will come in,” he called out.

The Chief had never seen a Sharattan; he had no idea what the aliens looked like, but when he heard the alien voice over his comm, Chief O'Leary envisioned a large hissing serpent.

“Hyou dis..s-appoint.” The alien voice spoke slowly with a glottal break where the 'r' should be. “You' fles..sh is bitte'. Hwhy should we pay fo' failu'e?”

The Chief could envision the precious metals slipping through his fingers, but his anger trumped his fear. Whatever the creature was, it could not even pronounce an 'r'. It had no right to condemn. Damnable beast!

O'Leary shot back. “What failure? We have the young man surrounded. He cannot escape. Mark my words. I will have him at the delivery point today. And, don't you worry about my flesh. You just worry about the payment.”

The menacing alien voice answered. “Hwe'will have the enemy of Sha'antta o' hyou.”

The connection ended. O'Leary drove his fist against the desktop in rage. He imagined putting a charge between the alien's beady red eyes. If they dared to show when they paid, he would drop them on the spot. Tapping on his desk monitor, the Chief viewed the unfolding scene. The wooded home was surrounded. Tactical units were in place. O'Leary nodded as he watched Detective Arman approach the house. Naijik was clever; he had a few negotiations under his belt; he was sure to have a plan. The Chief sat back in his chair to watch.

Naijik stood before the house with outspread hands. Upon entry, he would assess the situation and decide how to proceed. He would lead in, playing on the Constable's sense of duty and loyalty. “I am outside the door, Constable.” His call was loud. “I am unarmed.”

Just then, a dark shadow swept across the property. A wind blew, and Arman looked up to see the tall pines dance. The sky was black as a ship reached between horizons. Naijik turned to see his fellow Detectives stare up in confusion at the colossal craft. Officers and tacticians stumbled in the sudden darkness, switching on the lights of their skids. Arman sensed in their voices that they were torn between duty and fear.

A loud voice issued from the ship and rattled the glass windows of the forest home. “Leave!” it said.

Several armed ships issued from the belly of the larger craft. Their bright floodlights swept the lawn as turret guns came to bear on the police below. Detectives made the call for retreat and no one had to be told twice. His fellow Detectives ran to Arman and pulled him back. Confused, Arman looked back to see a black craft hover between the house and retreating forces. All he could think was that the Constable had some powerful friends.

The twins ran down the stairs; Michelle stood on the fifth step. Ben ran excitedly around Michelle and stumbled on the sixth step, tumbling down the remaining ten. With a gasp, Heaven ran to him, stooped, and took him into her arms. A quick inspection discovered only a small scratch on his forehead. Heaven placed her hand on Ben's forehead and smoothed back his hair as Ben smiled into her worried glance.

Just then, Sam kicked in the front door, his bold entry shot down by the sight of Heaven with a young man in her arms. He stopped and gaped.