tudded handbag off the shelf. I

ating the valuation scanner. A

000 credits. Current Market R

. A ninety

ers in the elite secondary market refuse to purchase items asso

plush carpet. "Great. I'm

e floor-to-ceiling windows of the bedroom. She grab

wling, manicured estate. I

imported alien grass was dead and brown. There were emp

hat wasn't nailed down just to maintain t

rror. She started opening drawer

she found a stack of thick, physic

shark syndicate. The interest alon

Adelia-Kayson's fiancée-coordinating illegal spice smuggling drops at the outer spaceports. Even worse, there were detailed notes proving Adelia had planted encrypted military files on Dallin to frame him, terrified he was getting too close to her operation. And Kayson? The great Major? The ledger contained a signed 'loan

er throat, but she forced it dow

er who didn't ca

rk on her terminal. She typed in search

he Dark Zone Virtual Pawn. No questi

found a sleek, black tactical combat suit. It was tight, functional, and completely unlik

tarted throwing bags, watches, and necklaces

room. She picked up the VR neural-link visor fr

world v

air smelled like synthetic cigars and ozon

usted door of the paw

merchant. He had a mechanical eye that whirred as h

d the virtual duffel bag down. It hit t

poked at a diamond neckla

grunted, not even looki

hands flat on the counter. She sta

her voice flat and hard. "The Birkin

merchandise, lady. Or

want it, the broker across the street will. I h

e bag, making a sh

zipper. His mechanical eye whirred fran

find a bluff. She gave him nothin

ty," he

repeated. "Transfer

lammed his hand onto a bi

i

ed. "Deposit receiv

ay thank you. She just turned

face. The bright lights of the

terminal. The red

. She had the money. Now, she ne