The Dark Lady

counting on you to surrender to the nearest authority, and also to convince Leonardo to do what is right for him. Good luck and Godspeed.”
    “That's a classy lady,” said Heath admiringly. “I'll bet she had six policemen in her office when she sent the message.”
    “But I thought I was doing what she wanted, ” I said, totally devastated.
    “You were,” answered Heath. “She never thought Abercrombie would suspect a Bjornn of collaborating with anyone to break the law.” He shook his head. “He's either brighter than I thought, or very paranoid.”
    “What will become of me?”
    “You weren't listening very carefully, were you?” said Heath easily.
    “I don't know what you mean.”
    “She promised that she'd take care of you. She'll keep her word.”
    “How?” I asked uncomprehendingly.
    “The same way she takes care of me, ” said Heath. He smiled. “'Free-lance consultant’ is a euphemism for procurer of stolen artwork. I guarantee that you'll make more this way than you ever would as an employee, or even as an art dealer on Bjornn.”
    “Benitarus II,” I corrected him automatically.
    “Wherever.”
    “But I cannot become a thief!” I protested.
    “What else can you be?” responded Heath seriously. “Your Pattern Mother won't talk to you and Claiborne has suspended you.”
    “I can perform the ritual of suicide,” I said.
    He shook his head. “Claiborne didn't fire you. If Tai Chong gets the police to drop their charges, you still have to work off the rest of your contract.”
    “I owe nothing to a woman who manipulated me into helping you commit a crime, and now wants me to become a thief.”
    “You have an interesting concept of honor, Leonardo.”
    “I do not understand what you mean,” I said.
    “Are you honor-bound only to meet those commitments you make to people who live up to your high moral standards?” asked Heath. “You're saying that you're letting her morality determine your own.” He paused. “ I've been living by that particular code for years— but then, I've never pretended to be a man of honor.”
    “But how am I to honor my contract when Tai Chong obviously prefers that I steal paintings for her?” I asked helplessly.
    “I don't know,” said Heath. “You'll have to figure that out for yourself.”
    “I cannot!” I protested. “I must seek ethical guidance.”
    “From me?” he asked with an amused laugh.
    “No, not from you.”
    “Your Pattern Mother won't help you, and you don't want Tai Chong's advice,” he said, “so who can you ask?”
    “I do not know,” I replied. “I will find someone.”
    “In the meantime, you're on your own, and we've got a living to make.”
    “I will not steal artwork,” I said adamantly.
    “Have I suggested it?” asked Heath innocently.
    “Yes.”
    “Well, forget it— for the moment, at least. I think there's a much easier way to turn a profit.” He leaned forward intently. “We're going to beat Venzia to Saltmarsh, which means we'll find the Dark Lady before he does. It's my guess that he'll pay a considerable amount of money for five minutes of her time.”
    “If you can find her on Saltmarsh, so can he,” I said.
    Heath smiled confidently. “We'll wait for him at the spaceport and tell him we've kidnapped her.”
    “Why should he believe you?”
    “Because it makes sense,” said Heath. “Why would I lie to him?”
    “Because you are Valentine Heath.”
    “But he doesn't know Valentine Heath as well as you do.”
    “He knows that the Dark Lady will vanish before you can force her to do anything against her will,” I pointed out.
    “But from everything you and Venzia have told me, she's never done it in front of anyone who isn't aware of her true nature. We'll just keep her in a crowd.”
    “Keep her in a crowd?” I repeated.
    “That's right. The more people there are, the less likely she is to pull her disappearing act.”
    “I thought you were going to lie to Friend Reuben,” I said.
    “If I have to,” responded Heath. “It makes more sense to actually deliver the goods— but if we can't, then we should certainly have an alternate plan in mind.”
    “And all you plan to do is detain her until Venzia arrives?” I asked.
    “That's right,” he replied.
    “Have you nothing to ask her yourself?” I continued.
    “Such as?”
    “The answer to Venzia's question.”
    Heath shook his head. “Absolutely not. What fun would life be without some mystery?”
    “But if there