Pressing his lips into a tight line, Nostrus turned his attention to the screen and accessed the secure, encrypted commlink. He entered the bounty hunter’s commlink ID and pressed connect to engage an audio-only call.
The connection opened after a few seconds.
“Yeah?” asked a raspy voice.
“An associate of mine contacted you regarding a contract,” Master Foltham said.
“You the one with a couple lost pets?”
“Indeed. From what I understand, your record is impeccable.”
Nostrus clenched his teeth and clutched at the armrests. He couldn’t ignore the persistent ache in his hand any more than he could forget the reason it was there to begin with.
“Yeah,” the bounty hunter replied.
Master Foltham leaned back again, turning his gaze toward the ceiling. “Are you interested in the work?”
“I’ll need details before I commit to anything.”
Smirking around his thick tusks, Master Foltham nodded. “Naturally. I’d prefer my pets returned to me unharmed, if possible. They are a male and female. An azhera and a terran, respectively. It’s only prudent that I mention they are both dangerous.”
“Most people are once they’re being hunted. I’ll need some more specifics.”
“The male managed to overcome my head of security and escape an extremely secure compound with the female in tow. And she has caused serious injuries to several members of my staff despite her deceptively petite size and build.”
The ache in Nostrus’s hand intensified, becoming a rapid, piercing throb. He forced himself to lean back, hoping that the few extra centimeters it put between himself and the call screen would help him keep his mouth shut. He didn’t need to dishonor himself any further than he already had.
“I should add that the female is pregnant,” Master Foltham continued. “I want her offspring returned as well—alive and unharmed, if she’s birthed it when you collect her.”
“Price?”
Master Foltham turned his head toward the screen. “I would prefer to work out that detail in per?—”
“Price,” the bounty hunter repeatedfirmly.
Master Foltham’s lips peeled back in distaste. He preferred a manner of doing business that struck many as old-fashioned or unnecessarily prolonged, but Nostrus saw the wisdom in it—it provided further opportunity to reveal the true nature of the people with whom the master was dealing.
With a disapproving grunt, Master Foltham said, “Two hundred thousand each, but they must be alive.”
“One azhera, one breeding terran, and possibly an infant, presumably hiding out on Arthos. Adults both dangerous enough to overcome trained professionals,” the bounty hunter said flatly. “Five hundred each.”
Master Foltham’s throat flesh swelled, and his heavy brows fell low over his dark eyes. “Preposterous!”
“It’s nothing for a person like you.”
“How dare you presume anything about me after demanding such an outrageous sum? I am the one who was insulted and stolen from, the one who was attacked in my own home. Have I not paid price enough already?”
“If you owned a terran,” the bounty hunter replied in a measured tone, “you’ve paid handsomely. Which is exactly why you’re going to pay what I’m asking to have her back. A half million is nothing compared to what you spent to have her.”
Master Foltham clenched his teeth and leaned forward again; for a few moments, he looked as though he were contemplating trying to strangle the holo screen in front of him. “And how soon will you deliver?” he asked tightly.
“Have your people send me the rest of the information. Images. Names. Everything in your possession. We’ll talk timelines once I’ve been able to review it all.”
“I don’t typically deal in such vague terms,” Master Foltham grated.
“You also don’t typically deal with locating two individualsin a city of billions, or you wouldn’t have contacted me. I’ll be in touch.”
The call disconnected abruptly.