“I hear you. But again, that’s what you’d say if you did. And there’s more: defective materials in vital places. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear that some Argos Group actions were designed to slow shield development, ’stead of speedin’ it up.”

“What do you propose to do about this?”

“Me? I’ll do nothin’. Like you said, it’s not my job. I don’t care if old Gordy is robbin’ Bruno Colombo and his boys blind.”

“So why are you telling me?”

“To let you know that if you are playin’ games, you better stop. And why am I doin’ that? Well, I said I was gonna do you a favor, an’ you’re wonderin’ why. So I’ll tell you. You can do me a favor, too. I got a job to do, an’ I don’t want it screwed up by a bunch of morons in green eyeshades countin’ the spoons an’ clutterin’ up every room on Sky City. So, a word to the wise: If you’re the one doin’ it, stop right now. ’Til I’m done, that is. After that, it’s all yours, I don’t care what you do.”

A decision sitting at the back of Maddy’s brain jumped to the foreground. “I never had anything to do with shortchanging Sky City on deliveries, or ruining schedules. But even if I had, it’s irrelevant. I’m leaving the Argos Group.”

His attention had been wandering, as though the meeting had served its purpose and was now ending. He jerked back to face Maddy. “You’re gonna quit?”

“You’ve got ears. Yes.”

Brown eyes bored into hers. “You serious? Yeah, I can see you are. Bet you don’t do it, though. What’s your problem? You think Gordy’s ready to be taken to the funny farm?”

“He is, but it’s more than that.” And what was it? Maddy needed time to think. Seth’s words had started a whole new chain of logic running in her head: about John Hyslop and his changing assignments, about her own role and the timing of events. Aware of her long silence, she added, “I’m not even sure I’ll go back to Earth. Not for a while.”

“Ah. So that’s what it’s about.” Seth sniffed. “Well, good huntin’, that’s all I can say. If you want my advice, tone it down an’ go slow. You’re a bit of a high-powered sexpot for someone like him.”

“For Gordy?”

“Don’t play dumb with me, Maddy Wheatstone. I mean John Hyslop. Act dumb an’ flutter your eyelashes if you like, but don’t rush it.” Seth stood up. “Leaving Argos, eh? Well, I think about doin’ that myself now an’ again. But I bet you back off when it comes right down to it. I’ve seen Gordy when people tell him they’re leavin’.”

Maddy grimaced. “So have I. Maybe I won’t get up the nerve. But I’m going to find out. Unless you have something else to say, I’d like you to leave.”

“You want to sleep?”

“No. I’m going to call Gordy and resign.”

“Says you. I bet you don’t go through with it. But if you do quit, I’d like to know what he says.”

Maddy paused, the telcom unit in her hand. “Tell me the name of the murderer. Then maybe I’ll let you know what Gordy says.”

Seth Parsigian didn’t know the name of the Sky City murderer, Maddy felt sure of that. He had spoken with total confidence, but anyone with such hot information would be knocking on the door of Sky City security within a minute.

She had spoken with total confidence, too, announcing that she was about to present her resignation to Gordy Rolfe. But with that call ready to go through, she was suddenly not so sure.

Was she seeing a pattern to events where there was none?

When John Hyslop was assigned to the Aten asteroid project, shield development had been behind schedule but catching up rapidly. Maddy felt certain that John deserved credit for that. With him gone, there would be new delays. Then the news came in that the particle storm would arrive much earlier than expected. John was instantly reassigned to work on the shield. And Gordy told Maddy to stick with him and watch what he did, even though there was no logical reason for her presence.

John was being used to control the pace of shield development; and Maddy, without her knowledge, was being used to control John. If all that were true, there was no doubt who was pulling the strings.

That was even more reason to quit her job. And yet …

The Argos Group had a high turnover. Gordy Rolfe must be used to it, but he behaved as if each loss was an act of personal betrayal. She had been with Gordy in The Flaunt six months ago and seen him stamping and cursing and throwing things. That was when a midlevel project manager who couldn’t take the pressure stepped into thin air out of a fortieth-floor window. That was the one sure way out of the Argos Group unless Gordy fired you.

Maddy was in a far more senior position, and the last thing she wanted was to explain to Gordy Rolfe her reasons for leaving. He would tell her — perhaps rightly — that she had gone mad.

Maybe she had. But now, when all her confidence was gone, it was too late to back out. The call had gone through and Gordy was frowning at her from the screen. He was in the underground habitat. From the look of him he was wearing the same clothes as ten days ago. He also looked like a man who had not washed in the same period.

“What do you want?” Gordy didn’t bother with social pleasantries. “Couldn’t someone else handle this, whatever it is?”

Do it at once; delay will make it harder. “No, Gordy. No one else could handle this, because I work directly for you. I called to tell you that I’m resigning.”

His expression changed from anger to cynical amusement. “Oh, yeah? The old squeeze. I’ll buy it, just this once. Ten percent increase in salary, double your old bonus at the end of the year if you don’t screw up, and I’ll see what I can do about an interest in profit sharing. But that’s it, Maddy — I don’t want you back in six months, pushing for more.”

“You don’t understand. I’m not pushing for more money and benefits. I’m leaving the Argos Group.”

“You’re what?” His face showed genuine incomprehension.

Oh God. Don’t make me say it again. “I’m leaving, Gordy. I quit. I’m resigning from the Argos Group.”

There. Now he had the message. His face twisted with surprise and rage.

“Leaving? You can’t leave.”

“I can. I’ll wrap up any unfinished work, and then I’m gone.”

“You ungrateful bitch! I made you. When you joined Argos you were a snotty-nosed child. You were nothing until I shaped you.”

“I resign. I’ll put it in writing if you want it that way.”

“You were nothing, and you’ll be nothing again. I’ll see to that. You faithless fucker, when I’m done you’ll never work again. Anywhere! Let me tell you what you are, you worthless whore.”

Maddy knew Gordy Rolfe; his rants were famous, and he was just getting started. He went on and she sat, frozen-faced, until she could take no more.

“I’ve listened to enough, Gordy. Now you listen to me.”

He stopped in midsentence and stared at her in astonishment.

“I’ve given you nine good years, Gordy Rolfe. I’ve been a hardworking and faithful employee who put you and the Argos Group above everything else in existence. Everything. Nothing mattered as much as impressing you. But that’s over now. I want life and friendship. I want love.”

“Aha.” His eyes glowed behind the big glasses. “I get it. You’ve found a man. That’s all right. But sex don’t last, Maddy. Take a long weekend. Fuck him until your eyeballs drop out on the pillow. Then get over him and go back to work.”

“It’s not about sex.”

“You mean you’re not fucking him yet. You’ve got it worse than I thought.”

“It’s about a lot more than sex. Gordy, I don’t wish you harm — that’s more than you can say about yourself. And I’ll prove it.” Fear of what Gordy might do made her suddenly cautious. She would not tell him all her suspicions. “I know the Argos Group has been cheating on some of the Sky City contracts. I’ll not give anyone else that information, but I don’t want to get caught in the middle. And you had better stop what you’re doing and straighten the record. Otherwise, you’re sure to be caught.”