Chapter 15: Epilogue
Marshall invited Judith, Debbi and Lucy to his office to share a bottle or two of champagne in celebration of the withdrawal of Inspector Garret and his ships, and the acquisition of a ship which should keep them secure against any future visits from pirates.
Judith drank the contents of her glass and said that as she was off duty, she had urgent personal matters to attend to. Debbi stayed for a drop more champagne. When Marshall refilled her glass, making sure that Lucy did not notice the transaction, he passed her a large discretionary bonus for her part in giving him access to the FBIS legal database. She discretely accepted the palm-sized bar of pure gold before toasting the future prosperity of Junker's Moon, and making her own excuses. With the drink going to her head a little, Debbi had been very tempted to tell Marshall of her gaining possession of the full database but she wisely kept to her decision of saving it for another occasion.
Once Debbi had departed, Lucy declared herself to be very happy to stay on and have her glass refilled.
'It was my first time in a suit up there and it was dreadfully scary firing that enormous gun,' she said. 'You couldn't hear it of course because there was no air, but you could feel it. I never thought at the time that it was so old it might have been us who were blown into pieces.'
Marshall squeezed her arm gently. 'I had no doubt that you could do it. Judith told me they wouldn't have managed without you cutting the hatch door bolts and fixing up one of your pneumatic gas bottles to operate the firing mechanism.'
Apologising, Lucy wiped away a single tear and admitted that now that it was all over, she was proud to have taken part and that it had all been pretty daring, really. She added that she hadn't even minded being questioned by Inspector Garrett and that he had been most gentlemanly, although rather formal and intimidating.
'Only to be expected,' Marshall said, smiling as he met Lucy's eyes, which seemed to be particularly bright at that moment. She was the only one of the women who had taken the trouble to dress differently for the occasion. Whereas the other two had been attired in their work clothes, Lucy was wearing a short, black silk dress in which, Marshall was not in the least reluctant to admit, she looked extremely attractive.
The End
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