Honor Among Thieves: Star Wars (Empire and Rebellion) Read Online Free Page B

might as well.”
    Now that it was dry, the cover of the case had a deep, almost iridescent sheen like an insect’s shell. Han ran his thumbnail around the edge until it caught against an invisibly thin seam. He twisted once, leaning into the motion, and the cover snapped open. A tiny pad glowed a soft but forbidding red. He carefully entered the passcode, and the pad chirped happily, shifted to green, and swung open. The small compartment behind it was empty. Chewbacca groaned accusingly.
    â€œHow could it possibly be my fault,” Han said as Chewbacca plucked the case from his hand. “I wasn’t there when she put it in the drop.”
    Chewbacca tapped the case against the arm of the bench hard enough to make the metal chime, then peered into the space again.
    â€œAll right,” Han said. “There’s nothing here. So this is probably a trap, and we just took the bait. When they stop us, we stick to the story. We found the thing, we don’t know that it is, and they’re welcome to have it if they want.”
    Han looked around the park, trying to seem casual. No stormtroopers were flooding into it yet. He had to fight the urge to draw his pistol and sprint for the fliers. Chewbacca moaned.
    â€œI wouldn’t believe us, either.”
    â€œSolo.”
    The voice was unexpected, calm, and friendly. Han twisted in the bench. The Mirialan walking across the grass toward them was broad and thick. His yellow-green skin was darker now than it had been when he was younger, and he had a few more tattoos on his chin and cheeks, but not many. He walked with a rolling gait that made him seem halfway to drunk, though as far as Han knew he never drank to excess.
    â€œBaasen Ray? What are you doing here?”
    â€œWaiting on you, apparently,” Baasen said. “Chewbacca. Good to see you again. Been too long.”
    The Wookiee groaned and bayed.Baasen’s expression went pained.  
    â€œWhat’d he say?”
    â€œHe said you’re looking good,” Han said. “He was just being polite, though.”
    â€œSorry,” Baasen said, nodding to Chewbacca. “It’s my hearing. Got a hard enough time making out all the words even in my own language. So blast it, man, but it’s been a long time. Guess you really are working for the rebels, eh?”
    â€œWhat makes you say that, friend?”
    Baasen rolled his eyes. “That when Hark called to get pulled, you showed up at her drop. Doesn’t take a genius to add those two sums, does it? Truth is, I was more than half expecting you. Takes a madman or an idiot, flying rebel spies out of the Core, and . . . well, word gets about. Who’s working for who. Like that.”
    â€œReally? I haven’t heard much about what you’ve been up to. Last I heard, you were running the slow loop out of Hoven.”
    â€œHard times. Hard times. Turns out I’m getting pulled by the same strings as you. Rebel Alliance. ’S why I’m here now. Watch the drop. Make contact. All of that.”
    â€œ You’re the message at the drop?”
    â€œWell now, the woman’s not an idiot. You didn’t really expect her to leave written instructions on how to track her just lying about in public, did you?”
    Chewbacca pressed the case into Baasen’s broad hand with a chuffing groan.
    â€œSorry, what?”
    â€œHe said that we should get out of here, and I think he’s right. You have transport?”
    â€œTransport’s what I do best,” Baasen said. “Follow on, then.”
    Baasen trundled off to the north, not looking back to see whether they were coming. The men playing their game on the green ignored them as they passed. At the building’s edge, a gray transport floater hovered over the empty air, its docking ramp clinging to the pavement of the park. The same droid that had ordered Han back from the edge, or else one just like it, was squawking at a