The Commander Read Online Free Page B

coming? Do I need to worry about getting shot down?”
    “Not at all, Commander. I promise that detection by your planetary authorities will never be a problem while you’re with me.”
    Luke sat down in the pilot’s seat. “Okay, then, I’m ready. Let’s go home.”
    “Course set.” Sadie closed up the shuttle, lifted off, and flew into the moon’s night sky.

Day 2—Population 1
    “You okay, Luke?” Rosanne asked. “Luke!”
    Jolted out of his reverie, Luke nodded at the coffee pot she was offering. “Thanks, Rosanne.”
    “Don’t worry about it so much. Nobody expects you to win a big grant every year. You look like you got the weight of the world on your shoulders.”
    “Funny you should say that. This morning, that’s exactly how I feel.” The night before, Luke had arrived back at the airport after dark. He’d gone straight to his house and turned in.
    “Well, ease up, hon. You moved here to get away from that kind of stress.” Rosanne glanced at the other end of the diner’s countertop. “I wish that one would just stay here and settle down.”
    Luke followed her gaze toward the pony-tailed blonde. Annie something or other. She was wearing leggings, running shoes, and a colorful T-shirt under a fleece hoodie. The girl had moved back to town a few months ago to take care of her grandmother. Luke knew the older woman only as Mrs. Vasquez, and that she had passed away last week. Luke had gone to the funeral, but other than offering condolences, he hadn’t spoken to the grieving teenager.
    “Not many jobs around here, Rosanne,” Luke offered.
    “I know, but I doubt that Royal Deutsche outfit really appreciates her.”
    Luke perked up. “You mean Royal Deutsche Banque? How old is she? She looks twelve.”
    “Let me see,” Rosanne ruminated. “Her birthday is in March. She’s older than my grandson. Harry is twenty-eight or twenty-nine, I think. I just can’t remember.”
    Luke marveled, not for the first time, how Rosanne knew so much about everyone in this town. He wondered how long before she knew about Sadie .
    As if sensing his mood, Rosanne pried into his thoughts. “Where’s your funny-talking friend this morning, anyway? What was that language he was speaking? You two were getting on like a house afire.”
    “I’m afraid he’s moved on, Roseanne. Believe me, I tried to get him to stay. You said Annie worked at Royal Deutsche? What’d she do there?”
    “I dunno. She got registered as a CPA in Reno. I remember when she used to study all the time for that test. But back east she does something in precious metals? Broker?”
    Luke’s interest in the young lady skyrocketed. He picked up his coffee and moved two stools down from Annie.
    “Morning, Annie. Sorry about your grandma.”
    She gave him a half smile. “Morning, Mr. Blackburn. Thanks. And thanks for coming to the funeral.”
    “Of course. Say, Rosanne said you work for Royal Deutsche Banque.”
    “Worked, past tense. I had to quit to take care of Grandma. I don’t know if they’ll hire me back.”
    “So you’re looking for a job? Rosanne mentioned you’re a CPA in the precious metals division.”
    Annie gave him a skeptical look. “Why, Mr. Blackburn? You have some precious metals you want moved?”
    Luke held up his hands to show he meant no offense. “I’m actually looking for a CPA.”
    “I can give you a couple of names. Mr. Ortiz down the road could probably use some extra work.”
    “A background in precious metals would be a big plus.”
    Annie squinted at him distrustfully. “Seriously? I know you’ve gotten some grants at the airport, but I understand that Mrs. Cummings is not making much money. As I hear it, she’s out there about forty hours a week and getting paid for a lot less. I’m looking for a real job.”
    Luke’s cheeks grew hot, and he felt unaccountably embarrassed. The little female sitting at the counter was not much over five feet. In the past her comments would have bounced off