The Royal Scam (The Martian Alliance) Read Online Free Page A

Royal Family’s case.
    “One more stop and that’s it,” Roy said, checking receipts.
    I wasn’t an Espen, but I got a funny feeling. “Which bookie?”
    “Not a bookie, straight casino bet. From The Jewel of Roulette.”
    “That’s a Diamante Families casino, isn’t it?” The funny feeling got worse.
    “Yes.” Roy eyed me. “What’s wrong?”
    “I’m not sure.” I focused on the news. They were talking about Princess Olivia’s death, but the Diamante Families were being mentioned. “Listen.”
    We all did. “Sounds like the Families are trying to insinuate foul play,” Bullfrog said finally.
    “The shot that ‘destroyed’ the ship was from a Diamante vessel,” Roy countered.
    “Which would be why they’re trying to shift blame.” I considered how King Oliver thought. “Roy, your fourth daughter in a row has ‘died under mysterious circumstances,’ each one before she could marry a Diamante prince. Let’s say Diamante gets suspicious. What would you do?”
    “Try to shift the blame onto them,” Roy said without missing a beat. “Go for the whole ‘your vessel’s shot killed her’ sort of thing.” His eyes narrowed. “You think that’s what’s going on?”
    “I think King Oliver is easily as smart and sneaky as you are, Roy, so yeah, I think so. And I’d also guess that someone in the Diamante Families is wondering if this is all an elaborate set up.”
    “Go for whoever takes out a big payout?” Bullfrog asked.
    “Probably.”
    Roy shook his head. “Were you the only one taking Andromeda payouts?”
    I snorted. “Hardly. At some casinos I had to wait in line.”
    “So, we need to collect this one from the Jewel. If we don’t, it’ll be as suspicious as if we do.”
    “If the Diamante Families create enough issue, the bookies might hold on the payouts,” Bullfrog pointed out, sounding worried. Not that I could blame him. The risk of monies being held was a big reason why we got our payouts immediately whenever possible.
    I thought on this. “Okay. I have a plan. I want to take Bullfrog back to the ship.”
    “Why?” He sounded offended. “I’m the best we have in a fight after Roy.”
    “Because you’re carrying all the money, my beloved toad. I really want what we have safely tucked away before we deal with our last payout.”
    Roy shrugged. “I’ve learned—never argue with DeeDee. She always wins.”
    “Let’s hope my record stays intact, then.”

    “I don’t like it,” Roy said, for the eleventh time by my count.
    “You never want to let me do anything,” Kyle muttered.
    “I prefer to have you on the ship. So someone I can trust is there, just in case.”
    Both Kyle and I gave Roy derisive looks. “You trust everyone, more than me sometimes,” Kyle said. This was probably true. Kyle was the least experienced of anyone on our crew, and Roy didn’t want anything to happen to him. Ever.
    “Not only are you my family, my responsibility, and part of my crew, but we’re the last of our line,” Roy snapped. “I promised to always protect you. If something happens to me, you’re the only hope we have.”
    I could see the old argument forming. From the first day I’d met them, Roy and Kyle had argued about their true responsibilities—to each other, to Mars, to the galaxy. Roy, despite his protestations to the contrary, was truly a traditionalist. Kyle wasn’t.
    “We don’t have time for the trusty ‘the blood of the true rulers of Mars runs through our veins’ speech, Roy. Besides, Kyle, like the rest of us, has it memorized.”
    “If I’m our only hope, then maybe I should be better trained.”
    Kyle was trying a new tactic. Must have been from spending time in the kitchens with Tresia. Arachnidans were good with coming up with alternate ideas. She said this was because if someone said “on the other hand” a lot more options opened up when you had eight as opposed to two.
    I was impressed, however the new ploy wasn’t working on Roy.