"I suppose. But we'll have to wait for night. It is dangerous to do anything now. Ten thousand credits. Lazar wants you awful bad. He offered five for both McLean and Sanderson." "I was very close to Lazar in the Security Police. I know too much." "We all make mistakes." "I envy your logic. But I can't see it that way. I was considered too good an agent to make a mistake." "It's too late to cry over it now. When it is dark I'll contact--a friend--and have the space ship ready." Horn grinned. "You're still not sure of me?" "It isn't that. But you don't belong to my unit. We can't name names to outsiders." "You're right, of course. You've been well trained." "Are you hungry?" "Yes." She set food in front of him and watched him eat. "What is Lazar like?" she asked. "I have heard of him." "Cruel," he said. "A sadist. Death is the easy way out when you're in Lazar's hands." "It will soon be dark," she said. He stood up, his hunger satisfied. "Tell me," he said, "was it difficult getting Sanderson and McLean out of Mars?" "No," she said. "Not difficult at all." "Good." He went to the interphone. He dialed, spoke, "You may come up now." "What are you doing?" her face paled. He turned to her, smiling. "Lazar was wondering how Sanderson and McLean escaped. You were on the master list of suspects. I was waiting for you to confess." Lynn stiffened. "It--it was a trick." "That's right, Brickel. Too bad. You're too pretty to die." "That--that was a message to Lazar." "Yes. He'll be here shortly." Lynn slipped her hand in the pocket of her tunic, brought out a small blaster. "Don't be a fool," Horn said. "Maybe you'll be spared. Why take your life? Just tell all you know?" Lynn smiled. "I wasn't thinking of taking my life. But yours." Horn frowned. "Don't be an idiot." He advanced toward her. Lynn shook her head slowly. "Now it's my turn to be clever." Horn's face went wild. "You can't escape Lazar! Listen to me--" She blasted him. * * * * * Lynn opened the door. Lazar stood there, fat and ugly. There were two men of the Security Police with him. "Come in," she invited. They came in. She shut the door. Lazar looked down at the dead Harry Horn. "You said dead or alive," Lynn reminded Lazar. "You owe me ten thousand credits." "What happened?" Lazar snapped at her. His flesh-bedded eyes studied her. "He came to me for help. I had to bide my time. I told him I'd help him. I was waiting for the chance to get to you. He was by the interphone a few minutes ago. It was the chance I needed. I pulled my blaster, covered him. He made a dash for freedom so I had to kill him." "This is crazy," one of the men said. "Horn must have had her confession. But now what do we do for evidence?" "Shut up!" Lazar snapped. "Your word is good, isn't it, Lazar?" Lynn said. "What do you mean?" "The ten thousand credits. As a loyal citizen I've earned them."