The realization of her words dawned upon him slowly and he blinked. "You _know_ about me? How..." "I'll tell you later. Why did you bring him back?" "You want him, don't you? It couldn't work out. Any fool can see that." He reached out and gripped her shoulders firmly. "It wasn't supposed to happen this way, Beth. It was all supposed to go like clockwork; we never figured on the scout ship being wrecked, and I never figured on falling in love with you..." "That's why you brought him back? Because you love me?" He nodded, trying vainly to brush aside the trembling emotion that lifted within him at the touch of her flesh. It was a weird feeling. "I thought about taking his place, Beth. I thought about it - but I knew it wouldn't work. It was a half crazy thing in the beginning. I ... I'm sorry." A faint smile tugged at her lips. "Don't be. I'm not the least bit sorry, but I'm glad I know the truth. Now it doesn't seem so ridiculous - Brice disappearing into thin air." She looked about the room. "Where is he?" "Dead." "Dead?" Her eyes widened. Lors nodded. "I brought your husband back against my Commander's orders. When I tried to get Brice out of the hospital, he went berserk and began shooting things up. One of the spacers killed him." "Poor Nolan," she whispered and he could see the tears welling in her eyes. Then she looked at him sharply. "You acted against orders?" He nodded again. "What will happen to you?" "Nothing. It'll all come out all right. But, Beth, how did you know? Who told you about this?" "I did." Lors whirled about, his eyes swinging against those of the husky blond in the dress suit who stood in the doorway of the cabin. Automatically, his hand dropped toward the pistol at his side, but the blond stopped him. "Don't bother with that, Lors," he grinned. "I'm not about to draw." "Who are you," Lors demanded. "Here, I'm Cartwell, of the Secret Service. But actually I'm Firstspacer Nesso of the 6th. Terran Command." "You told her?" Lors asked, amazed. The blond nodded. "I had to. I came here to check on Brice and found her ready to call the police because first Nolan had disappeared and then you had. I had to think of something to keep her quiet, and the only thing I could think of was the truth. I'm a lousy agent," he added grinning. Lors nodded and bit his lower lip. "How do things stand now?" He asked. "Not too bad," Cartwell told him. "I've made arrangements to have the wrecked ship hauled out of the area for study. This will be hush-hush for awhile, then left to dissolve of itself. Everyone will forget it..." "What about Brice?" Cartwell pursed his lips. "That was a rough break, but unavoidable. We can cover up by saying that he was searching the wooded area with the rescue squads and apparently became lost. After searching and finding nothing, we can let the people draw their own conclusions." "Risky," Lors told him. "It'll work, unless you have a better idea."