"What kind of mess?"

"With that woman. She"s trying to destroy you."

He was too puzzled to become angry. "Sue? Why? How?"

"Give her up. It"ll hurt less if you break it off. Everybody knows what she"s doing."

"What"s she doing?" Shed"s voice was plaintive.

"Never mind. I said more than I should already. If there"s ever anything we can do for you, let us know."

"I will. I will," he promised. He went upstairs, to his hidden cash box, and found it barren.

There was not a gersh in the place, upstairs or down. What was going on? "Lisa. Where"s all the money?"

"I hid it."

"What?"

"I hid it. The way you"re carrying on, you"re going to lose this place. You have a legitimate expense, tell me. I"ll cover it."

Shed goggled. He sputtered. "Who the h.e.l.l do you think you are, girl?"

"The girl who"s going to keep you in business in spite of yourself. The girl who"s going to stop you from being a complete fool with Gilbert"s woman."

"Gilbert"s?"

"Yes. What did you think was going on?"

"Get out," Shed snapped. "You don"t work here anymore."

Lisa shrugged. "If that"s what you want."

"Where"s the money?"

"Sorry. Come see me when you get your common sense back."

Shed raged around the common room. His customers clapped, egging him on. He threatened. He cajoled. Nothing worked. Lisa remained adamant. "It"s my family!" he protested.

"You go prove that woman isn"t Gilbert"s wh.o.r.e. Then I"ll give you the money and walk."

"I"ll do that."

"What if I"m right?"

"You"re not. I know her."

"You don"t know s.h.i.t. You"re infatuated. What if I"m right?"

He was incapable of entertaining the possibility. "I don"t care."

"All right. If I"m right, I want to run things here. You let me get us out of debt."

Shed bobbed his head once and stormed out. He was not risking anything. She was wrong.

What was her game? She was acting like a partner or something. Like his mother had, after his father died and before she lost her sight. Treating him like he did not have twice her experience of business and the world.

He wandered for half an hour. When he came up from his melancholy, he saw he was near Sailmakers" Hall. h.e.l.l. He was there; he"d just go see Gilbert. Make a loan so he could see Sue that night. Little b.i.t.c.h Lisa could hide his money, maybe, but she couldn"t keep him away from Gilbert.

Half a block later he began to suffer conscience pangs. Too many people depended upon him. He shouldn"t make his financial situation worse.

"d.a.m.ned woman," he muttered. "Shouldn"t talk to me that way. Now she"s got me doubting everybody." He leaned against a wall and fought his conscience. Sometimes l.u.s.t pulled ahead, sometimes the urge toward responsibility. He ached for Sue...He should not need money if she really loved him...

"What?" he said aloud. He looked again. His eyes had not deceived him. That was Sue stepping into Gilbert"s place.

His stomach sank like a falling rock. "No. She couldn"t...There must be an explanation."

But his traitor mind started cataloguing little oddities about their relationship, particularly mauling her penchant for spending. A low-grade anger simmered over the fire of his hurt. He slipped across the street, hurried into the alley leading behind Gilbert"s place. Gilbert"s office was in the back. It had an alley window. Shed did not expect that to be open. He did hope to sneak a peek.

The window was not open, but he could hear. And the sounds of lovemaking in no way approximated what he wanted to hear.

He considered killing himself on the spot. Considered killing himself on Sue"s doorstep. Considered a dozen other dramatic protests. And knew none would move either of these villains.

They began talking. Their chatter soon killed Shed"s hold-out doubts. The name Marron Shed came up.

"He"s ready," the woman said. "I"ve taken him as far as I can. Maybe one more loan before he starts remembering his family."

"Do it, then. I want him wrapped up. Make the hill steep, then grease it. He got away from Krage."

Shed shook with anger.

"How far down do you have him?"

"Eighteen leva, and nearly another ten in interest."

"I can work him for another five."

"Do it. I have a buyer hot to go."

Shed left. He wandered the Buskin for hours. He looked so grim people crossed the street. There is no vengeance as terrible as the vengeance a coward plots in the dark of his heart.

Late that afternoon Shed strolled into Gilbert"s office, all emotion locked back in the shadows he had discovered the night he had run with Krage"s hunters. "I need fifteen leva, Gilbert. In a hurry."

Gilbert was startled. His one eye opened wide. "Fifteen? What the h.e.l.l for?"

"I"ve set up a sweet deal, but I have to close it tonight. I"ll go a couple extra points if you want."

"Shed, you"re into me big now. I"m worried about you covering that."

"This deal goes off and I can clear it all."

Gilbert stared. "What"s up, Shed?"

"Up?"

"You"re awful sure of yourself."

Shed told the lie that hurt most. "I"m going to get married, Gilbert. Going to ask the lady tonight. I want to close this deal so I can make the Lily over into a decent place for her."

"Well," Gilbert breathed. "Well, well, well. Marron Shed getting married. Interesting. All right, Shed. It"s not good business, but I"ll take a chance. Fifteen, you said?"

"Thank you, Mr. Gilbert. I"m really grateful..."

"You sure you can meet the payments?"

"I"ll have you ten leva before the end of the week. Guaranteed. And with Sue helping out at the Lily, I"ll have no problem clearing enough to cover the rest."

Gilbert controlled a thin smile. "Then you won"t mind putting up collateral more valuable than your word?"

"Sir?"

"I want a lien on the Iron Lily."

Shed pretended to think hard. Finally: "All right. She"s worth the risk."

Gilbert smiled the smile of a hungry stoat, but managed to look worried at the same time. "Wait here. I"ll have a note drawn up and get the money."

Shed smiled nastily as Gilbert departed.

Chapter Twenty-Six:.

JUNIPER: LOVERS" PARTING Shed pulled his rig into the alleyway behind Sue"s place, raced around front, pounded on the door. It was a cla.s.s place for the Buskin. A man guarded the entrance from within. Eight women lived there, each in her own apartment. Each in the same business as Sue. Each commanding a substantial premium for her time.

"h.e.l.lo, Mr. Shed," the door guard said. "Go on up. She"s expecting you."

Shed tipped him, something he hadn"t done before. The man became obsequious. Shed ignored him, mounted the stair.

Now came the difficult part. Playing cow-eyed lover when he was no longer blind. But he would fool her, just as she had fooled him.

She answered the door, radiantly beautiful. Shed"s heart climbed into his throat. He shoved something into her hand. "This is for you."

"Oh, Marron, you shouldn"t have." But, if he hadn"t, he would not have gotten past her door. "What a strange necklace. Are these serpents?"

"Real silver," he said. "And rubies. It caught my fancy. Ugly, but the craftsmanship is superb."

"I think it"s gorgeous, Marron. How much did it cost?"

"Too much," Shed replied, smiling sardonically. "I couldn"t tell you. More than I should have paid for anything."

Sue did not press. "Come here, Marron." She must have had orders to play him carefully. Usually she gave him a hard time before surrendering. She began disrobing. Shed went. He took her rough, something he had not done before. Then he took her again. When it was over, she asked, "What"s gotten into you?"

"I have a big surprise for you. A big surprise. I know you"ll love it. Can you sneak out without anyone knowing?"

"Of course. But why?"

"That"s the surprise. Will you do it? You won"t be disappointed, I promise."

"I don"t understand."

"Just do it. Slip out a few minutes after I leave. Meet me in the alley. I want to take you somewhere and show you something. Be sure to wear the necklace."

"What are you up to?" She seemed amused, not suspicious.

Good, Shed thought. He finished dressing. "No answers now, darling. This will be the biggest surprise of your life. I don"t want to spoil it." He headed for the door.

"Five minutes?" she called.

"Don"t make me wait. I"m a bear when I have to wait. And don"t forget the necklace."

"I won"t, dear."

Shed waited nearly fifteen minutes. He grew impatient, but was certain greed would bring Sue out. The hook was set. She was playing with him.

"Marron?" Her voice was soft and musical. His heart twisted. How could he do this?

"Here, love." She came to him. He enfolded her in his arms.

"Now, now. Enough of that. I want my surprise. I can hardly wait."

Shed took a deep breath. Do it! he yelled inside. "I"ll help you up." She turned. Now! But his hands were made of lead.

"Come on, Marron."

He swung. Sue slammed into the wagon, a mewl the only sound she made. He hit her again as she bounced back. She sagged. He took a gag from the wagon, forced it into her mouth before she could scream, then tied her hands quickly. She began kicking when he went for her ankles. He kicked her back, nearly let anger carry him away.

She quit fighting. He finished binding her, then propped her on the wagon seat. In the darkness they looked like man and wife about some late business.

He did not speak till they were across the Port. "You"re probably wondering what"s going on, darling."

Sue grunted. She was pale and frightened. He retrieved his amulet. While he was at it, he stripped her of jewelry and valuables.

"Sue, I loved you. I really did. I would have done anything for you. When you kill a love like that, you turn it into a big hatred." At least twenty leva worth of jewelry, he guessed. How many men had she destroyed? "Working for Gilbert like that. Trying to steal the Lily. Anything else I could have forgiven. Anything."