Anger flared, hot and spiteful. If --
Zhavi's smiled, cool and polite. No. "Whoever it is, ain't stupid, marm. An' ain't workin' alone, far as I can tell. Nah, I ain't gonna rush an' go fer sloppy. I got more eyes. Yon hits won't happen again. I underestimated yer enemies. Won't happen again." She bowed, letting the smile drop off her face by the time she'd straightened.
Yeah, wouldn't happen again because--
No.
She lifted her chin. "Th'two . . . groups, I'll call 'em, they ain't workin' t'gether. At least one of 'em is backed. We got word that there's some . . . movements, higher up. Mebbe all th'way t'the barons. Can't say fer sure, yet, but they ain't new t'this, marm. Neither o'the groups is. I don't know if they 'spected ye t'start diggin', or if they're jes playin' fer safe, but same thing.
"I'm leanin' hard fer th'ones what set th'hits on yer peoples' heads, but I got a bad feelin' 'bout th'other group. Th'way th'rumors are set -- aie," she shook her head once, "they're cleavin' t'ye, marm. They know summat they shouldn't. An' I ain't gonna drop names fer ye yet, not 'till I know fer real sure. Ye done good hirin' strongarms, but if yer thinkin' o' playin' siege -- don't. Ye'll play into their hands. Cut off yer work across La Noscea, an' operate a small time front here. Two, mebbe three o' yer best. Set it up t'see if ye can't catch th'killers. But, if they're smart, they'll back off fer awhile. They'll know they got ye right spooked."
Zhi stared hard at Thatcher. "Ye got yer feelin's mixed up in this, aye. I can see that. But whether'r not ye want it, th'war is comin' t'ye. Can't be th'mam o' yer crew if ye plan t'fight back. Gonna have t'be ruthless, Thatcher."
Zhavi's smiled, cool and polite. No. "Whoever it is, ain't stupid, marm. An' ain't workin' alone, far as I can tell. Nah, I ain't gonna rush an' go fer sloppy. I got more eyes. Yon hits won't happen again. I underestimated yer enemies. Won't happen again." She bowed, letting the smile drop off her face by the time she'd straightened.
Yeah, wouldn't happen again because--
No.
She lifted her chin. "Th'two . . . groups, I'll call 'em, they ain't workin' t'gether. At least one of 'em is backed. We got word that there's some . . . movements, higher up. Mebbe all th'way t'the barons. Can't say fer sure, yet, but they ain't new t'this, marm. Neither o'the groups is. I don't know if they 'spected ye t'start diggin', or if they're jes playin' fer safe, but same thing.
"I'm leanin' hard fer th'ones what set th'hits on yer peoples' heads, but I got a bad feelin' 'bout th'other group. Th'way th'rumors are set -- aie," she shook her head once, "they're cleavin' t'ye, marm. They know summat they shouldn't. An' I ain't gonna drop names fer ye yet, not 'till I know fer real sure. Ye done good hirin' strongarms, but if yer thinkin' o' playin' siege -- don't. Ye'll play into their hands. Cut off yer work across La Noscea, an' operate a small time front here. Two, mebbe three o' yer best. Set it up t'see if ye can't catch th'killers. But, if they're smart, they'll back off fer awhile. They'll know they got ye right spooked."
Zhi stared hard at Thatcher. "Ye got yer feelin's mixed up in this, aye. I can see that. But whether'r not ye want it, th'war is comin' t'ye. Can't be th'mam o' yer crew if ye plan t'fight back. Gonna have t'be ruthless, Thatcher."
