Stark Pleasure; the Space Magnate's Mistress (The LodeStar Series) by Cathryn Cade

was merely curiosity that led him to bring up a one-way feed on the holocams. “Departure station and cruiser cabin,” he said.
    Two holovid screens sprang to life. One showed the empty passageway out of his penthouse. The other gave him a clear view of the cabin of his cruiser and the woman curled in one of the big chairs. Kiri gazed out the porthole, arms wrapped around her slender midriff. As he watched, she moved to tuck her feet up beside her in the chair, then stopped, casting a guilty look over at Opal, who stood in the passageway to the cockpit, chatting with Giles.
    “Camera, close up.” The holocam zoomed in on Kiri’s face as she turned back to the porthole. Limned in the grayed light of another rainy day in New Seattle, her lovely face was taut, troubled. Gazing past the holocam, she touched one hand to her lips and then blew out a sharp breath, nearly a sob in the sensitive microphones.
    His guest was upset, was she? He sat in his big skrog leather and cerametal chair, taking another drink of his coffee. Realizing just what a chore lay before her. She’d attempt to scrape her life back together. When she’d had time to realize she needed him, he’d move in again. It was just a matter of time and strategy.  
    He looked away, satisfied. Time for other business.”News channels, up. Earth II, primary.”
    An attractive blonde in a fitted suit filled the screen. “In our top local news story, rioting broke out again last night near the sea docks, and an entire block of buildings was destroyed. Looters were seen leaving the area before the explosion. Many are missing and feared dead in this latest wave of violence between the unemployed and the security forces for local unions and business owners. According to the mayor’s office, Intergalactic Space Forces have been called in to police the docks. More on that story shortly.”
    Stark watched without surprise. This merely solidified his decision to consolidate his holdings here and sell the wharf-side factory to his employees. His security people were doing all they could keep it from going up in flames until the IGSF was able to restore law and order.
    The news anchor turned to another camera, which angled in. “In other news, we take you now to the New Seattle Spaceport, where safety concerns have been raised, after a local businessman was found murdered. Let’s join reporter Randy Mega on the scene.”
    Nothing new here, either. Probably some poor sod in debt to organized crime. Stark sipped his coffee as the holocam switched to a young man smiling toothily from a small, gleaming white hovie with the news station’s logo. Travelers filtered by behind him, gawking curiously. One human boy broke away from his mother and made a face into the holocam before being recaptured.
    The reporter furrowed his brow earnestly as he gazed into the holocam. “Yes, Gretchen. Gral Roden, Vulpean owner of a gambling kiosk here on the Astrid concourse was found murdered this morning in the service passageway behind his place of work. Roden was under investigation by local police and, we’ve just learned, by the IGSF for allegedly fixing several of his games.”
    Stark set his mug down on his desk, foreboding tightening his gut.
    Randy Mega smirked confidentially into the camera. “Witnesses say that another local business owner, from this coffee stand—” The holocam swiveled to show Kiri’s Kaffe, closed and quiet, and then switched to a security feed of her standing at the counter in her kiosk, smiling and chatting with a customer as she handed him a disposable mug. “—had a loud confrontation with Roden just yesterday evening, in which she accused him of cheating her out of a large sum of credit. She is also alleged to have made actual death threats. As you can see, she has not shown up to open her stand this morning. Neighboring business people say they have no idea where she may be.”
    “Seven hells.” Stark palmed his com unit from his belt. “Giles, if