Chapter 6

Hello, Malcolm.

Mal jumped slightly and whipped his head around as the smooth, tenor voice filled the empty warehouse, forgetting for a moment that it came from the little device in his hand.

Actually, I think I’m gonna call you Mal, since I feel like I know ya so well. An’ I guess I should be sayin’ howdy to your little posse, too. Welcome, Jayne and Zoë.

Jayne’s eyes bugged out and he jerked around to look at Mal. “He’s watchin’ us!” the mercenary hissed through his teeth, his grip tightening alarmingly on Vera.

“He ain’t. It’s a recording, Jayne,” Mal told him, pretending he hadn’t done the exact thing seconds earlier when addressed by name and trying not to show how much it irked him that the knew enough to predict who would be listening. “Hush up so’s I can hear it.”

The message continued on, oblivious to the reaction it was causing. I suppose I should give a little apology to Zoë for the manner in which I returned her spouse, but then again, my mama always taught me it ain’t polite to say things ya don’t mean.

The recording paused, as if the speaker was stopping to take a long breath. Or maybe for a good laugh.

I reckoned you’d come, Mal. Told your pilot it would be pointless ta come here, as I’d be long gone, but I ain’t too sure the message penetrated very well. None too bright that one, but mighty stubborn. Had ta resort to measures I hadn’t planned on ta make sure the fool got the point.

The sound on the recording changed, like a channel had been switched. It was more distant, fuzzy, as if it were father away, and there were several muffled voices that could be heard in the background. Suddenly, all of that was drowned out by a sound like something swooshing through the air and then a harsh crack, followed by a man screaming. Mal instantly recognized Wash’s agonized voice and shook with anger as he remembered the bloody welts across his friend’s back. He deliberately didn’t look at Zoë as the tape continued, the sharp