Blue Blood – Chapter Four

I own no rights to Firefly, and claim none, writing only for my own pleasure:)

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Sheriff Grippen leaned back in his office chair, pleased with himself. He stood to make a goodly haul off notifying the ‘Sun Bonding Recovery’ people of the whereabouts of River Tam. The fact that it would stick a needle square in Malcolm Reynolds eye, along with that merc of his, was just icing.

And there was no way it could be traced back to him, either. No one would ever know he’d dropped the line on the girl, and the hefty reward would set him up nicely.

“A call for you on two, Sheriff,” his secretary called. “It’s that Sun Bond company.”

“Thank you, Evelyn,” Grippen said amiably. Speaking of the devil, he decided, opening the screen to the caller.

“Grippen,” the blue clad caller said shortly. “I wanted to verify your information, especially the timeline given us.”

“Ship left about forty hours ago,” Grippen replied, looking at his watch. “Normal run to Astra from Argo is anywhere from sixty-eight to seventy-four hours. That bunch normally hits the middle at right around seventy-two hours.”

“You are certain that the subject is aboard?” the caller inquired.

“I am,” Grippen nodded. “She’s the pilot, in fact.”

“Excellent.”

“About my money,” Grippen started.

“Your reward will be forthcoming, once the subject is apprehended,” the blue suit replied calmly. “Remember that the reward is for information leading to the capture of the fugitive, not for information simply on whereabouts.”

“So if you don’t get her, I don’t get my money?” Grippen didn’t quite snarl. This was an unexpected development.

“Not at all,” the caller said soothingly. “Should we fail, the information will still have placed us in a position to apprehend her, and will therefore be paid.”

“Well, all right then,” Grippen nodded, leaning back again. “Don’t go gettin’ no funny ideas about double crossing me, friend. You won’t like the outcome.” The man in the blue suit smiled.

“I assure you, sheriff, w